The Pogues weren't the first to mix Irish folk and rock and roll, but Shane MacGowan and company were the first to kick that mix in the thoin (that's Gaelic for what you're sitting on) and that jolt continues to resound across the globe today.
Luckily, for Milwaukee, we've got Reilly, one of the bands that picked up the baton and continues to generate high-octane Celtic rock. For examples of the way the band -- which shares members with Beatallica -- rocks it green, look no further than 2007's "Saints of the Ocean," the band's second full-length.
The band is back with a new disc and this one is filled with holiday cheer.
"A Kick Ass Celtic Christmas" collects a baker's dozen Christmas hits -- from "Good King Wenceslas" to "Little Drummer Boy" -- alongside rollicking numbers like the original "Dear Santa (I Can Explain)" and the opener, "Christmas in Killarney."
But we might expect a disc featuring a March holiday, instead. So, why a Christmas record?
"We did a holiday record for several reasons," says Michael "Tinker" Tierney.
"Our label, Oglio Entertainment, has released a few holiday CDs; they actually have rights to the ‘Little Drummer Boy' single by Bing Crosby/David Bowie. They do a good job with promoting Christmas music as evidenced by Reilly appearing on both the ‘Daybreak' and ‘Fine Gold' samplers -- two morning show compilations for radio -- this holiday season."
Additionally, says Tierney, there is a connection to what Reilly already does.
"Many Christmas tunes have a basis in European / Brit isle culture," he notes. "The melodies / instrumentation are very familiar. The feel of the songs, based on chord progressions, are ones that Reilly are comfortable with."
But does the world need yet another version of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside"? There's no denying that these are unlike any versions you've ever heard before.
"We definitely adapted songs for the project," says Tierney. "Reilly ‘de-ranges' just about everything we tackle! We had a few goals with the songs: make them rock and push the tempo a bit, open them up to new instrumentation and perhaps new harmonies, touch on many sorts of holiday tunes -- hymns, American classics, traditionals -- but most of all ... have fun! "
Fun is clearly the keyword here and the band's spirit is contagious on the disc. Pop in "A Kick Ass Celtic Christmas" at your holiday party and things will definitely click up a notch or two.
"The three originals were a blast to compose," says Tinker, "and the record as a whole is the best sounding Reilly disc we've put out."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
