2018-02-23 VIDEOS - TEMPEST, LENNON KELLY, BLACK WATER COUNTY, Mr.IRISH BASTARD, FINNEGAN'S HELL, THE REAL McKENZIES AND RAWLINS CROSS

Seven vids that have been added tou our YouTube channel during the last 3 days!!!

Tempest - Thirty little Birds



Lennon Kelly - Mio Fratello



Black Water County - Rise and Fall



Mr. Irish Bastard - We are the Drunks



Finnegan's Hell - Shane MacGowan's Grave



The Real McKenzies - One Day



Rawlins Cross - Rock Steady



 

2018-02-21 ALBUM REVIEW - FINNEGAN'S HELL "Life and Death" Heptown Records (2018)

Finnegan's Hell "Live and Death" Heptown Records HTR076
Release date: February 23, 2018
Running time: 38:29, 13 tracks

During the last weeks the weather here has been colder than normal. Several cold waves have brought heavy snow. Then, I’ve spent the weekends watching TV series, for instance, Bron-Broen season 3 and Modus season 2. Cold, snow and Swedish TV series: that was the right atmosphere to welcome Celtic punk music from Sweden. So I was lucky when the postman delivered “Life and Death”, the second album by Finnegan’s Hell.

Finnegan’s Hell decided to take it easy and then their sophomore CD is going to be released almost four years after their debut album. This time there are no covers. Although the lyrics to “Isn’t it Grand Boys?” are traditional, all the music has been written by the band or by Pabst and/or Mick. 12 tracks about losers, workers and "different" people. The title is clear: “Life and Death” and Finnegan’s Hell have felt that a minute of silence was compulsory at the end of the album.

There are no experiments on “Life and Death”, but straightforward Celtic punk. Finnegan’s Hell is a well-oiled machine and the songs have been tested and played live during 4 years. Almost half of the songs are based on the banjo and the accordion sounds and the other half on the tin whistle and the accordion sounds.

First of all, I review the songs where the tin whistle can be heard and secondly the ones on which the banjo can be heard. “Shane MacGowan’s Grave” was not chosen as single, but it’s one of the standout tracks on the album and will soon become a classic song on the band’s repertoire. Upbeat song with a kick ass tune at the end. “Cursed” has a catchy chorus and it’s one of my fave tracks too. “How Am I to Make it?" is a fantastic fast-paced cut about a loser.  “Whatcha gonna do?” is the closing number. It has the Finnegan’s Hell’s classic sound and some gang vocals, but I prefer the previous numbers.

As told before, Finnegan’s Hell have put new music to “Isn’t it Grand Boys”. Most of the song sound as some monks singing backed by the banjo. But after the song comes to its end, there is a badass banjo led tune.

“All In”, another song about a loser, has some banjo and gang vocals à la Dropkick Murphys. I’ve particularly enjoyed the lyrics to “Rude Awakening” (all the lyrics to the song can be found on the 28 page booklet). “The Bastard Son” is a hypnotic number that I have also loved. “Paradise Town” is probably the catchiest song on “Life and Death”. I understand why the guys made a video for this anthem. “One-Horse Town” is an excellent rocking number. I’ve also appreciated the lyrics to this song, since they remind me of The Men They Couldn’t Hang “Company Town”. “Dance Upon Your Grave” has a Velvet Underground sounding intro, but soon the song burst into a fast-paced Celtic punk number featuring guest Carl Nyqvist on fiddle.

“Coal Mine” was the first single off “Life and Death”. I must admit that I didn’t enjoy this song with a reggae vibe. However, the song has grown on me. Accordion and banjo are played all along the song, but the tin whistle is also played in the middle. Great lyrics that obviously remind me of The Whisky Priests earlier stuff, for instance, “The Colliery”.

I don’t like Ikea, but I enjoy Swedish TV series, crimes novels and Celtic punk bands. Finnegan’s Hell are really a solid band and both music and lyrics are top-notch on this CD. Therefore, “Life and Death” is a well-balanced album. Thanks to their label Heptown Records for chosing the right date for the release of the album. A plethora of CDs will be released on St. Patrick’s Day and that will make us difficult to pay attention to all of them.

