Cheers! Wrong & Right

Cheers!

Band: Cheers!

Album: Wrong & Right

Genre: Folk-Rock/Punk

Location: Czech Republic

01 – Frying Pan 3:01
02 – Cliffs of Galway 3:24
03 – Molly’s Eyes 3:36
04 – Mary Hogan’s 4:05
05 – Collier 3:46
06 – Parnik 3:49
07 – Jim 5:03
08 – Poor Man’s Hat 2:24
09 – Tearberries 2:36
10 – I’ll Never Be the Same Man Again 3:47
11 – Rugged Day 4:11
12 – Wrong & Right 2:59
13 – In the Maze 5:07

Release date: 9 May 2013
Running time: 47:46

One of the most energetic releases in the Celtic punk genre is Wrong & Right by Czech band Cheers. I featured an interview with the lead man Pavel(Pafka)Steidl last year and it was fun. You get to feel the punk attitude sandwiched between melodic  tunes. Wrong & Write is fun to listen to.This is an all out party album not for the faint of hearts. But the sweet melodies will keep the balance between spicy strong sounds and crunchy beats. Yes take a bite. Feel it sizzle. Get drunk to the music!

The confidence is present. Take note: this band has performed in many live shows prior to recording this album. All the tracks were recorded live at the Saloon Roudna. The sound quality is also excellent. You really get to savor the crunch of the drums and the sharp edge of the guitars. The Celtic instruments aren’t drowned by the louder sounds as they are given room to breath in Rugged Days, Wrong & Write as well as other tracks. Katka Hofmanova also sang the female parts in the tracks when not playing the flute. This creates a balance with Pafka’s testosterone induced voice.Cheers!

Freddy Kruger who played the accordion maintained that melodic envelope all throughout. The fiddle of Filip Matyas has that Irish feel which I really like.  The punk power of Wrong & Right is brought  to you by the guitar of Mates Sistek who also provided the backing vocals. His rocking contribution is really important. Paja Vesela made the groove and the fullness of the recording with her bass.I just love it!  And last but not the least, Prema Broz kept the tunes in one place with his drums. As you know drummers are awesome.

The lyrics are in English but they are translated to Czech in the liner notes. I think the cover rocks. It shows a tattooed hand holding a lollipop . This clearly showcases the band’s sense of humor. My favorite song is the ballad in track 5. This is one of the tender moments when the band show their intricate and expressive side. I think this is a track that should be a single because it is easy to sing along. The other one is track 13 called In The Maze. But I tell you Wrong & Right is an album intended for energetic gatherings where you invite your friends for a pint of Guinness and great live tunes. All the tracks in Wrong & Right are recommended for big speakers.

Wrong & Right is one of the releases you should not fail to check out as it provides a satisfying listening experience. Especially if you want your tunes to rock big time.

***
Huzzah!
Music keeps me alive. I am sure it is doing the same to you. Whatever problems we may face in life I have learned to rely on the wisdom of the Sound and how it has the power to pull us from the darkness into light. I know that our  brothers and sisters are having problems over there in Europe as flooding continues. My prayers go to the people of the Czech Republic, Germany and the neighboring countries. These are hard times. I had hard times last month but I know that as long as we live our lives in music then nothing will ever destroy us.
Now on the lighter side, check this youtube playlist from another Celtic band from the Czech Republic called Poitin which I am sure you have read about them in my past posts. I love posting their music because I have their albums and yes I am a certified Poitin fan. Do check this out:
Info: It’s taken from a show they had recently in Prague-  with a live webcam and the sound quality is quite good.

Poitín live at the Vagon Club, Prague March 2013
Poitín http://www.reverbnation.com/poitin

“Síocháin na Tuaithe” by Enda Seery

Artist: Enda Seery

Album: Síocháin na Tuaithe

Location: Streamstown, Co. Westmeath

Players:ENDA SEERY-Whistles, flute, keyboard, vocals. JOHN BYRNE-Guitar.

JAMES HUGHES-Fiddle. EOGHAN MACAOGÁIN-Whistle. TOM DELANY-Guitar.

Tracks:

  1. The Scholar/Sam’s Delight (ES)/The Night Owl Time (ES) Reels 4.02
  2. The Castle/The Nightingale Jigs 3.25
  3. Peggy in the Settle/Day Trip to Galway (ES) Single Reels 2.47
  4. It’s A Working Man I Am Song 5.12
  5. The Dairy (ES)/The Belfast Hornpipes 4.06
  6. Santa Cruz (ES)/Friends from the States (ES) Jigs 2.38
  7. Amhrán na Leabhar Slow Air 3.03
  8. An Bhfuil an Fear Mór Istigh? Set Dance, Slip Jig 2.39
  9. The Golden Keyboard/John Blessing’s/The Highlandman Who Kissed HisGranny Reels 3.23
  10. My Aunt Jane/The Gullane/The Rambling Sailor Polkas 3.42
  11. Jearóid/You Rogue You Daren’t Meddle Me Slow Reel, Reel 3.02
  12. The Killeigh/Langton’s of Kilkenny (ES) Hornpipes 3.20
  13. Loving Hannah Song 4.28
  14. Tatter Jack Walsh/An Luradán/The Hag With The Money Jigs 3.31
  15. Síocháin na Tuaithe (ES)/Ralph’s Paw (ES) Slow Waltz, Jig 3.23
  16. Larry’s Favourite/The Floating Crowbar/The Chicago Reels 4.51

