ALBUM REVIEW: THE PROVOS – We Left It As It Was (2021)

With so much new Celtic-Punk to review we very very rarely go back in time for releases we missed the first time round but we are making an exception today for Costa Mesa, Californian Celtic-Punk band The Provos debut album. 

With their follow up album already recorded and due out very soon Shane O’Neill gets a taste for The Provos !

At the London Celtic Punks Headquarters we do tend to get a bit over excited when we discover a new band or one we haven’t heard before. Recently we stumbled across a band called The Provos which immediately grabbed our attention. Immediately the research department was mobilised and tasked with reporting back with their findings. True to their name, it was difficult to find much information on the band initially, so we had to reach out through some underground contacts wearing sunglasses to find The Provos hiding out in a safe house in Orange County, California in the United States.

The Provos left to right: Tommy Di Ilio – Bouzouki * Jacob Morgan- Banjo * Cara O’Mahony – Tin Whistle * Darby O’Mahony – Bass * Ben Jordan – Vocals / Guitar * Holden Hodges – Mandolin * Miles Janasin – Percussion *

The Provos have been established since 2020 taking their inspiration from The Waterboys, The Pogues and the Wolfe Tones. They have been playing the scene in Costa Mesa, CA bringing their brand of Irish Punk to the local crowd. They are making an appearance at Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas this year along supporting The Bar Stool Preachers, The Rumjacks and Booze & Glory – That’ll be one hell of a gig!!!

In 2021, The Provos released their debut album & We Left It As It Was and we have only recently had a listen. The album is a fusion of classic Irish tunes with a fusion of punk attitude. The album has 9 songs and is just under half hour long. They do excellent covers of Leaving Liverpool, Whiskey in the Jar, Dirty Old Town and one of my favourite tunes Poor Paddy. This is blended with a few of their own tunes. This is an excellent album for their debut. We understand that they have another album almost ready for release and I’m sure it will be a big hit.

The Provos are a band to keep an eye out for. I have no doubt we will be hearing a lot more from them very soon. As our auld pal Big Gerry once said “They haven’t gone away ya know…” UP THE PROVOS !!!

https://open.spotify.com/album/0ChXzNUVZTrb7MBcufXOS5

Get We Left It As It Was  Spotify  Amazon  Apple

Contact The Provos  Instagram  YouTube

(A full live performance from The Provos in their home town in January, 2023)

ALBUM REVIEW: FLOGGING MOLLY – ‘Anthem’ (2022)

What a year this is going to be for all you Celtic-Punk aficionados out there with the two major players in the scene both releasing new albums within just a few weeks of each other. Later in the month sees the Dropkick Murphys but today our man back on the auld sod Shane O’Neill runs the rule over seven piece Irish-American giants Flogging Molly and their first album since 2017’s Life Is Good.

lIt’s been a long hard five years since we have had a new album from the Celtic punk institution that is Flogging Molly. Was it worth the wait – Most definitely!! We have been lucky to get a preview with the release of singles such as These Times Have Got Me Drinking / Tripping Up the Stairs which is the opening track on the album. This sets the scene nicely for the upbeat hard-hitting theme of the album.

The second song on the album, A Song of Liberty pays tribute to the gallant men who fought the British Empire in Ireland at Easter 1916. This isn’t your traditional Irish rebel song but delivers the message effectively illustrating the determination and fight displayed by the volunteers to seek the liberation of our country.

(Flogging Molly have joined forces with renowned Ukrainian animators/filmmakers, The Mad Twins, for the band’s ‘A Song Of Liberty’ video. The clip highlights humanity’s ongoing struggle against oppression, from Ireland’s Easter Uprising through several 20th century moments including both World Wars, to the current occupation of Ukraine.)

Anthem is a bit different (in a good way) to any of the bands previous releases. They have unleashed a new sound and reached back to the more traditional Irish music such as The Dubliners and The Chieftains whilst maintaining the kick arse punk edge. The more traditional sounds are evident on The Croppy Boy and (Try) Keep The Man Down. It can be difficult to cross genres like Irish Traditional music and punk while keeping original but Flogging Molly have hit the target on Anthem. Musically, I think the band have gone from strength to strength.

Some of us from the London Celtic Punk crew were lucky enough to catch the bands last gig of the European tour in Dublin a few weeks ago….. What a performance. We were treated to a few tunes from the Anthem album which were very well received. Every time we see them, we think they it’s the best performance ever, yet they continue to impress. Just like an old wine, improving with age. It took almost a week for my body to recover and get my hearing back, but it was worth every single bruise and cut. We did manage to sneak in backstage after the gig but that’s a story for another day!!!! Anthem is the bands sixth album coming 22 years after their debut release Swagger. We’ve been listening to it since it was released earlier this week and cannot find fault with it at all. To pick the best song on the album is a difficult task however if pushed I think The Croppy Boy, A Song Of Liberty and Life Begins and Ends (But Never Fails) are up there with the best Celtic Punk tunes out there. This is the type of album you can stick on anytime and it will lift your mood.

Hats off to Flogging Molly for this album and hopefully we don’t have to wait another five years for the next one. “These Croppies Wont Lie Down.”

Buy Anthem  CD/ Vinyl/ Tape – From The Band

Contact Flogging Molly  WebSite  Facebook  YouTube  

ALBUM REVIEW: ROUGHNECK RIOT – ‘Burn It To The Ground’ (2022)

UK Folk-rockers Roughneck Riot return from a 4-year break with a loud and angry new album Burn It To The Ground.

Roughneck Riot have returned from an extended pandemic induced siesta to hit us with their latest album release Burn It To The Ground. This is the first release from the Warrington based hardcore folk punk outfit since Out Of Anger was released in 2014.

The past few years have been tough on us all and here at London Celtic Punks HQ we are delighted to see the influx of new music coming from every angle. We have taken this as a sign of normality returning. Burn It To The Ground certainly marks the return of Roughneck Riot to the scene.

The band are known for their hardcore edge whilst keeping touch with the folk punk sound. The album is well balanced, and the results are impressive. The album opens with the suitably titled tune “We’re Still Here” reminding us that they haven’t gone away y’know!! With a total of 12 tracks the album has something for everyone. The stand out tracks are “Cognitive Dissonance”, “No Cure For Us” and the title track “Burn It To The Ground”.

Often when bands take a break it’s hard to gauge what will happen on the other side. Roughneck Riot have come through their four year intermission sounding as good as ever. They are back on the road and no doubt we will be hearing much more of them. Hopefully we don’t have to wait 8 years for the next release.

TRACK LISTING

1. We’re Still Here
2. Stay Awake
3. A New Day Is Dawning
4. Don’t Count Me Out

5. Lampedusa
6. Cognitive Dissonance
7. Burn It To The Ground
8. Tired Eyes
9. We’ve Already Lost
10. The Reckoning
11. No Cure For Us
12. Fucks Sake

Burn It To The Ground is available on all streaming platforms and available to order in CD and vinyl wherever you are. It has been released on SBAM Records and is also available from them.

Buy Burn It To The Ground  FromTheBand

Contact The Roughneck Riot  WebSite  Facebook  YouTube 

ALBUM REVIEW: THE OUTCAST CREW – ‘Myths & Yarns’ (2021)

The debut album from Ireland’s newest Celtic-Punk band- The Outcast Crew. Ten original roaring trad punk songs about myths, folklore and singalong sea shanties!

Strangely there aren’t a huge amount of Celtic Punk bands based in Ireland, so we were delighted to receive the debut album Myths & Yarns from The Outcast Crew. It is extremely encouraging that the genre is alive and kicking back in the homeland.

The Outcast Crew are 6-piece band including Brian O’Mahoney (Vocals/Guitars); Paul Flynn (Drums); Niall Harney (Bass); Adela Mealy (Accordion); John Davidson (Fiddle) and Alasdair McCann on banjo. Myths & Yarns has been released though the Los Angeles publishing company ‘Songs to your Eyes’.

Lead singer and songwriter Brian O’Mahoney explains how the album came about.

“I had written a couple of instrumental folk/trad albums for publishers in both London and LA. Austin Seltzer had mixed and mastered a previous album of mine and he suggested I write an album with folk instruments along with heavy guitars and vocals.”

The album is made up of 10 songs and is a perfect blend of all that is Celtic Punk. You can clearly hear influences of 70’s classic punk (The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, Sex Pistols) which are blended perfectly with the more Celtic influences of The Pogues and more recently bands like Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly.

As the title suggests the album is fully of tales of folklore, myths, sea voyages and of course the odd session which are brilliantly delivered with gritty vocals, guitar, banjo and fiddle.

“You are the one I want”, “Renegade” and “Bound for Hell” are worthy of a specific mention as songs which stand out on the album. In saying that the whole album is an excellent offering as a debut album. I have no doubt that based on Myths & Yarns we will be hearing much more of The Outcast Crew in the future. Keep it coming lads.

Buy Myths & Yarns  Amazon  Apple

Contact The Outcast Crew  Facebook   Spotify

ALBUM REVIEW: McSCALLYWAY – ‘Songs For The Wicked ‘ (2020)

McScallywag are an Dutch Celtic-Punk band. Influenced by traditional Irish Folk music, sea-shanties and good ol’ Drinking songs their second studio album Songs For The Wicked sees the light of day tomorrow!!

