Group has refused to let the loss of key members end the party

CORVALLIS - At any given Amadan concert these days, there tends to be at least one or two confused fans in the audience, wondering if they've come to the wrong venue.

That is, until the music starts and the reassuring sounds of songs such as "Botany Bay," "Black and Tans," "Another Brass Rail," "Horseshoes and Handgrenades" or "The Old North End" fill the air.

The Portland-based celtic-infused rock and punk band, which got its start in Corvallis in the late 1990s, has had some radical changes in its lineup in the last two years.

The group lost four long-time members in 2007. They were drummer Mikey Morrow who had played with the group since 1999, digeridoo player Andy Gross (also since 1999), fiddler Naoyuki Ochiai, who joined in 2001, and Jeremy Bauer, who had played pennywhistle, banjo and spoons with the band since 2000 and was notorious for a frenetic stage presence that brought crowds to their feet.

While Amadan lost some charismatic members, resulting in a shock for longtime fans, it's worth noting that the group managed to retain something equally important to the spirit and quality of the music: Its songwriters.

Band survivors Kevin Pardew and Eric Tonsfeldt are responsible for all the material on the group's latest CD 2007's "Pacifica," which was recorded before the lineup change.

"Obviously, none of it was intentional," Pardew said referring to the band members dispersal. "It was a product of how everyone was having changes in their lives."

The timing couldn't have been worse. "Pacifica" had just been released to rave reviews and it should have been a time for celebrations and touring.

Instead, Pardew and Tonsfeldt were faced with the challenge of rebuilding the band one position at a time.

When Bauer left, Pardew moved from bass, a role he'd held consistently since 2003, to playing lead guitar.

They recruited fiddle player Chad Marks-Fife, straight out of the Portland State University Music Department, to fill Ochiai's parts. Marks-Fife is now a student at Oregon State University in the Fisheries Wildlife Department.

Other newcomers include Billy Tollner at bass guitar and David Fender at drums.

The fact that the band has been able to retain two albums worth of original songs and about 20 cover songs, despite having fewer instruments at their disposal, speaks to the musicianship and hard work put in since the change.

"It took a lot of energy to get through that and maintain that live energy that we've always had," Pardew said.

"We've generally had a great reception," Pardew said. "If not for the style of music, for the energy level."

"Without the tin-whistle there is less of that native sound that is especially present in the second album," he said. "There is still a strong Celtic influence in the sound, but Eric is pulling in a lot of ska and reggae too."

Amadan last played Corvallis to a packed crowd at Bombs Away Cafe in October and is scheduled to play at Oregon State University's Flat Tail Festival on May 30.

CHECK IT OUT

WHO: Amadan.

WHAT: Rock/Celtic/punk

WHEN: 10 p.m. Saturday, May 9.

WHERE: Bombs Away Cafe, 2527 N.W. Monroe Ave.

THE LINEUP: Eric Tonsfeldt (lead vocals, guitar), Chad Marks-Fife (fiddle), Kevin Pardew (guitar), Billy Tollner (bass) and David Fender (drums).

COST: $5 at the door.

INFO: www.amadanusa.com or www.myspace.com/amadan.