REVIEW - BLACKPINT "Orizzonte" Self-released (2013)

Blackpint "Orizzonte" Self-released (2013)
Release date: 4 May 2013
Running time: 33:45, 13 tracks

Blackpint are a six piece band from Ticino, an Italian speaking area in Switzerland: Remo (vocals, guitar), Ivan (Vocals, guitar, accordion), Giacomo (bass), Damiano (vocals, pipes), Sara (vocals, tin whistle) and Vito (drums). 

The band was founded in 2005 and they released a 3 track EP in 2009. All of those songs have been re-arranged and can be found on “Orizzonte”, a 13 track album on which former members Laura (flute), Michele a.k.a. Micottino  (guitar) and Francesco a.k.a. Bache (vocals) have guessed. The album, produced by the band, has been recorded, edited and mixed in Switzerland and mastered by Dave Collins (Flogging Molly, Bruce Springsteen, Sting … ) in Los Angeles.

Musically, Blackpint are closer to the Dropkick Murphys end than to the Flogging Molly end.  Their trademarks are vocals duties shared by two members, together with catchy chorus. The lyrics are in Italian and there are no covers. And the eight page booklet includes all the lyrics and credits.

The strongest numbers would be “Sopra di Noi”, a song  with a great accordion and tin whistle tune and some DKM echoes; “Bocalli Rotti” a fast-paced number  featuring tin whistle and accordion again, together with ”Brucia”, “Resisto”  and “Scocca l’ora”,  some bagpipes street punk songs. 

Apart from those tracks, there are two amazing songs with an acoustic twist, “Pensieri” (featuring the tune Irish Jig that was made popular by Gwendal) and the accordion backed “Bivio”, which is sung by Sara.

Italian Celtic punk fans will appreciate this interesting album. However, fans from other areas will also be able to enjoy “Orizzonte” even if they cannot speak Italian. 

Tracklist:

1. Verso la libertà 2:45
2. Orizzonte 2:41
3. Sopra di noi 2:14
4. Scocca l'ora 2:24
5. Vivere adesso 3:40
6. Boccali rotti 1:58
7. Preludio 0:53
8. Ritorno 3:02
9. Pensieri 3:40
10. Brucia 3:10
11. Amici 2:27
12. Resisto 2:42
13. Bivio 2:04    

http://www.blackpint.com
https://www.facebook.com/blackpint
https://soundcloud.com/blackpint
https://myspace.com/blackpint

https://twitter.com/_blackpint

 
 

Click to buy:

http://www.blackpint.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=22&Itemid=121&lang=it
 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/orizzonte/id635336360

Review by Kinksmarkham

FREE DOWNLOAD - FINAL TRANSMISSION

Final Transmission are currently on hiatus, but they are sharing all the tracks from their EP on Reverbnation.

 

"Est. 2010. Fueled by the worker's fight to survive in this broken down world. Final Transmission bring the struggle and the fight for our lives through the sounds and inspirations of celtic, folk and punk rock."

http://www.reverbnation.com/finaltransmission
https://www.facebook.com/finaltransmission

Line-up:

Jonny Mathis
Matt Dreer
Michael Roach
Shawn Hornbaker
Sean Watson

Discography:

"When I Got There" (2010, 5 track EP)

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.reverbnation.com/finaltransmission/songs (one by one)

THE GO SET - SUMMER 2013 EURO TOUR

These are The GO Set dates in Europe (July 2013)

Fri 5th/Sat 6th July: Skagen Festival, Skagen DENMARK
Info/Tix: www.skagenfestival.dk

Tues 9th July: Tonfink Kulturcafe, Luebeck GERMANY
Info/Tix: www.tonfink.de

Wed 10th July: Schaubude, Kiel GERMANY
w/ Total Chaos (USA)
Info/Tix: http://www.kieler-schaubude.de

Thurs 11th July: AJZ Bahndamm, Wermelskirchen GERMANY
w/ Total Chaos (USA)
Info/Tix: http://www.ajzbahndamm.de

Fri 12th July: Nummer Zu Platz, Bielefeld GERMANY
Info/Tix: https://www.facebook.com/nummerzuplatz

Sat 13th July: Wild at Heart, Berlin GERMANY
Info/Tix: www.wildatheart.de

Sun 14th/Mon 15th July : The Harp, Hannover GERMANY
Info/Tic: http://www.qype.com/place/11844-Irish-Harp-Hannover

