Price of a Pint sets the tone for the whole wonderful album. Jimmie Lassie, like so many whiskey soaked philosophers, points out the obvious truths that sober people fail to see. No Place Like Home is a rousing tribute to County Tyrone. Ballad of John Barleycorn is a love song that is proof positive that chivalry is not dead (but is probably on life support). Drinking with God is my kind of hymn. The album is full of brilliant songs. My favorite might be Misty Morning Night but I am going to keep listening just to be sure. I highly recommend this one for lovers of fun, irreverent and incredibly good music. If you like the Saw Doctors and SIR REG, you’ll love The Logues.

Song List

1. Price of a Pint
2. Jimmy Lassie
3. No Place Like Home
4. Broomstick Boogie
5. Ballad of John Barleycorn
6. Drinkin’ with God
7. Music of the Night
8. Misty Morning Night
9. Tales of the Road
10. Poitin Valley
11. Last Orders

You can find The Logues at Facebook here and listen to some more of their songs at MySpace here The album is available at gigs, Itunes and through cdbaby.

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December Moon is their fourth album and is a wonderful blend of styles from Irish Traditional, to bluegrass to jazzy swing with a touch of Brittany thrown into the mix. Aside from the amazing variety on this album, the thing that stands out is the beautiful harmonies that are the trademark of this band. With songs like the easy paced Fool’s Gold and the outstanding title song December Moon, the Henry Girls will get your complete attention and never let it go. They do absolutely fantastic versions of Rain and Snow and Watching the Detectives. It would be hard to pick a favorite here but I think the beautiful Sweet Dreams would have to be mine.

This whole album is very high quality and one you MUST HAVE in your collection. I know it’s already a favorite of mine. You’ll be hearing a lot more about the massively talented Henry Girls in the future. If there was ever a band primed to break out, it’s this one. Keep your eye on them.

Song List

1. Sing my Sister Down
2. December Moon
3. Moonstruck
4. Rain and Snow
5. The Long Road
6. Watching the Detectives
7. Stop Saying Forever
8. Sweet Dreams
9. Aisling
10. When Will I See You Again
11. Fools Gold
12. Ol Cook Pot
13. Farewell
14. Couldn’t Ask For More

December Moon is available through ITunes here and at their website . You can hear samples at both sites. They are at Facebook here.

The Henry Girls are currently on tour in Ireland. Check the poster below for dates and venues.

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Chris’s smooth voice, easy acoustic style and songwriting skill make this album a delight. He has included You & I and City Lights on the EP, both songs have been favorites of mine since I first heard them. All six of these songs are strong and the title song New Day is really outstanding. I suspect Chris is a poet at heart but he has achieved a perfect balance of lyrics and music with this album and neither overshadows the other. You’ll definitely find yourself singing along with these songs, which, to me, is the mark of a song that really connects with the listener. This is an EP you will want in your collection.

Song List

You & I
City Lights
New Day
Shadows
There For You
Daydreams

New Day is available on ITunes here and at Amazon here. You can learn more about Chris at his website here and at facebook here

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This album is absolutely a refuge from the madness that seems to rule these days. It’s like comfort food for the spirit. Michael Brunnock uses poetic lyrics along with beautiful melodies and harmonies to build his songs. Each one has something to say and you’ll find yourself feeling as well as listening to them.

There are very few albums from which you’ll love every single song but this is one of them. It starts off strong with Circle and Soft White and Indigo and never looks back. The catchy tune, Every Step, was already released as a single and is available through cdbaby (see link below). It would be hard to chose a favorite here. I was already a fan of Man Overboard and I really like Game Changer but Down by the Araglin edges out the rest for me. It reminds me of the kind of songs I used to listen to with my grandfather as a child. It makes you feel connected with our heritage and to the people who had a much bigger hand than they knew, in making us who we are. This album truly is an orchard full of wonderful songs you will want to harvest and plant on your favorites playlist. The more you listen to it, the more you love it.

Song List

Circle
Soft White and Indigo
Man Overboard
The Orchard
Untouchable
Song of the Lark
Change
Every Step
Wine
Hansel
Game Changer
Sensation
Down by the Araglin

You can find Michael at faceboo here His page at cdbaby is here The Orchard will be for sale there after it’s released. If you are in NYC you can catch Michael’s next gig at The Rockwood Music Hall Studio 2, 196 Allen Street New York, NY on Sunday, January 22nd, Doors Open at 9:00 PM

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This album is a fun romp through Irish music. There are traditional drinking songs like Rare Ould Mountain Dew, some more contemporary tunes – one from the Pogues and two from the Saw Doctors – along with lots and lots of rebel songs. Their Follow Me Up To Carlow is one of the best I’ve heard. Kinky Boots was a new one for me but I love it. They also do Back Home in Derry which is one of my favorites. The tune was written by Gordon Lightfoot as The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the words were written by Bobby Sands. It’s a beautiful song and the Bogside Rogues do a fantastic job on it.

