The Langer's Ball "The Devil of the Barrel"
Release date: August 2012
Running time: 43:53, 13 tracks
Originally a duo (Hannah Rediske on accordion and pennywhistle and Michael Sturm on guitar, mandolin and lead vocals), the band from Minnesota has grown on every recording. All of their albums have been critically acclaimed, particularly their amazing live album “Drunk, Sick and Tired” from 2011. The band seemed to have reached their peak with a full “electric” line-up. However, the live album was only the first milestone on their evolution.
Joined by Derek Jaimes on drums (ex-Wild Colonial Bhoys), Drew Miller on bass (Boiled in Lead) and Trevor Jurgens on electric guitar, The Langer’s Ball have just released their best work to date. And I say to date, because I’m sure that they will issue more albums with more original material. “The Devil or The Barrel” has 13 tracks and even if I find that their covers are really appealing, I’m really impressed with Michael Sturm’s own songs.
Just listen to tracks like the punkabilly “Whiskey Chaser” (a catchy song featuring banjo, accordion and tin whistle), “Kick Around” (a perfectly performed song: acoustic guitar at the beginning then the accordion enters and finally all the band joins, specially an awesome electric guitar), the fans and critics favourite “One More” (an accordion sound that links them to the German band Across the Border ) and “MacKey’s Daughter” (a Mahones influenced song featuring “If I Had Maggie in the Woods”)
As far as the covers are concerned, “Johhny is a Roving Blade” is another great track with that old Mahones sound (Hannah’s tin whistle kicks ass!) featuring the tune to "The Grand Aul' Dame Britannia" and “The Haughs of Cromdale”; “Rye Whiskey” is a more American number with a great banjo and guitar work and “Mountain Dew” is a live number (probably one of the best renditions together with that of The Pogues and The Dubliners and that of Paddy Goes to Holyhead on their first live CD).
Some people would feel that “I Know My Love” is a song to be avoided, since it was recorded by The Chieftains together with The Corrs, but the track is worth being recorded an The Langer’s Ball version is very interesting. The other songs that have been recorded a million times are “The Fields of Athenry” , “All for me Grog” and “The Wild Rover”. IMHO, the first song was not necessary. However, “All for Me Grog” is really a top-notch version. They have followed an approach similar to Lexington Field and have re-built the song and added the “Cooley’s” reel. The same can be said for “The Wild Rover”. In fact, it’s not the Wild Rover, but the ”Wild Rover Polka”. “The Wild Rover” have been merged with “The Beer Barrel Polka” and funny German lyrics have been written: Ein, zwei, drei, vier. I’ve been the Wild Rover for manys the year…. I went to a Bierstube I used to frequent, I told the young Fräulein me money’s all spent. I asked her for credit but she answered me NEIN…. (even Deutsche Marks are mentioned!!!)