Tues 16th July: Haus 73, Hamburg GERMANY
Info/Tix: http://www.dreiundsiebzig.de

Wed 17th July: Chemiefabrik, Dresden GERMANY
Info/Tix: http://www.chemiefabrik.info

Thurs 18th July: Klub Velbloud, Ceske Budjovice CZECH REPUBLIC
Info/Tix: http://www.velbloud.info

Fri 19th July: Buero, Regensburg GERMANY
Info/Tix: http://www.buero-regensburg.de

Sat 20th July: Mighty Sounds Festival, Tabor CZECH REPUBLIC
Info/Tix: www.mightysounds.cz

NEWS - KALEVALA

Kalevala H.M.S. are proud to announce the reprint of their 2011's release, "Musicanti di Brema". It will contain also two songs from the previous era , never officially published before , they were part of the 2009 Promo. "Rigmarole" . The songs are "Ye Gooseberry Walk" and "Sold to the lowest bidder" . The new version of "Musicanti di Brema" will be out in a few weeks!!
 

www.kalevalahms.com

VIDEO - ERROR99 "Metropolis"

This is the official video for the song "Metropolis" from Error 99 EP.

Error 99 - Metropolis

REVIEW - TORTILLA FLAT "The Great Escape" (2013)

Tortilla Flat "The Great Escape" NSTOP30
Release date: 24 May 2013
Running time: 57:04, 17 tracks
 
Sometimes we tend to neglect some bands that are really worth hearing. One of these bands would be Tortilla Flat, from Switzerland. After having given several spins to “The Great Escape” I’m wondering why these guys have not got a stronger following. To put it in a nutshell, three guys met in the 90’s and began to play punk rock and some Celtic standards. Little by little some friends jumped in, adding pipes to the mix and nowadays they have a discography consisting of 6 albums and a couple of singles. “The Great Escape” would be their masterpiece, an album that can be described as a cross between Ramones and Battlefield Band.

Chris (guitars & lead vocals), Ritchie (bass, harmonica and mandolin) and Lexu (drums, acoustic guitars and backing vocals) are the core of the band. They are Tortilla Flat. Their bandmates are The Independent Pipers (Pesche, Röbu and Thömu, a.k.a. Lord Peter of Lochaber, Rob Highlander and Tom MacFly) , a bagpipes trio that backs them. This time the guests on “The Great Escape” are Spider MacEwan (Klaus Leuenberger, flute), Christine Sdiri (fiddle) and Mélanie Bircher (accordion). Tortilla Flat have their own way of working: five tracks are performed by the trio, six tracks are performed by the trio + the Independent Pipers, three tracks are performed by the trio + the fiddler, two tracks are performed by the trio + the accordionist and one track is performed by the trio + the flutist. The tracklist is a good balance between (punk)rocking and slower moments. Maybe it’s a little bit long, around 57 minutes, but, as a whole, it’s a brilliant album. Besides, the guys have covered some fantastic songs such as “The Dawning of the Day” (a song that shares the music with “Raglan Road”), “Billy Taylor”, “A Man’s a Man for a’that” and “Hector the Hero”.

Which tracks would I pick up? The single “The Great Escape”, a top-notch bagpipes punk song merging the Ramones and SMZB; “Today”, a song dedicated to the band’s sons and daughters, a bagpipes slow song with a DKM twist; “Billy Taylor” a fiddle-punk version of this traditional number; “Understand”, a Pipes and Pints sounding song without pipes but featuring harmonica; “A Man’s a Man for a’that”, the definitive bagpipes punk cover; “Operation Crossroads”, an acoustic number featuring mandolin and fiddle about the nuclear weapons tests at Bikini Atoll, and “The Punk Rock Show”, a kick-ass Ramones/The Queers inspired song. By the way, there is a hidden track, a sort of a tribute to The Real McKenzies’ acoustic shows: “Loch Lomond”

The album package is a digipack with a piece of paper  folded in eight pages. All the info (credits and liner notes) is printed on one of the sides and a picture of the trio driving is printed on the other side. Unfortunately, no lyrics are available.

If you love The Clash,  Rancid and Riverdales, check those guys. Probably one of the best Ramones infused Celtic punk rock band out there.