Track listing:

01 - Shane MacGowan's Grave 3:57
02 - All In 2:27
03 - Cursed 3:11
04 - Rude Awakening 2:50
05 - The Bastard Son 3:04
06 - Paradise Town 3:01
07 - How am I to make it? 2:10
08 - Coal Mine 2:49
09 - Isn't it Grand Boy? 3:46
10 - One-Horse Town 3:43
11 - Dance Upon Your Grave 2:34
12 - Whatcha Gonna Do? 3:52
13 - A Minute of Silence 1:00

Website
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Bandcamp
Wikipedia

Click to buy:

HepTown Records Store
iTunes USA
iTunes UK



Review by Kinksmarkham

2018-01-27 VIDEOS - FINNEGAN'S HELL, PIRATES OF THE PUBS, UNCLE BARD & THE DIRTY BASTARDS

These are the latest videos that have been added to our YouTube channel. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Then you'll be able to watch all the new videos before they are posted here.

Finnegan's Hell - Coal Mine
 


Pirates of the Pub -Budweis Pirates Clan



Uncle Bard & The Dirty Bastards - Lads from the Countryside

 

2017-11-26 VIDEOS - THE FEELGOOD McLOUDS, FINNEGAN'S HELL, BENJAMING'S CLAN

These are the latest videos that have been added to our YouTube channel. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on Facebook. Then you'll be able to watch all the new videos before they are posted here.

The Feelgood McLouds - Never Stop

 


Finnegan's Hell - Paradise Town (Christmas edit)



Benjaming's Band - The Last of the Mohicans

BEST OF 2014 - ALBUMS

Best of 2014. The list has 35 albums, like the previous year.

17 albums from Europe: 4 from Italy, 2 from Ireland, 2 from Germany, 2 bands based in Spain (Basque Country and Catalonia), 1 from Austria, 1 from Belgium, 1 from Denmark, 1 from France, 1 from Hungary, 1 from Sweden, 1 from the UK and 1 from Ukraine

11 albums from North America: 8 from the USA and 3 from Canada

1 album from South America: Brazil

1 album from Africa: South Africa

2 albums from Australasia: Australia

2 albums from Asia: 1 from Indonesia and 1 from Japan


Remarks

1) As usual, this post is titled as “the best of”. However,  this is not  a competition, but a sort of a game. Remember that I give neither points, nor stars to the albums that are reviewed. I’d say that, IMHO,  this is the list of the most enjoyable albums of 2014.  It's a party!

2) This list is subjective, but not unfair: it covers the albums that I have enjoyed. Other lists are being posted on other sites and they'll be different. And I feel that diversity is good.

3) Important: Please remember that it’s a list of albums, not a list of bands.

4) I've tried to be coherent. Everybody should know that I prefer original material to over-exposed standards.

5) Please remember that I'm only a fan. Maybe some albums are technically or musically better than others. I have taken into account catchy songs, fresh approaches, originality and maybe I've given priority to raucous sounds rather than to polished sounds

6) Yes, this is a Celtic Punk e-zine. Then priority has been given to Celtic punk bands, but you'll also find quite a few Celtic rock and folk punk bands.

7) Only the albums that have been received for review/airplay purposes and/or that have been shared for free by the bands have been rated. Other recordings were released in 2014, but unfortunately no copy was submitted. Anyway, I feel that this is not biaising the list.

8) This Best of 2014 covers the albums that have been released from December 2013 to November 2014.

9) Neither Live albums, nor only covers albums have been taken into account. The same applies to compilations.

10) To be at the bottom of the list doesn't involve that an album is rather poor. The difference between the 5th place and the 20th place would be a tiny nuance. The same applies to the places going from 21st to 35th.

11) A lot of songs from these albums have been added to the streaming radio along the year and they are regularly played.

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

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

12) To the fans: feel free to share your comments below.

13) To the bands: it’s extremely difficult to rank every recording and I guess that some people won’t be happy. However, I really appreciate and respect the hard work by every single band. The quality of all of the recordings has been very high!


