Gaelic Storm

Since the term “Celtic rock” carries certain expectations, let’s get this out of the way right now: Gaelic Storm is nothing like the Pogues. Well, maybe they’re a little bit like the Pogues—both bands have made names for themselves and developed an enthusiastic, almost cult-like following by putting an amped-up rock ’n’ roll spin on Celtic folk music, and both incorporate a wide range of both traditional and contemporary instruments into their energetic live shows. But the similarities end there. No matter how hard you listen, you won’t find any angst-laden political musings in a Gaelic Storm song.
As you can probably guess from song titles like “The Night I Punched Russell Crowe” and “Raised on Black and Tans,” the band is more concerned with having a good time. The most recent of their seven studio albums haven’t soared to the heights of 2006’s fantastic Bring Yer Wellies, but that hardly matters when it comes to the band’s rollicking live shows. They spend about 200 days on the road every year (199 of which are not St. Patrick’s Day), so the group knows a thing or two about entertaining an audience.
Though most of their music is decidedly Irish, Gaelic Storm is an international affair. The lineup consists of Irishman Patrick Murphy on lead vocals, accordion, and, when the mood strikes him, spoons; California-born percussionist Ryan Lacey; Canadian Peter Purvis on pipes and whistle; and Brits Steve Twigger and Jessie Burns on guitar and violin, respectively. Don’t be surprised if a bit of world music and the occasional melancholy ballad sneak into the mix, and rest assured that there’s always a drinking song just around the corner. (April Snellings)

Photo by Kevin Gilbert.