REVIEW - SMOKEY BASTARD “Tales from the Wasteland” Bomber Music (2011)

Smokey Bastard “Tales from the Wasteland” Bomber Music
Release date: 31 October 2011
Running time: 41:19, 13 tracks


Smokey Bastard defined themselves as the UK's answer to Flogging Molly and Dropckick Murphys. Their 12 track debut album ”Propping Up the Floor” was released in 2009 and I think that it made both PaddyRock and Shite’n’Onions top ten CD list of that year.

IMHO, “Propping Up the Floor” was an overrated album, as it was quite irregular. However, some tracks were excellent and they made me feel that, even if they have failed with their debut album, their future could be very interesting.

Their brand new album, “Tales from the Wasteland” is the evidence that actually they deserved more credit. The Flogging Molly and DKM influences are still there (FM on ”Wasteland" and DKM on “Eden Home” and “Cheer Up Love”) but they are open now to other sounds. for instance that of The Dreadnoughts (“Mongrel”, “Yuppie Dracula” and “Bad Reception”). Moreover, there are a couple of a capella songs (“My Song John” and “Boatepitaph”) and, fortunately, only one traditional number, The Morrison’s Jig on the track 6 tune set, “Mong Some Hoof”. I don’t know if the last track is a pisstake or a tribute, but I feel that the cover of Abba's “Mamma Mia” is great. Maybe the only weak point of the album, and I admit that it’s quite subjective, is track 11, “Dear Mol” (sorry, I don’t like the girl’s vocals)

Smokey Bastard’s second effort is far better than their debut album. Excellent mandolin and banjo sound backed by accordion and fiddle. Check out the following songs: “Wasteland”, “Eden Home”, “Mongrel” (The Dreadnoughts meet Talco),“Yuppie Dracula”, “Cheer Up Love” and “Aspirations I Have Some” (a well written song that starts as a pop-punk number and evolves into something different). Well done, boys!

Tracklist:

01 – Wasteland 3:43
02 – Token Folkin 0:42
03 – Eden Home (PT I) 3:35
04 – Mongrel 5:21
05 – My Son John 1:40
06 – Mong Some Hoof 3:33
07 – Yuppie Dracula 3:38
08 – Boatepitaph (Pt II) 0:44
09 – Cheer Up, Love (Worst Things Happen at Sea) (Pt III) 2:31
10 – Aspirations I Have Some 4:50
11 – Dear Mol 2:39
12 – Bad Reception 4:42
13 – Mamma Mia 3:12


http://smokeybastard.com
http://www.reverbnation.com/smokeybastard
http://www.facebook.com/smokeybastard

Lyrics:

http://smokeybastard.com/music/


Click to buy:

http://bombermusic.bigcartel.com/product/smokey-bastard-tales-from-the-wasteland

Review by Kinksmarkham

SHOULD SMOKEY BASTARD BE BANNED?

I have been recently told that the London Celtic Punks collective and other Celtic punks fans have turned their back on the band from Reading Smokey Bastard. The last straw would have been a recent interview in which the band was asked about people's biggest misconception about the folk punk genre. As a result, a discussion took place on the band’s Facebook wall and both parties decided to part company.

I have read the interview and the only thing that I can say about that answer is that I find it sad. I understand what the band wanted to say and, to a certain degree, I agree with them. However, I don’t like how they said it. I feel that they could have said the same message without mentioning the name of another band. Anyway, we all know that the story of rock’n’roll, punk and pop music is full of these provocative opinions and that is not enough to put them on a black list.

As far as other points are concerned, the members of the band have clearly showed their position. I feel that unfortunately the relationship between London Celtic Punks and Smokey Bastard has not been good from the very beginning and it seems to be a problem of incompatibility.

