I love trad so I don't wish to offend any trad-purists with this post, but I am quite fond of some groups who (IMHO) have successfully combined traditional themes with modern music, sometimes including Club, Electronica, Rock, Jazz, or World grooves. I am a big fan of work by the Pogues, the Afro Celts, Donal Lunny, and Kila, as well as Scottish artists Shooglenifty, Martyn Bennett, Capercaillie, MacUmbra, and Salsa Celtica. Can you recommend any Irish artists who produce similarly veined music?
here's a piece of trivia re the horslips concertina-shaped album: the concertinas on the uk cover and the us cover are different instruments. somebody in the art department of horslips us label must not have had enough to do.
Ooops, i didn't notice he wanted artists who are Irish (presumably, born there?). In this case, Celine Dion and Kenny G don't qualify; not sure about Celtic Storm. Maybe Sinnead O'Connor? How about that Country&Western band which uses uillean pipes: the Chieftains? U2?
These days pretty much everybody does some kind of Irish music, loosely defined as music that has pipes or low whistle in it.
Ottery -- I used to have a Horslips album when I was younger as well (I too can remember vinyl
Glauber -- I did expect some humor at my expense regarding this post (and perhaps some flames as well -- after all, this is a site dedicated to perfoming traditional Irish music), but I took no offense (unless you actually WERE suggesting that I like Celine Dion and Kenny G )
I was specifically looking for Irish artists that were experimenting with Irish traditional music out of curiosity. It seems there is no shortage of Scottish groups that are taking liberties with the music they grew up with by performing it with modern and/or outside instruments, beats, and grooves, but I have found many less examples of this from Irish-born performers. I considered that this could be a trend that is unique to Scotland (thought I've observed that such groups may often have a cult following at best, but their following frequently seems to include other musicians);
maybe there is a greater reverence in Ireland for performing traditional music in a traditional manner (wasn't Sinead blasted in some circles for Sean-Nos Nua?);
or maybe I have simply been looking in the wrong places for it. Anyway, I thought that there was no better site to ask a question about Irish music with roots in trad, than at a site dedicated to Irish trad.
Well, there are several tracks on Martin Hayes' cds that spring to mind, especially Live in Seattle. Or listen to his Jimmy on the Moor on The Lonsesome Touch. Or are you thinking more along the lines of Lunasa when they rocked out on Maids of Mount Cisco? Or The Corrs?
Ooops...how could I forget Eileen Ivers? Or patron saint of improvisation and innovation, Tommy Potts. Also give a listen to Leahy, Ashley MacIsaac, and Yanni (just kidding there!). Not that I'm recommending any of these, or even admitting that I might like some of what a few of them do...these are just the envelope pushers who come to mind.
I'll check out the Martin Hayes suggestions, and I think Will captured the spirit of what I was looking for, with his "envelope pushers" comment. I'm not familiar with Potts or Leahy, other than by name -- those too I'll check out.
Um - there is an irish trad band called Grada that are worth a look - they have an album called 'Endevour" - they would be a bit to far out for alot of trad purist, but they wouldnt be as far out as say kila. They are very funky and play alot of their own compositions. I saw them last week and they really are worth a look.
At the risk of being accused of shameless self-aggrandizement, my new band, The Churn fits into this category. If anyone wants to check it out it is at www.the-churn.com. There are some mp3's at the site. We do some pretty familiar session tunes with a mix of rock grooves. We emphasize improvisation pretty heavily. Not everyone's cup of tea, but...
A group put together in Alberta, Canada
BARRAGE!
Exciting to watch these young performers play fiddle while they dance. http://www.barrage.org/press/living.htm
If you are interested in the Gaelic ballad and mouth music, try Mary Jane Lamond's "Lan Duil." Quite modern, but the music itself is primitive.
And everyone shouldn't miss "The Big Day In" by Simon Thoumire and David Mulligan! It's a collaboration of a funky concertina player and a well-known jazz pianist, both from Scotland. Have you tried it yet?
Emer Mayock (Flute/Whistle) has written some good tunes. My favourite is "Nearly Blue" played on a low F whistle...superb!
