The
Killigans |
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The
Killigans
"One Step Ahead Of Hell"
Self-Released
Working-class Celt-Punk Rock from a working-class band,
the Killigans have set the bar high with "One Step
From Hell"... the question is... who's going to catch
them. Just when I thought the Killigans couldn't top their
previous "gem of a recording "Brown Bottle Hymnal"...
I was proven wrong once again with this amazing new release.
The Killigans have kicked it up a notch on this one with
stronger song-writing and vocals from Hoffman & Nebesniak,
and finely tuned musicianship throughout from this band
located in Lincoln, Nebraska.
"One Step From Hell" is chalk full of ballads
& anthems... this is music to sing to... to drink to....
or as in my case... listen to from start to finish for a
week straight and pick a new favorite track every day. The
Killigans are one the most underrated bands in the nation
within Celt-Punk Rock.... just goes to show that the national
media and record labels are still retarded when it comes
to gathering the best talent in the business.... maybe they
can prove me wrong and give this amazing band what they
deserve. Tracks
you need to know: "Prodigal Son", "Santy
Anno", "The Letter", "For Love Of
Country", "Through The Flames", "Kids
On The Street" and every fuckin’ other track...
just pick it up today you bastard.
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The
Killigans
"Brown Bottle Hymnal"
Self Released
The
Killigans hasn't been a stranger to Paddy Rock Radio as
you know with their track added to our Vol. 1 disc and their
airplay on our show. "Brown Bottle Hymnal" is
THE recording to beat for this years "Top 20 Celtic
Rock & Punk CD's" that we pick every year. Solid
throughout with both original and traditional songs done
in the explosive Celtic Rock/Punk sound that The Killigans
can only produce! With Hoffman's snarling vocals, Chris
Nebesniak's grinding guitars, the crash of Ben Swift on
drums, and the way that the whole band comes together with
fiddle, mandolin, whistle, and accordian.... brings forth
an amazing sound that many will try to mimic... and few
will ever acheive. Look out Tossers.... start sweating Flogging
Molly... The Killigans are coming... and they are bringing
an ever growing international following with them!
Tracks of interest: "Story of Tom Mathine", "The
Old Orange Flute" and "Lullaby For The Working
Man".
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The
Killdares |
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The
Killdares
"Any Given Element"
Mothership Productions
The
Killdares have released one hell of a disc here with their
fourth full-length release "Any Given Element".
The whole LP has that explosive energy of Alt-Celt Rock
with excellent musicianship with the added mix of fiddle/bagpipe
throughout.
Imagine an Alt-Rock band with great original song writing
and arranging... that decided to have a jam session with
some local Celtic musicians that worked to perfection and
caught it all on tape.... you would have "Any Given
Element".
If you are interested in the sounds of The Sandcarvers,
The Glengarry Bhoys, The Young Dubliners, Big Country, or
even U2 you will love this disc.
Tracks of interest: "September", "Calendar",
"Fragile", and "Daylight (Come and Go)".
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Kinfolk |
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Kinfolk
"This Land"
Self-released
Kinfolk
has a knack of writing damn good original Celtic songs for
a whole new generation. "This Land" fuses country,
folk, and Celtic all into one with great sing-a-long songs
for the whole family to enjoy. If you are a fan of The Elders,
The Prodigals, and The Saw Doctors you will fall in love
with "This Land".
Tracks of interest:
"Bound For New York City", "Donegal",
"Thingamajig",
and "I Blame The Whisky".
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The
Larkin Brigade |
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The
Larkin Brigade
"Paddy Keys For Mayor"
Self-released
If
someone had come up to me and said here is a Celt-punk group
from Boston with a piano player... I would have turned my
head and said maybe next time... however with just one listen
to a demo these guys sent me in 2005... and I was hooked.
"Paddy Keys For Mayor" captures a celtic-punk
band unplugged with great talents both musically and lyrically.
I could imagine these guys holding down a pub/saloon and
getting the rowdy crowd of drunks singing along while smashing
bottles over their heads.... you know... a good evening
of drinking amoungst friends!
For it being a first full-length release... it shows that
these boys have years of talent already under their belt.
Paddy Keys tickles the ivory with easy while providing snarling
and growling vocals with every track, Heavyset Joe shows
that every Cheeese head can play the fiddle like they were
born with it attached to their arm, while Paulie and Diesel
kick in the pounding bass and smashing/crashing drums. I
respect their original sound and amazing knack for song
writing... however if they pull out that Hammond organ on
their next release... I might just kill myself.