Therefore, I am not going to remove the “Yuppie Dracula” video from the blog and I am going to post the review of their second album (by the way, an excellent album). On this blog I only write about music and I don’t find any offense on Smokey Bastard’s lyrics. I’m not a judge and I think that every fan can draw his own conclusions (you can read the interview and the Facebook discussion clicking here. If you need more information, please contact London Celtic Punks and Smokey Bastard)

On the other hand I would like to say that this doesn’t mean that I’m taking a position against London Celtic Punks. The fact that I have decided not to boycott Smokey Bastard doesn’t mean that I’m backing the band. As I have told above, I feel that they have a problem of incompatibility. London Celtic Punks are doing a great job and I hope that they will respect my decision as I respect theirs.

FREE DOWNLOADS - ASKFODD

Askfodd come from Sweden and they play a very interesting folk-rock, every track is different. If I have to make a comparison with well-known Swedish bands, I feel that they are closer to Filarfolket than to Hedningarna. Enjoy!

Tobias Don Rydsheim, 1987 - Vocals, guitars, keyboards, samples
Christoffer Rymer-Rythén, 1991 - Guitar, mandolin, vocals
Jimmy Sellin, 1987 - Nyckelharpa
Martin Borka Mattsson, 1986 - Bass, vocals
Simon Schwieler, 1989 - Drums
Fabian Karlsson, 1991 - Accordion

Alexandra Moqvist, 1988 - Vocals

Discography:

"Opp te dans" (6 tracks, 2011)
"Tysta Skall De Lyssna" (1 track, 2011)


http://www.reverbnation.com/Åskfödd
http://www.myspace.com/askfodd
http://www.facebook.com/pages/%C3%85skf%C3%B6dd/160570783966309
http://www.askfodd.se

DOWNLOAD:

Go to their website and click on the links www.askfodd.se

VIDEO - IRISH STEW OF SINDIDUN "Take Me High"

Irish Stew of Sindidun. Video for the song "Take Me High" from third release "New Tomorrow", 2011.

Director: Ivan Wagner

FREE DOWNLOAD - TERRA CELTA "Folkatrua"

The Brazilian band Terra Celta has released their second album. It can be downloaded for free from their website. Go to their website, click on "ENTRAR", then close the ad and click on the right on "DOWNLOAD", finally click on "BAIXE AGORA! ALBUM FOLKATRUA"

DOWNLOAD:

http://terracelta.com.br

BOOTLEG - HOIST THE COLORS

The Californian band Hoist the Colors has just released an "official" bootleg. It can be downloaded free from bandcamp.

Recorded live at the Standard Station in El Segundo, CA on November 12,2011

Josh Linden - Vocals and mandolin
Ryan Sharp - Banjo
Sina Etesami - Acoustic guitar and vocals
Nick Morgan - Fiddle
Fabian de la Torre - Bass and vocals
Jeff Murphy - Electric guitar
Ivan de la Torre - Drums


http://www.myspace.com/hoistthecolorsmusic
http://www.facebook.com/Hoistthecolors.music

DOWNLOAD:

http://hoistthecolors.bandcamp.com

FREE DOWNLOAD - THE FREAK FANDANGO ORCHESTRA "Tales of a Dead Fish"

The Freak Fandango Orchestra has just released their second album, "Tales of a Dead Fish"

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/101727

BAND OF THE MONTH - GARRAHAN'S GHOST

I have found Garrahan´s Ghost "Songs from the Spider Box" so good that I have decided that they are the band of the month. The reverbnation widget will be here till the end of the month.


http://www.reverbnation.com/garrahansghost
http://www.myspace.com/garrahansghost
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Garrahans-Ghost/101957469842164

VIDEO - SMOKEY BASTARD "YUPPIE DRACULA"

This is the Smokey Bastard's brand new video. Enjoy!

THE DREADNOUGHTS - BOOK AND VIDEO

"I'm not sure if you've heard yet, but recently a book and a video based around Vancouver's polka-klezmer-celtic-cider-folk-punk band The Dreadnoughts were released.