Tracklist: 

1) On the shores of Lochaber 1:41
2) The Great Escape 3:42
3) Dublin in the Rare Old Times 3:17
4) The Punk Rock Show 3:22
5) Today 4:43
6) Just Another Night on the Floor 2:20
7) The Dawning of the Day 2:16
8) Understand 3:05
9) Don't Ask, I'll tell 3:22
10) Billy Taylor 3:40
11) Down at the Pub 2:13
12) I'm a Rover 3:51
13) Operation Crossroads 2:41
14) Between the Lines 3:01
15) Get On Up & Go 5:17
16) A man's a man for a'that 3:17
17) Hector the Hero 3:49

http://www.tortillaflat.ch
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tortilla-Flat/262442220486868
https://www.facebook.com/TheIndependentPipers
http://www.reverbnation.com/tortillaflat
http://www.mx3.ch/artist/tortilla_flat_2
https://myspace.com/tortillaflatch

Click to buy:

http://www.cede.ch/en/music-cd/frames/frameset.cfm?aobj=1006520
http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Escape/dp/B00COBWWPY
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-great-escape/id645489487

Review by Kinksmarkham

VIDEO - BLACK TARTAN CLAN "Code of The Clan"

Production: Slum movie'z
Director: Jamezultra aka Jérôme Hamays
DOP: Marco Viera & Yvan Coene
Motion Graphics: Emine Bergsoj
Facilities : Okidoki Prod.
Assistant: Patrice De Backer
Roadies: Jean, Kleinen & Elisabeth

Black Tartan Clan - Code of the Clan

VIDEOS - CORKTOWN POPES

This is the first video from the EP "And Also With You" by the Corktown Popes. Directed by Ryan Betzler for Blend Productions.
 
The Corktown Popes - I'm Not Lucky




Here's their live version of the old chestnut recorded in the jungle room at Blend Productions Ferndale.

Corktown Popes - Auld Lang Syne

REVIEW THE DEVIL'S REJECTS "13" (2013)

The Devil's Rejects "13" Fuelled by Cider Records FBC1301
Release date: 11 May 2013
Running time: 41:09, 13 tracks

The Devil’s Rejects were featured on  our sampler from October 2010. Matt  Williams (lead vocals, guitar), Briony Ireland (accordion, keyboards) and Rick Hardy (bass) together with new members  Olie Rance (drums) and Chris Read (guitar) have evolved their sound to a “Bastardized country punk from the deepest, darkest reaches of south west England”. The Devil’s Rejects say that they are influenced by the likes of Social Distortion, Rancid, Dropkick Murphys, The Pogues, Flogging Molly and Gogol Bordello. And it’s clear that their music is an interesting blend of country, first wave of punk and Pogues. But I can hear influences or similarities to artists such as Wedding Parties Anything, The Whisky Priests or Billy Bragg too.

“13” has been released in 2013 and consists of 13 original compositions, one instrumental intro and 12 songs. There are no covers and that’s one of the strengths of this band, their confidence in their own identity. The songs are a little bit “rough at the edges”, but guitar work and accordion playing are really amazing. Matt’s lyrics are appealing and sometimes they  are a  darker version of Gary Miller (for instance, “The Man that I’ve Become” or “Rained So Hard”).

My fave numbers are the opening numbers, “Intro” and “Bunker Hill” (the instrumental is stuck to the song about the American Revolutionary War), “The Last Gang in Town” (this is not a Clash cover), “Ain’t It Lucky” (the most American number on the CD) and the closing track, “Sinful Maggie” (a song about an unrequited love). Other interesting tracks would be “When I’m Gone” with those keyboards à la The Stranglers and “The Churches”, with a “Hell’s Dirch” twist.

“13” is a labour of love by both The Devil's Rejects and their label Fuelled by Cider Records. The jewel  case includes an 8 page booklet featuring all the lyrics, credits and 8 pics that where shot during the recording sessions. The Devil’s Rejects  have created their own universe, a music world that Roughneck Riot and Smokey Bastard fans could appreciate.