Tracks of interest: “We’re All Wicked Liquored
Up at the Upscale Downtown Irish Pub", "Banana
Republic ", and "Mission Thrill".
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Frank
Mackey & The Keltic Cowboys |
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Frank
Mackey &
The Keltic Cowboys
"Songs Of Longing & Debauchery"
Fire Ant Records
Frank
Mackey is the master-mind behind "THE MOST REQUESTED
SONG ON PADDY ROCK RADIO" since we started in 2000
with the amazing track "Kiss My Irish Ass". "Songs
Of Longing & Debauchery" has to be the most
radio-ready CD of any disc I've received... and actually
should be on the jukebox at any Irish pub for Paddy's Day!!
Chalk full of wit & humor and amazing musicianship...
who could ask for more? If you enjoy the sounds of The Skels,
Ceann, and Young Dubliners... you will get a kick out of
this CD... right in the pants.
Tracks of interest: "Kiss My Irish Ass", "Richard",
"Row Row Row", "I Won My Wife In A Pissin
Contest", "Promise Of A Better Life", and
"Soccer Tribe".
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The
Mahones |
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The
Mahones
"Take No Prisoners"
Stumble Records Finny
McConnell is back again with the Mahones and yet another
amazing release! "Take No Prisoners" is both
daring and diverse and chalk full of surprises. "The
Amsterdam Song", "Nancy Whiskey", "Whiskey
In the Jar" provide your Paddy Rock fix, while "Out
Of Control", "Take No Prisoners" smacks
you in the face with some true punk-rock, "The Weight
Of The World" crosses over to an almost Tom Waits
meets John Spencer's Blues Explosion, and "A Little
Bit Of Love", "Market Song (Devil You Know)",
and the track that gives MacGowan a run for his money
"Night train To Paris" slows it down a bit for
some of the best constructed ballads I've heard from Finny
to date. Having an All-Star cast of guests on this LP
like Scruffy Wallace (Dropkick Murphys), Ian D'sa (Billy
Talent), Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies), Psycho Dave (Brass
Knuckle Theropy), Kevin Quain (The Mad Bastards), Kai
(Universal Love Attack), and Damhnait Doyle (Shaye). I
must admit they all added a good splash of talent to the
mix, however the one artist that stood out from the rest
would have to be the amazing talents of Miranda Mullholland,
who has done great work with the Glengarry Bhoys, on violin.
While Finny is best known for mastering the fine art of
Celt-punk on his recordings over the years... "Take
No Prisoners" finally displays his true talents as
an artist and song-writer.
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Meisce |
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Meisce
"Bored Of The Dance"
-7" Vinyl Record-
Aborted Society Records
Meisce is back with an 7" vinyl EP... and
of course I'm always waiting for more music from these boys
from Seattle! "Bored of the Dance" has two of
my current favorite tracks from the band since their Self-Released
Self-Titled LP with "The Death of Michael Flatley"
and "Drunk & Alone" (Which you can also find
on Paddy Rock Radio Vol. 2). Meisce has taken their ORIGINAL
mix of gypsy/celt/Eastern European/Folk-Punk sound to a
whole new level on this 7" vinyl EP. It's great to
see where they are headed and how everyone else is waiting
to see what they are gonna do next! If you rock out to the
sounds of The Mahones, Gogolo Bordello, The Mutiny, or even
The Tossers... you had best start listening to Meisce...
if not... I'll tell your mom that you have no taste in good
music before I kick her out of bed... and who wants that?!
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Meisce
"Meisce"
Self-released
This
is a review done by Lisa Jarrett, since John Bowles has
been getting too many fans asking about this band.... and
he feels that Lisa is THE person who should do this review!
Many
people think that the best of Celtic punk in the United
States is only on the East coast, but the Seattle-based
band Meisce is more than happy to prove you wrong with their
2005 self-titled release.
From
start to end, your ears will be pleasantly surprised with
tracks such as "Ghosts of the Coal Mine" and
"A Virgin's Demise" while they also show their
more folk side with the tracks "Grey Sunday"
and "Gypsy Fiddle".
Overall,
this band is stellar and one of the best Celtic punk/rock/folk
bands on the West coast. Basically, when you come to Seattle,
there are three things you have to see.
1)
Pike Place Market
2) The Space Needle
3) Meisce
This
CD is a definite must-buy that will be in your rotation
along the Pogues and the Dropkick Murphys right at the
first listen.
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Mother
Grove |
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Mother
Grove
"5th"
Self-Released
Mother
Grove has coined the term 'Kilt Rock' with their extensive
touring around the nation with their amazing music for years.
