T.C. Costello has released a new album “El Rey De America” inspired by Galician music and Chinese pipes(!). The album is up on Spotify.
Check out video for The Tokyo Streets
The Go Set: The Warriors Beneath Us
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.
Here’s to another 20 years from The Go Set.
Sharks Come Cruisin: New Single
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.
Kilmaine Saints: Same Again Tomorrow
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.
UltraBomb is comin’ your way
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
Continental: Hello
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 Langer’s Ball: Hold Tight
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.
Pete Berwick: The Damage Is Done
I’m a long-time fan of Cowpunk originator, Pete Berwick. Now, I thought Pete’s last album, The Island, was supposed to be his last, and honestly, despite the quality songs, it was too mellow and too Nashville, and honestly, I thought he was going out with a whimper. Well, I guess I was wrong as he is back with his seventh full-length release, and out of the gate, he explodes with punk energy and redneck attitude. This is very much a return to form for Pete. Maybe the most intensive album he has ever done. For a reference point, The Damage Is Done, reminds me of Steve Earle when he worked with the Supersuckers, but louder. Peter does manage to sneak on a couple of old-school gritty country ballads and a growling gospel number for balance. Recorded in Nashville, I’m reminded of the old Kris Kristofferson song, To Beat The Devil, about a down-on-his-luck Nashville songwriter who drinks the Devil’s beer and steals his song. Well in Pete’s case, he steals the Devil’s whiskey, his song, and then kicks his ass.
new Kilmaine Saints album out tomorrow
The Tossers: The Tossers
I picked up the vinyl version of the new self titled Tossers album at their recent gig at the Middle East in Cambridge, Mass. There is not a lot of info on this album. I’m guessing it’s a self-finance, stop-gap release to support the bands 30th anniversary tour.
This album is a mixed bad of re-recorded Tossers classics (Aye Sir, and Buckets of Blood), some standards and a few new originals (Americay, and Irish Blood). The Tossers LP is a good reminder of just how good the original American Celtic-punk band still are. I’m super impressed with Tony Dugging channeling MacGowan at his finest on their covers of Dirty Ol’ Town and Paddy On The Railway.
The Tossers is a fun album and a great listen. Here’s to another 30 years for “The World’s Loudest Folk Band”. Cheers’ lads.
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