ODDS’N’SODS. A CELTIC-PUNK ROUND UP OCTOBER 2022

A funny auld month this. Loads of Celtic-Punk’s premier league bands have releases out and two others have them coming soon!

Find out who they are is in this month’s Odds’n’Sods. A whole load of Celtic-Punk entertainment from all the scene’s bands big and small, established or just starting out.

We kick off this month with a shout out to our good friend Roger Goeddey whose just come out of hospital after a serious operation. Thinking of you from over here and best wishes from the gang.

First we had the Murphys, then the Molly and TMTCH and now it’s the turn of THE REAL McKENZIES to  release a new album, Songs Of The Highlands, Songs Of The Sea coming on November 18th on Stomp Records in Canada and FAT everywhere else.

THE OUTCAST CREW out of Laois in the Irish midlands have a new single and video out directed, filmed and edited by Thomas Moyles.  Laois is famous for an abbey, some gardens, a castle and a couple of lakes and now a kickarse class Celtic-Celtic-Punk. They won the 2020 Celtic Punk debut album of the year and it’s about time we heard some more guys!

We lapped up SHANGHAI TREASON at the Underworld in Camden last month. Supporting The Rumjacks they played a blinding set and we were happy to see a big chunk of it appear on You Tube with all yer favourite London Celtic Punks silhouetted against the stage!

Another live set this time from Oz and Flat Cap Productions of the raging 100% Colonial Bush Folk / Punk band HANDSOME YOUNG STRANGERS recorded last week at the Crown And Anchor, Adelaide.

Nearly all the big guns get a mention this month and THE MAHONES released the first single from upcoming album Jameson Street (out October 7th). ‘Holloway Jack’ is now available on Spotify and the other platforms.

A great cover of ‘These Hands’, originally by Scots band The Wakes, from Belfast based singer-songwriter STIOFAN on his debut album Rebel Heart which you can hear on Spotify.

Sad news out of the Highlands that Iain has left THE PLACKS. No need to go into the reason but unsure if this means they will carry on but the good news is that he’s already settled into a new band THE RAMSTAMPITS and they’ve been recording so expect new material very soon. Here they playing at Punk Rock In The Peninsula in August which had a awesome line up and looked bloody marvellous!

STOP PRESS – Just heard the new album is available for pre-release from Mainstage Merch.

Ace Brazilian band LUGH we haven’t heard much from recently so completely awesome to hear new material from them with an accompanying video chronicling their 13 years on the road. 13 MORE!!!!

Comedy song from Barcelona based CAL MURPHY about an issue affecting many men… but one in particular! All proceeds from this song will be donated to charities aiding Ukrainian families affected by the war. What better way to help than by having a laugh at the expense of the prick who caused it?

We love a new band so we do! THE ENDINGS from Telford in the English Midlands have probably been around a while (some of them look like it anyway!!!) but we only just come across this video. We checked out some more of their stuff on You Tube and its well f’ing catchy! Give em a like over on Facebook and look forward to seeing them featured on these pages real soon. Whole gig here.

Came across this shared on Facebook and it blew me away! DAMH & DOVE are an American duo with drums and original Viking warrior pipes that sounds bloody amazing. Send them a like on Facebook to hear more. Recorded at this years Oregon Renaissance Fayre.

This led me onto this. This is some scary battle shit from CU DUBH another duo with absolutely stunning pipes and drums. Ancient thundering war drums and swirling bagpipe to put the fear of God into your enemies. These folk don’t need no microphones either! Send a like over on Facebook you know the score.

HOIST THE COLORS – When Daylight Breaks

DROPKICK MURPHYS  – This Machine Still Kills Fascists

FLOGGING MOLLY – Anthem

MULHOLLAND – Cumha An Ri

THE MEN THEY COULDN’T HANG – Running On Ice

WE BANJO 3 – Open The Road

Remember we cannot review it if we don’t hear it first!

Scots singer-songwriter LOUIS RIVE didn’t bring the weather with him when he returned to Scotland from Barcelona! Now firmly settled back in he’s still as prolific as he use to be and has a new EP just out Dear Green Place. A four-song personal journey through North-East Glasgow. From the high flats, to the M8 Motorway. From Provanmill to Springburn to Alexandra Parade and back again.

A great friend of ours in the United States has a new album out Cumha An Ri the solo album from MULHOLLAND. Loads of distorted guitars and vocals played at breakneck speed about Irish and Irish-American history. Here’s my favourite about the lie that Irish slavery never existed and to hear the rest check out the entire YouTube Cumha An Ri playlist. Written, composed, performed, recorded, mixed and produced by the very talented Colin Mulholland.

THE MEN THEY COULDN’T HANG have a new digital only release out from their Bandcamp page with all money to go to their Album Fund. This is the second of TMTCH’s rolling programme of digital EP’s and contains the title track, a dystopian fable set in a menacing ice rink, a cover of Ronnie Lane’s classic ‘How Come’ and original demos of two new songs, ‘Islands Of Silver And Gold’ and ‘Lonely Train’.