On their 5th album, happily named "5th", there
is a continuation of this Celt-Rock sound that has influenced
many bands in the Midwest since their last studio recording
of "Tri" in 2004. This is chaulk full of great
acoustic 'Kilt Rock' with amazing percussion by Ron Fife
(this guy owns the drums), excellent fiddle work by Laura
Adams, pounding bass by Jim Farley, the man behind the pipes
and whistles with John Holland, and frontman Brad Sprauer
on guitar and vocals just keeping this whole group of mad
musicians together.
Although they wouldn't be known to turn their amps to 11....
this band will have the crowd bouncing and drinking at any
festival or pub all night long. "5th" may be great
overall disc with a consistant flow and even some surprises...
I feel that if this was offered as a double disc along with
"Tri" or even their "Live at the Dublin Pub"
disc... I feel you would have a great overall package of
the power they have in Celtic Rock. So I suggest picking
up all three and have a party with the lads.
If you like the sounds of Siochain, The Sandcarvers, Reilly,
or even Enter The Haggis... you will enjoy this disc.
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Mr.
Irish Bastard |
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Mr.
Irish Bastard
"St. Mary's School Of Drinking"
Reedo Records
Mr.
Irish Bastard was brought to my attention from one of our
street team members a little while ago. When they handed
me the CD I thought it was to be yet another DKM cover band...
but I was more wrong than I have ever been. Mr. Irish Bastard's
music is best explained as... aggressive Celt-Punk that
goes down easy. The only problem I had with the CD was not
that is was repetative... not that it was lacking in talent...
each track is amazing... the only thing was that there is
only 7 tracks!! I'm a greedy Irish bastard when it comes
to great music... if this is the first release from these
boys I can't wait to pick up the next!
If you enjoy the sounds of the Skels, Tossers, DKM, Charm
City Saints, or The Killigans... you will love this disc!
Pick your copy up today!
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The
Mutiny |
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The
Mutiny
"Co Op Brewery"
Fistolo Records
The Mutiny is one of Australia's premier "Folk Punk
For Punk Folk" acts. "Co-Op Brewery" is one
of the best CD's I received in 2006 which made our Top 20
CD list at #15 of all the bands from all over the world
that we receive every day. Since their previous releases
(Rum Rebellion, Bag Of Oats, etc.), their is a noticable
improvement in musicianship, flow, and songwriting towards
one fine oiled music machine that I feel could knock most
of the bands in the Folk-Punk genre right off the stage!
If you love the sounds of The Tossers, The Mahones, The
Pogues, The Peelers, or Meisce you will love this disc!
Pick your copy up today or I'll smash you over the head
with my fucking Mandolin!
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New
Element |
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New
Element
"All Four One"
Self-Released
New
Element hasn't been a stranger to us here at Paddy Rock
Radio over the years. When Paddy Rock Radio started in
2000 they were one of the many bands that I would see
at local Chicagoland pubs and I was blown away by their
skillful musicianship on stage. Since their previous release
"Journeys" which had made an impact on the Chicagoland
area years back... "All Four One" has finally
captured them at their best, or as I like to put it, "Masterful
Contemporary Celtic music with an added twist." Combining
a great Celtic Rock sound with the addition of traditional
instruments is nothing new to us here at Paddy Rock Radio,
however the added touch that makes for a original and
unique sound is the sounds from the Hammer Dulcimer. The
best way to get an understanding of just how great this
band is, next to buying this CD, you should catching them
live at a venue near you!
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Darby
O'Gill and The Little People |
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Darby
O'Gill & The Little People
"Live"
Self Released
No,
I'm not talking about the Sean Connery movie that was
written by a crack head... I'm talking about one of the
best damn bands from the West Coast that not only makes
my
crazy ass sing along with the songs (both traditional,
covers, and original) but cracks me up to no end. Darby
O'Gill and The Little People are one of the very few acts
that combine amazing wit, musicianship, and humor into
their live shows to perfection. "Live" captures
this amazing band of swearing drunkin' hooligans in their
true element ...live on stage at Fado Irish Pub in Henderson,
Nevada, and I can see why they are gaining a buzz nationwide
with notes in Spin Magazine and with requests coming to
us from all over to play their music on Paddy Rock Radio.
This is a band that brings a tear to my eye and I hold
them dear to my heart... as one of the best Celt-Rock
Party bands in the country! Darby O'Gill is more than
a band... more than a live act... they are an experience
that will entertain and make you scream "F*ck You"
to the band with glee... and having you come back for
more!
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