The book is called This Place Is Awesome and it's the story of survival in the face of overwhelming amounts of cider. I wrote it after spending a week with them touring Britain on their first European tour. Half of it is stories of trying to survive in that travelling booze circus, and the other half is photographic evidence. There are more details about it at

http://www.adampwsmith.com

The video was shot during a week in Poland in July of this year and it's for the songs Polka Never Dies. It answers the burning question "how long do you have to wait before you see one of the band members get set on fire?" (the answer, in this case, is about two and a half minutes).

You can find the video online at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzEfI72HyCY

WE'RE COMING BACK SOON

After some weeks off, we are coming back soon. Stay tuned for new reviews!

LEXINGTON FIELD - PRESS RELEASE

Lexington Field, San Diego's finest American Fiddle Rock band, announced today they have signed with New Folk Records. Lexington Field is going to record a new, six-song EP set for an early 2012 release under New Folk Records. The deal also includes national distribution of their debut, full-length album, Old Dirt Road, which was officially self-released on May 25, 2011.

New Folk Records is based out of Savage, Minnesota. Their catalog has over 150 releases including records from Paddy O'Brien, Dáithí Sproule, Wild Colonial Bhoys, and Hounds of Finn.

"After lots of hard work, we finally found a partner in New Folk Records to help us reach a larger audience across the United States and ultimately the world. They have a great reputation for working with acts in the Celtic genre where our style of American Fiddle Rock fits right in. We are ready to put the show on the road and hit the studio this month to record a hard-hitting, catchy, energetic six-song EP for our debut New Folk Records release."
- Beau Gray, Lead Singer/Guitarist of Lexington Field.

“We are thrilled to be able to work with Lexington Field. They are dedicated and talented musicians that work hard day in and day out to be the best at what they do. Their music is exciting, original and on the front line of an amazing new musical direction that is becoming a huge part of today’s Irish Music.”
– Ken Onstad, President, New Folk Records

REVIEW - GARRAHAN’S GHOST “Songs from the Spider Box” Radio Vibe Records (2011)

Garrahan's Ghost “Songs from the Spider Box” Radio Vibe Records (2011)
Release date: 2011
Running time: 32.30, 10 tracks

I was listening to some bands on reverbnation and I came across this band from York, PA (USA). I loved them immediately and I felt that this was the stuff that I was looking for. Imagine a rogue folk English band from the 90’s making a trip around the Mediterranean countries. Then they come back home and record an album. Which will be the music they would play? Something similar to Garrahan’s Ghost “Songs from the Spider Box”

I enjoy particularly how they make you feel that you know how the song is going to grow but they do the unexpected . Let’s take track no. 3, “Separate God for Gamblers”. It’s 4 songs in one! At the beginning piano and drums, you think that it’s a crooner singing. Then somebody plays the harmonica and you’re in the middle of an Elvis Presley song. New piano with a different beat and vocals and you feel that you’re listening to a Wedding Present song. And, finally, the song gets quieter with a good mandolin and more piano. A haunting song.

“Sullivan’s Lake” (The Flood) is, IMHO, the single of the album. A catchy song featuring and Italian sounding accordion. Its second part, track no. 6 “Sullivan´s Lake” (The Drought) is based on an accordion and guitar sound reminiscent of the English band Pressgang.

The instrumental “Song of the Chanter” is another fantastic number. I would file it together with other excellent instrumentals such as “Success Express” (The Whisky Priests), “Bok Espok” (Kepa Junkera + Hedningarna) and “Gaites del Infiernu” (Tejedor).

The second half of the album is amazing: “The Great Wall of Morgantown", another Italian/Mediterranean song featuring accordion and mandolin in the Modena City Ramblers vein; “First Cap Reel”, a Pressgang meets The Dreadnoughts instrumental: “Jewel’s Jig”, great accordion, fiddle and vocals à la DKM on real Celtic punk song; and, to finish up, “Houdini Diablo” another fiddle and accordion gypsy/European song that can rival with the Dreadnoughts.

