It's time for some first wave punk

Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material

I am not exactly in the mood for reviewing. If you haven't listened to Inflammable Material by Stiff Little Fingers, do so. Now. Without delay. Very raw, direct and energetic 77 punk out of Belfast, NI. Political topics too. Probably my favourite band.

Tracks of notice - all of them, really, but especially Alternative Ulster, Barb Wire Love, Wasted Life, Suspect Device.

The Moondogs

And then there are The Moondogs - more powerpop than punk, really (as if I care). Also from Northern Ireland, but they could hardly be more different from Stiff Little Fingers than they already are, and kinda stay in the same genre.

Lovely, sweet, humorous, ironic. Very catchy too. Never fail to cheer me up, really. They resemble Undertones, but I like The Moondogs way better. They are completely underappreciated - although you can find their songs on most of the punk/powerpop compilations from those times, hardly anyone ever remembers them.

Unfortunately, their songs are very difficult to track down, so I've zipped all the songs I have together, regardless of albums (7" more likely). There's circa 25 songs.

My favourite songs: Roddy's Gang, She's Nighteen, Ya Don't Do Ya, Who's Gonna Tell Mary, Schoolgirl Crush.

Download 'em, you won't be sorry. Really.

Greenland Whalefishers

Loboville

Down and Out

You just got off your ship, there's booze, the port's dirty, the pub's crap, and there are no members of the opposite sex around. Greenland Whalefishers are cynical. They would have been angry if it wasn't so much bother. But they aren't depressive either - the GWF are too badass for that :)

You may say they sound a lot like The Pogues, but, basically, you may say whatever you like. It is good to see one band following a more traditional celtic punk sound, with so many Flogging Molly ripoffs around. Arvid, the singer, sure gives a good Shane impression, with his harsh vocals. But although GWF are as cynical and drunken as The Pogues, their music is often faster and more energetic. Also, Agnes plays one hell of a tin whistle.

Basically, listening to them makes you want to get drunk, smash your fist into the wall (but that's too much bother too!), rant about how much crap you've seen in your lifetime, and then have another round.

Loboville is their first album. Down and Out is my favourite. Loboville is more down'n'dirty, maybe, Down and Out is more energetic. The spirit is the same.

They have a couple of albums in between, so if you want me to upload them too, just leave a coment. I probably won't be able to do it at once, I'm busy, but I'll do it asap.

Track of note: 'The Thirsty Cave' from Loboville; 'Rocky Road to London' and 'Brody' from Down and Out. Also, I'm very fond of 'Ramones' from 'Down and Out', a lovely homage to The Ramones:

Ramones, Ramones, you made me sing,
I lived my life under your wing,
Worldwide misfits' society,
Gabba gabba, we're a happy family.

... And Some More Mutiny

I'm posting the rest of Mutiny's albums/EPs on request. Here they are, enjoy :)

Any Way You Can


Bodgy Tatts


Co-op Brewery

Mutiny

Rum Rebellion

Bag of Oats

Mutiny are a folk punk/Celtic punk (sometimes also referred to as pirate punk) band from Australia, formed in 1991. I've uploaded my favourite album and my favourite EP, but if someone wants more just leave a comment.

In their songs they cover a number of topics: drinking, rebellion, social justice, rebellion, poverty... rebellion... They are anti-authority, they're fast, and they rock. I think I like them so much because they've made a perfect balance between punk and folk music - their sound is dirty and harsh, but also melodious and catchy (and you can't miss the Irish influence in many of the songs). Have great bass lines too. Oh, and their tagline is 'folk punk for punk folk', which is one of my favourite taglines ever.

Here's the lyrics to a song, just so you can get the feel of it:

HERE'S TO ADVENTURE

I'm tired of this city
It's time to move on
I've done it before
I'll do it again
The life of a rover
Is all that I know
So here's to adventure
And a roving I go
Adventure the reason
The reason adventure
And what other reason is there?
I read this book
'Revolution For The Hell Of It'
Well just the title
But I like the sound of it
Just for the hell of it

Here's to adventure
The spirit is free
Here's to adventure
Just for the hell of it
Here's to adventure
And liberty
A roving a roving
A roving goes me

He said "Move on"
Don't want your type
Round here
I said "What's your problem?
I'm enjoying my beer
So I'm weird
If that's what you think
Covered his face with my drink
I went to the loo
After I had been hit
My nose was bleeding
I needed a piss
The first one engaged
I went to the next one
After I spewed
I pulled out my texta
Wrote 'Here's to adventure
Don't let em get ya"

You can fine more lyrics at their official site, together with some mandolin tabs.

Band members (according to wiki)

• Chris Patches (1991-present: vocals)
• Greg Stainsby (1991-present: guitar mandolin)
• Alice Green (1991-present: bass)
• Calum Holland (2002-present: guitar)
• Marko Jennings (2006-present: guitar, bazouki)
• Kav Kavanagh (2002-present: drums)

Past members:

• Briony Grigg (1991-1997: vocals, 12 string guitar)
• L'hibou Hornung (1992-1994: violin)
• Michelle Lewit (1996-1997: violin)
• Dan Green (2002-2004: piano accordion)

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.