May 1, 2012

Smokey Bastard are a frantic, banjo centric, folk-punk outfit outta London with their second album, TALES FROM THE WASTELAND, a strong follow-up to their strong debut, CRASHING THROUGH FLOORS. To my ears Smokey Bastard occupy the middle ground somewhere between The Pogues and Dropkick Murphys with a nod of the head towards Springsteen and his Seeger Sessions Band- Mrs McGRATH/My SON JOHN get’s a good kicking here, and ASPIRATIONS, I HAVE SOME name checks Springsteen himself. My guilty pleasure though? MAMMA MIA the old ABBA chestnut, Celtic-punk hasn’t been so much fun since Mr. Irish Bastard went Living La Viva Loco.