The Real McKenzies
Pissed Tae th’ Gills
When it comes to The Real McKenzies, the cover of their latest DVD says it all. If you are looking for a less formal way to celebrate Robbie Burns, then these lads are it. Mind you, they’re not for the faint of heart. Their language is often sprinkled with expletives, and if you ask them what they wear under their kilt...they’ll probably show you! Don’t say I didn’t warn you. They are characters....there is no doubt about that.
But having said that, they are really great musicians and entertainers and their love of Robbie Burns is legendary. There is even a picture of Scotland’s famous bard on their DVD. Some of the liner notes that the McKenzies have penned about Robbie Burns are as follows: “His work not only captured the beauty of old Scotland, but also the political climate of the time.
“He coined the phrases and humour, wrote of love and tragedy and in this left us a gigantic legacy of his life and the lives around him. So much so as we have all been touched by his verse. For example, the global New Year’s song Auld Lang Syne was written by him. So here’s to the greatest bard to have ever walked the face of the earth, and if he were alive today, there’s no doubt in our minds that he would be in this band. Who knows, maybe he is.”
The Real McKenzies are modern-day Celtic bards who hail from Vancouver and are a punk band deeply rooted in their Scottish heritage, with a sound best described as the Sex Pistols meet Scottish folk legend Robbie Burns. Founded by frontman Paul McKenzie in 1992, his inspiration and main reason for forming the band was his love of the ceilidh. According to McKenzie, this is a Gaelic word meaning, “a wicked party which carries on for days.”
Track on the DVD are: The Real McKenzies Stompin’Intro; My Bonnie, Scots Wha’ Ha’e; Tae The Battle; Will Ye Be Proud; King O’ Glasgow; Sawney Beane Clan; Bastards; Stone of Kings; Scottish and Proud; Haggises; Another Round; Auld Mrs Hunt; Thistle Boy; Auld Lang Syne; and Loch Lomond. Including a bonus material – Everybody Should Love Haggis.
Musicians are Paul McKenzie, ranting vocalist; Dirty Kurt Robertson on guitar; Jamie Fawkes on bass; Brad Attitude on drums; Mark “Bone” Boland on guitar; and The Sleeper on bagpipes.
Pissed Tae Th’Gills is available also on CD along with their other two CD’s entitled Real McKenzies and Clash of the Tartans. For more information about The Real McKenzies, check out their website at: www.suddendeath.com and click on The Real McKenzies.
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Spirit Of The West
Star Trails
After a seven-year studio hiatus, the hugely popular Vancouver- based Celtic band, Spirit of the West has released a new album called Star Trails to mark their 20th anniversary. The band has been touring the world for several years and has recorded numerous albums, their first album entitled Spirit of the West was recorded in 1984. Their music has been described as thoughtful folk punk jazzy prog pop.
In 1983, they were known as the Evesdroppers and they were a trio playing neighbourhood pubs for very small amounts of money. Their website describes how they would oft-times be shunted-off into a corner to suffer and sweat through a miserable set, but oddly, they seemed to like it. It was certainly more fun than working, even if most of the audience mistakenly thought they were called “Eavesdroppings.”
Armed only with a love of music and a fear of real work, the three recorded their first album the following year. Twenty years, later the group which had wisely changed its name to Spirit of the West, continues to make records and as they say earn far too little money.
Tracks on Star Trails include: Small, Small World; Waiting for Martin; Come back Oscar; July; The Wedding Speech; Out of the Boy; Be a Guy; Enough, Already Alright (Hello Cleveland); King of Scotland; and Morning in the Bath Abbey.
The Spirit of the West lineup includes John Mann on vocals and guitars; Hugh McMillan on basses, mandos, guitars, piano, lap steel, banjo and vocals; Geoffrey Kelly on flute, whistles, guitars, vocals; Vince R. Ditrich on drums, percussion, vocals; and Tobin “Gull” Frank on piano, organ accordion, vocals.
For more information, visit The Spirit of the West website at: www.sotw.ca It is a good read and packed with information about the band and their travels and tours.
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The Celtic Circle 3
More Legendary Music From a Mystic World
The Celtic Circle 3 is a compilation of some of the best known and loved Celtic musicians. The album contains two CD, and has a whos’who list of musicians from Ireland and Scotland.
For the person on your Christmas shopping list who likes Celtic music, this one has the best of the Celtic artists on both CD’s.
On CD 1 – The Corrs; Clannad; Rory Gallagher with Bert Jansch; Dave Bainbridge; Fionna Joyce; Brian Kennedy; James Galway & Phil Coulter; Waterson:Carthy; Runrig; Altan; Dick Gaughan; The Bothy Band; Karen Matheson; Angus Lyon; Capercaillie.
On CD 2 – Sinead O’Connor; Eva Cassidy; Ryan & Rachel O’Donnell; Eden’s Bridge; Maire Brennan; Fairground Attraction; Loreena McKennitt; Skilda; Corun; The Hudson Swan Band; Davy Spillane; Runrig; The Campbells; Canterach; Iona and Fiona Kennedy
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