Rightso…2 things I have to say before I even start trying to review this album, and these are the first 2 things that struck me within 30 seconds of getting the package out of the mailbox, opened on the kitchen bench and chucking the CD on the stereo… 

1) Reading through the song titles on the back of the cover, as sure as Shane MacGowan is the godfather of our beloved paddy punk, “We’re all Wicked Liquored Up at the Upscale Downtown Irish Pub” is the coolest name for a song I have ever heard 

2) They have a piano in their line-up. This is rather unique for this style of music and as soon as the first notes hit my ears I was whisked away to a magical, faraway place in my early childhood (about ages 3-7) because at this time my parents exposed me to exclusively classical music (which I was not fond of) AND the following 4 albums (all of which I was very fond of): Billy Joel – The Stranger, Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Steeleye Span – some collection, who knows what and 5 Hand Reel – For A’ That. And bizarrely enough, The Larkin Brigade sound like a mix of all 4 of those artists. Go figure??? 

OK – sorry about that, but I felt compelled to share…now back to the topic at hand given that this is an album review, not a “My Mum didn’t hug me enough” psychiatry session for me. 

Paddy Keys for Mayor is the first album release for The Larkin Brigade – a 4-piece from Boston playing fast-paced Celtic-infused music, with a punk-ish feel. Drums, bass, violin and piano make for a very unique sound that needs to be heard to be properly appreciated. The album is well upbeat, kicking you out of your chair and cocking your ears to catch the next funky piano lick, or violin trill over the top of a driving rhythm section. I reckon these guys would do one solid live show that couldn’t leave you with anything but a big smile on your face. 
The first track, “Tim Phoolan and the Worst Campaign for City Council Ever” is a great intro to the album. It hits you straight away with what The Larkin Brigade are all about – cymbal-heavy percussion, beefy bass, violin-melody with a crazy piano running all over the place. Pat’s vocals are thick-sounding, yet light-hearted and engaging. 
“Banana Republic” and “Dot Day” follow this up nicely with a similar feel to Tim Phoolan. Some sweet work on the harmonica in Banana adds a nice touch. Dot has a catchy melody and great toe-tapping rhythm - very clever little song. 
“Planxty John L.” incorporates some great timing changes that deliver a punch as good as the Irish-American boxer who is the subject of the song. 
“This is a Rebel Cry” and “Mission Thrill” are a couple of fun tracks complete with drinking and ninja turtle references. The latter has a great bridge section that could have come from traditional session in any decent Irish pub the world over. 
“Sean South From Garryowen” shares the same tune as Roddy McCorley and cranks up the temperature with some wicked bagpipes giving you that extra shot of adrenaline only a good ol’ rebel song can deliver. 
“The Tinker” has some great changes of tempo infused with a clever violin riff and finishes with a soaring fiddle solo. Following this is a sweet little instrumental: “Tabhair Dom Do Lamh” and then we’re transported straight into a noisy piano bar for a bit of good ol’ rag time jamming. 
“We’re All Wicked Liquored Up at the Upscale Downtown Irish Pub” as I already noted could never go wrong for me and it is a great song turning the piano bar into an Irish pub full of drunken Powers-infused punters wrecking the joint. 
The album closes out with “The Banshee Went to Outer Space”, another solid track with some crazy fast lyrics, punk-beats and vocals, a bit of electronic madness chucked in for good measure and all with the goods on the rhythm and pounding piano this album delivers in spades. 

So this album really gives you something unique. Not for the die-hard punk perhaps, but to anyone who likes their music with a cheeky sense of humour that isn’t taking itself too seriously, who can handle their rhythm loud and proud and void of guitar, who can dig a violin and piano being used as assault rifles on the ears, and can take their whiskey straight or in a tall glass of coke – this comes with an A-grade recommendation from this reviewer. Slainte! 

Review - Alex Dean
                            Read more...
                        