This year has been a tough one on all of us but has hit the music industry particularly hard. Most bands have had their album releases shelved, tours cancelled, and plans for world domination put on hold. It must be an extremely difficult time keeping the band members motivated when there is little chance of live performances or releasing new music. It isn’t easy for bands in the Celtic / Folk Punk genre to release a new album in normal times so to do so in the current climate is an exceptional achievement. Well our friends from the Netherlands, McScallywag have defied all the restrictions, lockdowns and other obstacles to deliver their new album Songs For The Wicked. What a brilliant achievement and what an excellent album!!

McScallywag top left: Ashley Buitenwerf – Electric Guitar * top right: Arian Sikkens – Lead Vocals, Banjo *bottom left to right: Ruud Platje – Drums * Talitha Barelds – Bass * Tom Kootstra – Acoustic Guitar * Frodo Bosma – Accordion *

McScallywag are based in Groningen, a city in northern Netherlands. The band was formed in 2013 when members of the hardcore punk band De Klootviolen decided to go in a completely new direction having fallen head over heels with Irish music. They describe themselves as “Dropkick Murphys meets The Pogues” McScallywag’s songs are full of what you would expect. Obviously the subject of drinking comes up but the band don’t confine themselves to being a stereotypical Celtic-Punk band and they intertwine songs about getting pished with the everyday struggles of staying sane in modern day society. Songs vary from mellow and acoustic to Punky and fast and as evidenced by their You Tube channel they are a pretty explosive live act as well.

Their debut album Dirty Water was released June 2016 their debut album Dirty Water was nine songs and half an hour of high tempo original Celtic-Punk that came out at a time when Celtic-Punk had never been as popular in the Netherlands. Circle J, Bunch Of Bastards, LQR, Drunken Dolly, Pyrolysis and The Royal Spuds are all plying their trade over there and we were even due to host a special Dutch Celtic-Punk night here in London till you know what happened! All these bands exist side by side with a sense of co-operation that ought to exist in every music scene. The music may be fast and furious and though acoustic it still owes much to Hardcore Punk in many ways. McScallywag are one of them Folky bands that plays as loud plugged in as not!

Mc Scallywag are a 6-piece band whose original roots come from hardcore punk but have developed into more traditional celtic folk but keep the raw punk edge. With a mix of guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, cello, drums and accordion Mc Scallywag make perfect drinking music. The accordion on the new album really catches your ear more so than on any other album I can remember. Its exceptional.

All songs written by the band themselves (no ‘I’ll Tell Me Ma’ here!) and were recorded at Twang Wolf Studio just outside Groningen. The excellent artwork for the sleeve has been done by Steven van Calcar and is crying out to be whacked on a t-shirt (hint hint!).

Although the band is less than 10 years old the new album has a very mature sound. It’s a mixture of high tempo tunes such as The Ballydesmond Polka, Out of Sight Out of Mind and Remember Me along with the slower pace of Run Away and Coming Home. A well-balanced album all round. Unfortunately, due to our current situation it’s not likely we will be able to join the McScallywag guys for a live gig anytime soon which is a real shame. So for now its hat’s off to the guys on the new album and hopefully well be able to catch you at the bar next year.

(you can stream or download Songs For The Wicked via the Bandcamp player below)

Buy Songs For The Wicked  Bandcamp (CD or Download)

Contact McScallywag  WebSite  Facebook  YouTube  Instagram

ALBUM REVIEW: THE REAL McKENZIES- ‘Beer And Loathing’ (2020)

Their eleventh full-length album Beer And Loathing is a true return to form for Canada’s The Real McKenzies. Dueling guitars double up against soaring bagpipes while Paul regales the listener with epic tales of alcohol soaked debauchery, historic sagas and hard-fought personal battles.

The Real McKenzies need little introduction having founded in 1992 in Vancouver, Canada. They have established themselves as one of the most formidable the Celtic Punk bagpipe bands on the scene. Hard to believe they have been around for almost 30 years!!!!

(Great interview with Paul from The Real McKenzies from April, 2020)

Although they have gone through many line-up changes, Paul McKenzie remains at the helm leading the crew into another decade of Scottish influenced celtic punk and mayhem. The Real McKenzies have kicked off 2020 with the release of their new album Beer and Loathing. Now its fair to say 2020 hasn’t been the best year so far but its not all doom and gloom. Beer and Loathing is guaranteed to take your mind off small matters such the worldwide pandemic, the potential for WW3 etc etc. It’s a crackin album and I must say one of my favourite from the Real McKenzies.

(Video by: Eric Dieterich  https://solomanmedia.com)

The new album has been released on Fat Wreck Records and contains 12 rockin’ tunes. It opens with a bagpipe lead instrumental The Widow’s Watch but quickly ramps up though the gear to a faster tempo with notable song such as Nary Do Gooder, Death of the Winnepeg Scene and The Cremation of Sam Mcgee. The Real McKenzies stick with the Scottish flavour with Cock up Your Beaver. It’s a slower song which is a version of a Robert Burns poem. Probably not what you were thinking when you read the title first (tut, tut)!!! All in this is a great album and good to have the Real McKenzies back three years after the last release. It’s a reminder why the band have lasted almost 30 years on the scene where others have fallen by the wayside. So grab yourself a wee dram, stick on Beer and Loathing and crank it up to 10. It’s time like this we need music like this to get us through all the other crap in the world !!!

The vinyl for the album is available on swamp green and beer, oxblood and gold!

(Grab a listen to Beer And Loathing on the Bandcamp player below)

Buy Beer and Loathing  CD/LP-FatWreckRecords  Download

Contact The Real McKenzies  WebSite  Facebook  YouTube

(On March 13th, 2020 the Real McKenzie’s live show at the Starlite Room in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada was canceled by Alberta Health Services due to the COVID-19 virus. As to not let the all their fans down, the gig went ahead as a live stream!)

ALBUM REVIEW: NOWHEREBOUND- ‘Mourning Glory’ (2019)

Just a couple more releases from last year before we publish our renowned (well to us anyway!) Best Of 2019 list. Here we have one of our favourite bands and though it’s by no means exclusively Celtic or Folk orientated it integrates traditional Punk with Rock’n’Roll while weaving in threads of gritty country and folk, I’m sure it will appeal to many of you.

Nowherebound’s sixth studio album, Mourning Glory, is an ambitious return to the DIY ethos the band was founded upon. A double album, this record showcases the prolific songwriting and expansive diverse spectrum of ‘Punk-Rock’ Nowherebound encompasses.

The album consists of all-new music but it plays like a greatest hits album already.

Nowherebound are a six-piece punk outfit based in Austin, Texas who have been rocking the scene since 2010 with their very unique sound. Having toured extensively they have managed to take time to get back to the studio and have recently released their latest studio album Mourning Glory. These guys don’t do things by half. The album has a total of nineteen tracks which spans almost eighty minutes. They have never been tied to any particular style of punk and have influences ranging from The Pogues, Joe Strummer, Rancid, Black Flag, The Rolling Stones and The Stooges.

That’s quite a span of influences and this is evident in their music. Their music varies widely, sometimes slower melodic such as ‘South Paw’ to the more hardcore explosive tune ‘Leap Of Faith’. There’s even a hint of Ska punk in the track Feather Fist. The album is a roller coaster ride which doesn’t disappoint from start to finish. Its difficult to pick the best tunes on the album but ‘Frankfurt AM’, ‘No Horse’ and the title track ‘Mourning Glory’ definitely stand out.

(the official video for ‘Mourning Glory’ directed by Jm McKay of JMK Pictures)

“And while roads less traveled were often gravel,

We made our case, gave mob the gavel, cause this was life, and we would not lose it…not yet anyway.

We’d choose to watch the glory fade,

as youth lost its war with time and age, but soldiers never were so brave

as when they made their great escape out of the yard…”

This is a very straight forward unapologetic punk rock album with something in there to please everyone. Get yourself a copy of Mourning Glory and try to catch them live if you get a chance!!

(you can stream Mourning Glory on the Bandcamp player below before you buy)

Contact Nowherebound  WebSite  Facebook  Bandcamp  YouTube

Buy Mourning Glory  Vinyl/T-Shirts DrunkenShipRecords  Download Bandcamp

AUSSIE CELTIC-PUNK SPECIAL. DOUBLE EP REVIEW: HANDSOME YOUNG STRANGERS and THE DANGEROUS FOLK

With only a handful of last year’s releases to go before we unveil our Best Of lists it dawned on our man in Cavan, Shane, we could present two Aussie bands for the price of one so here are two of the best Celtic-Punk bands rocking it on the underside of the world. Handsome Young Strangers and The Dangerous Folk may play music from the same genre but together they also show the great diversity in the scene.

Handsome Young Strangers. ‘The Bleeding Bridge’ EP.

