Hard Time In The Country is a return to early form for The Langer’s Ball after the full band excursions of their most recent releases. Like the first couple of releases by TLB, Hard Time In The Country is a guy (Michael Strum) and girl (Hannah Rediske) acoustic duo doing contemporary interpretations of Irish folk, Americana, protest folk and Motorhead (really!).
Hard Time In The Country is a richly and beautifully performed album where each song seems to effortlessly gel together whether it’s a Billy Bragg cover (Constitution Hill), or an original (Hoist Your Cup High), or a traditional standard (Parting Glass) or even Motorhead’s 1916 (which really, really works a folk song)
LDR is a testament to the unrelenting spirit of Finny McConnell and The Mahones. Life sucks at times – health fails, relationships end, loved ones die, and all you can do is pick yourself up and keep going. Though sometimes moving forward involves revisiting the past as The Mahones have musically done on Love + Death + Redemption , moving back towards the classic Mahones sound of the mid 2000s and before i.e. not as punky as as The Hunger and The Fight (though stuff like, Win Some, Lose Some, show the Mahones can still pogo with the best of ‘em). Love + Death + Redemption is is the Mahones moving forward and hey it’s gonna be alright.
I’ve been a long time fan of Chicago’s (and formally Nashville’s) Pete Berwick’s bad attitude and cheap beer cowpunk. Island, Berwick’s sixth full length solo album in an almost 40 year career, backed by The Mugshot Saints, to these ears sounds like Pete has mellowed a wee bit. The Island is less cowpunk and more traditional outlaw country – Cash, Jennings and Haggard or even Steve Earle. While Pete’s previous albums could be described as the musical equivalent of a brawl at some rundown rural roadhouse, Island is more the older guy sitting on the porch, drinking that cheap beer and reminiscing of a life well live and battles well fought with not a single damn regret.
The now long running musical merger of McDermott’s 2 Hours, one of the forefathers of the whole Celtic-punk scene and their prodigy The Levellers has been joined by UK folk rock institution Oysterband on Nick Burbridge’s swansong for McDermott’s 2 Hours, Besieged.
If your not familiar with the work of singer, songwriter, playwright & poet Nick Burbridge, he is one of the finest Anglo-Irish songwriters and lyricists, a Beckett or Kavanagh to MacGowan’s Behan or even a Springsteen in his lyrical imaginary of the ordinary or downtrodden.
I’ve had a copy of Besieged since 2017, I listened continual to it though 2018 as I waited to be given the ok to review the advance copy. I can say it truly that Besieged is a great album, brilliantly crafted songs and lyrics and beautifully produced. An album that has passed the test of 12 months. The only question is Besieged the best album of 2017, 2018 or 2019?
The Road Not Taken is an impressive release from these Celtic son’s of France. The Road Not Taken is Sons of O’Flaherty first full length release following up on the band’s debut 5 track EP from a few years back. The Sons of O’Flaherty straddle the ground between the big boys of Celtic-punk, DropkIck Murphys and Flogging Molly. Closer to the Mollies then the Murphs but also reminiscent to the Swedish/Irish lads Sir Reg. Sons of O’Flaherty are tight, talented and a band to watch out for.
Personal favorites include “Saint or Sinner” and one of the best versions of “Fields of Athenry” I’ve ever heard.
I remember reading a quote about the original line-up of Motorhead (Lemmy, Larry Wallis and Lucas Fox). It went something like “If this band moved in next door to you, your lawn would die”. This quote comes to mind as I listen to Boobies, Banjos, Bagpipes & Beer the third full length by Kingston New York’s Alternative Ulster, however I’m thinking not only would your lawn die but your house would feckin fall down cos Alternative Ulster have bagpipes that go
It’s been a while since I’ve heard anything from Yonkers NY Shilelagh Law. Auld School is the band’s seventh album (I think the last one I heard was either the first or second release). Auld School according to the press release is a return to the bands Irish roots after moving to a more polished sound on recent releases. To me Auld School is reminiscent of those early releases – High energy, stripped down, sing-along interpretations of Irish-American standards that should be on everyone’s Paddy’s day playlist. Still New York’s finest.
Tracks on compilation albums are like friends. You can find good friends like Sir Reg, Greenland Whalefishers and The Go Set. There are friends you have lost touch with and need to reconnect with – The Porters, The Killigans and Kilkenny Knights. Friends that you need to get to know better – Mickey Rickshaw and Hoist the Colors and of course friends that you haven’t met until now. Raise Your Pints – Vol.2 is a very good compilation and if you want to know what is going on in the European scene the MacSlon is the man.
Tracks list:
1 The Rogues from County Hell – MacSlon’s 2 The Cloves and the Tobacco – Too Much Trouble 3 Kilkenny Knights – Mick Watson 4 Irish Stew Of Sindidun – One Way Ticket 5 The Killigans – From The Underground 6 The Mullins – 9 To 5 7 The Go Set – Holdfast 8 The O’Reillys & The Paddyhats – Sign Of The Fighter 9 Billy Treacy – Temple Bar 10 Sir Reg – All Saints’ Day 11 Hoist The Colours – Mourners 12 Mickey Rickshaw – Nonprofit Warfare 13 Uncle Bard & The Dirty Bastards – I Only Got One Pint 14 Paddy and the Rats – Lonely Hearts’ Boulevard 15 BalticSeaChild – Fool In The Rain 16 Drink Hunters – Celtic Punks 17 Airs & Graces – 4 Corners 18 The Moorings – Drink Up Fast 19 The Porters – Son Of This Town 20 The Clan – Horns Up And Fight 21 Greenland Whalefishers – The Letter
Making a mix tape or a comp CD is almost a lost art. Happy to say the art isn’t lost on Nico of MacSlons Irish Pub Radio. An amazing nineteen tracks in all and like all great comps it comes with old friends and a few friends you haven’t met before. Old friends include Kilkenny Knights, Flatfoot 56, The Real McKenzies and The Rumjacks. New friends include The Black Tartan Clan, Rovers Ahead and 1916. Check it out, you’ll too find some new friends.
Full tracklisting: 01. Kilkenny Knights – Raise your Pints 02. Rovers Ahead – Ghost Of Anne Reily 03. The Clan – Paddys Day 04. The O`Reilys & The Paddyhats – Barrels of Whiskey 05. The Black Tartan Clan – Standing Strong 06. Scordisci – Birdies Song 07. Airs & Graces – Troubles 08. The Ramshackle Army – The Fire is burning 09. The Real McKenzies – Catch me 10. Flatfoot 56 – Take Hold again 11. The Ceili Family – Alive 12. The Roughneck Riot – Parasites 13. The Rumjacks – No Pockets in a Shroud 14. Mr. Irish Bastard – Kingdom of the Sun 15. Creeds Cross – The Irish Band 16. In Search of a Rose – If You Got A Pint 17. Smokey Bastard – Archipelago 18. 1916 – For Whiskey 19. Bastards – Drink the City
From the former whaling city of Providence, Rhode Island comes SCC with their second full length collection of raw, acoustic sea shanties and before the mast maritime fare with just enough rum and snarl to keep the punks happy. Lovers of early Pogues or Tony Duggans solo stuff will love.
I must call out the physical product. Three years in the making , Kettle Jane, is release in the form of a book of maritime art by Rhode Island based traditional and tattoo artists inspired by the songs on Kettle Jane.
Track Listing:
Rolling Down the River Greenland Whale Fisheries Jolly Rovin Tar Charts Three Score and Ten Whup Jamboree Can’t you Dance the Polka
Shite'n'Onions 