Albums 2014

01 - Bastard Bearded Irishmen "Rise of the Bastard"    Review
02 - The Ramshackle Army    "Letters from the Road Less Travelled"    Review
03 - Creeds Cross    "Gods & Fighting Men"    Review
04 - Uncle Bard and The Dirty Bastards    "Get the Folk Out!"    Review
05 - Craic    "Amongst the Mischief and Malarkey"    Review
06 - The Black Tartan Clan    "Scotland in Our Hearts"    Review
07 - Paddy Murphy    "CoffinShip" Review
08 - Finegan's Hell    "Drunk, Sick and Blue"    Review
09 - Rovers Ahead    "Always the Sinner, Never the Saint"    Review
10 - Mosche di Velluto Grigio "In te ho sognato, in te spero morir"    Review
11 - Roughneck Riot    "Out of Anger"    Review
12 - Whiskey Wagon    "Somewhere Under the Table"    Review
13 - The Fighting Jamesons    "Every Day Above Ground" Review
14 - Drink Hunters    "Lurking Behind the Woods"    Review
15 - Lugh    "Quando os canecos batem"    Review
16 - The Clan    "The Clan"    Review
17 - Fiddler's Wage    "A Needle Pointing North"    Review
18 - The Wages of Sin    "Queensbury Rules"    Review
19 - The Mahones    "The Hunger & The Fight Part 1"    Review
20 - Firkin    "Finger in the Pie"    Review
21 - Celkilt    "On the Table"    Review
22 - O'Hamsters    "Kiev, Dublin, Alcohol"    Free Download
23 - The Sunday Punchers    "The Sunday Punchers"    Review
24 - Blood or Whiskey    "Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil"    Review
25 - McOnak    "Piraten Matxinada"    Review
26 - Kilkenny Knights    "Brady's Pub Tales"    Review
27 - Craic the Lens    "The Cannon"    Review
28 - Auld Corn Brigade    "Rebels till the End" Review
29 - Jay Wars    "Carry Me Home"    Review
30 - Homeland    "The Show" Review   
31 - Kitchen Implosion    "Pretty Work Brave Boys!"    Review
32 - Charlie's Rum and The Chaplin  "Ballad of Motherland" Review
33 - Birmingham Six    "Move On"    Review
34 - Kilt the Messenger    "Hero Punk"    Review
35 - 16 Tons with Ally    "Safari"    Review

Honorable mention:

Remember, no compilation albums are elegible for the list. But this album is really amazing:

VA "Wind from the Foreign Land - An Indonesian Celtic Punk Compilation"  WLRV Records Review

Thanks to all the bands for sending their stuff to be reviewed. Special thanks to Drink Hunters for stating my name on the "Thanks" section of their album!

Enjoy!

REVIEW - FINNEGAN'S HELL "Drunk, Sick and Blue" (2014)

Finnegan's Hell "Drunk Sick and Tired" Heptown Records HTR071
Release date: 26 september 2014
Running time: 23:00, 10 tracks

“Drunk, Sick and Blue”, the follow-up to Finnegan’s Hell self-titled EP was one of the most awaited albums of the year. The Swedish gang was able to deliver a kick-ass EP at the end of 2011 and their rendition of “Molly Maguires” is still considered as one of the highest Celtic punk moments at YouTube. As the guys have advanced a couple of numbers in the last 10 months (videos for “Drunken Christmas” and “Drunk, Sick and Blue”), I guess that nobody is wondering if  Finnegan’s Hell were only a one-hit wonder. After watching both videos, the answer is clear: NO, they are not a one-hit wonder, but a solid Celtic punk outfit and Finnegan’s Hell new material is brilliant.

“Drunk, Sick and Blue” consists of 10 whiskey soaked songs on which booze is always present: a couple of numbers from the previous EP (“Jar of Porter” and “Molly Maguires”), a version of “Galway Races” and 7 self-penned songs. The band’s sound and punk attitude are awesome, but one feels that the album is a little bit short. Only 23 minutes! Come on guys, 12 songs is the right dose! Anyway, the mix of electric instruments, accordion, banjo and/or tin whistle will make you jump and sing along in such a way that once the disc is over the walls will have to be painted again !!!