This is a fabulous album and should be on everyone’s St Patrick’s Day Party playlist. Diehard Celtic Rock fans, like myself, will want to listen to it all year long, of course. It is currently available from the band at gigs so I have added their gig list at the bottom of the post. I can tell you from personal experience that they are a great band to see live. If they are in your area get out and see them.

Song List

1. Rare Ould Mountain Dew / Drowsy Maggie
2. Muirshin Durkin
3. Follow Me Up To Carlow
4. N-17
5. Rainy Night in Soho
6. Kinky Boots
7. Fisherman’s Blues
8. The Rare Ould Times
9. Moonshiner
10. Back Home in Derry
11. Sean South of Garryowen
12. Sally MacLennane
13. Never Mind The Strangers
14. God Save Ireland / A Nation Once Again

Here’s a video of them doing N17

You can learn more about the Bogside Rogues at their website here and at Facebook here

Gig List

First Friday – Tir Na Nog, Philly
Fri January 06, 2012 (9:30 PM – 1:30 AM)
Tir Na Nog – Phila, Philadelphia, PA

Red Rooster Inn
Sat January 07, 2012 (9:00 PM – 1:00 AM)
Red Rooster Inn, Philadelphia, PA

Friends of Andy Redmond Beef & Beer @ AOH Mercer Co Div 1 Hamilton
Sat January 14, 2012 (7:30 PM – 11:00 PM)
AOH Hamilton (Trenton), Hamilton Sqare, NJ

Reedy’s Tavern
Fri January 27, 2012 (9:00 PM – 1:00 AM)
Reedy’s Tavern, Philadelphia, PA

Tir Na Nog – Trenton
Fri February 10, 2012 (9:00 PM – 1:00 AM)
Tir Na Nog – Trenton, Trenton, NJ

AOH Phila Co Div 39
Fri February 17, 2012 (9:00 PM – 1:00 AM)
AOH Phila Div 39, Philadelphia, PA

St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebration @ Tir Na Nog – Philly
Sun March 11, 2012 (3:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Tir Na Nog – Phila, Philadelphia, PA

St. Patrick’s Day warmup party @ Reedy’s Tavern
Fri March 16, 2012 (9:00 PM – 1:00 AM)
Reedy’s Tavern, Philadelphia, PA

St. Patrick’s Day @ Tir Na Nog – Philly
Sat March 17, 2012 (12:00 AM – 12:00 AM)
Tir Na Nog – Phila, Philadelphia, PA

FSOS Pipe & Drum Pub Night
Sat March 31, 2012 (7:00 PM – 12:00 AM)
Order of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh, Old Bridge, NJ

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There is a nice variety of songs on the album, both instrumentals and vocals; traditional and original songs. Two of my all time favorites are here ~ Farewell to Nova Scotia and Rare Old Mountain Dew. Great Calm and Gone Gone Gone (Fall from Grace Again) are now two of my new favorites. This is an amazingly good “first album”. Sons of Malarkey is a band you will be hearing a lot more about. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest keep an eye out for them. They would be a great band to see live. In the meantime, get the album. (Scroll down for a link to purchase.) You’ll love it.

Song List

1. Drowsy Cooley
2. Star of the County
3. Gone Gone Gone (Fall from Grace Again)
4. Mason’s Apron
5. Happy are the Dead
6. Wild Mountain Thyme
7. Tripping Father
8. Auld Drunk Anthems
9. Jack Stewart
10. Farewell to Nova Scotia
11. Rare Old Mountain Dew
12. Tossing Sheeps
13. Great Calm
14. Cooley’s Revenge

You can learn more about Sons of Malarkey on their website here and like them on Facebook here. Their album is available on cd baby.

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This album is a nice mix of traditional favorites and original music. There are instrumentals as well as songs with lyrics and each one tells a story either using words or music. It starts out with the hauntingly beautiful The Sailor and the Mermaid which sets the dramatic tone for rest of the cd. They do the most amazing versions of Scarborough Fair and Fields of Athenry that I have heard in ages.

Like any good drama, there are upbeat offerings as well as some more somber ones. All of the songs are so good it’s hard to pick a favorite but It’s the Little Things is mine. It has a wonderful message. All the music most definitely grabs you and takes you away to a special place. This is an album you MUST have in your collection. This is a cd I will be listening to over and over again.