A couple of CD's of hers are; "Merry Bits of Timber" and "Playground"
A good question is posed: why so many Scottish bands playing celticy, self-penned music? Could this be something which is being promoted by hopeful recording companies to maintain the interest and money of the CD buying public? I would not like to offend the earnest endeavours of some fine musicians but the repetitive playing of a few notes with the smallest of developments is neither good celtic music nor good jazz because it is neither sufficiently skilled nor, and more importantly, sufficiently interesting to the listener and yet this is what some of these talented troupes of musicians are actually producing. Have a listen to Moving Hearts, the daddy of them all. These people could play but it was also new and interesting for its time. Kila is not to my taste but again they do do interesting things and, as a result, I have bought a Kila CD to which I listen. Now Salsa Celtica....such potential but, I find their work becoming tedious. There is no need for this. Salsa and Celtic music is novel at first but where is it going? I entreat the Scots to develop their ideas and keep us guessing if they choose to go down this route with purpose and resolve and keep listening to those bands like Battlefield, Tannahill Weavers who bring interest and variety in traditional settings.
I'm a prog-trad fan, and for all you other prog-trad fans out there, keep in mind that on Sunday I'm seeing afro celt soulnd system, and Shooglenifty in about 3 weeks. Suffer in ya jocks boys and girls. Sorry I missed Grada two weeks ago though. About every two years we have this massive influx of prog-trad bands treapsing through old Sydney town, thank heavens I'm old enough to get into the gigs this time...
Eileen Ivers!! "Crossing the Bridge" is an exciting CD...mixing ITM with salsa, hip-hop, flamenco...one of my favorite CD's ever. Although, I am partial to anything Eileen does.
Along the rock/punk-Irish fusion idea... I'll throw around some names...
The Young Dubliners mix ITM and big-sounding arena-rock. Sometimes they get it right (but not always). I base this on one album...
If the Pogues played ITM with a punk attitude, the Dropkick Murphys from Boston play punk with an Irish attitude. Bagpipes, mandolins, tattoos, thundering guitars, and Oi!, Oi!, Oi! Versions of (standard) Irish songs that will pin your ears back to your head.
Flogging Molly takes a more trad. approach, but the electric guitars are still potent. They draw more from trad. music than the aformentioned Young Dubliners and with less aggression than the Murphys, but their range of style is a bit limited. I would describe them as a one-note kind of band... but the one is a lot of fun! Definite bar-band (but a good one)...
Black 47 is another standby. By my general estimation, their albums contain 50% tremendous rock/Irish fusions (with saxophones, etc.) and 50% "what where they thinking?" If they would only produce half the number of albums...
Great Big Sea is a fun, sing-along kind of band.
Appreciation of (even vastly) different musical styles doesn't have to diminish the respect for and appreciation of the traditional. I'll save my discussions of neo-honkey-tonk and North-African Gnawan instrumentals for another forum...
Going retro you may want to check out 'The Incredible String Band'. Although, they're sound is more renaisance than what would be considered traditional. Fun band, none the less. All the albums have been re-issued on cd(2 LPs per cd)and are available at Border's. There's a cheeky band from Scotland called 'Enter Haggis' you may want to check out, also. They do some very funny stuff like playing the Mexican hat dance song on bagpipes. Kind of like a celtic Spike Jones/Weird Al group, but much funnier than either of those hacks. Saw a band last year at the Highland games in Edinboro, PA called 'Bad Haggis' whose fusion of trad/jazz with a piper may be what you're looking for. And another band from Australia called 'Brother' have a rock/trad thing going. They feature the didgereedoo quite a bit. The aforementioned Gaelic Storm has a new fiddle player named Bob Banerjee who's classical/swing background is going to infuse them with a new direction, I'm sure. He's from India and is refered to as the 'Round Brown Mound of Hindu Sound'. One of the funniest people and best fiddle players I've ever heard. Pretty sure if you plug any of these names into your search engine you'll be able to come up with several websites featuring their music. Good Luck.
I like a couple of Irish tracks that were recorded by Kate Bush. Though, she is British, I think some of her family is Irish. The "Jig of Life" comes to mind.
Alice - I saw Anam a few years ago at the San Francisco Celtic Festival. They were very well recevied, and I really took a liking to them -- especially since there was a mandolin family instrument in every song.
I'm a "trad purist" fan and this might seem wierd coming from a 16 year old but it's the truth. Im delighted to see people adding their own style and approach to Irish trad music. Gerry "Banjo" O' Connor - brilliant musician with his own unique touch. I've seen him play, listened to him play and have even joined in a few times!! Unfortunately, I feel that some musicians wander too far away from the trad roots of tunes and this is not the true Irish culture. I do however enjoy listening to the Pogues!! (Shane McGowen living near me so I've grown to like his style!!)