Garrahan’s Ghost share with The Dreadnoughts the same starting point, but they have evolved in a different way. They are not so wild, but their music is very interesting. I don’t know if “Songs from the Spider Box” is the best album of 2011, but at least I feel that it’s the most attractive album of 2011



http://www.reverbnation.com/garrahansghost
http://www.myspace.com/garrahansghost
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Garrahans-Ghost/101957469842164

Click to buy the album from CDBaby:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/garrahansghost

Review by Kinksmarkham

REVIEW - SIR REG "A Sign of the Times" Heptown Records HTR057 (2011)

SIR REG "A Sign of the Times" Heptown Records HTR057 (2011)
Release date. November 25th, 2011
Running time: 42:07, 11 tracks

We have had to wait till the end of the year to get the new album by SIR REG. The Swedish band fronted by an Irishman was the great surprise of 2011. So I guess that every single Celtic punk fan was awaiting “A Sign of the Times” .

In fact, I was talking with a friend last week end and he asked me ”Is the new SIR REG CD really so good? Come on, I know you’re a fan, but try to find a weak point. “ I must admit that it has been impossible to find any. Maybe the two catchy songs that I love,“Living on the Moon” and “Frustration” , are close to “Drink Up Ya Sinners”, but not so good.

Apart from that, the album is perfect.The boys have been able to meet all the expectations and the guest musicians have made a fantastic contribution to the sound of the band. All the songs are excellent: between the opening track (an energetic song) to the last song ( a nice ballad) one can listen to Celtic punk numbers (“Dying to Rebel”, “Bolloxology”, “Living on the Moon”, “Frustation”) metal influenced songs ("This Country’s For Sale”, “I’ll Leave for New York”), Celtic pop-rock (“How the Hell Can You Sleep”, “Ah Just Leave Me Alone”) and an awesome ballad that I feel that Christy Moore is going to sing soon ("Far Away").

Which should be the next stop? A USA tour. This band deserves to be heard worldwide.


Tracklist:

01 - A Sign of the Times 3:57
02 - Dying to Rebel 2:37
03 - How the Hell Can You Sleep? 4:17
04 - This Country's for Sale 4:45
05 - Far Away 4:59
06 - Bolloxology 2.25
07 - I'll Leave for New York 3:25
08 - Living on the Moon 2.44
05 - Ah Just Leave me Alone 2:58
10 - Frustration 4:03
11 - Dublin City 5:42

http://www.sirreg.se
http://www.reverbnation.com/sirreg
http://www.facebook.com/sirregband
http://www.myspace.com/sirregband
http://twitter.com/sirregband

Click to buy the CD

http://www.hepcat.se/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=sir+reg&x=0&y=0

Review by Kinksmarkham

REVIEW - "MOSCHE DI VELLUTO GRIGIO "You'll Never Walk Alone - Eilé's Diary" Self-released (2011)

Mosche di Velluto Grigio "You'll Never Walk Alone - Eileé's Diary"
Release date: 2011
Running time: 25:33, 7 tracks

“You’ll Never Walk Alone-Eilé’s Diary” is the new album by the Italian sextet Mosche di Velluto Grigio (MVG). The album was recorded in January-March 2011, mixed in Scotland and produced together by the band and the Scottish multi-instrumentalist and producer Keith Easdale.

The artwork looks like Flogging Molly’s “Swagger” and the band admits that they follow foreign bands like The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Tossers or The Dubliners. But I feel that the main influences in their sound are Italian bands (they mention the early Modena City Ramblers, Davide Van de Sfroos and Cisco). Another element that makes MVG different is the use of sax. This instrument is played on “Vinesa”, “Bonnie & Clyde” and “A Sud” (by the way, great accordion on this track which can be linked to The Porters “Lady Whiskey”)

