I’ve been listening to a lot of old Outlaw Country recently, especially Steve Earle, Towns Van Zandt and through them I discovered this gentleman, Blaze Foley, probably the most authentic outlaw of them all. Live at the Austin Outhouse is a limited edition RSD release of a recording of one of Foley’s last live shows – recorded in 1989, 3 months before he was shot dead. The recording was originally supposed to have been a fundraiser for the homeless in Austin but the then cassette only release ended up being used to raise funds to have Foley’s body freed from the undertakes and to give him a decent burial. Bad luck, bad behavior and an unwillingness to ever compromise ment Foley was pretty much unknown outside the Austin bar scene (where he was pretty much banned from most of the venues in the city – the Austin Outhouse had just let him start playing again). His legend has grown in his death primarily due to the absolute strength of his songwriting – John Prine and Tim Barry have both covered his masterpiece Clay Pigeons, while Towns Van Zant and Lucinda Williams both recorded tributes to Blaze. This is the absolute real deal and not that bad Bon Jovi ballad like shite that Nashville brands as country music these days. For more on Blaze checkout Ethan Hawks biopic of Foley or the documentary Duct Tape Messiah.
Raglan Road: Raglan Road
Despite being named after a Dublin street made famous by Patrick Kavanagh’s poem, Raglan Road, are from the eastern seaboard of Canada. Their self titled debut album is a very fine slice of Celtic-rock with the obvious maritime influences. There are some great vocal harmonies to be found here. Reminiscent of the Great Big Sea and The Town Pants (Lamenter’s Lament is covered). A nice start though hoping for more originals on the next album.
The Krusty Moors: A Good Strong Start…
2020 sees the Krusty Moors celebrate their 20th year together and as the house band of the legendary Scruffy ‘s Irish pub in Karlsrube, Germany. Well, I guess after 20 years this is a good strong start..
If you don’t know the Moors, they are one of Germanys finest purveyors of rowdy Celtic-folk pub rock. Somewhat reminiscent of The Levellers at times. A Good Strong Start is a nice collection of originals mixed in with some standards and a great cover of The Wonder Stuff‘s, Welcome To The Cheap Seats. Here’s to the next twenty years, lads.
The Real McKenzies: Beer & Loathing
Beer and Loathing, is the new album from one of Celtic-punks oldest and longest running bands, the manic bagpipe wailing, Canadian-Scots punks, The Real McKenzies. Beer and Loading is a solid McKenzies album once you get beyond the dud of an opening track, Overton Bridge, i.e fast and punky with bagpipes and sounding just like The Real McKenzies.
The Mahones: Unplugged
I’m not sure if Unplugged was ever released as a physical product, I think it may just be an online only release. Unplugged is a best of The Mahones recorded live and unplugged in the studio. It’s nice to hear some old favorites in a new stripped down format and Unplugged continues to prove what I’ve always said, that Finny McConnell is a really great songwriter. In addition to the Mahones originals, the Johnny Cash cover of NINs Hurt is covered. Hopefully I can get my grubby paws on physical copy. In the meantime it’s here on SoundCloud.
https://www.facebook.com/TheMahones
Shite’n’Onions on Spotify
I know we all hate Spotify but sometimes if you can’t beat’em you have to join’em. So here is the official Shite’n’Onions playlist as it stands with 8 hours of the best Celtic-punk.
The Muckers: Irish Goodbye
Irish Goodbye, is the follow-up from The Muckers to their excellent last release, One More Stout. If you haven’t heard The Muckers (and why not?), they are a very fine Georgia based, Celtic-pub-rock outfit.
Irish Goodbye, is a folk-rocking album of both originals and covers. I love their galloping version of the Wolfe Tones, Rock on Rockall, and the cover of The Rumjacks, My Time Again. The Ramones, Sheena is a Punk Rocker, has been transformed into, Saoirse is a Folk Rocker. Their original, Buzzards Bay, is a nautical throwback to lead Mucker, Jeff Shaw’s time in New Bedford’s, The Pourmen, while, Out On My Ass, is a great piece of hedonistic alt-Country.
The Placks: Rebellious Son (7”)
Not to be confused with an earlier CDEP release of the same name, Rebellious Son is a new, limited edition 7” single from the Scottish Highlands based, The Placks, one of the best bands to emerge onto the Celtic-punk scene in the last couple of years. Side A, Rebellious Son, is a huge sounding, Celtic-punk ballad singalong with a football terrace chorus. The flip side is way more punky (with underlying Celtic instrumentation), a throwback to front-man, Iain Kilgallon’s, street-punk roots. Grab it on vinyl while it’s still available.
https://www.facebook.com/the.placks/
Podcast #120
Neck – The Foggy Dew
The Currency – 888
The Mighty Regis – Paddy Don’t Live In Hollywood
The Electrics – Caledonia
The Rumjacks – An poc ar buile
The Placks – The Bomb, the Bullet & the Gun
Medusa’s Wake – Seldom Sober
Medusa’s Wake – Convict’s Tale
Sharks Come Crusin’ – Three Score and Ten
The Mahones – Shake Hands With The Devil
The Mickey Finns – The Ballad Of Duffy’s Cut
The Fisticuffs – Dublin’s Coming Home
Podcast #119
Prydein – Run Run Away
The Mahones – The Hunger & The Fight
The Placks – Rebellious Son
The Placks – The Mountain Men
Clovers Revenge – Old Hag, You Have Killed Me-Dinny Delaney
Clovers Revenge -The Merry Misadventures Of Sister Mary Margaret
The Tosspints – Blood or Whiskey
Neck – Psycho Ceilidh Mayhem Set
Biblecode Sundays One Step Beyond
Devil’s Advocates – Taneytown
Shite'n'Onions 