Tracklist:

01. Intro 1:06
02. Bunker Hill 2:47
03. Last Gang In Town 3:25
04. The Man That I’ve Become 3:07
05. Four Blind Horses 3:23
06. When I’m Gone 3:41
07. Ain’t It Lucky 2:51
08. Cold Embrace Of The Sea 4:16
09. The Churches 2:50
10. Abandon Hope 3:01
11. Rained So Hard 3:20
12. I Ran 3:59
13. Sinful Maggie 3:18

https://www.facebook.com/thedevilsrejects13
https://soundcloud.com/fuelled-by/four-blind-horses
https://myspace.com/thedevilsrejects3
https://twitter.com/Devilsrejects13

Click to buy:

http://fuelledby.bigcartel.com/product/the-devils-rejects-13

Review by Kinksmarkham

RADIO UPDATE JUNE 2013

Radionomy has told me recently that after 3 months the streaming radio is passed to the next level and therefore I am allowed to increase the amount of music.

During the last week I have been uploading a lot of songs (new stuff by The Tossers, Stramash, CelKilt, Brutus' Daughters, Devil's Rejects, Vagrant Nation, Tortilla Flat, Levellers, Craic, The Sunday Punchers... and live songs by The Pogues, The Real McKenzies, The Mahones, Flogging Molly, Firkin, Whisky Priests, Oysterband, The Men They Couldn't Hang, Levellers, Wolfstone ...) and I'll be adding a huge amount during the next fortnight.

Please tune-in a listen to the best bands from the 5 continents.

http://cfpam-celtic-folk-punk-radio.playtheradio.com

or

 

http://www.radionomy.com/en/radio/cfpam-celtic-folk-punk-radio/index

BRUTUS' DAUGHTERS NEW ALBUM OUT SOON!

A couple of songs from the Brutus' Daughters upcoming CD "Beating Beyond Folk Ashes".

HOIST THE COLORS ANNOUNCE WEST COAST TOUR DATES

Hoist The Colors Announce West Coast Tour Dates!

Download Hoist The Colors’ Song “Gold” For Free From Hardline Entertainment 

 

June 12, 2013 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles based celtic punk band Hoist The Colors has announced a west coast tour in support of their most recent album, Miles To Go Before We Sleep, that will kickoff on June 27th in Las Vegas and culminates on July 13th in El Segundo.  In anticipation, Hermosa Beach independent label Hardline Entertainment is giving away the band’s song, “Gold,” for free.

Download Hoist The Colors’ song “Gold” now at http://hardlineent.com/store/hoist-the-colors-gold/.

Named one of Alternative Press’ “100 Bands You Need To Know” for 2013, Hoist The Colors is a seven piece melting pot of music and culture from Los Angeles.  Armed with mandolins, banjos, guitars, drums and fiddles, the band’s unique amalgam of punk rock, traditional Irish music, American folk and bluegrass is upbeat and refreshing.

Hoist the Colors got their start when singer/songwriter Josh Linden started learning Irish rebel songs and Pogues covers on a bunch of instruments they didn’t really even know how to play.  That was 2007.  Fast forward to 2013 and the band has two incredible albums, 2011’s “Second City” and 2012’s “Miles To Go Before We Sleep”, and has shared the stage with the likes of Ignite, Authority Zero, The English Beat, The Black Pacific, The Young Dubliners and many more.

The band’s Hardline Entertainment debut, “Miles To Go Before We Sleep”, put the band on the map nationally, garnering rave reviews from critics across the country with songs like “Gold,” “Dance Through the Days” and “Gordie Lachance,” which was made into a video in 2012.

Hoist the Colors will perform those songs and more from “Miles To Go Before We Sleep” on their upcoming west coast tour.  Don’t miss out!

 

Hoist The Colors Tour Dates:

June 28 – Las Vegas, NV – Hennessey’s Tavern

June 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – Piper Down Pub

June 30 – Boise, ID – Pengilly’s Saloon

July 2 – Portland, OR – Slabtown Bar

July 5 – Seattle, WA – The High Dive

July 6 – Cottage Grove, OR – Axe & Fiddle

July 8 – Oakland, CA – Eli’s Mile High Club

July 9 – Sacramento, CA – Luigi’s Fun Garden

July 10 – Oakland, CA – The Uptown

July 11 – San Francisco, CA – Ireland’s 32

July 12 – Santa Cruz, CA – Rosie McCann’s

July 13 – El Segundo, CA – The Tavern

For More Information:

https://www.facebook.com/Hoistthecolors.music

http://hoistthecolors.com/

FREE DOWNLOAD - THE LASH "Celtic Mayhem (Live!)"