One of my favourite Celtic-Punk bands the Orange County based BRICK TOP BLAGGERS have a new EP Obey The Tyrant out on all platforms. Here’s ‘Denial’ from St. Patrick’s Day 2021. Watch this space for a review coming soon. (Hint – It rocks!)

In the 9 years we’ve been doing this plenty of bands have passed us by. We can’t see everything after all so this column is to remind us of bands that never made these pages at the time but deserve another mention. These hopefully come with a free download like today so you can help yourself to some free music. Today we feature PFC PIERCE and his 2018 five track EP Songs Of Hope And Hardship. It was while reviewing the debut single from Coxey’s Army recently that we came across this release. It is Coxey’s Army vocalist Nate Rising who founded PFC Pierce a sometimes solo acoustic project described as Positive Blue Collar Folk. Drawing from his extensive travels and experiences, Nate pairs positive themes to catchy, Celtic rooted, tenor guitar music. All the music is available as a ‘name your price’ download but as usual if you can afford to leave him enough for a Guinness or two as a tip.

Acoustic Irish bands THE SCRATCH and THE MARY WALLOPERS are both touring in December and playing Camden in north London so watch out for dates and a wee article on that. Expect to see a few of us at one of them. Haven’t decided which yet! MAD DOG McCREA headline Nells, 3 North End Crescent, West Kensington, London W14 8TG on Friday 21st October. It’s a eye watering £22 but they are a great band so youse get what you pay for. NEW MODEL ARMY play 3 Christmas dates ending at the Roundhouse starting on the 10th. The BIBLECODE SUNDAYS are at the Powerhaus in Camden (formerly Dingwalls) on Saturday November 5th.  DROPKICK MURPHYS have announced THE RUMJACKS, PENNYWISE and JESSE AHEARNE as support for their Euro tour starting in Jan and arriving in London on Saturday 21st January and then just 7 days later its THE REAL McKENZIES at the New Cross Inn. All these but the top gig going on this month is just coming up …

Forty years ago The Pogues played their first gig at The Pindar of Wakefield in Kings Cross. On 4th October 1982 James, Shane, Spider and Jem took the stage as Pogue Mahone and would go on to change peoples lives. The Pindar Of Wakefield is now The Water Rats and Kings Cross is, unbelievably, a most desirable place to live and The Pogues are no more either. Their spirit lives on though within The Pogue Traders. Now in their 15th year themselves of bringing The Pogues back to life they will tread them same boards 40 years on. Support for the night is from Paul ‘Mad Dog’ McGuinness And Band. Paul toured with Shane MacGowan for almost a decade as a founder member of The Popes. For an hour before that Shane’s official biographer Richard Balls will be doing a Q And A and copies of his recent book ‘A Furious Devotion: The Life of Shane MacGowan’ will be available.

The Pogue Traders live at The Water rats Tuesday 4th October 2022 https://www.wegottickets.com/event/555406

THE WORKING CLASS SYMPHONY are one of the best Celtic-Punk bands in the world. You don’t know them well that’s probably because they are from Indonesia but we love them and guarantee you will too. Check them out on You Tube and Facebook and look forward to catching them live in Europe at the end of the year. They are heading over sometime between December – January and need the help of the Celtic-Punk community. If you can help with the tour in any way then drop them a line and let them know.

If you like what we do then you can support us by checking out our online store. The Harp’n’Bones design is back in all sizes and on black or white shirts. Also we have new polo shirts, in all sizes, and some nifty woolly hats as well as the Green’n’White ‘Skully Cap’ ringer shirts. Click the link below for the full range of all our other tatt. Shirts, badges, stickers, flags, CD’s and fridge magnets all the discerning Celtic-Punk fan could ever need! Help keep Punk Celtic! https://the30492shop.fwscart.com/

Facebook is rubbish and I can’t wait to see it fold. It has a stranglehold on all forms of expression that is not good and it’s no surprise to see people leaving in droves. Don’t despair though if you are one of them as you can keep up with London Celtic Punks posts via group on the phone app Telegram. Similar to What’s App but completely free from outside interference. Join us on Telegram, don’t miss a single post and even receive the odd exclusive and special offer! https://t.me/londoncelticpunks/

Well we have been blown away by the response to the new London Celtic Punk badge. Not surprising really as they are so bloomin’ gorgeous. Just about the nicest bit of merchandise in Celtic-Punk if you ask me! Comes with butterfly clip and made in Ireland (Guaranteed Irish!) It’s available for just £5 – UK and £7 – EU post-paid and we’ll throw in a few stickers and a button badge too. For further overseas contact us and we’ll work it out. Send to Paypal (friends & family) to londoncelticpunks@hotmail.co.uk

Even though we hate it Facebook does supply the (very) occasional ray of sunshine so a shout out to some good friends of ours over on Facebook. The Dropkick Murphys- Fan Page and the Celtic Punk,  Folk And Rock Fans are two of the best music forums on FB let alone Celtic-Punk. Ran By Fans For Fans just like you and me. Like and join in the fun!

