Celtic punk is not an exclusive preserve of those with Celtic genes or even the English (Hiberno-English) speaking world. We’re all familiar with the great bands from Germany and Japan and even Indonesia playing Celtic punk. But did you know there is a French-Canadian scene and it does not include The Mahones even though Finny move the band to Quebec. We’ve previously reviewed releases from Farler’s Fury now I present you francophiles with Bodh’aktan. Disagree with me that fidddles, French and fecking jigs and Reels don’t work then listen to either A Borie or Le medley du mal de pieds – still disagree after an ear full then your the Duke of Wellington.
It would be hard to write a review of anything by Germany’s Auld Corn Brigade without mentioning the Dropkick Murphys. So we might as well get it outta the way, so here goes, Auld Corn Brigade’s new four track EP/10′ vinyl goes a long way to reinforce my belief that the Germany Celtic-punks are the best off the bunch of the new Dropkick Murphys inspired bands. Sure their not clones, the fiddles and the female co-lead vocals differentiates them but still, if you love the DKM chances are you’ll love the ACB – got the alphabet going here!
The 4 track EP includes a great cover of the Christy Moore / Moving Hearts song of the Spanish Civil International Brigade, Viva la Quinta Brigada, and something called the Helicopter Song (about a prison break from Dublin’s Mountjoy) that must be a Wolfe Tones cover (help me out here) and two other great tracks. Recommended to lovers of Celtic-punk and especially DKM lovers.
Handsome Young Strangers is a strange name for an Aussie folk-punk band, it doesn’t have the ring that I would expect for a bunch of colonial punks – it sounds way more lizard lounge or the like if you ask me. But like follow Crocodile Hunters (is that too much of a cliche?) The Currency, Mutiny and Jack flash, HYS mix Australian folk standard such as Augathella Station and Lachlan Tigers with their own originals, all done in a Stones-ish meets crusts folk punk around the camp fire with the XXXX cracked open. G’d stuff indeed mate.
Devil or the Barrel showcases The Langers Ball mark (iii). Originally a two person due of Michael and Hannah the MN based Langers Ball released two fine Celtic-rock albums SHIPS ARE SAILING and AND AS I ROVED OUT then expanded to a full band for the live DRUNK, SICK, TIRED. The Langers then reverted back to mark (i) briefly before expanding back to a full 5 piece and picking some very fine musicians in the process including Mr. Drew Miller of BOLIED IN LEAD fame (and the Omnium record label that release the two Shite’n’Onions comps). The sound is certainly beefed up on THE DEVIL OR THE BARREL yet stays true to the original sound of the duo – high energy Celtic folk rock meets Americana – though if they consume the whiskey like the way the sing about it I fear the next Kickstarter project these guys run will be to pay for five liver transplants.
Coaster is a fine Paddy-punk album from CA’s Brick Top Blaggers – speedy and spunk Irish influence folk punk with just the right mix of tradition and rock’n’roll bound together by love of the rare ‘ol mountain dew (and maybe even The Pogues) – reminiscent of Sir Reg and Flogging Molly. The Oregon Song is outstanding and a must hear.
I Just spent about 24 hours with ANGELS AND DEVILS the new album from THE MAHONES. On a first listen it’s obvious that the album continues on in the hard edged Celtic Punk direction of The Black Irish though the sound on ANGELS AND DEVILS is just huge; a reflection of time and money spent in Montreal’s best studio. The other thing I immediately noticed is the big dirty guitars with my mind immediately jumping to The Replacements and Husker Du.
The easiest way for me to do a review is a track-by-track summary, so here yah go………
Shakespeare Road – A big sounding autobiographical Celtic punk epic about Finny’s time living in a London squat and playing in a punk band back in the 80’s with his infamous cousin Rory. While the screen doors ain’t flapping in the wind on Shakespeare Road they would be if the doors hadn’t been kicked in and the windows smashed.
Angel and Devils, the title track (obviously) is an in your face Celtic punk rocker with some familiar Mahones melodies; a tribute to the scene.
Spanish Lady, a hyper kinetic cover of the Irish standard. Finny’s growling voices duels with the Murphy’s helium sucking Ken Casey. I believe this is the 1st time Ken has guested on anyone elses album.
Medley : Cruel Of Turf / The Pigeon On The Gate / The Battle Of Aughrim – a Celtic punk instrumental that sounds like The Chieftains broke into the Brixton squat on Shakespeare Road, sniffed some glue and started playing – maniac.
