Legendary Boston punk guitarist, Rick Barton (The Outlets / Dropkick Murphys / Continental) has a new solo album, Nowhere Man, out onOctober 20th. The album is not your usual punk’n’roll but old school rock and roll infused country. Check out the advance tracks on BandCamp.
The Go Set who hit twenty years together this year, 2023, are celebrating with the release of The Warriors Beneath Us, the band’s eighth studio album. I still remember receiving in the mail, Sing A Song of Revolution, The Go Set’s debut album back in 2005. I remember thinking that’s an odd name for a band, and the doggy black CD sleeve gave nothing away. Sing A Song of Revolution, almost ended up in the dreaded, to be listened to later pile. Fortunately for me, I played the sucker and it instantly blew me away, it’s still one of my favorite and one of the best Celtic punk releases “evah”! Every subsequent album by The Go Set has been superb. The Warriors Beneath Us reminds me most of the spirit and sound of the Sing A Song of Revolution.
West Into The Sun, kicks things off, with pipes, crunching guitars, a big brash course, and a tale of being press-ganged into the Royal Navy. Take Me Home and Horizons are both catchy, catchy, sing-along, guitar rockers. Speaking of catchy, Opportunities could be a radio hit. The Warriors Beneath Us, is another guitar rocker with some very slick guitar solos. Drink to the Night is a melancholy pub ballad. Raise Your Hands gets things cranking again. Broken Bones and Hearts kicks things into punk-rock overdrive. We Got The Numbers is a pro-union rabble-rouser. Things slow down on Tomorrow, a dark, war ballad of a soldier writing a letter home on the eve of the big offensive. On Gallows Bay, the pipes go up above 11, and it’s an absolute classic. Sunnyside of the Street closes and The Go Set puts a grungy stamp on The Pogues classic.
Providence based Shanty-punks (the original ones), Sharks Come Cruisin’, are releasing a new 7″, Pay Me My Money Down, in August. The single itself is pretty cool, it’s a handmade, lathe cut, made one at a time, record.
I’ve always thought of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania based Kilmaine Saints as a sort of junior Dropkick Murphys, a band with a huge sound, led by a wall of bagpipers. Same Again Tomorrow, the Kilmaine Saints fourth (as I count’em) full length album after repeated spins to these ears is the album to prove the Saints have stepped out of the shadows from behind the big boys and into their own light.
The album bravely kicks off with the infectious fiddle and pipe led, Fanfare, a bold statement of intent to who the band are today. The bagpipes wail on the intro to, Same Again Tomorrow, merging into some frantic fiddling and a chorus to kill for as the Saints recant the adventures of being a gigging band. Siobhan is catchy, more straight ahead Celtic rock that will be in the band’s live set for the foreseeable future. The Animals classic, The House of The Rising Sun, is a strange choice for a cover but the Saints pull it off and give it their own distinctive Celtic twist with fantastic vocals from Brendan Power and some slick guitar leads from Erich Arndt. Off The Wagon is a spunky singalong about you know what, somewhat reminiscent of The Peelers. McGowan’s Wake, builds and builds on dirty guitars into a piper’s farewell. Throwin’ Hands and The Plight are sing along, drink along, Celtic rockers. Nomad has a distinctly spunky eastern European sound. Rally ‘Round The Flag is a bagpipe rocker tribute to the legendary New York Irish brigade, the Fighting 69th, again with some nice leads. Things slow down with, State I’m In, a ballad of lost love, regret and the resulting drinking. Things crank up again to a neck breaking speed on Undivided. Same Again Tomorrow closes with the fine instrumental lament, The Blood of Cu Chulainn.
Kilmaine Saints, take a bow lads, this is a standout album. Now get back to AA.
Punk rock supergroup Ultrabomb, featuring the legendary Finny from the Mahones, the legendary Jamie from UK Subs and the more legendary Greg from Husker Du are touring the US in May.
May 11th St. Paul, MN Turf Club May 12th Winona, MN No Name Bar May 13th Chicago, IL Reggies May 15th Indianapolis, IN Melody Inn May 17th Memphis, TN Hi Tone May 18th New Orleans, LA The Parish at House of Blues May 19th Houston TX, The Secret May 20th Austin, TX Kick Butt Coffee May 21st San Antonio, TX Paper Tiger May 22nd Dallas, TX Three Links – Deep Ellum, TX May 24th Tucson, AZ 191 Toole May 25th Tempe, AZ Yucca Tap Room May 26th San Diego, CA Corazon Del Barrio May 27th Long Beach, CA Alex’s Bar May 28th Las Vegas, NV Backstage Bar & Billiards (SOLD OUT) May 29th Las Vegas, NV Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival May 31st Denver, CO HQ (without Barstool Preachers
Hello, is the fourth (or fifth?) full-length album by New England based Continental. Fronted by Boston punk legend, Rick Barton, along with his brother, David Alex Barton, formerly of The Outlets. Rick was a founding member of the Dropkick Murphy, playing guitar on their legendary albums, Do or Die, and, The Gangs All Here. Like The Outlets, Continental is a family affair as Rick is joined by son Stephen Barton on Bass as well as drummer Andrew Dickson and Paul Yu on lead guitar. Continental play punk-influenced rock’n’roll. The Clash is an obvious influence but I hear the melodies of the Beatles, the sleaze of the Rolling Stones, and the pop sensibility of Cheap Trick along side some dirty blues guitar. Continental is a very fine band and Hello is a fine album that deserves your attention.
The excellent, Langer’s Ball, are running a kickstarted fund raiser to defer some of the costs of their new album, Hold Tight. A great band and a worthy project. More details here.