We end with something a wee bit different. No bagpipes or shouting but some beautiful acoustic music from Scots singer-songwriter Dan Wilson who records under the name WITHERED HAND. His fantastic debut album New Gods has just been re-released with bonus tracks.

A reminder too that we need your news so anything you would like to share with the rest of the Celtic-Punk scene send it onto us.

If you are new to the London Celtic Punks blog it is easy to subscribe / follow and never miss a post. Bands, promoters, record labels, venues send in any news to londoncelticpunks@hotmail.co.uk or via the Contact Us page.

NEW SINGLE: COXEY’S ARMY – ‘ You’re Gonna Make It ‘ (2022)

The new release from Coxey’s Army. A high energy quartet blending elements of Oi!, Streetpunk, Americana and Celtic music. Named after a historic moment in working class history that soon became a slang term referring to a ragtag band of society’s underclass.

Coxey’s Army formed in central Ohio in the fall of 2019 with the intent of producing it’s own brand of positive, community driven Punk-Rock. Taking their name from an early 20th century slang term referring to a ragtag band of society’s underclass, that is based on a very real slice of Ohio working class history, Coxey’s Army explores themes of hard work and perseverance accompanied by driving punk guitars and hints of Americana and Celtic music. As the founding lineup was finalised in the spring of 2020, the band’s beginnings were heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.  Determined not to let the pandemic stop them, Coxey’s Army worked tirelessly for a year laying a foundation for the band.

Engineered and produced by Aaron Cline *  Written by Nate Rising

Hold your head up high, you’re gonna make it.  Don’t let go of the light.

Hold your head up high, you’re gonna make it.  Whoa.  You’re gonna make it.

▪️

When the floor drops out from beneath your feet.

When there’s nowhere to turn and you face defeat.

Just call my name friend, and I’ll be there.

We’ll stick together when life ain’t fair.

▪️

Hold your head up high, you’re gonna make it.  Don’t let go of the light.

Hold your head up high, you’re gonna make it.  Whoa.  You’re gonna make it.

▪️

When your back’s against the wall and you haven’t got a clue.

I’ll be by your side, I’ll be there for you.

No matter where you go, how many miles you’ve gone.

You’re not alone, we will keep pressing on

⚒

Gang Vocals: Penelope Shumaker * Amanda Evans * Chy Mess * Molly Mess * Trey James

Coxey’s Army left to right: Nate Rising – Vocals / Bass * Ryan Evans – Drums * Ben Marshall – Guitars / Vocals * AJ Hutchison – Guitar / Vocals *

A 1994 documentary by the Massillon Museum that tells the tale of Jacob Coxey’s march on Washington DC in 1894, the first in history!

In 1894, Jacob S. Coxey, an owner of a sand quarry in Massillon, Ohio, faced financial crisis as the Panic of 1893 gripped the United States. On the way home one day and noticing the poor conditions of the road’s while many unemployed men walked the streets looking for work. He had the idea to put unemployed men to work towards problems like fixing roads. He took this idea and made the Good Roads Bill in 1892 for a federally financed road-building program to put the unemployed back to work. He presented it to Congress, but that’s as far as it went. Teaming up with Carl Browne to raise awareness and support for the bill, Browne and Coxey organised a march of unemployed men from Massillon to Washington, D.C., which left on Easter Sunday, March 25, 1894. It was called the Army Of The Commonweal but soon became nicknamed Coxey’s Army.

Coxey’s Army

The Army marched on foot across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland towards Washington D.C. As they approached the Capitol building their numbers had grown to 4,000 people and they met with 12,000 more at the capitol. As they prepared to speak to the crowd, Coxey, Browne and the third leader Christopher Columbus Jones were arrested for trampling the Capitol lawn. Washington DC had never dealt with protesters, and felt threatened and the protesters quickly dispersed upon its leader’s arrest. It was a turning point in American working class history and while Coxey’s Army may not have produced tangible results in 1894, but it was the precursor for the larger protest marches that were to follow.

Jacob Coxey would met with President Warren Harding in the White House to plea for the release of socialist Eugene Debs in 1921 and joined the Hunger March in 1931 in the early years of the Great Depression but eventually, at the age of 90, he would get the opportunity to give his speech on the steps of the Capitol in 1944 on the 50th anniversary of Coxey’s Army. He died in Masillon, Ohio in 1951, at the age of 97.

(You can stream and download You’re Going To Make it below)

Download You’re Going To Make It  Bandcamp

Contact Oxey’s Army  Facebook  Instagram  YouTube