September 2, 2015

The idea of a concept album always scares me, seventeen minute tracks of acid induced musical wanking is not my thing.  Well, happy to say the Mahones avoid any temptation of prog rock glory. The Hunger & The Fight part two leaves the old world and takes on the Irish experience in the new world.

Reamhra, an Uileann pipe air introduces part two and and at the same time bids farewell to the old world. Punk Rock Saved My Life, sets the tone of Hunger & The Fight 2 sounding like the Clash / Husker Du at full speed. Sea of Skeletons slows down the pace and is classic Mahones, the song is a reflection back on the coffin ship journey of the famine emigrants and future struggles to overcome.  The Irish Brigade ramps up the tempo and is in tribute to the legendary original fighting Irish. Turn This Town is the albums love song an ode to the Lower East Side but may just a bit more punkie then previous Finny McConnell ballads. JFK is haunting and of course pays tribute to the Irish in America’s greatest triumph and tragedy. An instrumental The Hunger & The Fight Overture is a melody of the tracks from disk one and again links the two albums together.  Riot Tonight, is another Clash inspired punk rocker bringing the theme of know your rights into the 21st century.  Fuck You is pure hardcore, I never imagined Katie could vocally spit nails they way she does on FU – I’m sure it will be a hit at Irish festivals from Toronto to Tijuana. The final 3 tracks, all covers, fall out side the concept (Yes would never do that) but are all damn fine – SLFs Alternative Ulster,  the traditional Parting Glass done more Mahones then Clancy Brothers and Thin Lizzy’s Dancing in the Moonlight, a tribute to fallen brother Cuzo.

The Hunger & The Fight two continues on the masterpiece of part one and while harder and much more punk then the first, both need to exist side by side and played together.

April 26, 2005

Not a new release by any shot, but I just got my hands on Whiskey Devils – A Tribute to The Mahones (cheers Finny for passing on). The tribute was put together to celebrate The Mahones 20th anniversary (they just hit 25 years last Paddy’s day). Obviously with a such a strong back catalog there were plenty of classic and seminal Celtic punk songs to choose from and 19 of The Mahones most legendary track are presented here with not a duff version amongst them. I have to call out a few of the tracks as must hears; Drunk Lazy Bastard as interpreted by The Popes (its all bad attitude), Shake Hands With The Devil a frigging incredible almost industrial/metal version by the Bloody Irish Boys, the down and out London by Paul-Ronney Angel and Aaron Chapman‘s lounge lizard sleaze of Cocktail Blue.

The Popes (England) – Drunken Lazy Bastard
The Peelers (Canada) – Rise Again
Brutus’ Daughters (Spain) – Take Me Back
Paul-Ronney Angel (England) – London
Roughneck Riot (England) – Across The USA
Drink Hunters (Spain) – Take No Prisoners
The Vandon Arms (U.S.A.) – Down The Boozer
The Ryan Brothers (Canada) – Streets Of New York
Bastards On Parade (Spain) – Paint The Town Red
The Bloody Irish Boys (U.S.A.) – Shake Hands With The Devil
Aaron Chapman (Canada) – Cocktail Blue
Drunken Dru (Canada) – Is This Bar Open Til’ Tomorrow?
Pladdohg (U.S.A.) – Whiskey Devils
Black Friday (England) – There She Goes
The Gobshites (U.S.A.) – A Drunken Night In Dublin
Hit The Bottle Boys (U.S.A.) – Queen & Tequila
Paddy McCallion (Ireland) – Back Home
Cabor Toss (Canada) – Drunken Lazy Bastard (Live)
Mark Gilligan (Ireland) – Girl With Galway Eyes