"Celtic Mayhem" was the debut album by The Lash, the band from Lansing, Michigan. It was released in 1998 and all of the songs are available for free at Soundcloud.

http://thelash.com
https://www.facebook.com/celticmayhem
http://www.reverbnation.com/celticmayhem
https://twitter.com/celticmayhem

Line-up:

Rob Klajda - Vocals, banjo & cittern
Bob Bryan - Drums
Jon Herrmann - Bass
Andy Wilson - Accordion, whistle, harmonica, trumpet

Discography:

"Celtic Mayhem" ( Live, 9 tracks, 1998)
"Every Direction" (11 tracks, 2001)
"Fire Under Grace" (12 tracks, 2006)

DOWNLOAD:

https://soundcloud.com/celticmayhem (download the mp3 one by one)

VIDEO - ZAMBURIEL

Zamburiel is a Celtic Pop band from Madrid

http://www.zamburiel.com

https://www.facebook.com/zamburiel

Line-up:

Rocío Torresano - vocals, guitar
Elías García - pipes and flutes
Eduardo DeTorre - guitars and background vocals
Carlos Pérez - drums and percussions
Fran García - bass
Laura Estévez - fiddle and keyboards

Discography:

"Rutas de viaje" (10 tracks, 2008)
"Escapar" (3 tracks, 2013)
"Sin tí" (2 temas, 2013)

Zamburiel - Sin tí

 

REVIEW - STRAMASH "The Lion Rises" (2013)

Stramash "The Lion Rises" Headhunter Records
Release date: 21 May 2013
Running time: 41:12, 10 tracks
 
After having delivered one of the best Celtic rock albums of 2011, the Glaswegian band Stramash is back with a new album titled “The Lion Rises”. And Andrew (lead vocals, guitar), William (bass, background vocals), Andy (drums, background vocals), Michael (lead guitar, vocals) and Iain (Highland pipes and whistles) have done it again. These guys are able to find the best balance of traditional songs, covers and self-penned songs. There are only three original songs on this album, but all of the tracks are Scotch fueled numbers. Stramash have their own identity and they have remained faithful to the main elements that could be found on their previous album. Changes? Improvements? Of course, the guys have taken a more Celtic punk approach on some of the songs and there is even a non-Scottish subject song (and Irish topic song by Flogging Molly).

The first track is a cover of the traditional song “Trooper and The Maid”  and Stramash rendition is a bagpipes punk goes metal number. One of the album highlights.

The second number is an enjoyable comedy punk version of Billy Connolly’s “Wellyboot Song”. This is the first single of the album and we have recently posted the video for this top-notch song.

“If it wasnae for your willies, where would you be?
You’d be in the hospital or infirmary,
You would have a dose of the flu or even pluracy
If it wasnae for your feet in your wellies!

This is the evidence that Stramash could become a Celtic Toy Dolls is they wish.

After that, a pirate punk song.  Stramash cover the Swedish pirate band Ye Banished Privateers. By the way, an early live version of this song was featured on our Pirate punk sampler back in 2010.

Track number 4 is an amazing self-penned song titled “The Stramashannach”. A Celtic rock number with a punk twist featuring awesome guitar work and fantastic whistling. The lyrics of this song and those of the next one are the kind of subjects that can be heard on Black Tartan Clan albums: friendship and love for Scotland.

“The Lion Rises” is my favourite track together with “Fade to Grey”. They are not straight Celtic punk/rock numbers, but they are well written and the performance is exquisite. I would dare to say that “The Lion Rises” has a REM flavour via the Oysterband. The whistle is perfect on this song and the guitar work at the end is excellent too.

The following two numbers are traditional songs that get the Stramash treatment. “Nancy Whisky” is a different version of the well-known covers by Shane MacGowan and The Mahones and more metal guitars are featured on “Maids When Yer Young” .

As I have previously stated, “Fade to Grey” is a gem too. It has  Scottish pop reminiscences and it’s a wonderful song with bagpipes on the background.

Finally, “Farewell tae Sicily” is a rousing bagpipes  song and "Rebels" a Celtic punk anthem.

If you enjoy the likes of Black Tartan Clan and Celkilt, go ahead and get a copy of “The Lion Rises”. As they say on the liner notes, 80% of all your hard spent money on this CD will go directly into their stomachs in the guise of BEER!