Sydney based Handsome Young Strangers have just released The Bleeding Bridge mini album which is the ninth release from the band in their almost 15 years of existence. The Sydney bush / folk outfit describe their style of music as Bushranger core. The mini album is release on the Tasmanian Label ‘Folk ‘Til Ya Punk’ who have also signed bands such as The Ramshackle Army, Fox N Firkin and The Dead Maggies. If, like me, you haven’t listened to HYS much before now this is an ideal introduction. I’m not quite sure how or why I haven’t been listening to them more regularly but I will definitely be making up for that. The new mini album contains three new original tracks ‘Coming Home’, ‘The Bleeding Bridge’ and ‘The Rose Hill Packet’. It also features a brilliant version of the Aussie traditional tune ‘Limejuice Tub’ and a cover of the Triffid’s ‘Wide Open Road’. My personal favourite on the mini album is ‘Limejuice Tub’ which have a very distinctive Aussie Folk Punk sound. The band have been touring Australia extensively from coast to coast over the years covering everything from small clubs to the larger festivals. HYS is made up of 6 core members and features regular guests. They have recently added Edward Lawlor (Medusas Wake (Mandolin & Vocals)) to their line up. Special guests on the new release include Jason Walker (Pedal Steel), Ben Pattinson (Squeeze Box), Michael Carpenter (Piano) and Luke Moller (Fiddle). HYS are planning to release a full new album in 2019. If its anywhere nearly as good as ‘The Bleeding Bridge’ then we are in for another treat.

Buy The Bleeding Bridge-  iTunes

Contact Handsome Young Strangers-  WebSite  Facebook  Soundcloud  YouTube

The Dangerous Folk. One EP.

As 2018 drew to a conclusion we received the debut EP from The Dangerous Folk all the way from Brisbane, Australia. Prior to this we had only heard snippets from the band on social media. In 2018 they released a video for the song ‘Shipping it up to Brisbane’ which I suppose drew our attention for obvious reasons. The band has been going for about two years now and their music has been described as Guinness fuelled Celtic Punk. The style of music is definitely more early days Dropkick Murphys than Flogging Molly and is played at a high intensity and tempo. The ep titled ‘One’ features a total of 5 tunes opening with ‘Shipping It Up to Brisbane’. The other songs on the ep are: • ‘Sayeno’ • ‘Inch’ • ‘The Brigade’ • ‘Spike it up’ You’re probably sick of listening to ramble on about Celtic Punk bands from Australia but we can’t help it. They just keep emerging and each one is as good as the last (if not better). The Dangerous Folk are another shining example of what the Aussies have to offer the scene and I have no doubt its not the last we will be hearing from them. If you’re lucky enough to be over that part of the world anytime soon be sure to look them. If not, then get your hands on a copy of the ep ‘One’ and give it a spin. Either way I can safely say you won’t be disappointed.

Download One- FromTheBand  (tracks 1 Aussie $ each) 

Contact The Dangerous Folk-  Facebook  Bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: THE RUMJACKS- ‘Saints Preserve Us’

The new album from the undisputed Kings Of Celtic-Punk hits the decks right across every corner of the globe. I never thought they’d ever come close to their out of this world debut album but as Shane O’Neill shows they have not only made an album to compete with Gangs Of New Holland but possibly even surpassed it!!!

To say we’ve been excited and eagerly awaiting the release of The Rumjacks new album is a major understatement. It’s no secret that we’re big Rumjacks fans (if not a little obsessed) over here at London Celtic Punks. True to form, The Rumjacks didn’t disappoint. This is another absolute crackin’ album – 42 minutes of pure brilliance. I haven’t been able to turn it off since I got my hands on it. Totally addictive! The album, Saints Preserve Us, is released on the tenth anniversary year of the band and what a way to mark the occasion. Originally formed in Sydney in 2008, the band recently set up camp in Europe and have been touring rigorously over the past few years. They have just kicked off their tenth anniversary tour which will be ripping through Europe and Asia over the next few months. The crowds and venues are getting bigger which is down to their hard work and of course the exceptional tunes they continue to churn out. This is their fourth studio album and the third to be released in the last three years. Over the past few weeks the band have been drip feeding with a few tracks to wet our appetite. First up was the title track and video, ‘Saints Preserve Us’.

This track is full of the energy we’ve become used to from the band. There’s also a hint of ska-punk on the track. This was followed up with ‘Bus Floor Bottles’, ‘The Foreman O’Rourke’ and ‘Cold London Rain’. All of this within a week!!! ‘The Foreman O’Rourke’ is a cover of Matt McGinn’s folk tune. It features Paul McKenzie and Troy Zak from Canadian punks The Real McKenzies. And bhoy have they transformed this song…It’s been given a boost a speed with bagpipes thrown in for good measure.

The album features a host of guest appearances from the Celtic-Punk world with Mike Reeves of Mickey Rickshaw popping up again, after a recent spot on German band Kings & Boozers debut album, doing a spot of vocals on the second track ‘Billy McKinley’. The combination of vocals between Mike and Frankie on this track works wonders making this one hell of a tune. Other guests include Maurizio Cardullo (Folkstone – Whistle & bagpipes), Robert Collins (Blood Or Whiskey – Trumpet & accordion), Angelo Roccato (The Clan – Guitar), Francesco Moneti (Modena City Ramblers – Fiddle), Denis Dowling (Clan of Celts – Guitar and backing vocals) and last, but definitely not least, our very own Shelby Colt (London Celtic Punks – backing vocals). Beat that!! The fourth track on the album is a rendition of ‘An poc ar Buile’ (The Mad Puck Goat). I’ve heard some of the traditional versions of this tune before but nothing anything quite like this. The song is almost entirely in Gaelic and played at a high tempo with bagpipes, which works well. I had trouble getting it out of my head a few nights.

It’s difficult to pick the best songs on this album. They’re all feckin’ brilliant. If I was pushed I’d have to say ‘A Smugglers Song’, ‘Bus Floor Bottles’, ‘Billy McKinley’ and ‘Cupcake’ would be the favourites. ‘A Smugglers Song’ is a revisit to The Rumjack’s roots and you’d be forgiven for thinking it had been plucked from one of their early days EP’s. We’ve listened to quite a few Celtic-Punk bands here at London Celtic Punks and The Rumjacks are a tough act to follow. Everything they’ve released to date has been highly acclaimed throughout the Celtic-Punk world and they’re going from strength to strength. It’s widely accepted that their debut album Gangs of New Holland is probably the best Celtic Punk album to have even been released. I never thought another album would get anywhere close to it, however I have to say, Saints Preserve Us is most definitely a contender to knock it off the top spot. So there you go… Drop whatever you are doing and get your hands on a copy of Saints Preserve Us now.

The Rumjacks left to right: Top: Gabriel Whitbourne- Guitars, Vocals * Adam Kenny- Mandolin, Banjo, Bouzouki, Bodhran, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals. Bottom: Johnny McKelvey- Bass, Vocals * Frankie McLaughlin- Vocals, Tin-Whistle, Guitar * Pietro Della Sala- Drums, Vocals.

Also make sure you try to catch The Rumjacks in a town near you.

Buy Saints Preserve Us  FromTheBand  Here  (iTunes, Google, Apple etc.,)

Contact The Rumjacks  WebSite  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  YouTube  Soundcloud

For more on The Rumjacks check out the following articles Album Review: ‘Sleepin’ Rough’ (2016)  here

Album Review: ‘Sober And Godless’ (2015)  here

Single Review: ‘Blows And Unkind Words’ here 30492-London Celtic Punks Top Twenty Celtic-Punk Albums Of All Time here The Rumjacks And Irish Pubs here

ALBUM REVIEW: SIR REG- The Underdogs’ (2018)

Traditional Irish folk music, unforgettable melodies, propelled by an driving, energetic punk rock backing.

Sir Reg are an energetic six piece from Sweden fronted by Irishman Brendan Sheehy who left Dublin to fulfil his dream of putting together the most amazing band possible. With songs about everything from the issues of modern day society to finding the right bar on a Saturday night, combined with strong melodies and explosive live shows. 

September 18 saw the release of the fifth album from the Swedish Celtic punk heavyweights Sir Reg. The new album The Underdogs comes two years after the last album Modern Day Disgrace and is released on Despotz Records. It was recorded between Sweden and Ireland and most definitely packs a punch from the first note right through to the last.

The first of the eleven tracks on the album is the title track ‘The Underdogs’. It sets the scene for the rest of the album with a high tempo beat. The song is about the ongoing working class struggle for equality in the modern world. This is followed up with a tribute to Conor McGregor. Unfortunately for Conor, the lyrics didn’t come through in his recent battle

“Conor Mc Gregor the lord of the fight, he’ll destroy anyone in his way, smacking the shite out of fools with delight…”.

Oh well, let’s move swiftly on…..

The album is packed full of good humored drinking tunes which is common place on a Sir Reg album. ‘Stereotypical Drunken Feckin’ Irish Song’ is a funny wee song which needs little explanation. When I heard the beginning first I thought it sounded like early year Wolfe Tones or The Dubliners. ‘FOOL (Fight Of Our Lives)’ is the first single to be released of the album and is excellent.

Other notable tracks from the album are ‘Cairbre’, which is a traditional instrumental and ‘The Stopover’. The album closes on a slower note with ‘Sinner Of The Century’ which is also very good.

Sir Reg is Brendan Sheehy – Vocals * Karin Ullvin – Fiddle * Chris Inoue – Electric guitar * Filip Burgman – Mandolin * Mattias Söderlund – Bass * Mattias Liss – Drums

Personally I think this is Sir Reg’s best album by far. This is a band which are continually improving and I have no doubt there’s lots more to come. They have just finished a successful tour of England and Scotland, earlier in the year they played in the USA and they are currently embarking on a European tour to promote The Underdogs so get out and support them if you get the chance. If, like me, you won’t get the chance to catch them live on this tour, be sure to do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of The Underdogs album. You won’t regret it.