                            
People ‘round these parts love green things. They love leprechauns and the Celtics and Guinness. They especially love brothers with the surname Kennedy. They really love things that remind them of these things. This accepted, Boston residents should begin mailing their wallets to The Larkin Brigade without delay. Doubters should be sent to the pub with a copy of Paddy Keys for Mayor and given some time to think it over. 


Two of the main influences called to the witness stand by The Larkin Brigade are Ben Folds and a general sense of All Things Musically Irish. While Patrick Kennedy’s piano is the lead instrument on the record, the Celtic flavor overtakes any Ben Folds influence outside of Kennedy’s rhythmic piano playing in tracks such as “Planxty John L.” Kennedy (or, as he is known in some circles, “Paddy Keys”) shares the forefront of the sound with fiddle player Joe “Heavyset Joe” Wyatt, backed by bassist Paulie Thunder (Paul Kennedy) and drummer Diesel Dennis (Dennis Doherty). 


The Larkin Brigade simply saunters into the pub and takes over. Paddy spins the stool twice and jumps on the piano and Diesel Dennis starts thumping on the bar and Heavyset Joe probably works his way back behind the bar while Paulie Thunder teaches the words to all the patrons. Before you know it, The Larkin Brigade is in full swing. The pipers even stop by for a while, working a keening wail over Keys’ piano melodies in tracks like “Sean South from Garryowen.” This is, after all, a “concept” record based upon a theme, even if that theme is the piano player’s play for mayor. 

While those not in the know mess around with scally-cap twisting acts such as Dropkick Murphys, the real kids will be passing out dark pints amongst themselves and rocking out to The Larkin Brigade and their brand of honky-tonk piano pub sing-along. (Squealing Records)


www.thelarkinbrigade.com

-C.D. Di Guardia
                            Read more...
                        

                            
If someone had come up to me and said here is a Celt-punk group from Boston with a piano player... I would have turned my head and said maybe next time... however with just one listen to a demo these guys sent me in 2005... and I was hooked. 
"Paddy Keys For Mayor" captures a celtic-punk band unplugged with great talents both musically and lyrically. I could imagine these guys holding down a pub/saloon and getting the rowdy crowd of drunks singing along while smashing bottles over their heads.... you know... a good evening of drinking amoungst friends! 
For it being a first full-length release... it shows that these boys have years of talent already under their belt. Paddy Keys tickles the ivory with easy while providing snarling and growling vocals with every track, Heavyset Joe shows that every Cheeese head can play the fiddle like they were born with it attached to their arm, while Paulie and Diesel kick in the pounding bass and smashing/crashing drums. 
I respect their original sound and amazing knack for song writing... however if they pull out that Hammond organ on their next release... I might just kill myself.
                            Read more...
                        

                            
Named for a Dublin labor-union founder and republican Jim Larkin, The Larkin Brigade's sound is unlike the typical Irish music that the band members remember growing up on. Taking the energy of punk music, (read--they like the Pogues) and the music of their youth, they have tossed it all in the mix and wound up with something truly their own. 

It was an interesting ride that resulted in this mixture--after all, you don't get much more traditional than Irish music, and you don't go too much further out on a "musical limb" than punk! The band members went out into the world, experienced all different types of music, and then later came back to their roots--but with their own ideas about how to play. 

The really neat thing is that it gives the music an unmistakable Irish stamp, but allows for an improvisational feel -- sort of along the lines of some types of jazz music. Although the songs don't wind up sounding like jazz, they have a similar energy. 

The nice part is -- these guys can play. Some punk-style bands wind up just banging away on their instruments--sometimes literally--but the Irish sound lends a definite musicality to the tracks that make them work. It also widens their appeal, because fans of both musical styles will see a fit here. It just goes to show you, sometimes letting up on the rules is a good thing. 

Oh, and in case you are wondering (or have not heard of the Molly Maguires) . . . Paddy Keys is a member of the band . . .
reviewed by Catherine L. Tully
                            Read more...