NEW SINGLE: CHICAGO LEGENDS FLATFOOT 56 COVER ELECTRIC AVENUE

It takes something to be both one of the best and one of the nicest bands in any music scene but Flatfoot 56 manage both in Celtic-Punk with ease. There is never enough new music from these guys so when they do release something we just go bananas!

Inspired by the legendary Eddy Grant Flatfoot 56 release a unique version of Electric Avenue building Celtic-Punk energy into the song with the addition of bagpipes, Punk-Rock vocals and melody.

Much has been written (on this site especially!) extolling the virtues of Flatfoot 56 during their 24 years together. One the best bands in the scene and with one of the highest profiles they have come a long way since their humble working class origins in Chicago, Illinois but it didn’t take them long before they had grown into a powerhouse of the Celtic-Punk scene with their Celtic-Oi! sound and bagpipe fuelled tales of blue-collar American life. Originally a Punk trio with brothers Tobin, Justin and Kyle they were joined by Josh a year later adding highland bagpipes, mandolin and an extra guitar giving them their unique Celtic sound. Well band members came and went and after a lengthy hiatus of twelve years Josh is back in the band. Fast forward to 2024 and the popularity of Flatfoot 56 has not waned one bit and unlike others in the Celtic-Punk scene who have been around a couple of decades neither has the quality of their music.

So we move onto todays new release and a fun cover of ‘Electric Avenue’ a song written by British reggae musician Eddy Grant. Released in 1982 it was to become one of the biggest hits of 1983. The song refers to Electric Avenue in Brixton in the south London district of Brixton. The area had become heavily populated by Caribbean immigrants during the 1960’s and 70’s and suffered high unemployment and poverty which all came to the boil between 10 and 12 April 1981 as the area exploded in serious rioting. It was these events known as the Brixton riots that inspired Grant to write ‘Electric Avenue’.

Recorded live in concert at Reggies in Southside Chicago, Illinois on Thursday October 19th, 2023 using an iPhone 14. Edited using Final Cut Pro on a Mac Mini. Filmed and edited by Joel A. Swanson. aTigerRAWkFilm.blogspot.com

Now out in the street, there is violenceAnd, and a lots of work to be doneNo place to hang out our washingAnd, and I can’t blame it all on the sun

we gonna rock down to Electric AvenueAnd then we’ll take you higher(Oh) we gonna rock down to Electric AvenueAnd then we’ll take you higher

Workin’ so hard like a soldierCan’t afford a thing on TVDeep in my heart, I’m a warriorCan’t get food for them kid

we gonna rock down to Electric AvenueAnd then we’ll take you higher(Oh) we gonna rock down to Electric AvenueAnd then we’ll take you higher

We checked in with Tobin to find out what else is happening with the band and he sent us this message for the London Celtic Punks

Great to hear from you. Man, we miss you all across the pond. Flatfoot is doing very well. Got Josh back after a 12 year break and the new lineup is a great group of guys. We are working on our next full length at a very slow pace but it’s happening. Hoping to have it out next year for our 25 year band birthday. Also just recorded a some parts for 2 Irish bands. Did some vocals for a band called the Electrics on one of their new songs and did a bunch of parts on a new song coming out from the Cardinal Sins. All in all we are setting our own pace and making sure we work smarter so the world can have Flatfoot around for the long haul.