Buy The Underdogs

FromTheBand  DespotzRecords  Amazon 

Contact Sir Reg

WebSite  Facebook  YouTube  Instagram  Twitter

On 22nd August Sir Reg jetted in to play a special invite only gig at Waxy O’Connors in central London. The set contained songs old and new played acoustically by three of the band’s members. Here’s the entire set minus the encore. 

ALBUM REVIEW: MEDUSA’S WAKE- ‘Rascals & Rogues’ (2018)

The eagerly awaited debut album from youngish Aussies Medusa’s Wake, founded in 2015 in Sydney! Playing a mixture of Celtic and Australian folk in the spirit of The Pogues and Roaring Jack, using accordion, mandolin, banjo and tin-whistle! 

If there was a world cup to determine the best country for Celtic Punk music, then Australia would win it hands down every time. Not sure what they put in the water down there, but this place continues to churn out the best Celtic Punk bands over and over again. The calibre of music is so good that we have actually kidnapped The Rumjacks and are currently holding them captive at a secret location in Europe. When we received the new album from Medusa’s Wake a few week ago we were expecting a good album. The debut offering from the Sydney 6 piece, Rascals & Rogues, didn’t disappoint. Formed in late 2015, Medusa’s Wake released a 7 song EP in 2016. They then hit the studio in 2017 to record the current album which was released in June 18. Two of the song from the 2016 EP ‘No Nay Never’ and ‘Gates Of Hell’ have been re-recorded and feature on the debut album.

(here’s their debut EP from January last year. it’s available as a Pay Whatever You Want download. Meaning nowt if you like but enough for a couple of pints if you can!

Medusa’s wake left to right: John Coote- Electric Guitar, Banjo * Ben Pattison- Accordion * Ron Clark- Drums * Ed Lawlor- Vocals, Mandolin, Bazouki * Frank Sallie- Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica * Zane McRae- Bass *

The album kicks off with ‘Seldom Sober’ which is also the first track and video released off the album which is full of energy and a great introduction to the band.

“I’m a Rover Seldom Sober

Whiskey I have only eyes for you,

I’m a Rover Seldom Sober,

Darling I think this time we are through.”

This is followed up by ‘Hobart Sailor’ which has a very familiar sound which is unique to the Australian Celtic Punk scene. ‘Convicts Tale’, ‘Irish Sky’ and ‘Branxton’ (traditional instrumental) stand out as favourites on the album however I must say there isn’t a bad song on the album. 11 excellent songs for the band to be very proud of. The mandolin and vocals really make this album one of the top releases we’ve heard so far this year. That says quite a lot as it’s been a good year for Celtic Punk album releases so far.

(The first single from the album recorded at Norton’s Irish Bar, Sydney, Australia)

We have no doubt that this is a band who we will hear a lot more about in the coming years and no doubt will feature on here again. Hopefully some day we will have the pleasure of seeing them live however a word of warning to the band, if you come to visit us you might like it over here and stay!!

(have a listen to Rascals & Rogues before you buy on the Bandcamp player below)

Buy Rascals & Rogues

FromTheBand  Amazon

Contact Medusa’s Wake

WebSite  Bandcamp   Facebook  YouTube

You can stay informed with all the best in Australian Celtic-Punk and Folk-Punk by joining these two excellent Aussie Facebook groups.

AUSSIE CELTIC PUNK’S

here

AUSTRALIAN FOLK PUNK SCENE

here

ALBUM REVIEW: MR. IRISH BASTARD- ‘The Desire For Revenge’ (2018)

Mr. Irish Bastard blend the drink infused energy of pure Irish folk with punk rock guitars and a bottle full of attitude. They have toured excessively, played with the Pogues and have graced stages from Tokyo all the way to Kiev.

The beginning of a band are usually quite ordinary and when in 2006 Mr. Irish Bastard set out to shake the world all their band members could hardly all fit on the stages they played on! Today, three studio albums and a good 700 gigs later, including tours of China, Japan, and alongside such celtic-punk giants as The Pogues, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys and The Levellers, Mr. Irish Bastard have become an internationally renowned band and not just within the celtic/folk-punk scene.

The German Celtic punk giants, Mr. Irish Bastard, spring into 2018 with the release of their latest studio album The Desire For Revenge released on Reedo Records. This year so far has been extremely busy on the Celtic punk scene with many bands releasing new materials just before Paddy’s Day. It’s been tough keeping up with all that’s going on but have to say generally the quality of material coming out have been very good and Mr. Irish Bastard have landed us with another good one. The Desire for Revenge comes three years after the bands last album release and it kicks off with a (pre) Christmas themed tune ‘Black Eye Friday’. A high tempo opener paying homage to the traditional festive “bash”. This leads into ‘Oliver Cromwell’s Head’, a song which takes no explanation. This song pulls no punches in the hatred a lot of Irish have for the Cromwell following the cruelty he inflicted on our ancestors.

“and we’ll chop off his head and kill him twice just to make sure he’s blood dead, and we’ll dance around a burning spike around Oliver Cromwell’s head”

‘Darlinka’ (Darling Karlinka) has a very catchy Gypsy Folk beat. This one wouldn’t be out of place on a Gogol Bordello album. In total there are a total of 12 songs on the new album with a few like ‘Mike Malloy’ and ‘Poor Irish Billy’ standing out tunes. It also contains a cover of Cyndi Lauper single ‘Time after Time’. An unusual choice to cover but have to say it works well.

Mr. Irish Bastard are one of the stand out Celtic punk bands on the European stage and with the latest album it is easy to see why. The eight piece outfit continue to consistently churn out top notch material allowing them to go from strength to strength. Long may it continue. If you like your celtic punk fused in whiskey, banjo, mandolin and tin whistle then get your hand on The Desire for Revenge.

The Desire For Revenge was recorded by  Mr. Irish Bastard, Gran.E.Smith on mandolin, banjo and  bouzouki), Beouf Strongenuff on bass and drummer Ivo K’Nivo, guitarists P and Moe Leicester, BB on the accordion and tin whistle expert Kate. A new dimension in sound is added by the violinists Laura Zimmermann and Mona Kaczmarczyk. As Mr. Irish Bastard explains

“The violin is a new timbre in our sound and carries emotions that have not played any obvious roles with us, we celebrate and define our previous history as a band on the new album. At the same time, we also refine our sound, because only those who change will ultimately remain true and remain honest with their listeners. In short, as in any folk interpretation, longings all over the world remain the same. People all need the same thing, friends, something to drink and eat, love. And some now and then also lust for revenge, retribution, guilt and atonement. ‘The Desire For Revenge’ could be their record”

Buy The Desire For Revenge

Amazon  GreenHellRecords  MacSlonsIrishShop

Contact Mr. Irish Bastard

WebSite  Facebook  YouTube  Twitter

ALBUM REVIEW: CLAN OF CELTS- ‘Beggars, Celts And Madmen’ (2018)

A new(ish!) London band fusing together all their musical experiences and influences ranging from Rock, Metal, Country, Punk and of course traditional Irish. They have created a unique style of original Celtic-Rock and an unmistakable sound that is brought to you with Celtic pride, passion, commitment and respect for our traditional roots.

Clan Of Celts are no strangers to the London music scene with roots dating back over the past 20+ years to many various other bands throughout England and Ireland. March is generally a pretty busy and drunken period in the Celtic punk world but the Clan Of Celts are busy preparing for the launch of their debut album Beggars, Celts And Madmen. All going well it is expected to be launched on Paddy’s Day so if by chance you intend to have a pint then this album is the perfect partner. Stick this CD on in any bar and it will definitely put you in the mood for a decent session. 2016 saw the release of the first song and video from the album ‘Please Don’t Send Me Home’. The video release was a great introduction of the band and is written about the Irish emigrants in London and the craic in the bars and clubs around London.

“They’ll fight about the horses, they’ll fight about the cards

Hold back the fists although they’re pissed, to make out that they’re hard

They may drop a tear for Ireland, and sing their mothers song

You’ll be sure of the craic, when you drink with the pack so

Please don’t send me home”

If you’ve ever lived in London you’ll easily relate to this tune.

‘Please Don’t Send Me Home’ was followed up in 2017 with another video release of the album title song ‘Beggars, Celts And Madmen’. The video features Frankie from The Rumjacks on the whistle. The song is written about the forced emigration of many Irish in 1864 following An Gorta Mór and the hardship they faced upon arrival on foreign shores. Despite everything they worked and toiled to save themselves from starvation and build a better life for their family and friends. A dark period in Irish history which unfortunately is repeated in many parts of the world today.

“This song is dedicated to the memory of those brave Men, Women and Children that made those journey’s, who worked, fought and died to make a better life for themselves and their kin. To Celts all around the world, your hearts are with us.”

The third video release from the Clan of Celts came in January 2018 with the release of ‘Dream Catcher’. This is a more melodic song about the passing of Denis’s (vocalist and guitar) father in 2016. It paints the picture of his dads soul leaving England and returning to his native home in The Curragh, Co Kildare.

An excellent song with an introduction of pipes to set the scene. The video was filmed and edited by Mr. McLaughlin Of The Rumjacks who also features in the video. (Be careful guys I think he’s stalking you!!!)