Angel Without Wings / Merry Christmas Baby – A big sounding ballad sort of Fairy tale Of New York meets Girl With Galway Eyes/Little Bit Of Love. Great track but not sure if it works in the album’s running order.
The Waiting picks up the pace again. A strong sing along with a SLF feel which maybe is because SLFs Jake Burns guests on guitars.
The King Of Copenhagen, now we’re sucking diesel and The Mahones are ripping up a storm up and down the Autobahns.
Past The Pint Of Now Return is fast, punkie and fokie with The Mahones re-live the high jinks – scratch that – drunk debauchery of their recent German tour and at the mention of the Dropkick Murphys a voice familiar from Spanish Lady jumps in to honor the ghost of Brendan Bean.
Medley : The Connaught Man’s Rambles / Christmas Eve Reels / Johnny’s On Fire – the fecking Chieftains ain’t moving and its 4 in the morning and they have polished off the Carlsberg Special Brew and Poitín- feckin’maniac!
Whiskey Train, a Mahones album would not be complete without a song with Whiskey in the title. This time it’s a Whiskey train they are riding it Johnny Cash on Paddy Whiskey style through Belfast – No Bushmills here, Finny is a good Catholic bhoy and wouldn’t touch any of that heathen filth.
The Revolution Starts Now, takes up the political cudgel of Blood Is On Your Hands, my favorite track on Black Irish, and starts pounding again.
Makes No Sense At All slows down the pace, just a touch and is reminiscent of the Here Comes Lucky period Mahones meets Husker Du……..just informed it is actually a Husker Du cover from 1985’s Flip Your Wig.
The album finishes with a bonus track, Tin Soldiers, a fantastic Stiff Little Fingers cover
20 plus years in the game and The Mahones sill got it, they manage to keep thing fresh yet keep the old fans happy. Is Angel and Devils the Mahones finest album? Hard to answer, that’s kind of like asking a parent who their favorite child is but let’s say this child is getting a shiny new bike this Christmas.
Digger’s is the new 5 track EP from one of my favorite bands of the last few years – Circle J from the Netherlands. If you haven’t had the pleasure then these lads can be best described as holding the musical middle ground somewhere between (old) Flogging Molly and Norway’s Greenland Whalefishers and they hold that ground very, very well. No surprises, no frills just straight ahead rowdy Celtic’punk’n’roll and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Highlight (amongst many)? The Legend of Robert Morgan.
Here’s something outta left field – Celtic-progressive-rock from Italy. SATYRICON is Materdea’s second album and its chocker-block full of big contemporary metal riffs and fancy drumming along with operatic female vocals and strong vocal harmonies overlaid with Celtic and medieval teamed lyrics and melodies. The best point of reference I can give is a sound somewhere between Celtic rock originators Horslips and the symphonic metal band Nightwish (we at least their cover of Gary Moore’s OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY- I’m not familiar with the rest of Nightwish’s stuff)
Norway’s Greenland Whalefishers are one of Celtic-punks longest running and consistently great bands and while they are very much routed in the sounds of The Pogues (right down to Arvid’s out MacGowning MacGowan’s vocals) though with a nod to both ’77 and current punk influences.
Live At Farmer Phil’s Festival is a no frills, in the raw recording of the GWFs set at the quirky Farmer Phil’s Festival in the UK and it really capture the power of the GWFs live set that has bashed heads from Poland to California and Japan and is now bashing heads on vinyl. The vinyl package is classy, high quality, blue wax including tons of photos on the inner sleeve – buy it before its gone, it will be a collectors item shortly.
1. 4 Season Song 2. Hit the Ground 3. Waiting 4. I Just Saw You 5. I Am Roving 6. July Morning 7. Rich Holder At Thorp Arch 8. Backup Man 9. Limp Jos Story 10. Loboville 11. The Wild Rover
Poor Troubled Life is the quick follow-up to last years “most excellent” ((c) Bill and Ted) debut full length release, OLD DIRT ROAD, and we continue down the old dirt road here on this EP – of course the Old Dirty is part boreen, part Route 66 and part moonshine trail. Not a bad track in sight but special shout out is given to the shout it out, Flogging Molly-ish, SELFISH BASTARD, the Irish traditional, GALWAY BAY, given the ol’ Celtic punk treatment and the Americana of the title track Poor Troubled Life, a song with really cross over potential.
Shite'n'Onions 