The Prodigals

Go On

Dreaming in Hell's Kitchen


Needs Must when the Devil Drives

The Prodigals are a badass Celtic rock (although some tag them as jig punk) band from New York; they are also my favourite discovery in the past, oh, ten years or so. And I've listened to a lot of Celtic punk and rock, a lot.

According to their official site, 'their original songs blend a funky and anarchic energy that is pure New York with a genuine passion for the traditional music of Ireland'. Which is kinda true, when you get down to the gist of it. According to a fan site I dearly love (and that has many of their lyrics) 'they really, really, really kick butt, and also they are very sweet and adorable'. If not for that site, I'd have probably never heard of The Prodigals.

Basically, they are energetic; they are badass; they are down 'n' dirty; they have lovely Irish accent. Some of the songs are fast, some are slower and more bluesy (probably no one but me would call that bluesy, but never mind that); anyway, they never fail to get you hooked.

The current band lineup is: Gregory Green (button accordion & vocals), Eamon O'Tuama (guitar & vocals), Chris Higginbottom on drums, and Ed Kollar on bass. Ed is good, he really is, but I miss Andrew Harkin, their previous bass player. Ed may be good, but Andrew was a friggin mage. He has left the band, later to join Seanchai, a Celtic hip hop band. All three albums I've posted here are Andrew albums.

Actually, the lineup has changed quite a lot over the years. Take Brian Tracey, the guy who played drums on dreaming in Hell's Kitchen. He was very interesting, introducing some afro rhythms into the Celtic songs they play.

'Dreaming in Hell's Kitchen' is probably their best album, the angriest, happiest, most melancholic album of theirs, all wrapped into one. There's social critique there. There's love songs. There's drinking. There's the pure joy of life (and then there's the morning after the pure joy). Pay special attention to Baggot Street, Morning After and Happy Man (or, you know, don't; it's all up to you).

The Prodigals are one of those bands that are criminally overlooked. Give them a listen. Give them three. I'd kill to see those guys live. I really would.

And with this I tip my virtual top hat to the Prodigals, and to you, and I leave you to enjoy the music.