Irish Central the web arm of The Irish Voice news paper is running a poll for the best Irish-American music of the decade - the choice of bands is narrow and even the bands that S'n'O readers would vote for the album choices are not the bands best release (Blackout anyone?).
Not to be confused with New Hampshire's The Galway Hook or a type of boat once common on the west coast of Ireland is The Galway Hooker Band. Only formed just over a year ago, "Hooker Style" is their 1st release from the Southern California based band. Most of songs presented here are interpretations of stuff by either Flogging Molly or The Pogues or older traditional. So what do these interpretations sound like? Imagine Paul Sr. from Orange County Choppers was fronting The Pogues - like that! Loud, aggressive and growling. And I bet they all own big bikes (especially the drummer Jacifer who must own a shit assed huge hog.)
We’re putting together the list of the best Celtic/Punk release of 2009 and would love to get your feedback. There will be 3 categories this year - top 10 releases - honorable mentions - and best new band. Either email me at shitenonions@comcast.net or post a comment below
Shite'n'Onions - Podcast#12 (Black Irish Texas/To Hell With The King)
Intro - Neck - Shite'n'Onions
01 - The Galway Hooker Band - Johnny Jump Up - Hooker Style
02 - Black Irish Texas - Get 'Em Off - To Hell With The King
03 - Jack Flash - Lauchlan Tigers - Jack Flash EP
04 - Mactalla Mor - US reggAe - New Colossus
05 - Black Irish Texas - A Pistol For Paddy Garcia (Intro) - To Hell With The King
06 - Black Irish Texas - Come Out Ye Black And Tans - To Hell With The King
07 - Bang on The Ear - Johnny O'Shea - Green Grass and Gravel Roads
08 - Finn's Fury - Auld Triangle - Paddy Rock Radio Vol. 3
09 - Jamie Clarke`s Perfect - Psychic TV - You Drove Me to It
10 - Black Irish Texas - Lower Middle Class - To Hell With The King
And if you keep waiting a hidden CD track from Black Irish Texas
2
http://media.libsyn.com/media/thescallywagshow/Shitecast_26.MP3
I’m not sure if the name Mactalla is a word play on Metallica? Could be, but somehow doubt it. I often complain in reviews about bands lack of originality - I'm not going to here. The angelic female vocals singing in Gaelic and the piano hint Enya, the electronica points to New Age but the wailing Highland pipes scream tartan army in full charge (and oh yeah they throw in a little reggae'n'pipes). In addition to originality all is done very well - I just can't figure out who is their fan base.
Black Irish Texas is just such a feckin' great name for a band! Bhoys, if you've any t-shirts send 'em my way. BIT are from Texas (obviously), and play Irish influenced punk-a-billy with a hint of Tex-Mex. The cover of The Pogues, "A pistol for Paddy Garcia" which intros “Come out you Black and Tans” is inspired and makes a huge statement to what the band are all about. The MacManus gang are dead. Long live the BIT.
Return......is the 3rd album (do people still use the term "album" or am I just an old fart?) from The Surfin' Turnips, a proudly regional English folk-punk band we've reviewed twice previously. Glad to say that like their main musical influence The Ramones, little or nothing has changed between releases - short catchy Ramones like punk, accordion, West Country accents, and familiar folk melodies - the little that has changes is that not every song is about drinking cider (now we have fishing and sheep shagging songs) - I guess we can call the "growth"
Strong debut here from the Reading, England based Smokey Bastards. Rough, gravelly and mostly acoustic folk punk - influenced obviously by The Pogues. Though when they crank the power they can give Flogging Molly a run for their money – the cover of “Tell Me Ma” and originals “Sprocket” and “Boys Who Left The Band” prove that. Also reminiscent of two great but under recognized English bands The Whisky Priests and The Singing Lions. Check it out!
http://www.myspace.com/smokeybastard
Black 47's new CD, Bankers and Gangsters, will be released in Feb. '09. AND... Larry Kirwan's new novel, Rockin' The Bronx will be published on the same date!!!
Recently Added & Upcoming Gigs
Dec 11 Keltic House, Fishkill, NY
Dec 12 Connolly's, Manhattan, NY
Dec 31 Connolly's, Manhattan, NY***
Mar 12 College of Staten Island, NY
Mar 13 Shamrock Festival, Washington DC
Mar 14 World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA
Mar 16 Showcase Live, Foxborough, MA
Mar 17 BB King's, NY, NY
Apr 9 Larry Kirwan, Record Collector, Bordentown, NJ
May 28 Blackthorn Resort, E. Durham, NY
May 29 E. Durham Irish Festival, E. Durham, NY
May 29 Blackthorn Resort, E. Durham, NY