I enjoy particularly their Celtic punk end on songs such as “Fiori di Maggio” ( a Celtic party song in the Vad Vuc vein featuring tin whistle and flute) “Il Marinaio di Limerick” (a catchy song with mandolin, tin whistle and fiddle played by Keith Easdale) and the last track, “You will Never Walk Alone” (the only track sung in English featuring accordion, tin whistle and pipes)

On the other hand their quietest mood can be heard on songs like the ballads “Eilé” (a song based on the sound of accordion and tin whistle on which the influence by Modena City Ramblers is clear) and “Bonnie & Clyde” (a Flogging Molly meets the Waterboys song featuring fiddle and jews harp too)

Mosche di Velluto Grigio have been playing their blend of combat folk and anti-folk with and Irish twist for the last eleven years. They seem to be at their peak with this 7 track mini album. So, the fans who love Modena City Ramblers and the Vad Vuc will be happy with this new CD by MVG.



Tracklist:

01 - Eilé 4:10
02 - Vinésa 3:52
03 - Fiore di Maggio 3:08
04 - Bonnie & Clyde 3:09
05 - A Sud 4:47
06 - Il marinaio di Limerick 3:36
07 - You Will Never Walk Alone 2:51

http://www.moschedivellutogrigio.it
http://www.myspace.com/moschedivellutogrigio
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=183875635

If you want to buy the CD, contact the band.

Review by Kinksmarkham

VIDEO - LEXINGTON FIELD "OLD DIRT ROAD"

(From the band's News)

"During our recent trip to Arizona where we played Rula Bula in Tempe and rocked out with the Young Dubliners at the Compound Grill in Phoenix, we decided to document the journey and put together a music video for the title track song of our album "Old Dirt Road"! With a little filming and some awesome pics by our good friend Mike Starkey, everything came together just as we planned. Check out the new video and let us know what you think!"

"Old Dirt Road" Official video

SAMPLER OCTOBER 2011

01 - LES TRICARDS - On est tricard (from "Un poing c'est tout") 2:44
02 - LES TRICARDS - Un poing c'est tout (from "Un poing c'est tout") 4:11
03 - LES TRICARDS - Virés des Bars (from "Un poing c'est tout") 2:39
04 - THE LUCKY EEJITS - Broken (from "Fine Asian Gentleman") 3:21
05 - THE LUCKY EEJITS - Laddy's Song (from "A Pint in the Right Direction") 2:45
06 - THE LUCKY EEJITS - Drunk at Bunratty Castle (from "A Pint in the Right Direction") 2:56
07 - RAIN IN SUMMER - Angkat kembali gelasmu 3:05
08 - KEEP BRITAIN IRISH - The Foggy Dew 4:34
09 - KEEP BRITAIN IRISH - Rocky Road to Dublin 5:00
10 - KEEP BRITAIN IRISH - Follow Me Up to Carlow 2:56
11 - K-PASSA - Never Gonna Feel (from "The Morning After?) 4:28
12 - K-PASSA - Whispered Light (from "Born Again") 5:36
13 - K-PASSA - Louisiana Two Step (from "Born Again") 8:29
14 - WICKED TINKERS - I Want Whisky (Bonus Track) 0:33



1) LES TRICARDS (Alsace, France)

http://www.myspace.com/lestricards

Members:

Hector Boyaux - Pipes
Hammer Pierre - Bass
Arnaud Future - Vocals
Grossbaf - Drums
Guy Tarsaich - Guitar

Discography:

"Un poing c'est tout" (4 track EP, 2011)

Celtic Oi! from the East of France. They cover Peter and the Test Tube Babies' "Banned from the Pubs"

The full digital EP is available here:

http://trou2balle.records.free.fr/45tours/Les%20TRICARDS%20-%20Un%20poing%20c%27est%20tout/Tricards%20-%20Un%20poing.htm


2) THE LUCKY EEJITS (Concord, CA, USA)

http://www.myspace.com/theluckyeejits
http://www.reverbnation.com/theluckyeejits
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lucky-Eejits/44886882855

Members:

Casey AKA Chopz - Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals, Mandolin
Laddy AKA Ladaconda - Drums, Background Vocals
Bo Bo
Papi
Tyler


Discography:

"Fine Asian Gentleman" (4 track demo 2007)
"A Pint in the Right Direction" (4 track demo 2008)

The band of the month. The tracks are available at their Reverbnation site.

