Get A Moo-ve On
Posted October 31, 2007
By IronJedi,
It seems like every few years or so a band comes along that leaves you scratching your head. Are they for real? A one-shot wonder? A gimmick? For those of you old enough to remember them, I'm thinking of bands like One Bad Pig, The Swirling Eddies, etc. C'mon. A band that plays "Celtic Punk"? Gotta be something strange going on.
Indeed, something strange and wonderful is going on with Knuckles Up, the major label debut of self-labeled Celtic Punk band Flatfoot 56. The band actually has two previous indie releases, The Rumble of 56 (2002) and Waves of War (2003), not to mention a fanatically loyal fan-following and an intense live performance. A quick run through the checklist reveals Flatfoot 56 brings to the table Clannish membership (Yup- three of the four members are brothers.); Irish melodies (Oh my, yes.); Scottish bagpipes? (Aye); Clever and amusing rhymes (Uh huh); and a tempo that never lets up.
Brother Justin Bawinkle sets the very vigorous beat with pounding kick & snare drums and ringing cymbals. Brother Kyle reinforces the beat with his bass and Josh (no relation to the brothers) adds mandolin, bagpipes and a second guitar to the raw mix. From beginning to end, brother Tobin delivers the lyrics in a throaty, brassy yell, while sustaining a blistering pace with lead guitar.
If you are a fan of old school punk, think The Pogues, The Clash, etc., then by all means cinch on your Donegal tweed kilt, pull on your Aran Isle sweater, grab your shillelagh and fetch you a copy of these here tunes. Just remember, you may need to kick some lollygagger's shins so you can grab your copy of Knuckles Up. And rest assured, these tunes will not kill any old cows. (Translation- bad tunes kill old cows, according to an Irish proverb.) View All Music And Book Reviews By IronJedi | View IronJedi's Profile
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