Tracklist:

01 - Trooper and the Maid 4:16
02 - Wellyboot Song 2:49
03 - The Lamentation of a Marooned Sailor 4:12
04 - The Stramashannach 4:16
05 - The Lion Rises 5:12
06 - Nancy Whisky 3:49
07 - Maids When Yer Young 3:15
08 - Fade to Grey 4:03
09 - Farewell tae Sicily 3:29
10 - Rebels 5:51    


http://www.stramashscotland.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/stramash.scotland
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stramash/163284790370011
http://www.reverbnation.com/stramash
https://twitter.com/StramashBand

Click to buy:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-lion-rises/id649355747 (digital copy)
http://www.stramashscotland.co.uk/shop/ (hard copy)

Review by Kinksmarkham

FREE DOWNLOAD - SONS OF O'FLAHERTY "First Draft"

Sons of O'Flaherty are sharing on Bandcamp the demo that they released in 2010 (Name your Price).

The review can be found here.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sons-Of-OFlaherty/10797957258911

Tibo O'Flaherty : guitar, vocals
Théo O'Flaherty : bass, background vocals
Yanou O'Flaherty : guitar
Maël O'Flaherty : mandolin, background vocals
Mak O'Flaherty : fiddle, background vocals
Evan O'Flaherty : drums

DOWNLOAD:

http://sonsofoflaherty.bandcamp.com

 

VIDEO - STRAMASH "The Wellyboot Song"

"The Wellyboot Song" from Stramash new album "The Lion Rises".

Stramash "Wellyboot Song"

FREE DOWNLOADS - KILNABOY DISCOGRAPHY

Kilnaboy, the Welsh band often compared to the Levellers, are sharing their whole discography on Bandcamp (Name Your Price)

"Kilnaboy the band shares its name with a tiny village on the West Coast of Ireland. It has no deep or powerful meaning and to be honest we didn't give it a great deal of thought. However the name has stuck and has grown on us like like the funnell mushrooms in the back of our van. Having spent the early years in the sweaty clubs n pubs of Cardiff, drinking and cavorting excessively, we are now more likely to be found in muddy festival fields worrying apathetic hippies and chasing morris dancers out of town. Most of our ideas and influences stem from a protesting background and the constant frustration of trying to exist in an industry where music is lost in a void of cloned popstars. We will carry on regardless in the hope that music still has the power to change the blinkered perception of mainstream society."

https://www.facebook.com/KilnAboy
http://www.myspace.com/kilnaboy
https://twitter.com/kilnaboyband

Line-up:

Daf: Plinky-Plonky Mandolin & Vocals
Jay: Pikey Guitar & Vocals
Bri: Lecky Guitar & Vocals
Will: Noodly Accordion & Fiddle
Jim: Drums
John: Stunt Bass, Soundman Read

Discography:

"Half Beard's Box"(13 tracks, 2004)
"Defy the Stars" (14 tracks, 2006)
"Prison Bars and Battle Scars" (2 tracks, 2012)

DOWNLOAD:

http://kilnaboy.bandcamp.com/album/defy-the-stars
http://kilnaboy.bandcamp.com/album/prison-bars-and-battle-scars
http://kilnaboy.bandcamp.com/album/half-beards-box

REVIEW - LEXINGTON FIELD "No Man's War" (2013)

Lexington Field "No Man's War" New Folk Records/Blind Eye Records NFR5882
Release date: May 28, 2013
Running time: 43:06, 14 tracks

At the end of 1969 the British band Fairport Convention released their  fourth album “Liege & Lief” and a new era was born. Once Dave Swarbrick joined as a permanent fiddler, the band was able to develop a new sound electrifying traditional British or traditional British inspired material.

At the end of May 2013 Lexington Field have  released their fourth recording. The Californian band has labeled their sound as American Fiddle Rock. This can be defined as  a  blend of Cami’s brilliant fiddling with their bandmates punk/rock abilities. Lexington Field had shown the main elements of this A.F.R. on previous releases, but there was always a Celtic element on their music. With “No Man’s War” they have decided to go a step forward and they have  wanted to get rid of the Celtic element and put the American element at the center of their sound. And they have stated it clearly: “No Man’s War” is the Ultimate American Fiddle Rock Album.
 