"The Lucky Eejits are simple. We play music that we love and respect. We're not out there to antagonize like a lot of other bands are. We came together in May of 2007 and played our first show at the Concord Pavilion Battle Of The Bands, and ended as finalists. We've opened and headlined and are down for any show offered. We're all the best of friends and hope to keep it that way. We play our music with passion and creativity."




3) RAIN IN SUMMER (Bandung, West Java, Indonesia)


http://www.reverbnation.com/raininsummer
http://www.myspace.com/raininsummerpunkjava
http://id-id.facebook.com/pages/Raininsummerpunk/148291631867240

Members:

Az-war Sidick - Vocals
Si Rambon Summer - Guitar & back. vocals
Sule - Guitar & back.vocals
Adjie Hadhian - Guitar & back.vocals
Vai Andika - Drums

The third track from this Indonesian band.

The track is available at their Reverbnation site.


4) KEEP BRITAIN IRISH (Littleton, CO, USA)

http://www.reverbnation.com/keepbritainirish
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-Britain-Irish/68317037544

Members:

Aaron Langton - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Jamey Evans - Acoustic Guitar/Vocals
Steve Brosius - Drums
Corey Johnson - Mandolin/Whistles/Vocals
Neal Landauer - Bass

The tracks are available at the band's Reverbnation site.

"It began in an unfinished basement in Littleton, Colorado as four long-time friends getting together to play music and drink beer. A love of Irish drinking songs was the common element in a group of four guys with rather eclectic tastes. Eventually, they gave in to requests to get out of the basement and play live.

Aaron Langton is a multi-instrumentalist who performs lead guitar duties for KBI. He has played in Denver-area bands for more than 20 years. Jamey Evans lends his voice to most of the songs while strumming the acoustic rhythm guitar. Years of singing and dabbling on the guitar have culminated in being the front man to Keep Britain Irish. Steve Brosius has been playing in area bands for years; whether playing the kit or the bodhran, Steve lends his style to the sound. We even let him out to sing occasionally! Corey “Cdawg” Johnson is the son of a musician and band director, so music has always been in his blood. Having done some professional singing he is also a multi-instrumentalist. Corey lays down the mandolin, guitar, penny whistle and the harmonica while providing lead and backup vocals. KBI is often joined on bass guitar by Neal Landauer who is a percussionist and guitar player with over 20 years playing in area bands.

We say we are a drinking band which means we want every time we play to be a party. We play traditional Irish Pub songs in the style of the Clancy Brothers and the Dubliners, but also contemporary Irish rock with covers of songs by the Pogues, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys and the Young Dubliners. Our influences show up in versions of Land Down Under (Irish-style), Walk the Line or Rockin’ the Free World.

We formed a band to have fun and we want you to have fun with us. Come and check us out, we look forward to seeing you.

Slainte…see you at the pub."

5) K-PASSA (Bristol, UK)

http://www.myspace.com/kpassaband
http://www.reverbnation.com/kpassa
http://www.lastfm.es/music/K-Passa

Members:

Simon Edwards - Vocals, Squeezebo
Madfiddler - Electric violin
Andy Burrows - Guitar
Emma Hughes - Vocals
Des Rogers - Bass
Greg White - Drums

Discography:

"Two Back From The Front" (1992)
"After The Headrush" (1994)
"Life On The Plains" (1995)
"The Morning After"(2 CD set, Best of, 1998)
"Born Again" (2001)

K-Passa disbanded some years ago, but they are playing sone reunion gigs now.