Song List

1. The Sailor and the Mermaid
2. Raglan Road
3. Celebration Reel
4. Scarborough Fair
5. Lucille
6. Willow’s Waltz
7. A Girl You Don’t Meet Every Day
8. Midsummer Jigs
9. It’s the Little Things
10. The Three Coins
11. Fields of Athenry
12. Marching On

Here is the official video for The Three Coins

And the official video forScarborough Fair

Story Girl is available at cdbaby

You can learn more about the Gothard Sisters at their website
here or at Facebook here.

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The songs tell tales of love and loss and life. From the smooth, layback Home To You to the upbeat It’s Gonna Be Alright and on down the track list you’ll soon find yourself singing along with them. Free Your Mind and Destiny’s Calling are both outstanding also but if I had to pick a favorite it would have to be One More Star to Shine. Check them out for yourself. Scroll down and enjoy to the samples!

If you’re a fan of the early Beatles you’ll love this album. It’s available on Spotify, Amazon and ITunes.

Song List

1. Home To You
2. It’s Gonna Be Alright
3. One More Star To Shine
4. Born To Love You
5. Steffanie
6. This One’s For You
7. Free Your Mind
8. Destiny Calling
9. Wishing On A Star
10. Long Live Love Tonight
11. Molly Don’t Know
12. You Got Me Now
13. She Takes You There
14. Looking For Your Smile

Track 1 and 11 were co-written with Dave Farrar
Track 7 and 12 were co-written with Brandon Kinross
Track 10 Co written with Chris Adams

Here’s a video of my favorite song from the album ~ One More Star To Shine The video features the art of Rick Hunt.

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This album has a bit of a noir atmosphere that lends itself to the drama of each song. The band’s trademark smooth vocals and harmonies are there in every song but each one is completely different.

The Basket or The Blade is quite simply a masterpiece. They also turn in a fabulous rendition of White Squall by Stan Rogers. Pseumoustophy has a bluesie/jazzy sound. Of A Murder has an eerie, almost scary feel to it. Let Me Go is probably my favorite because it is such a classically Enter the Haggis song. There is a lot to love on this album.

It would be easy to just enjoy the beautiful music on Whitelake but really check out the lyrics and you’ll find a whole new layer of complexity to Enter the Haggis. You won’t be able to get enough of these songs. The more you hear them, the more you love them. You can listen to them on the band’s website here If you’re not a Haggishead already, you surely will be one after you hear this album.

Song List

Headlights I & II
The Basket or The Blade
Devil’s Son
Whistleblower
The Flood
Getaway Car
Pseumoustophy
Follow
Of A Murder
The Hunter And The Phantom Limb
Let Me Go
White Squall

You can purchase Whitelake at cdbaby

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Sir Reg is not afraid to actually say something in their songs. A Sign Of The Times is aptly titled, as this album is very in tune with today’s problems. They have zeroed in on people’s frustration at losing jobs, pensions, lifestyles and hope.

This is a collection of mostly rocking, high energy protest songs and it comes out at a time when people are taking to the streets about these issues.The title song, A Sign Of The Times, grabs you right away and sets the mood for the entire album. Bolloxology demands respect for the unemployed. I’ll Leave For New York is the perfect theme song for those emigrating from the ravages of the Celtic Tiger. Far Away is a very pretty song that decries war. This song was released as a single earlier this year and puts some of today’s problems into an historical prospective. Dublin City is also a softer, prettier song but still in tune with the theme.

They really take the gloves off with my favorites – How The Hell Can You Sleep? and This Country’s For Sale. These two are rocking, loud and furious. If they don’t get your blood pumping and your feet moving – take your pulse to be sure you’re really alive. The entire album proves that Sir Reg can stand shoulder to shoulder with Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Barry McGuire and other greats who used music to shine the spotlight on things that the Powers that Be want pushed under the rug. Along with capturing the anger everyone is feeling, Sir Reg also delivers really great music. Each track is completely different. Each song is musically rich and you will find yourself singing along in solidarity. This band has outdone even themselves with this album. A Sign Of The Times is not only timely, it’s fantastic music. You absolutely must have this brilliant album. Scroll down and pre-order it now!

Far Away

Sir Reg – Far Away by HEPTOWN RECORDS

Song List

1. A Sign of the Times
2. Dying to Rebel
3. How the Hell Can You Sleep?
4. This Country’s For Sale
5. Far Away
6. Bolloxology
7. I’ll Leave For New York
8. Living On the Moon
9. Ah, Just Leave Me Alone
10. Frustration
11. Dublin City

The album is available for pre-order at Amazon.com in both Vinyl and CD formats.

Their first album is available now.

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