All posts by Mustard Finnegan

Review

The Radiators from Space: Trouble Pilgrim

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The Radiators from Space were (are) a band way ahead of their time. They were the first Irish punk band – formed in Dublin back in the mid-seventies. Their first 7” single “Television Screen” is a major punk classic and the first punk single to break the top 20 anywhere in the world. Rolling Stone Magazine ranks “Television Screen” as the best of all the early punk singles. The band released 2 classic LP’s the fast and furious “TV Tube Heart” and the very clever “Ghostown” – unfortunately by the time “Ghostown” hit the shelves punk was dead or at least it’s openness to new ideas was dead and the Rads were way too cleaver for the cartoon punk had become. The band members went their separate ways. Phil Chevron (guitar and vocals) as you all know joined The Pogues, Pete Holidai (guitar) became a member of great 80’s band Light a Big Fire (and the first band I ever saw live at the age of 14 in Arnotts Department Store of all places) and Steve Rapid (vocals) told some band from Dublin called The Hype their name sucked and they should try something cool like “U2” as a name – they did and Bono’s being annoying us since.

In 2003 the band decided to get back together and put out a couple of CD EPs of re-recorded versions of their early classics including an explosive live version of “Television Screen” and “Kitty Ricketts” with new (and now since departed) bass player Cait O’Riordan handling vocals giving the song an extra snarling sleazy edge.

28 years after the release of “Ghostown” the Rad’s have released their 3rd CD, “Trouble Pilgrim” and what a great CD it is. Possibly the best real rock CD I’ll hear this year or next. Everything is about this CD is first class – the songs, the lyrics, the playing, the production. The music is trashy punk, heavily influenced by the early 70’s American punk sound (Iggy & The Stooges, The MC5 and The New York Dolls) mixed with classic British glam (Bowie, Mott the Hoople and T Rex) and 60’s bubble gum pop (Beatles, Byrds). The Joe Strummer tribute “Joe Strummer” is a must hear as is “Huguenot” and the re-recorded “Hinterland”.

Dated? No, not at all, in fact if the Rads weren’t a bunch of Irish men, aged 50 plus but say 25 year old Glaswegians they would be on the cover of Rolling Stone today as the future of Rock’n’Roll. Any justice in this world? No, but let just be thankful that great bands like The Radiators from Space are still making great music for the love of it because it’s music that needs to be heard.

Paddy Rollingstone

PS Check out this indepth and spot on review of “Trouble Pilgrim” by Boz of The Steam Pig – Rabble Rouser Reviews and Sean Holland excellent review of “The Very Best of” for Shite’n’Onions

2007

Review

Frank Mackey & The Keltic Cowboys: Songs of Longing & Debauchery

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I don’t mean this in a bad way but Frank Mackey & The Keltic Cowboys reminds me a hell of a lot of The Charlie Daniels Band – the high energy fiddle I guess (and the bum on the cover looks a bit like ol’ Charlie) – thought it’s a drunken Irish-American frat boy Charlie Daniel’s leading the “toga, toga” chant on St. Patrick’s Day. Lot’s of fun and perfect for that Paddy’s Day party.

2007

Review

Larkin: Alexandra

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Long time S’n’O readers (know as the shitebags) will be well familiar with the mighty Tulsa based Larkin. Larkin contributed 2 tracks to Shite’n’Onions Vol. 2. and I’m very please to report to the shitebags that there is no change to Larkin’s familiar Pogues inspired sound on Alexandra their new 6 track (+ 1 hidden) track EP. The music is still raw, powerful Irish folk-punk with a huge nod to The Pogues and Barney Murray era Blood or Whiskey. Pay attention to the 7th and hidden track where signer Chad strips bear the mental illness (Gunner Syndrome) that dogged him since childhood.

2007

Review

Charm City Saints: Never Go Home Again – EP

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Charm City Saints: Never Go Home Again – EP Charm City Saints are the real thing. Some bands look tough, these guys are. Heard a story about CCS (from a couple of different sources I add) when they played with Neck in D.C., I guess the soundguy was making wise cracks about the band and Celtic Punk in general – not a good idea – only the D.C. cops showing up as the band chase him down the street prevent Mr. loud mouth from getting the kicking he deserved. And the music? Tough as the band. Classic punk’n’bag pipes, very much in the vein of DKM and the McKenzies.

2007

Review – Mustard Finnegan

Review

Greenland Whalefishers: Amazing Space (B-sides And Other Crap)

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IF you’re reading this and haven’t heard of GWF then most likely you’ve surfed here by accident – click here to escape. Otherwise, you’ll be well familiar with the mighty Pogues inspired Celtic Punk from the Fjords of Norway. Basically this is a collection of all the all now difficult if not impossible to get EPs and singles that the band has released over their 10 years together plus a couple of newbie’s and a great live version of “Loboville” – any thoughts about a live CD lads?