The tracks come from their Lastfm site (1) and from Mark Knight's site (aka Madfiddler)

http://www.madfiddler.co.uk/sounds.htm

"After the Headrush" can be bought from CDBaby:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kpassa

"K-Passa (kay'passa) n. 1.Collective name for a group of musical creatures, often seen frequenting the West Country. 2.Loud folk rock noise, can cause crowd euphoria. 3.Probable cause for outbreaks of spontaneous dancing [que-passa] .... Formed in 1988, this UK folk rock group has had numerous line-up changes throughout the decades. Local recognition led to their appearance on the main stage at the 1992 Glastonbury Festival. Their blend of folk, Cajun, dub and reggae are eminently displayed on the live cassette, Two Back From The Front. The grassroots response to their fiery performances has garnered this UK-based folk/roots rock band a huge audience following across europe and the UK. Vocalist, Simon Edward's voice, songs and squeezebox playing are the foundation for K-Passa's position as a favourite live folk-based act in Bristol, England."


6) WICKED TINKERS (Glendale, CA, USA)

http://www.wickedtinkers.com
http://www.myspace.com/wickedtinkersmusic
http://www.facebook.com/wicked.tinkers

Members:

Aaron Shaw - Great Highland Bagpipes
Keith Jones - Drums and Percussion
Warren Patrick Casey - Tapan, Bodhran
C.J. Henderson - Didgeridoo and Bronze-Age Irish Horn

Discography:

"Wicked Tinkers" (12 tracks, 1999)
"Hammered" (15 tracks, 2000)
"Loud" (15 tracks, 2002)
"Banger for Breakfast" (22 tracks, 2003)
"Whisky Supper" (16 tracks, 2005)
"Rant" (13 tracks, 2008)

The track is available at Bandcamp.

The albums can be bought from Bandcamp and from CDBaby:

http://wickedtinkers.bandcamp.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/all/wickedtinkers

"Prepare yourself for a wild ride with Wicked Tinkers! Pioneers of the growing Tribal Celtic movement, the Wicked Tinkers have been playing haunting, heart-pounding bagpipes and irresistible tribal drums as a professional touring band since 1995. With the addition, several years back, of the mesmerizing drone of the Australian didgeridoo and Bronze Age Irish horn, the magic was complete. Sit back and be transported to an earlier time in Scotland and Ireland, when battle cries filled the air and strange, unheard-of creatures roamed the night. Or better yet, get on your feet and let your body move to ancient rhythms and forgotten sounds.

Don't think this is dry, dusty music for museum shelves – Wicked Tinkers merge the best of modern, almost rock-and-roll energy with the hypnotic, insistent grooves of their Gaelic ancestors. Rare is the bystander who comes away without feeling a surprising, sometimes bewildering connection to long-forgotten primal emotions ... half-memories of ages past and experiences nameless yet somehow familiar. Wicked Tinkers creates music to set your jaw, put a fire in your belly, a glint in your eye and a dance in your feet.

In 1995, bagpiper Aaron Shaw met bass drum player Warren Casey at The Celtic Arts Center in Los Angeles, CA. Playing together, they discovered the simple beauty and power of the music created by these two instruments.

“The combination seemed to tap the very soul of Gaelic Music,” says Shaw.

This is the music you might have heard hundreds of years ago at a Scottish wedding celebration, or perhaps around the campfire of a Highland raiding party – a raw, exciting sound that touches you on a primal level. To express this feeling of the ancient within the modern world, Wicked Tinkers was born.

Over the years, the band has evolved. Keith Jones joined in on snare drum and hand percussion in 2000, followed by CJ Henderson on didgeridoo and the recently discovered Bronze-Age Irish Horn – a sound that was lost for over three thousand years. This strange and unlikely combination of instruments seems to access our deepest connection to a primal place that is both ancient and hauntingly familiar. It is the music of our Celtic ancestors, reimagined for the twenty-first century."