“I see her reaching far and wide

Beyond my fading eyes

Rainwater resting on the sod

From all the tears I cried

I leave behind my love mankind

And end these months of pain

Cross gripped in hand

Depart this mortal land

And join the souls that glide the Curragh Plains”

Other notable tune on the album are ‘Stacy Lawlor’ which is an extremely catchy tune about the dangers of online dating. I’m lead to believe that this is based on a true experience by one of the Clan (who will remain nameless) so before you go online give this a listen. You have been warned. The album kicks off with ‘Clan Of Celts’ which is a great into to the album and sets the scene. This is quickly followed up by ‘The Boots Are On’ which is another upbeat tune about a night out down the Holloway Road (or County Holloway as it’s known round here!). There’s a good story behind this one but best to ask Denis about that. Not sure I could put it in print!! This is an excellent debut from Clan Of Celts and they are already hard at work on the follow up album. They are also keen to take do an tour with the debut album so jump over to the website and buy the CD to help them hit the road and come to your town. I expect we will be hearing a lot more about these guys in the coming years. Great to see the London Celtic punk scene making progress with excellent bands emerging. Keep up the good work.

Clan Of Celts left to right: Denis Dowling- Vocals, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Strings *  Jim Filgate- Banjo, Accordion *  Grant Wildy Drums, Pots * Billy MacAllister- Vocals, Acoustic Guitar *  Alistair McCaig Bass * Padraig O’Reilly- Fiddle, Whistle

Buy Beggars, Celts And Madmen

FromTheBand (Download coming soon!!)

Contact Clan Of Celts

WebSite  Facebook  YouTube  Twitter  ReverbNation  Soundcloud

Clan Of Celts Merchandise  Here

COMING VERY SOON

Watch this space in the next week or so for a big and beefy interview with Denis from the Clan Of Celts about all things Celtic as well as life in general. To subscribe to London Celtic Punks simply fill out the form either on the right or below depending how you are viewing this page.

ALBUM REVIEW: THE PEELERS- ‘Palace Of The Fiend’ (2017)

Third full length album release from Montreal based celtic-punk heavyweights The Peelers featuring special guests including The Tragically Hip’s Johnny Fay and The Mahones Finny McConnell among others.

Earlier this year The Peelers released their new album Palace Of The Fiend. I must confess I haven’t listened to The Peelers before despite them being formed back in 1999. Not sure how they escaped me before now. The seven piece outfit are based in Montreal and are a pretty fine example of traditional Celtic punk. Palace Of The Fiend comes twelve years after their last album Liquordale which was highly commended throughout the scene.

The Peelers left to right: Cadillac Kevin- Electric Guitar * Jonny Moorman- Fiddle * Chris Monaghan Stewart- Drums * Eric ‘Double’ Diamond- Whistles * Tim Duggan Walsh- Banjo/ Keys * Scotty Lee Mitchell- Bass Guitar * Whiskey Dave – Lead vocals/ Electric Guitar

Formed way back in 1999 in a small farmhouse kitchen in North Glengarry County in Eastern Ontario and now based in Montreal The Peelers have long become one of the more famous and popular celtic-punk bands in Canada. Glengarry holds a special place in Canadian Irish history being separated from New York State by the St. Lawrence river it was originally settled by Irish immigrants who chose the name Glengarry in memory of their home. It was the place that the coffin ships during Án Gorta Mór, otherwise known as the Irish ‘famine’, sailed when turned away from America. The major quarantine station for immigrant ships was on the St. Lawrence river and it is thought up to 15,000 Irish people are buried on the small island of Grosse Île where a huge Celtic cross now stands as a memorial to their souls. We recently covered this subject on our review Of Declan O’Rourke’s new album Chronicles of the Great Irish Famine here.

The Peelers have, over their long existence, played at just about everywhere you can think of right across North America. From your small town dive to snowboarding championships,  cocktail lounges, festivals and just about every other kind of place a bunch of guys can fit a drum kit. Their debut album, Boots And Suits, hit the streets in 2002 before second album Liquordale a couple of years later. That release was named as Album Of The Year by the Boston based Shite n’ Onions web-site.

They started recording the new album in 2013 but like they say ‘good things come to those who wait’. For me this album is one of the best releases of 2017 and there has been some cracking albums released this year. It has thirteen songs and features guest performances by Finny McConnell (The Mahones) on the third track ‘Going Down Swingin’. Palace Of The Fiend was recorded in five different studios, located in Montreal, Toronto and Casablanca, Morocco and was one of the first releases of 2017, coming out on January 3rd so apologies to the band for taking so long to get the review done.

(The first video released from Palace of the Fiend)

This is a great upbeat tune to put you in the mood for a pint or two. The album opens with ‘New York’ which sets the scene nicely for the fifty+ minutes that follow. Stand out tune for me are ‘Five Roses’, ‘A1a Fla’, ‘Stand Down Clearly’ and ‘The Black Eye Blonde’. The curtain comes down with an amazing version of ‘Cúnla’ and illustrates the link to the past that The Peelers are so proud of. A ‘sean-nós’ (style of unaccompanied traditional Irish singing) children’s song believed written in the 14th century. The album is definitely more in The Flogging Molly school of celtic punk than Dropkick Murphys. I’d highly recommend Palace of the fiend to anyone who likes their Irish music with a twist of punk. – Shane

Buy Palace of The Fiend

FromTheBand

Contact The Peelers

WebSite  Facebook  Twitter  YouTube  Soundcloud

ALBUM REVIEW: FLOGGING MOLLY- ‘Life Is Good’ (2017)

“The one thing we are is a positive band. When people come and see our shows, it’s a celebration of life, of the good and of the bad. And we have to take the good and the bad for it to be a life”- Dave King

Life is Good!

It certainly is good for Celtic Punk fans around the globe. Here we have the release of yet another quality album in 2017. It comes from the third branch of the Holy Trinity of Celtic Punk, Flogging Molly. It follows on from outstanding albums from the other two branches this year, namely The Dropkick Murphys and Flatfoot 56. We really have been spoiled this year, especially when you consider that we’ve also had new albums from The Tossers, Damien Dempsey, Paddy and the Rats and so many more Celtic bands. Too many to mention here, especially as this meant to be a review of Flogging Molly’s Life is Good. So maybe just take a minute to think how lucky we all are to be part of such a dynamic and productive “scene”!!

Life is Good is the eighth album to have been released by Celtic Punk premier leaguers, Flogging Molly, and its class! That’s one of the things that went through my mind while I was listening to it, the class just stands out! It’s made up of 12 tracks and runs for three quarters of an hour.

That “class” is evident throughout all the tracks here, it shows how well the band works as a unit, complimenting each other. I suppose twenty years of performing together is going to give us that polished sound. Their last album “The Speed of Darkness” consisted of a, what some people might claim, more mainstream rock sound. I must admit it was one that grew on me, rather than hit me straight away, although now it is one of my favourites. Life is Good definitely sounds more Celtic influenced, with some beautiful fiddle work from Bridget and some rousing banjo from Bob. It is not as raw as Drunken Lullabies or Swagger, but the same feeling is still there, it’s just a bit more professionally produced.

It kicks off with There’s Nothing Left, setting a jaunty pace that is kept up throughout. The Hand of John L Sullivan is next. Many of you will have heard this one as it was a video released a few months ago. It shows how Dave King still has the knack for writing punchy and interesting songs to go along with his ballads and anthem like offerings. Welcome to Adamstown incorporates a great brass section to give some “oomph” to the baseline. It’s a tale of unfinished suburbia in King’s native Dublin. Next comes Reptiles (We Woke Up). Now this is one of those aforementioned anthems, I can picture the crowd at The Forum, at the end of June, having a great time with this one. A bit like the All of Our Boys / Oliver Boy singalong from Speed of Darkness.

Here it is:

The Days We’ve Yet To Meet is the next track, a good up tempo rock number. Then we have the title track, Life is Good. A bittersweet song dealing with death and illness, but also impressing upon us to live our lives and enjoy them. The Last Serenade comes next, it’s one that resonates with me, dealing with ailing fisheries that most of us who live on the coast have witnessed. It’s a slow tempoed ballad and might not really sit well with a Punk audience, but I love it! The slow pace continues with the intro to The Guns of Jericho which soon livens up to a foot stomper though!

Crushed (Hostile Nations) also starts slowly with some lovely pipes accompanying Dave’s opening lines, but it soon turns into a deep almost hypnotic heavy beat. There’s electric guitar solos and a pounding rhythm, I’m reminded of Horslips, but different! There seems to be a darkness to it, probably part of the “Hostility”. A great track!!After the angst of Crushed, we move into the optimism of Hope! Another one that will have the fans up and singing along to the chorus. The Bride Wore Black is a fine pacy tune that you could dance to. I don’t know who it’s about, but she sounds like a bit of craic anyway!! We finish with Until We Meet Again, another ballad with some lovely fiddle and accordion playing, that rounds off the album perfectly.

Flogging Molly have been together for twenty years now, having formed in 1997. Dave King, Bridget Regan, Bob Schmit, Denis Casey, Nathan Maxwell, Matt Hensley and Mike Alonso have combined to bring us six exceptional studio albums and two sublime live recordings. They have played some of the best live gigs that I’ve been to and I hope to see many more! What they bring to the music scene in general and the Celtic Punk scene in particular is an authenticity and intelligence. Let’s hope they (and me!) are around in another twenty years! Slainte.

