Singing for the 'Shamrock Idol' green

No one discussed vocal stylings outside of the IBEW Hall, where a few hundred were gathered inside on a recent Friday night to watch a dozen singers compete for the title of "Shamrock Idol."

Cigarettes were passed around, along with complaints about finding a parking spot and missing the start of the Sox/Yankees weekend series. The chitchat idled for a moment, though, when a phalanx of folks uniformed in glaring white T-shirts emerged from the darkened lot. Each shirt carried the message "I love MB." But in lieu of the universal red heart was a kelly-green shamrock. "Who's MB?" one young man asked sotto voce between drags on his cigarette. "She might be the next Shamrock Idol," said his buddy. "Those are a lot of votes walking through the door."

The open door through which the mysterious MB's fans had passed provided a blast of John Connors and the Irish Express. Smooth purveyors of traditional Irish jigs and ballads (yes, "Danny Boy"), Connors and company had the multigenerational crowd clapping, toe-tapping, and shouting across tables of Buds and Cheetos.

The band completed its set, and Robert Lynch appeared on stage. He and his brother-in-law, Patrick McDonough, inspired by the success of "American Idol," decided to model a fund-raiser after that show. Their cause: supporting the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland, whose "Path to Peace" tour will stop in Boston at Symphony Hall in early November. The Shamrock Idol prize: $2,500 and the chance to sing with the orchestra.

Lynch and McDonough own Shamrock Nation, an online seller of shamrock-emblazoned clothes and the business sponsoring the contest. Their wares, which were for sale in the lobby, include "Shamrock Nation" bibs, hats, and hoodies. Lynch wore a dark suit, with a green carnation pinned to his lapel. He complimented the dozen finalists who had emerged from 130-plus contestants in seven rounds of competition that started in July at Bad Abbots, an Irish pub in Quincy.

All 12 contestants - some in their late teens, others 30-something - took turns showcasing their vocal chops as the recorded music segued from "Dancin' in the Street" to "I Can't Help Myself" to "Back in My Arms Again." Cheers erupted through various parts of the hall from groups of tables reserved by singers for families and friends.

When Marybeth Feeney grabbed the mike, those in the MB shirts jumped around. Their enthusiasm was bested, however, by the fans of Tatum Harvey, remarkable for their number and homemade poster-boards.

After the medley, Gordon Michaels walked the crowd through the criteria that he and his two fellow judges would use to evaluate singers. An accomplished vocalist who has performed with artists ranging from Aerosmith to Patti Labelle, Michaels cited range, intonation, pitch, and projection. The exacting work of the judges, however, would max out at 50 points per contestant, to which each audience vote added one point.

Just shy of 9 p.m. the first contestant appeared. Kristi Barron belied the formality of her black dress and added swagger and attitude to Reba McEntire's "Why Haven't I Heard From You." Kelly Ferguson informed the crowd she was not Kelly Clarkson, then channeled the Grammy-winning singer launched by the first "American Idol." Wrapped in diaphanous red, Gisela Johnson of Hyde Park displayed gusto and grace as she lifted Mariah Carey's "Hero" out of the playground of pop.

Then Damien Corcoran, 34, appeared. One of only two men, he brandished a charm and velvety tenor. An Amesbury resident, he had read about the contest on Craig's List. "This is my first time in Dorchester," said Corcoran, after his round-two performance of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."

"I was chasing a horse this afternoon that escaped from my mother's barn - no joke. It's been an eventful day."

Halfway through the first round, many in the audience groused about the volume, which discouraged conversation. The crowd remained undeterred, though, as Budweiser and bonhomie bested a PA system that seemed cranked to 11 in the acoustically challenged brick hall.

Others grew restless. They returned to the beer stand situated beneath a framed Cam Neely jersey; they checked Blackberries for a Sox score; they checked out shamrock clothing in the lobby. Gina Travers, 19, recaptured the crowd's attention, as her strong, silken voice laced through the strings and horns of "My Funny Valentine." Kevin McGerigle proved a crowd favorite as the only contestant to sing a distinctly Irish song. His earnest delivery of "Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears" brought some close to tears - in a good way.

The second round allowed some singers a chance to switch up genres and display their range. Somehow, though, odds-defying inspiration surfaced as a motif, with lyric after lyric announcing resolve, belief in one's self, and the ceaseless pursuit of dreams.

Marybeth Feeney got more than the MB crowd dancing when she announced "This is for Dorchester" and launched into Dot native Donna Summer's "Last Dance." Gisela Johnson followed with a performance of Jennifer Holiday's "And I Am Telling You" that in a just world would've won her the Shamrock Idol crown, rather than the runner-up honors. But the money and Symphony Hall gig went to Tatum Harvey, a laurel lauded by her many voting fans.

Attendee Sean Irwin of Quincy complimented the quality of the dozen signers before complaining abut general "Idol fatigue" and the rather misleading event title, "Shamrock Idol."

"One Irish song out of 24 performances?" said Irwin, 30. "That's more sham than rock."