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?c574a6zc9a04736

REVIEW - MANOVERBOARD "Port Towns" (2011)

Manoverboard "Port Towns"
Release date: September 3rd, 2011
Running Time: 33:48, 10 tracks



Manoverboard is a “pirate” band from Eugene, Oregon. This is their second album and it was released at the Portland Pirate Festival at the beginning of September.

The album has a couple of standards (“The Foggy Dew” and the medley “Whiskey in the Jar/Whiskey Yer the Devil”) a Shane MacGowan’s cover (“Paddy Rollingstone”) and 7 self-penned songs.

Taking into account that the band is labeled as “pirate” one could expect a different kind of vocals. However, the lead vocals and background vocals are well balanced. Moreover, the sound of the band is based on flute/tin whistle, fiddle, mandolin and guitar, together with bass and drums.

The traditional songs are well performed. The “Whiskies” medley sounds like a drunken version of the Canadian band Spirit of the West. The band pays tribute to one of its main influences on “Paddy Rollingstone”, a great Celtic punk version with a Blood or Whiskey attitude.

Regarding the original songs, my faves are “Port Towns” (excellent whistle and mandolin on a song influenced by Flogging Molly or The Killigans), “Here and Now” (a fast paced Celtic punk track with excellent mandolin and flute) and the last two tracks. At the beginning I felt that they were the same track , since they are stuck together. “Someday” is a catchy punk folk short number à la Whiskey Wagon and “Pollywogs and Whale Tails” is musically close to The Skels or even The Peelers.

Other tracks on the album are “Cut Throat Crew” (which is THE pirate song of the album and “The Ravens Perch at Gallows End”, a superb flute led instrumental. When I listen to this tune, I recall Gwendal’s best moments.

Pirate bands are normally enjoyed live. Fortunately Manoverboard have been able to create that live atmosphere on their second album. But, at the same time, this CD is the evidence that their Celtic punk side is as big as their pirate side. Even bigger.

Tracklist:

01 - The Foggy Dew 5:29
02 - Port Towns 3:15
03 - The Ravens Perch at Gallows End 5:19
04 - Cut Throat Crew 4:05
05 - Here and Now 2:22
06 - Drink a Pint 2:33
07 - Whiskey in the Jar/Whiskey Yer the Devil
08 - Paddy Rollingstone 5:40
09 - Someday 2:14
10 - Pollywogs and Whale Tails 2:25


http://www.manoverboardmusic.com
http://www.reverbnation.com/manoverboardpirates
http://www.myspace.com/manoverboardpirates
http://www.facebook.com/manoverboardpirates
http://twitter.com/#!/MOBPIRATES

Contact the band to purchase the CD

Review by kinksmarkham

BAND OF THE MONTH - THE LUCKY EEJITS

The band of the Month (November 2011) is The Lucky Eejits, the band from Concord, East Bay, California (USA). Their Reverbnation widget is placed at the top at the left, so you can listen to their songs.


Members:

Casey AKA Chopz - Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals, Mandolin
Laddy AKA Ladaconda - Drums, Background Vocals
Bo Bo
Papi
Tyler


Discography:

"Fine Asian Gentleman" (4 track demo 2007)
"A Pint in the Right Direction" (4 track demo 2008)



http://www.myspace.com/theluckyeejits

http://www.reverbnation.com/theluckyeejits

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lucky-Eejits/44886882855

BOOTLEG - THE LEVELLERS Paradiso, Amsterdam November 2008

After having released "Zeitgeist" the Levellers were at the top. The next album , "Mouth to Mouth", was not so good, but at least it belongs to their best era. The following albums ("Hello Pig", "Green Blade Rising" and "Truth and Lies") were not very good. "Green Blade Rising" has a couple of excellent tracks ("Come On" and "Four Winds") but the fans had to wait till "Letters from the Underground" (2008) to get a "real" Levellers album.

This is a boot from their gig in Amsterdam in November 2008. I went to the gig at the Musik Zentrum in Hannover and I can say that the shows from that tour were really great. Enjoy!


DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?fdqbqvhbsdydjf9