The songs that I’d pick up: the opening track “Drunk, Sick and Blue”, a song that will become a classic soon; “Reversed Evolution”, and amazing fast-paced Celtic punk anthem; “Drunken Christmas”, apparently the result of too much porter, some spins to Ashley Hutchings “Morris on” LP and to The Clash song “Career Oportunities” (the “Sandinista!” version); the old number “Jar of Porter”; “Lullaby”, a sort of an outtake from The Pogues “Waiting for Herb” sessions; “No Saint”, where the Devil’s life is more attractive than the God’s one; and, obviously, “Molly Maguires”.

The album is packed on a 3 panel digipack where all the lyrics to the original stuff and the credits can be found, together with some pics. 

The new wave of Scandinavian Celtic punk bands that I mentioned on my Finnegan’s Hell EP review has  finally arrived. Rovers Ahead and Finnegan’s Hell  are here and they have come to stay. The drakkars keep on sailing, and more bands are ready to conquer the Celtic punk realm (Captain’s Jack Army, Punk Mahone …). In the meanwhile, let’s enjoy Finnegan’s Hell “Drunk, Sick and Blue”

Tracklist:

01 - Drunk, Sick and Blue 1:42
02 - Jar of Porter 2:22
03 - Lullaby 2:29
04 - Galway Races 1:54
05 - Whiskey Darling 2:39
06 - The Molly Maguires 2:22
07 - Promises and Lies 2:53
08 - Reversed Revolution 1:56
09 - No Saint 2:19
10 - Drunken Christmas 2:19

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Soundcloud

Click to buy:

Heptown Records Bandcamp
iTunes

Review by kinksmarkham

P.S.

The three people that have won a Finnegan's Hell CD will get an e-mail request for their addresses soon: O.R. (France), B.G. (Germany) and C.G. (Spain)

The answer was "Lullaby", "Galway Races", "Whiskey Darling", "Promises and Lies", "Reversed Evolution" and "No Saint".

VIDEO - FINNEGAN'S HELL "Jar of Porter"

More stuff by Finnegan's Hell, the official video for "Jar of Porter".

Finnegan's Hell - Jar of Porter

DO YOU WANT TO WIN THE NEW FINNEGAN'S HELL CD?

The Finnegan's Hell debut album "Drunk, Sick and Blue" will be released by Swedish label Heptown Records tomorrow (Friday 26 September 2014).

We have three copies of the CD courtesy of Heptown Records to give away. The answer to the following question must be e-mailed to celticfolkpunk@gmail.com and a raffle will take place among all the people having submitted the right answer.

Which 6 songs from the CD are being played at Celtic Folk Punk Radio from 26 to 28 September 2014?

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

This is the radio schedule (Central European Time, that of Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Amsterdam, Brussels ...). Tune in and then e-mail the titles of the 6 songs.

The limit date to receive the e-mails with the answers is next Monday 29 September at 18h00 (Central European Time, that of Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Amsterdam, Brussels ...).

Only one message per account can be e-mailed.

Finnegan's Hell - Drunk, Sick and Blue - Official Trailer

FEATURED ALBUMS AT CELTIC FOLK PUNK RADIO NEXT WEEKEND

These are the featured albums at Celtic Folk Punk radio from Friday 26 September to Sunday 28 September:

- The Sunday Punchers self-titled album (Celtic punk, South Africa)

- Finnegan's Hell "Drunk, Sick and Blue"(Celtic punk, Sweden)

- Beyond the Fields "The Falcon Lives" (Celtic rock, Switzerland)

Several songs from every album will be played.

Please have a look to the schedule by clicking the picture (Central European Summer Time)

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

VIDEO - FINNEGAN'S HELL "Drunk, Sick and Blue"

The new single/video “Drunk, Sick And Blue” from the Celtic punkrockers Finnegan’s Hell out today June 4th on HepTown Records.“The title track from the upcoming debut album by Finnegan’s Hell; a release that marks a new wave of European Celtic punk." The album will be out 26th September, 2014 on Heptown Records.”