Buy Life Is Good iTunes  Amazon-Vinyl  Amazon-CD

Contact Flogging Molly WebSite  Facebook  Twitter YouTube  Instagram

• On Thursday you lucky folk Flogging Molly play at The Forum in Kentish Town, north London. Ticket information here.

ALBUM REVIEW: THE TOSSERS- ‘Smash The Windows’ (2017)

From the predominantly Irish neighborhoods of Southside Chicago The Tossers have been expanding the boundaries of contemporary Irish music since before much better known bands had even begun and have become one of the most popular and successful bands in the worldwide celtic-punk scene.

By Shane O’Neill

Only a few weeks into 2017 and we have already seen a whole host of fantastic album’s being released onto the scene. The Tossers are celtic-punk heavyweights and they hail from Chicago, Illinois. To be exact they hail from the South of Chicago. This is the part of Chicago that has housed the cities Irish Catholic community ever since they first started arriving from the ‘auld country’. The immigrant history of Chicago is rooted among untold amount of countries and people whose struggles and adversities have led them to the Midwest and to Chicago. From the cities founding in the 1830’s, Chicago has been the final destination for people journeying from all over the world looking for the famed land of opportunity that is the US of A.  It may surprise people to know that in a city known as ‘Chicago Polonia’, and also ‘Poletown’, that it is the Irish that constitute the city’s biggest ethnic community. While most Irish-American families in Chicago are three or four generations deep, plenty of Chicago’s Irish have landed fairly recently. Ireland’s economy in the 1980’s and 1990’s prompted many of its young people to go where many others had gone before them and Chicago with it’s strong Irish links was if not top of the list then very close to it.

It’s hard to believe that the self-proclaimed ‘World’s Loudest Folk Band’ have been around for twenty-four years now, forming as they did in July, 1993. The six piece from south Chicago have been unleashing their brand of Celtic folk punk even before Dropkick Murphy’s (1996) and Flogging Molly (1997) hit the scene. Steeped in Irish tradition, The Tossers take their place as one of the finest Celtic punk bands on the planet. Like most bands of this genre you can clearly hear the influences of The Pogues and Tony Duggins style of delivering the vocals is frighteningly close to Shane McGowan. That said, The Tossers are not a tribute act – far from it. They have a very unique way of delivering a fine but hooligan like take on folk music. The band’s name though for us here in Britland is an unusual one and would I think effect their t-shirt sales here. Saying that one of the blog editor’s wears his Tossers t-shirt with pride and I must say it suits him fine! Rest assured though it’s not the rude meaning you lot think it is as it actually dates back to Shakespeare, and depending who you ask it also means commode, drunk, to agitate, disturb, or disquiet but the band chose their name for its meaning to “throw away”.

Smash The Windows is due for release early March 2017 and comes four years after their last album hit the streets, the astounding The Emerald City back in March 2013. You can read our review of The Emerald City here and I suggest you do as it is a fantastic album that i still play regularly. Smash The Windows is certainly value for money with a total of seventeen songs that clock in at just under one hour in length. That is definitely a well packed album and there’s something in there for everyone. The album pays tribute to the bands Irish roots and what it meant to be an Irish American.

The album begins with ‘Erin Ga Bragh’ which is of course Irish for Ireland For Ever and The Tossers nail their colours to the mast from the very off. Fast and furious Irish punk rock played on mainly acoustic instruments that would equally please the most devout punk or folky! ‘Smash The Windows’ and ‘The Horses’ are both full of energy and I can imagine them being a real hit live. There is a cracking cover of ‘The Foggy Dew’ which is always a crowd pleaser. I have never really been a fan of the song ‘Danny Boy’ (not sure why) but I must say I really like The Tossers version. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Celtic Punk without a tribute to our beloved alcohol. ‘Drinking All The Day’, ‘Whiskey’ and ‘Lots Of Drops Of Brandy’ ticks this box on the new album. ‘1969’ brings us back to a darker time in Ireland’s history during the Civil Rights campaign and serves as a reminder that we should never forget what the brave people of the time fought for on our behalf. In today’s world, we take too much for granted and forget that without the sacrifices of many back in the 60’s and 70’s things could have been very different today. There are too many good tunes on this album to pick a favourite. Not one of them have disappointed. The album is being released by Victory Records and will be a big hit.

Again on this album one of the things that amazes me is the way that The Tossers can change tempo and go from a raucous Irish punk rock number to a solemn reflective Irish ballad or a full on trad folk piece without you even noticing. The Tossers are more than just a band to their fans. They inspire and promote a love in your roots that is sadly missing for most people. They tell the tale of both Chicago and America’s Irish communities. Serious and piss-taking and joyful and sad and upbeat and maudlin The Tossers do it all and yes we Irish are all of these things… and The Tossers celebrate it all.

Discography

The Pint of No Return (1994) * We’ll Never Be Sober Again (1996) * The Tossers/The Arrivals- split (1998) * Long Dim Road (2000) * Citizen Fish/The Tossers- split (2001) * The First League Out From Land-EP (2001) * Communication & Conviction: Last Seven Years (2001) * Purgatory (2003) * Live At The Metro ’04 (2004) * The Valley of the Shadow of Death (2005) * Agony (2007) Gloatin’ and Showboatin’: Live on St. Patrick’s Day (2008) On a Fine Spring Evening (2008) The Emerald City (2013)

Buy The Album

Here directs to several sites where the pre-order is available or VictoryRecords

Contact The Band

WebSite  Facebook  Twitter  YouTube  Spotify

ALBUM REVIEW: SIR REG- ‘Modern Day Disgrace’ (2016)

Back in 2009 an Irishman left Dublin and set off to Stockholm where he met up with five other musicians to become Sir Reg. Only one of the most popular and critically acclaimed celtic-punk bands in the entire world! 

Sir Reg are an energetic six piece from Sweden playing some of the best celtic punk around. And when I say around I mean in the entire fecking universe! On vocals is Brendan from Dublin who moved to Sweden to fulfill his dream of putting together the most amazing band possible. Karin, the violinist, is a tiny and fiery redhead from Sweden who leaves jaws ajar with her fiddle skills and Mattias L on drums, Mattias S on bass, Filip on mandolin and Chris on electric guitar. All have well diverse musical backgrounds and together as Sir Reg have scaled heights most celtic-punk bands can only dream of. Their are many kinds of success and one of the best has to be critical success. This Sir Reg have received again and again. Their previous albums have all been awarded Album Of The Year at the various celtic-punk sites with Celtic Folk Punk And More awarding Sir Reg with top spot for every album they have released.

Born out of the ashes of The Barcrawlers who were one of the earliest pioneers of celtic-punk in Scandinavia. For over a decade they toured across Scandinavia playing their energetic barand of Irish and celtic folk-punk to the masses. Deciding they had gone as far as they could they re-grouped and came together as Sir Reg (to be pronounced  as ‘Sir. Redge’) in early 2009. With a bunch of self penned original material they began to gig relentlessly  including in 2010 a three week tour supporting US horror-punks The Misfits which did brilliantly increasing the Sir Reg fan base. 2010 also the release of their debut album the self-titled Sir Reg. Opening up with the blistering ‘Feck The Celtic Tiger’ it set the benchmark for the year and no other album came anywhere near it. They followed this up with A Sign Of The Times in 2011 and 21st Century Loser in 2013 both of each reached beyond the celtic-punk scene into the mainstream Swedish media.

Putting celtic punk on the map!!

2013

2011

2010

Well this has been a long time coming!!! I’m talking of course about the review not the album. I have to take the blame for the delay in finishing the review. This is no reflection on the album just me getting my arse in gear to finalise it.

The album has eleven fine tunes spanning 35 minutes and the second tune is a tribute to our comrades ‘The Boys Of St Pauli’. This is followed up with ‘Drinking Like a Dane’ a high tempo song about a day on the lash which is a common theme throughout the whole album. My favourite tune is ‘The Wrong Bar’ which is about the day after a tough session and going for the cure and ending up in a church!!! Could easily happen! This could easily be mistaken for a song by The Dubliners. The band have released a superb video for ‘The Wrong Bar’, directed, edited and filmed by René U Valdes, which required viewing.

Aside from alcohol Sir Reg address the state of the modern world in 2016.

“……the world fucked up, it’s gone insane…….”

‘End of the Line’ deals with the recent wars and the impact on the innocent victims. ‘Fake Hero’ and ‘Breaking Down All Borders’ deals with the consequences of these wars and the mass migration which follows.
Overall this is an excellent offering from the Swedish Celtic punk six piece. Get your hands on a copy and give it a listen to. You won’t regret it.

Buy The Album

Amazon iTunes

Contact The Band

WebSite  Facebook  Twitter  YouTube  Instagram

ALBUM REVIEW: THE RUMJACKS-‘Sleepin’Rough’ (2016)

Bloody ‘ell! Close the Best Of 2016 poll we have a winner already! The Bhoys have only pulled it off again. 

By Shane O’Neill

Wow!!! These guys never fail to impress. 2016 should be renamed The Year of The Rumjacks. Firstly, they hit us with a mammoth 5-month European tour and then they release the 12 song masterpiece that is “Sleepin’ Rough” in early August. If that’s not enough they have also just announced that they will be ending the year with a 4-month tour of Australia once they return from Europe. Impressive or what?? Nobody can question them on their hard work this year. This band is going from strength to strength.