Lexington Field's new CD is a present to any music fan. The album has been produced by Jeff Berkley and mastered by Gramy Award winner Gavin Lurssen.  A bunch of friends have added their talents to this master piece: Matt Maulding (Brick Top Blaggers, accordion), Dennis Caplinger (banjo), Josh Linden (Hoist the Colors, mandolin and vocals)  and Anthony Belluto (guitar) among others. The digipack includes 20-page booklet featuring artwork by Jose Pimienta (a drawing for every song) and all the lyrics, credits and liner notes. Regarding the packaging, Lexington Field have done a great job as usual.

That’s the wrapper, but what about the present itself? The opening track, "Fiddle Fister" , an instrumental written by Cami,  let you know what to expect from this album. The following tracks have a So Cal punk twist, mainly “American Crow”. But the core of “No Man’s War” runs from track  6 to track 10. “Rest of Our Days” and “Here’s to You” are the catchiest songs of the album. The former features a reggae part and the guest appearance by Josh Linden on mandolin. The latter features guest banjo player Dennis Caplinger. He also appears on “Dear Old Friend”, an acoustic song on which neither bass, nor drums are featured. “The Chemical Workers Song” gets the Lexington Field treatment with aggressive vocals by Beau that differs from Great Big Sea’s rendition. And the theme from the “Last of the Mohicans” OST “Promontory” is the perfect definition of American Fiddle Rock. Before the CD is over another couple of gems are offered: the instrumental written by Cami “Lady Arlington”, which has a Celtic Canadian twist, and “Tumble”, another acoustic number.

2011-2013 will be remembered as the period in which a fistful of bands decided to stretch the boundaries of the Celtic punk/rock genre. And, at the forefront of this movement, a couple of Californian bands are really shining: Hoist the Colors and Lexington Field.

Tracklist:

01 - Fiddle Fister 0:53
02 - American Crow 2:16
03 - Daniel Plainview Has a Drinking Problem 2:45
04 - Crazy Eyes 3:52
05 - Fireworks 3:55
06 - Rest of Our Days 3:29
07 - Dear Old Friend 2:52
08 - Variation On Promontory 2:04
09 - The Chemical Worker’s Song 2:21
10 - Here’s to You 4:30
11 - Cursing the Man 3:45
12 - Pioneer 4:42
13 - Lady Arlington 2:19
14 - Tumble 3:18 

http://www.lexingtonfield.com
http://www.facebook.com/lexingtonfield

http://www.reverbnation.com/lexingtonfield
http://www.myspace.com/lexingtonfield
https://twitter.com/lexingtonfield

Click to buy the CD:

http://lexingtonfield.bandcamp.com/album/no-mans-war
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lexingtonfield4 
The digital version of their elusive first EP is also available at CDbaby


Review by Kinksmarkham

BAND OF THE MONTH - CORKTOWN POPES

Corktown Popes, a Celtic rock band hailing from Detroit, MI (USA) are the Band of June 2013. The Reverbnation widget will be placed at the top of the blog on the left side all along June. Check up their songs!

"Founded in early 2010, The Corktown Popes set out to create something familiar,yet unique. Co-founders Faustin Donnegal and Paddy McKuen began by seeking out talented musicians with strong livers and a penchant for energetic live performances. Recording is our current priority. Featuring Paddy McKuen and Michael Martin (formerly of Robb Roy) and Faustin Donnegal and David Youngquist (formerly of Last Cavalry and Pigeonhole) the band also draws from the wealth of musicians Detroit has to offer. Musicians such as Dale Jennings, Tom Donohue, Sarana Verlin and numerous guest artists. They have released their first CD ( a 5 song EP) while simultaneously working on 2 full length CD's."

http://www.corktownpopes.com
http://www.reverbnation.com/corktownpopes
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Corktown-Popes/114603468611087

Line-up:

Paddy Mc Kuehn- Guitars,keyboards
Faustin Donnegal-Vocals,guitar
Paul Goodmen-Accordion, keyboards, vocals
The Mighty Tom Donohue- Uileann pipes, Irish flutes
Michael 'Man'o'Faith' Martin- Mandolin,Guitar
Joe Bagozzi- Bass Guitar


Discography (click to buy from CDbaby):

"And Also with You" (5 track EP, 2012)

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