HOLIDAY: A TOUCH OF BLARNEYSt. Patrick’s Day...

HOLIDAY: A TOUCH OF BLARNEY

St. Patrick’s Day is coming a few days early to Glendale as the Irish Rovers bring their own brand of musical blarney to the Alex Theatre on Wednesday.

The group, which formed in 1964, had a million-selling record, “The Unicorn,” in 1967. For more than 30 years, they toured with essentially the same lineup: George Millar, Jimmy Ferguson, Joe Millar, Will Millar, Kevin McKeown and Wilcil McDowell.

This year’s show will feature the group’s usual blend of music and comedy, with one significant change: Will Millar left the group last year to pursue a solo career. The split, according to his brother George, was at first amicable, but soon became testy when dueling lawsuits were filed over royalties and use of the Irish Rovers name.

George Millar said the problems with his brother were quickly settled once they started talking to each other and not through lawyers. Replacing Will are “two Belfast chaps”--multi-instrumentalists W. Wallace Hood and John Reynolds.

“It’s a stronger show now,” said George Millar, adding that the musical side of the band will be highlighted more than in the past.

Since the Irish Rovers have been touring for seven months out of each of the 32 years they have performed together, how do they keep their shows fresh?

“Ten of our songs are always in the show,” George said. “But we change them--tempos, arrangements, different keys. It keeps you on edge.”

Those 10 songs include “The Unicorn,” “The Black Velvet Band,” “The Orange and the Green” and “Wasn’t That a Party.” He says the band is also constantly adding and re-adding songs to its repertoire.

“We have to change the jokes,” he added. “You can’t keep doing them over and over again.” Millar says the band stresses fun and good times, and deliberately steers clear of political and serious issues. But George says the big secret to the Rovers’ longtime success is the genuine affection among the members of the band.

“We like each other and we like the show,” said Millar. “That’s our big secret.”

* The Irish Rovers perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Tickets are $22.50 and $27.50. Call (800) 233-3123.

SATURDAY: A TALENTED CHAP

Anthony Newley, who is appearing this weekend at Cal State Northridge, has done so many different things in the course of his career, it’s hard to know where to begin.

Multitalented Newley first became known to American audiences when his offbeat musical, “Stop the World--I Want to Get Off,” played on Broadway in the early 1960s. Newley wrote the book, composed the music and starred as Littlechap, the lead character. The show’s score included several songs that have since become pop evergreens: “What Kind of Fool Am I,” “Once in a Lifetime” and “Gonna Build a Mountain.”

Prior to that, Newley had enjoyed success in native Great Britain as both a child actor in films (in 1948, he played the Artful Dodger to Alec Guinness’ Fagin in David Lean’s production of “Oliver Twist”) and a singer who made it to the pre-Beatles English pop charts.

After that, he and partner Leslie Bricusse wrote other musicals, including “The Roar of the Greasepaint--The Smell of the Crowd,” which featured the songs “Who Can I Turn To,” and “A Wonderful Day Like Today.” They also did the music for the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”--the song “The Candy Man,” was a mega-hit for Sammy Davis Jr.

In recent years, Newley has kept busy with nightclub and cabaret work as well as directing and writing.

* Singer-composer Anthony Newley in concert at 7 p.m Saturday and 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday in the CSUN Student Union Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St. Tickets are $32. Call (818) 785-8885.