2007

Review – Mustard Finnegan

Review

Flatfoot 56: Jungle of the Midwest Sea

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Didn’t flatfoot just release a CD? It must be the vigor and energy of youth but less then 12 months since “Knuckles Up”, Chicago’s favorite born again boot boys are back with a new full length. Flatfoot play loud and fast street punk / Oi with the mucho bagpipes. Dropkick Murphys and The Real McKenzies look out.

2007

Review – Mustard Finnegan

Review

Seanchaí and the Unity Squad: Irish Catholic Boy

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It’s amazing how many different musical styles Seanchaí and the Unity Squad can squish into one CD and weave so seamless together – Celtic, Rock’n’Punk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Reggie and even Middle Eastern. “Irish Catholic Boy” kicks off with the balls to the wall guitar and uilleann pipe title track. Then it’s off to Black 47 meets electronic territory with “Gypo” from John Fords masterpiece “The Informer” and “Ernesto Guevara Lynch.” (though you can call me a cynic but had Che’ not been executed he’d have most likely turned into a old murdering bastard of a dictator like his buddy Castro and for that matter does anyone think had Collins lived would have been any different from Dev). The temp drops on the next few tracks as Rachel Fitzgerald joins Chris Byrne on vocals then takes over and man does she have an incredible voice. The electronic “Pope John II, Jerry Springer, and me” is very clever – Chris call’s into Springer’s radio show and run’s rings around the bloviating Springer.

2007

Review – Mustard Finnegan

Review

The Fucking Buckaroos: Demo

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The Fucking Buckaroos is great name for a band if ever there was one. No chance of ever being played on commercial radio with that name and absolutely no chance with their sound – Hank Williams meets The Filthy Thieving Bastards on a tour of the seedier drinking holes of San Francisco.

2007

Review – Mustard Finnegan

Review

The Tossers: Agony

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The Tossers last full length release – The Valley of the Shadow of Death – is an absolute classic in my humble opinion – easily one of my top 10 Celtic Punk CDs of all time – on a scale of 1 to 10 its an 11. For The Tossers it was always going to be a tough one to top. Agony comes close – a 9 on the aforementioned scale. So why not the 10 (or even the 11)? Each of the 17 tracks on Agony could easily fit snugly into Valley but Agony is missing it’s equivalent of “Goodmornin’ Da” or the very brilliant “No Loot, No Booze, No Fun”. Still there are truly standout tracks in “Leopardstown Races”, “Siobhan” and “Be” (the “Late”) of Agony. Highly recommended (9 out of 10).

One more thing. What’s with the cheapo death metal art work? I going to blame Victory Records for that.

2007

Review – Mustard Finnegan

Review

The Killigans: One Step Ahead of Hell

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Talk about yer tough jobs, ‘One Step Ahead Of Hell’ has the challenge of following The Killigans’ brilliant debut, ‘Brown Bottle Hymnal’. While ‘Brown Bottle Hymnal’ hit the scene like a bucket of ice water in the morning, ‘One Step Ahead of Hell’ takes that wake-up call and expands upon it. In my opinion, the biggest difference between this release and the awesome ‘Brown Bottle Hymnal’ is variety. Where the band’s debut CD immediately showed a common thread that permeated its sound, ‘One Step…’ shows a real spreading of the band’s wings, which seems less concerned with maintaining a particular sound and, in doing so, shows a cohesiveness and signature with such a naturally occurring ease that I think this band could be recognized doing any song they chose. This signature sound is due largely to Brad Hoffman’s vocals. Sounding almost as if it underwent the same distortion as Chris Nebesniak’s guitar, together they create a sound as distinctive as anything else in this genre. The two compliment each other perfectly and work well with the driving urgency brought forth by the band’s hyperactive rhythm section, (how many arms does this drummer have, anyways?). Also worthy of mention is Pat Nebesniak, as one of the few accordion players aware of the power of subtlety, and Zach Stroup’s mandolin can sit in the front of the mix being delicate enough not to overshadow the other instruments but focused enough to carve out its own identity. The addition of piper Edwin Makusha smoothes out the transition, adding a fuller, more mature sound.

In the end it’s the songs that win the day, and ‘One Step Ahead of Hell’ delivers. The entire CD is stacked with high-energy one-two punchers that hit like a sock full of tacks. My favorites: disc opener, Shame and Sorrow, the barn-burning Through The Flames, tear-jerker, The Letter, and disc closer, Kids on the Street.

For fans of the ‘Brown Bottle Hymnal’, I highly recommend ‘One Step Ahead of Hell’, you won’t be disappointed. For those unaware of the Killigans, check out this CD and you will probably soon own ‘Brown Bottle Hymnal’ as well.

2007

Review – Christopher Toler, THE Blathering Gommel