Website
Facebook
Soundcloud
Bandcamp


Finnegan's Hell "Drunk, Sick And Blue"

Single - Heptown Records

1. Drunk, Sick And Blue
2. Molly Maguires

Finnegan's Hell - Drunk, Sick And Blue

VIDEO - FINNEGAN'S HELL "Drunken Christmas"

 "Drunken Christmas" is a single from Finnegan's Hell's forthcoming album, which is yet untitled. The new album will be released in 2014, as soon as Finnegan's Hell finds a new record label. The band recently decided to leave Hell On Wheels Records.

Finnegan's Hell - Drunken Christmas (An Irish Christmas Song)

Lyrics:

Christmas is here
and I'm drunk again
Should I open my present
or go back to bed?
Every year's just the same
so why even care?
I've got a feeling
that we've been misled

One drink for Santa Claus
One drink for me
One drink to get us through
this white misery
(repeat refrain)

Christmas is here
and he's drunk again
Should I open my present
or go back to bed?
Every year's just the same
so why even care?
I've got a feeling
that Santa is dead

REVIEW - FINNEGAN'S HELL - "Finnegan's Hell" EP Pavement Productions (2011)

Finnegan's Hell - "Finegan's Hell" EP Pavement Productions (2011)
Release date: 2011
Running time: 14:05, 5 tracks

Paddy’s Irish Clan was a Swedish band that was established in 1999. They played mainly Irish ballads and rebel songs and had an Internet “hit” with their song “Fuck the British Army”. They released   four albums and toured Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Finally, after having played at the Ballyshannon Folk Festival in Ireland, they thought that it was high time for a change of direction. And that’s how Finnegan’s Hell was born.

Needless to say that Finnegan’s Hell also had a great Internet hit last year when the band released the official video for the track “The Molly Maguires”. Their long awaited debut EP includes that song,  another two traditional standards and a couple of self-penned songs.

I find that the best songs on the EP are “Hot Asphalt” and “Jar of Porter” (By the way, a new version of this song with different lyrics and a new tittle is also available as a video). The last song is very interesting too, with some Appalachian influences on the fiddling and banjo playing.

Pabs McNasty  (lead vocals and guitar), Slick Mick (banjo, harmonica, accordion, tin whistle and backing vocals), San Stacy  (bass and backing vocals), Carl Bushmill (fiddle) and Ace o'Reilly (drums & percussion) have been able to blend their knowledge of the Irish ballads and their live experience at pubs and big festivals with the rocking tradition of Swedish bands such as The Nomads or The Hellacopters. A top-notch EP that should be on your CD collection. Grab it as soon as possible.

I feel that a new wave of Scandinavian Celtic punk bands is here to conquer the world. SIR REG  and Greenland Whalefishers are already the kings of the Celtic punk realm. But “new” bands like Finnegan’s Hell and Rovers Ahead are pushing on the same direction too.

Tracklist:

01 - The Molly Maguires 2:22

02 - Hot Asphalt 3:49

03 - Jar of Porter 2:23

04 - McAlpine's Fusiliers 2:41

05 - A Pint of Plain 2:40

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finnegans-Hell/123418027734944

http://www.myspace.com/finneganshell

http://www.myspace.com/paddysirishclan/music

Review by Kinksmarkham

VIDEO - FINNEGAN'S HELL "The Boys in Green Will Conquer"

The Swedish band Finnegan's Hell has just released a new vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zc2bPn0fpg

"A powerful football anthem by Finnegan's Hell. Hopefully it will be selected as Ireland's official Euro 2012 song."

VIDEO - FINNEGAN'S HELL "The Molly Maguires"

Finnegan's Hell the up-and-coming Celtic punk band, delivers a traditional song that would make both Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly proud!

Finnegan's Hell was formed in Sweden in 2010, simply because there's still a great need for kick-ass Celtic punk in this world.

Members:

Pabs McNasty: lead vocals & guitar
Ace O'Reilly: drums & percussion
San Stacy: bass & backing vocals
Slick Mick: banjo, harmonica, accordion, whistle & backing vocals
Carl Bushmill: fiddle

http://www.myspace.com/finneganshell
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finnegans-Hell/123418027734944?sk=wall
http://onstage.metro.se/artist/55205




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