Five Leaf Clover "Meet Me in a Pub" Straky na vrbe
Release date: 17 March 2015
Running time: 26:37, 7 tracks
The Czech Republic is not a big country in terms of population (around 10,5 million people), but they have a lot of different bands playing Celtic rock or Celtic punk. Bands such as Hakka Muggies or Dick O’Brass can be labelled as Celtic rock/folk rock bands; Pipes and Pints and Curlies would be bagpipes punk bands; Benjaming’s Clan and Claymore would be bagpipes rock band, and Cheers! would be a Celtic punk outfit.
In the last months I have come across a bunch of new bands hailing from the Czech Republic: Vintage Wine, Pirates of the Pubs and Five Leaf Clover. Five Leaf Clover are a five piece band from Prague and they have recently released a mini-album titled “Meet Me in a Pub”. The current line-up is Pavel Brejcha (guitar, vocals), Lucie “Calwe” Eliášová (vocals, tin whistle), Jan "Erk" Mareš (bass, vocals), Jindřich "Estanor" Mašek (fiddle, vocals) and Petr “Ráfek” Skála (drums). Pavel and Petr founded the band in 2010 under the name Jolly Roger. They realized that there were quite a few bands with the same name and then it was changed to Five Leaf Clover. The band’s logo is a sheep called Shamus, a “cross between Ewan MacGregor on Trainspotting and Arnold Schwarzenneger”.
Five Leaf Clover define themselves as an Irish Rock Band. Taking into account that they cover some standards and play some well-known tunes, the word Irish is obvious. Regarding the word rock, Five Leaf Clover have a solid rhythm section that backs perfectly the fiddler and the flute.
“Meet Me in a Pub” is a 7 track album consisting of 2 standards, one ballad featuring a couple of tunes and four self-penned numbers.
“The Hangover Song” is the first track. Both tin whistle and fiddle are played on this number about the day after.
The next song is titled “Kilt” and boy and girl share vocal duties on this folk’n’roll number.
“The Foggy Dew” is the first cover. Great fiddling and superb bass and drums provide a different twist to the song. Lead vocals by Pavel and backing vocals by Lucie.
On “Four Bothers” they shift the roles: Lucie sings lead vocals and Pavel backing vocals. Amazing number.
“The Wind” is a cover of the song “The Wind that Shakes the Barley”. It has an acoustic intro reminiscent of McDermott’s 2 Hours and features both the “Morrison’s” jig and the “Cooley’s” reel.
“Fairy” is another number sung by Lucie backed by Pavel. Lots of “heys” and more brilliant fiddling and amazing rhythm section on this folk rock song.
Finally, Five Leaf Clover deliver their own rendition of “Raggle Taggle Gipsy”. It gets a sort of a rap treatment, similar to other standards covered by the likes of Great Big Sea and Firkin. Different, but very good.
Five Leaf Clover “Meet Me in a Pub” comes in a digipack. The band’s line-up and website are stated, but the lyrics to the songs are not included. The album was recorded in January 2015 in Ex Avik sound studio, mixed by Pavel Brom (who also plays tambourine on the album) and mastered by Premysl Haas. The album artwork has been designed by fiddler Jindrich Mašek.
Five Leaf Clover and Vintage Wine are two interesting bands that have been able to deliver something different and fresh, blending their own Czech musical and cultural background to the Celtic music. I have enjoyed particularly the balance between the rhythm section and the acoustic instruments on “Meet Me in a Pub”. A recommendable album.
P.S. Currently the band is looking for a banjo player. If you live in their area and are interested in playing with them, have a look to this YouTube video and contact Five Leaf Clover.
Release date: 17 March 2015
Running time: 26:37, 7 tracks
The Czech Republic is not a big country in terms of population (around 10,5 million people), but they have a lot of different bands playing Celtic rock or Celtic punk. Bands such as Hakka Muggies or Dick O’Brass can be labelled as Celtic rock/folk rock bands; Pipes and Pints and Curlies would be bagpipes punk bands; Benjaming’s Clan and Claymore would be bagpipes rock band, and Cheers! would be a Celtic punk outfit.
In the last months I have come across a bunch of new bands hailing from the Czech Republic: Vintage Wine, Pirates of the Pubs and Five Leaf Clover. Five Leaf Clover are a five piece band from Prague and they have recently released a mini-album titled “Meet Me in a Pub”. The current line-up is Pavel Brejcha (guitar, vocals), Lucie “Calwe” Eliášová (vocals, tin whistle), Jan "Erk" Mareš (bass, vocals), Jindřich "Estanor" Mašek (fiddle, vocals) and Petr “Ráfek” Skála (drums). Pavel and Petr founded the band in 2010 under the name Jolly Roger. They realized that there were quite a few bands with the same name and then it was changed to Five Leaf Clover. The band’s logo is a sheep called Shamus, a “cross between Ewan MacGregor on Trainspotting and Arnold Schwarzenneger”.
Five Leaf Clover define themselves as an Irish Rock Band. Taking into account that they cover some standards and play some well-known tunes, the word Irish is obvious. Regarding the word rock, Five Leaf Clover have a solid rhythm section that backs perfectly the fiddler and the flute.
“Meet Me in a Pub” is a 7 track album consisting of 2 standards, one ballad featuring a couple of tunes and four self-penned numbers.
“The Hangover Song” is the first track. Both tin whistle and fiddle are played on this number about the day after.
The next song is titled “Kilt” and boy and girl share vocal duties on this folk’n’roll number.
“The Foggy Dew” is the first cover. Great fiddling and superb bass and drums provide a different twist to the song. Lead vocals by Pavel and backing vocals by Lucie.
On “Four Bothers” they shift the roles: Lucie sings lead vocals and Pavel backing vocals. Amazing number.
“The Wind” is a cover of the song “The Wind that Shakes the Barley”. It has an acoustic intro reminiscent of McDermott’s 2 Hours and features both the “Morrison’s” jig and the “Cooley’s” reel.
“Fairy” is another number sung by Lucie backed by Pavel. Lots of “heys” and more brilliant fiddling and amazing rhythm section on this folk rock song.
Finally, Five Leaf Clover deliver their own rendition of “Raggle Taggle Gipsy”. It gets a sort of a rap treatment, similar to other standards covered by the likes of Great Big Sea and Firkin. Different, but very good.
Five Leaf Clover “Meet Me in a Pub” comes in a digipack. The band’s line-up and website are stated, but the lyrics to the songs are not included. The album was recorded in January 2015 in Ex Avik sound studio, mixed by Pavel Brom (who also plays tambourine on the album) and mastered by Premysl Haas. The album artwork has been designed by fiddler Jindrich Mašek.
Five Leaf Clover and Vintage Wine are two interesting bands that have been able to deliver something different and fresh, blending their own Czech musical and cultural background to the Celtic music. I have enjoyed particularly the balance between the rhythm section and the acoustic instruments on “Meet Me in a Pub”. A recommendable album.
P.S. Currently the band is looking for a banjo player. If you live in their area and are interested in playing with them, have a look to this YouTube video and contact Five Leaf Clover.
Tracklist:
1 - The Hangover Song 4:32
2 - Kilt 2:44
3 - Foggy Dew 4:44
4 - Four Brothers 4:25
5 - The Wind 3:18
6 - Fairy 4:08
7 - Raggle Taggle Gipsy 2:32
Website
Bandzone
Contact the band to buy the CD 5clover.band@gmail.com
Review by Kinksmarkham
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