Close your eyes when you listen to this album. I think “Síocháin na Tuaithe” accomplished what it intends. Like its cover art, the album has this languid, pastoral and unhurried atmosphere. For someone who monitored his career for more than two years, I can say that Enda Seery has been known as a musician of delicacy and elegance through giving emphasis on the beauty of a single note. And because of this, his album has attained a peculiar atmosphere that calls to mind recordings from Altan, Lunasa and on his vocal tracks that of Anuna. It is this love for the beauty of notes that make  Síocháin na Tuaithe a rewarding experience.

The album has 16 tracks. Two of which are recorded with his own vocals. This is also the first time that he explored the idea of recording his singing voice although he’ d been singing for years. The album’s varying tempo of each track plus the great number of songs is enough to quench your thirst for the music of the tin whistle. Very appropriate because it took him two and a half years to release. Nine of these sixteen tracks are composed by Enda. Including Sam’s Delight a reel recently recorded by button accordion player Colin Nea on his album Between the Jig and the Reels. It’s also the opening track of Síocháin na Tuaithe.

The tracks are arranged in a way that feels like a thread is running through the album. Everything feels right and how they fit in the order of the tracks. There is a strong balance all over Síocháin na Tuaithe. As arrangements are never repeated in the order. For example, after the sweet high tune of the tin whistle is The Castle which is dominated by fiddle and flute. After that, another arrangement and so on. The Working Man is a vocal track which reminds me of the  Nightnoise ballads. The same goes for Loving Hannah. Enda Seery possesses a beautiful voice in the style of the late Mícheál Ó Domhnaill.

Síocháin na Tuaithe promises to appeal to many listeners both of the New Age and Traditional kind. It’s a kind of album that will gain more brilliance with years. And perhaps be rediscovered and shared again and again.

Buy Síocháin na Tuaithe  here: http://www.endaseery.com/

***

Huzzah!

Let me plug a friend’s book here. She’s Kerry Brennan from the Celtic East Coast of Canada. Under  Northern Stars is a collection of her poems.

Kerry Brennan

Click to preview

Artist of the week Alan Cooke uploaded this fascinating audio. This is about his upcoming book Spirit of Ireland Book – An Odyssey Home. I think it is a beautiful work in itself which can stand on its own even though it is a promo for the book. This is  a prose about Ireland.

http://youtu.be/jyBCPyYCNWA

A beautiful new memoir by Emmy winning Irish Writer Alan Cooke. He takes you on a journey back to his homeland. Back to the spirits, the landscape, the pain, the beauty and the majesty of Ireland. Coming soon as an Ebook and Hard copy all over the world. For more information go to www.wildirishpoet.com

Kevin O'Donnell

Kevin O’Donnell

Here is the 6th and the last part of the Kevin O’Donnell teaser:

Preview

Prior to the release, preview the song “Factory Girl”, keep informed on the album and release events, and, beginning May 3rd, purchase your copy of DEEP IS THE WELL on the web at www.deepisthewell.com.

For more information, promo requests, or to set up an interview, please contact:

Noah Smulkis

Ceolwind Productions

PO Box 5489, Evanston, IL 60204

promotions@ceolwind.com

708-363-6616

Here’s the facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/168806033277199/

For those who love Cornwall, you got to see the Minack Theatre. It is a fascinating venue on a scenic spot. As they say, you have never been to Cornwall if you haven’t been to the Minack Theatre. Thanks fo my friend UrbanKelt for posting this link.

The Minack Theatre is Cornwall’s world famous open-air theatre, carved into the granite cliff overlooking the spectacular panorama of Porthcurno Bay. It’s a must-visit for drama, musicals and opera in the most dramatic of settings.

Publisher: Visit Cornwall http://www.visitcornwall.com/
Producer: Sideways Collective http://www.visitcornwall.com/
Music: Bhopali
Artist: Van Maximillan Carlson
Source: Sideways Collective

Scenes and Music from Galway

(On the video: American plays the banjo on the streets of Galway Ireland
hey i found out that this guy is Felix Sonny Boy check out his website
http://www.felixsonnyboy.com)

American music is owing Irish tradition for importing the style through the immigrants that helped shape America as it is now. There is something magical upon knowing that everything is related and that universal appeal not only means that people recognize the music; it also means that we do speak a common language through the heart.

Another travel video about Galway

Dean Wipperman’s Photos – Galway/Craiceann 2010

Scenes including a gig by Liam O’Maonlai