Frankie with Andy Mac of The Lagan

When I first heard The Rumjacks I never dreamed I would ever see them live, however they toured Europe in 2015 and again in 2016. I have to say they do not disappoint live either. I was lucky enough to share a few beers with The Rumjacks during their current tour. I have to say they are a really down to earth and humble bunch of really talented punks. None of the Bono type rock star bulls@#t from these guys. They are happy to mingle with the crowd and share stories about their music and tour. It is evident that these guys love what they are doing and we love it too so keep it coming….

Now where do I start with ‘Sleepin’ Rough’? One of the guys said to me it gets better every time you listen to it and I agree. I was a bit dubious when I heard the album was being released so soon after Sober & Godless (2015). Releasing back to back albums so soon after each other doesn’t always work but this is The Rumjacks – of course it works and has exceeded all expectations. ‘Patron Saint O’ Thieves’ is a crackin’ album intro to get you warmed up for what’s to follow.

“…..burn it bhoys…..”

The album has some fine tin whistle solos. This really brings out the best in tunes like ‘Murder Shanty’ and ‘Eight Beers McGee’. Personally my 3 favourite tunes are (in no particular order) ‘The Pot And Kettle’, ‘Fact’ry Jack’ and ‘A Fistful O’ Roses’.

‘Fistful O’ Roses’ was released as a single a few months back to give us a taste of the album. It a mighty fine offering about the dying pub / club scene in Sydney. As Frankie relates

“An agenda of sweeping law reforms and increasingly heavy tactics by our state government have crushed the city’s nightlife, the livelihood, and in many cases even the lives of many of its inhabitants. Iconic pubs, bars & restaurants are forced to close their doors, elderly residents are driven from their homes and Sydney is growing more desperate & hostile with every passing day.
This is a city under siege by those who rule her, set to become a playground for the elite, while the people who made it the treasure it was are squeezed out to wherever they hell they may venture.
We performed the video for the song as a macabre ‘dry wake’, set among the decay, in a derelict pub, one of many to fall victim to the states new order. Historic footage flits across the screen like memories of a life flashing before one’s eyes. ‘A Fistful O’ Roses’ is one last great send-off for the old girl, but make no mistake…”

This is an unfortunate theme which applies to most major cities and towns where we see traditional pubs, clubs and live music venues being closed down by developers. It really is such a shame to see the heart of cities and towns being ripped out not to mention the impact it has on the live music scene and new up & coming acts.

“Oh, this boozer is a wreck, all up & down the deck,
Like a tired old sinner off her game,
Wi’ her blood red lips, and her youth about her hips,
Still the regulars all love her just the same,
Where the mud-spat boots cut their way among the suits,
And the Sally’s come to rattle the can for Jesus,
‘Til they chain up all the doors & toss out all the whores,
Wi’ a fistful o’ half dead roses”

Be warned, before you press play on ‘Dead to me’ make sure you’re firmly strapped in. This tune will pick you up, spin you around and drop you flat on you’re a#$e before you know it – hard hitting or what? Throughout the album you can pick up many different influences from traditional Irish, Scottish and Aussie to sea shanty to hardcore punk. All this blended together give us the unique blend of Celtic punk that is The Rumjacks which others aspire to. Lyrically the album gets 10 out of 10 and no better man to pelt them out than Frankie with a mixture of Aussie / Glaswegian dialect. For me The Rumjacks are by far the best Celtic punk band on the scene at the moment and ‘Sleepin’ Rough’ is a fine example of what they are capable of. Not much more I can say other than go get yourself a copy of ‘Sleepin’ Rough’ and if you get half a chance go and see them live. I would personally donate body parts for a chance to see them again.

(The Rumjacks left to right) Anthony- drums Adam: banjo/mandolin Frankie: vocals/tin whistle Gabriel: guitars Johnny: bass

Buy The Album

FromTheBand  Google

Contact The Band

WebSite  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  YouTube  Soundcloud

for more on The Rumjacks check out the following articles

Album Review: ‘Sober And Godless’ (2015)  here

Single Review: ‘Blows And Unkind Words’ here

30492-London Celtic Punks Top Twenty Celtic-Punk Albums Of All Time here

The Rumjacks And Irish Pubs here

ALBUM REVIEW: Oi POLLOi- ‘Saorsa’ (2016)

Rocking hard berating the system while shouting “Oi! Oi! Oi!” in Scottish!

by Shane O’Neill

‘Saorsa’ means ‘Freedom’ in Scots Gaelic and is the sixth studio album of long running Scottish anarcho punk outfit Oi Polloi and the first since 2012. The album is hard hitting anti fascist, anti establishment, anti racism, anti homophobia, anti sexism ( did I miss any anti…..) Oi! punk with strong Gaelic flavour wrapped up in no less than 15 tunes.

Again they don’t shy away from addressing politically relevant topics accompanied by a healthy mix of crusty, punky, singalong Oi! Oi Polloi must be commended for the use of their music to promote the Gaelic culture in particular the use of the Gaelic language in their lyrics.

” …this is class war we’re fighting back…”

“…..progressive Oi! is kicking back…..”

The fourth song on the album ‘No’ is a demonstrated best by the picture below. As they say sometimes a picture paints a thousand words.

The album also contains a track titled ‘Yes’ to voice the bands support of the recent Scottish independence referendum. This one may be getting more air time sooner than we think!!

‘Dirty Protest’ tells of the protest in Ireland’s British prisons about the criminalisation of republican prisoners. Prisoners held in the north of Ireland were regarded, quite rightly, as political prisoners but that status was being eroded and finely was abolished in 1976. Among other things, this meant that they would now be required to wear prison uniforms like ordinary convicts. The prisoners in the infamous Maze, also known as Long Kesh, refused to accept that they were ordinary criminals, and refused to wear prison uniform and instead dressed only in prison issued blankets. The fight led later to the hunger strikes that resulted in ten deaths. For an excellent documentary on The Blanketmen check here)

‘GCHQFU’ is a fine ode dedicated to our friends in the secret service who spend their time ensuring we all tow the line.

“They’re watching me, they’re watching you…GCHQ fuck you”

One thing you can’t accuse them of is not having a sense of humour though as evident on ‘Our Winged Sisters’. Check out the brilliant video!

“This one’s for our sisters who we owe so much, so very much
Neonicotinoids are leaving them fucked, dead in the dust
We must all become pesticides resisters, rezizzterzzz!
Don’t you think we owe it to our winged sisters, our sizzterzzz?

Our winged sisters! Our winged sisters! Our winged sisters!
Sizzzterzz! Sizzterzzz! ZZZZZZZ! Sizzzterzz! Sizzterzzz! ZZZZZZZ!

Fight for the bees will give you a buzz, give you a buzz
Just like listening to our mighty streetcruzzt, mighty streetcruzzzzt!

Our winged sisters! Our winged sisters! Our winged sisters!
Sizzzterzz! Sizzterzzz! ZZZZZZZ! Sizzzterzz! Sizzterzzz! ZZZZZZZ!

Agro-chemical companies – we must resizzzt them, rezizzzzt them!
We muzzt oppose their apicidal syzztem, zyzzztem!”

Other notable tracks include the opener ‘Let’s Go’, ‘The Face’ and ‘Spelling It Out’. The CD comes in a digipack with fold out poster including lyrics and infos with the album due out on vinyl any day soon. Check with the record companies listed below. The artwork was once again provided by the talented hands of SONIA L. who also was responsible for the stunning celtic knotwork based art of Oi Polloi’s classic 90’s album ‘Fuaim Catha’. This is definitely an album you need in your collection. You won’t regret it.

Tracklist
1. Let’s Go!
2. Soil Yourself
3. The Face
4. NO!
5. Dirty Protest
6. Contra El Sistema
7. GCHQFU
8. Da Mhionaid
9. Destroi Phallocentricity
10. Metal Detector
11. Our Winged Sisters
12. YES!
13. Vos Vilen Di Anarkhisten?
14. Sing A Song Of System
15. Spelling It Out

Get The Album

RuinNationRecords  MassProductions  (CD only, Vinyl available soon!)

Contact The Band

Facebook  WebSite  LastFM  YouTube   

the full live set from last years 0161 Festival at the Miners Community Arts and Music Centre in Moston, Manchester.

Oi POLLOi ON WHY THEY SING IN THE GAELIC LANGUAGE

There are estimated to be somewhere in the region of 6,000 different languages currently spoken on planet earth. In the face of rampant globalisation, however, 90% of them are expected to be extinct by the end of this century. Here in Scotland our indigenous Celtic language, Gaelic, is one of those threatened. For hundreds of years Gaelic speakers here have been subject to oppression and persecution from central government and its attempts to wipe out the language. Up until the 1970s children in the Scottish highlands could be beaten for speaking Gaelic in school and even today Gaelic speakers still lack the same basic linguistic human rights as those of English speakers. Today the number of those speaking the language is down to somewhere around 55,000 people or just over 1% of the population but a growing number of Gaelic language activists are now fighting back to demand their rights and preserve their ancient tongue. These songs here are part of that struggle to defend our indigenous language – not, we hasten to add, out of some kind of narrow-minded xenophobic patriotism (which as anarchists we totally oppose) – but out of a belief in the value of diversity and respect for different cultures. We believe that ALL minority languages and the linguistic human rights of their speakers should be respected. Whether it is Saami in Finland, Sorbisch in Germany or Gaelic in Scotland we believe it is a tragedy for ANY threatened minority language to disappear. The Gaelic songs on this album then are part of our contribution to the fight for multicultural societies where all indigenous languages like Manx, Welsh and Gaelic are able to thrive and where children have the opportunity, if they so choose, to be able to grow up with a bi-lingual education, having both the benefits of the indigenous language of the area where they reside as well as English or whatever as a lingua franca. Those interested in more information about the links between indigenous cultures and bio-diversity and linguistic diversity should visit www.terralingua.org or read some of the great books on the subject out there like David Crystal’s excellent ‘Language Death’, Mark Abley’s ‘Spoken Here – Travels Among Threatened Languages’ or the highly recommended ‘Linguistic Genocide in Education – Or Worldwide Diversity and Human Rights?’ by Dr Tove Skutnabb-Kangas. For more information about the Gaelic language itself visit www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/english.html or just come and ask us at our gigs.

