The energy was high in the Dvorak Concert Hall in the Doudna Fine Arts Center Friday evening when Gaelic Storm took the stage.

Gaelic Storm, a Celtic band comprised of Patrick Murphy, Steve Twigger, Pete Purvis, Ryan Lacey and Kiana Weber, popularly known as the band performing in “Titanic,” has been producing music together for nearly two decades. The rapport they had on stage working together was imminent.

As part of Doudna’s “Best Of” series, audiences voted for the group to return to Doudna for the 2014-15 season. Gaelic Storm performed at Doudna two years ago.

The band took the stage with grins on their faces while the crowd applauded as a welcome to their arrival.

Murphy, the lead singer of the band, joked with the crowd about American tourists visiting Ireland and claimed the band “loves to party.”

“Pina Colada in a Pint Glass,” was the opening song for the band. With their mix of Irish and Jimmy Buffet-esque music, Gaelic Storm did not disappoint the audience.

The band frequently explained the stories behind their music to the crowd in-between songs. Often times, the band said, the simplest things inspire songs.

For example, the band claimed “Dead Bird” was written in honor of a dead bird they spotted on the street.

“Green Eyes, Red Hair” was indeed written about a fiery woman with green eyes and red hair.

Murphy told the audience a story about a time when he was a bartender at an Irish pub in Los Angeles. The state of California had just passed the smoking ban in public places, and actor Russell Crowe was smoking in his bar.

Following the story, Murphy introduced their song “The Night I Punched Russell Crowe.”

The audience participation hit its highest when Gaelic Storm performed “Me and the Moon.”

The band asked the crowd to split in half and sing along the lyrics “I brought the whiskey, and he brought the light,” respectively.

Another high point in crowd participation hit when the band performed “Darcy’s Donkey.”

Members of the band asked the audience to “ride their donkeys” and then picked the best donkey racers to come onstage and race, including one child from Charleston who won the race.

Gaelic Storm also performed hits such as “Alligator Arms,” “Scotty Man” and “Slim Jim and the Seven Eleven Girl.”

The crowd of nearly 500 people continued to be entertained throughout the night while the band performed their double set that lasted nearly three hours.

Gaelic Storm stuck around after their performance to sign merchandise, tickets and programs for their fans.

The next performance at Doudna will feature Thodos Dance Chicago and their production of “A Light in the Dark.”

Thodos Dance Chicago will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday in The Theatre. Tickets are $15 for the general audience, $12 for seniors and Eastern employees, and $7 for students.

Samantha Middendorf (@Samantha_EE) can be reached at 581-2812 or semiddendorf@eiu.edu.