ALBUM REVIEW: ALTERNATIVE ULSTER- ‘Rebellion!’ (2016)

1916 meets 1977!

Alternative Ulster are a new group from New York state.

Whether you call it Paddyrock, celtic-punk, Irish punk or kilt rock, makes no odds.

I was really looking forward to receiving this album after hearing some snippets of Alternative Ulster on the internet. Have to say I was a little surprised to get a call from my local pub to say the CD had been delivered there instead of my house. Still a bit baffled about how it ended up there but luckily my sister works in the pub so it ended up in safe hands.

Alternative Ulster are a newly formed 4 piece Celtic punk band from Ulster county, New York. Their recently released debut album Rebellion! is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. With a total of 16 tunes (including 6 covers) this is a pretty impressive debut from the guys. The cover songs include ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ (The Ramones), ‘Supernaut’ (Black Sabbath) and ‘Seventeen’ (The Sex Pistols) which have been blended with bagpipes to give them a new and exciting celtic punk edge.

The album contains a number of songs which have been written about the bands local city, Kingston. ‘The British are Burning Kingston’ is a recollection of the events of 1777 when the British troops (who then occupied NY city) set fire to the city of Kingston after the battle of Saratoga. ‘Ulster County Jailbreak’ and ‘Ten Guns of Kingston’ have also been penned with local and historical influences while ‘Bannerman Island Ghost Wench’ tells the story of a haunted island in the Hudson River that is home to a crumbling castle best seen from Newburgh, NY.

Overall this is an excellent first attempt by Alternative Ulster. With almost fifty minutes of raw bagpipe punk you won’t be disappointed. I have no doubt that we will be hearing much more from these guys in the future.

By Shane O’Neill

(you can listen to the whole of ‘Rebellion’ for free before buying bu pressing play on the Bandcamp player below)

Buy The Album

FromTheBand  CDbaby

Contact The Band

Facebook  ReverbNation  YouTube  Soundcloud  Bandcamp  Spotify

 

the artwork for Rebellion! and all Alternative Ulster releases was made by the singer Michael X.Rose and yopu can check more of his artwork here at his Facebook page.

ALBUM REVIEW: MR.IRISH BASTARD- ‘The World, The Flesh & The Devil’ (2015)

13 tracks that read like 13 commandments, packed full of Irish wit, tall tales and the kind of wisdom that can only come from God’s Green Isle!

Formed in 2006 Mr Irish Bastard consist of Mr. Irish Bastard (guitar, vocals), Lady Lily (tin whistle), Gran E. Smith (banjo), Boeuf Strongenuff (bass) and Ivo K’Nivo (drums). They have toured literally all over the world and with two full length albums, a mini-LP and a covers album under their belt this German band certainly play in the top division of European celtic-punk!

By Shane O’Neill

It takes real balls to cover a the Sex Pistols platinum selling ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ album in its entirety but that’s exactly what Mr. Irish Bastard did in 2011 with ‘Never Mind The Bastards – Heres Mr. Irish Bollocks’. It has to be said they did a mighty job of it adding a Celtic / folk twist to some of the worlds best selling punk tunes. Now this poses the problem….how do you top that?

Well the latest offering from Mr. Irish Bastard ‘The World, The Flesh & The Devil’ definitely doesn’t disappoint. 2015 has been quite a year so far for celtic-punk album releases but I think it’s safe to say that Mr Irish Bastard will be appearing in the top 10 celtic-punk albums for 2015 at the end of the year. If I’m wrong I can’t wait to hear what is coming from the competition in the next 8 months. The album is packed with 13 tunes with 3 bonus tunes if you feel flush and want to splash out on the deluxe version.

It’s one of those albums you’ll love from the first time you press play and luckily so as I had limited time to pull this review together.

‘I Hope They Sell Beer In Hell’ is one of those songs that gets stuck in your head (but in a good way).

“I’m stranded here on a empty rock

while the ships just pass me by,

and the sun has burned a hole in me

that the moon fills every night.

I watch the stars explode 

right above my head

and one day son you’ll find your place

that’s what the old man said”

The title could easily be adopted by the London Celtic Punk crew for their anthem!! ‘Don’t You Walk Away’, ‘Captain O Captain’ and ‘That Bitch Drank My Whiskey’ are well worth a listen and would be sure to get the crowd going at a live gig ( hint, hint ….come to London!!!!). ‘Drink Another Day’ is Mr Irish Bastard’s call to prayer, an ode to perseverance and determination with a chorus that sticks in your head like a three-day hangover.

“with a raised glass and a raised fist – I‘ll fight my way out of this – and we‘ll live to drink another day!”

I would definitely recommend you pick up a copy of this album and get listening to the Munster based Mr Irish Bastard. ‘The World, The Flesh & The Devil’ was recorded with producer Jörg Umbreit. It’s set to be released on 8 May 2015 on CD, vinyl and as a digital download on Reedo Records, distributed through Rough Trade. Keep an eye out for the special limited deluxe edition featuring a CD, a bonus vinyl-look CD, a MR. IRISH BASTARD flag and engraved hip flask as well as two beermats and a membership card for the School of Drinking.

Contact The Band

WebSite  Facebook  YouTube  Twitter

Buy The Album

FromTheBand-

Vinyl or CD or

Deluxe Version

Amazon  iTunes

ALBUM REVIEW: THE RUMJACKS- ‘Sober And Godless’ (2015)

Regular readers should already know our opinion on the Sydney band The Rumjacks, so rather than me ranting and raving about what a great band they are and how brilliant Australian celtic-punk is we got a guest reviewer in but unfortunatly he turned out to be just as massive a fan of The Rumjacks as I am!

By Shane O’Neill

It’s been almost five (long) years since the Sydney celtic-punk outfit released their highly acclaimed album ‘Gangs Of New Holland’ album. When I bought it first the album almost drove me mad…not because it was a bad album, quite the opposite. I couldn’t stop listening to it and the songs wouldn’t leave my head. I’ve lost count with the night sleep I have lost as a result of ‘Uncle Tommy’, ‘McLaughlins Rant’, ‘The Black Matilda’ etc etc constantly playing through my head on repeat. Eventually I had to stop listening to The Rumjacks just to get a nights sleep!!

“Well I’m livin’ with the mistakes I’ve made,
– ‘plenty more where I’m from’,
I’m robbin’ peter so Paul gets paid,
– ‘plenty more where I’m from.’
I’ve strayed so far from the open road,
I’ve been places my shadow refused to go”

“I’ll shift my share but I won’t shift the blame,
– ‘plenty more where I’m from’,
I respect my neighbour and expect the same,
– ‘plenty more where I’m from’,
I’ve strayed so far from the open road,
I’ve been places my shadow refused to go”

Now here we are once again with the release of ‘Sober And Godless’. It’s always difficult to follow up a brilliant album with another but all credit to The Rumjacks as they have delivered. From the intro of ‘Home Rule’ to the last note of ‘400 Miles Away’ this is a brilliant album. The album packs plenty of punch with Frankie’s unique vocals rolling out some well thought out and classic lyrics. It’s difficult to pick out the best tunes on this album but ‘No Pockets In A Shroud’, ‘Sober And Godless’ and the lively ‘The Reaper And Tam McCorty’ definitely stand out. I’ve been trying to listen to this album in moderation but I can find myself slipping back into the same trap as before. Looks like many sleepless nights ahead!!

(left to right) Anthony- Drums  Adam- Banjo and Mandolin  Frankie- Vocals and Tin Whistle  Gabriel- Guitars  Johnny- Bass

If you haven’t already done so get your hands on this album. It’s a must for anyone who likes their music with a celtic- punk twist!! Hopefully we will be lucky enough to see The Rumjacks on these shores later this year. These guys are definitely going places but please don’t leave us waiting another five years for the next masterpiece.

Contact The Band

WebSite  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  YouTube  Soundcloud

Buy The Album

FromThe Band  iTunes

for more of our writings on The Rumjacks check out the following articles

Single Review: ‘Blows And Unkind Words’ here

30492-London Celtic Punks Top Twenty Celtic-Punk Albums Of All Time here

The Rumjacks And Irish Pubs here

The Rumjacks Discography

Hung Drawn And Ported (EP) 2009 * Sound As A Pound (EP) 2009 * Gangs Of New Holland (Album) 2010 * Crosses For Eyes (Single) 2012 * Blows And Unkind Words (Single) 2014 * Plenty (Single) 2014 * Sober And Godless (Album) 2015