Have you heard any Pogues albums post-Shane McGowen? Absolute trash! I've always heard Shane is a genius, but all the proof you'll need is listening to one Pouges album after Shane was gone.
I know I'm going to get flamed for this but, progressive-traditional is a bit of an oxymoron if you ask me. I think the most heinious example of progressive-traditional is the Celtic-Rock genre.
Typically, Celtic-Rock groups almost never go to sessions. They rarely know (or care to know) any of the names of the great players whose tunes they play. Their repertoire generally being limited to the three or four sets of heavily arranged music they play with the band. My overall impression is that Celtic-Rock is less about the tunes/songs than it is the ability to quickly and easily entertain an audience in a pub. There is a place for that, and it's quite fun in the proper context, but to call it progressive-traditional gives it a bit more credit than it deserves.
That being said, I'd prefer to label most of the progressive-traditional genre as simply un-traditional Celtic or better still 'irish or scottish influenced'. Exceptional bands such as the Pouges transcend all lables entirely. The Pogues are neither traditional nor un-traditional. They simply made great music and they didn't have to wear a green flag on their sleeve or a regimental kilt on stage to do it.
Caoimghgin - no flame intended here, but you are not describing the prog-trad bands that I am familiar with, nor I trust most of the performers that are referenced in this thread. IMHO, that which what makes a successful prog-trad act click is having musical knowledge and skills deeply rooted in trad -- and perhaps the presence of roots is the difference between prog-trad, and the posers that you described who might call themselves Celtic Rockers.
BTW, Ashley MacIsaac has been known to wear a kilt on stage, but he can back it up with his heart and his fiddle.
Yeah. My knees are a little too knobby for wearing skirts in public too!
I think if I were to have an exception to the above rant, Ashley MacIsaac would qualify, though I'm not exactly thrilled with him either! I think we can chalk that up to personal preference.
I'd think 'Brother' is a very good example of everything wrong with the Celtic-Rock genre (they have somehow become the model for the genre). I guess some could argue that 'Brother' is the marijuana of Irish Traditional Music. Kind of an entry level drug to the heroin that is ITM. I don't exactly agree with that either, but that's one arguement.
Frankly, I just think it moves too far away to be considered part of the tradition. Celtic Rock cannot participate in the tradition, only borrow from it.
Well, I got to interview the Brother boys for The Celtic Cafe at one point. Really nice lads, really, really nice, perfectly good rockers, and a lot of fun. They don't consider themselves to be "celtic" so much as rock, and they're basically just using all the musical forms that they know (both brothers played in pipe bands as teens) -- I'd guess that they'd probably laugh hysterically at anyone trying to make out that they were trad players or wanna-bes, they're pretty much just out for a good time, and for them playing the pipes (and the didge) is part of that.
Is Brother really considered the model for the genre? Really? I had no idea.
I know I treading on thin ice here, but hasn't ITM been in a constant state of change from the start, whenever that was? O'Carolan incorporated Italian baroque influences. Mazurkas? Polkas? Instruments have come and gone. How often does anyone play a hornpipe on a hornpipe? accompanied a fiddle with barrelhouse piano? Mandolins, guitars, etc. are recent additions. When ITM is referred to here, often what is meant is ITM frozen in time, a few decades back. There is nothing wrong with that, mind you.
Checked back and Whoa! Does anyone else think we may have gotten off the track a little here? Mad Dawg asked if there were any 'Irish' bands exploring a traditional/whatever mix. Need to apologize 'myself' for having mis-read the question and giving several examples of non-Irish bands. Start a new thread, maybe? By the way MD, try a band called Silly Wizard. Again, I apologize, they're 'not' Irish, but very good just the same. As far as 'good examples of everything wrong with the genre, re celtic rock, how about Thin Lizzy? Ever heard their version of 'Whiskey in the Jar?...ouch.
Yeah, I think it's true. Given the variety of regional Celtic Rock bands I've heard, 'Brother' would appear to be the template for 'Celtic Rockers' in America. No doubt, they are nice guys having a good time and likely have no pretentions...
There is one scene in a movie that fairly sums everything up. Has anyone seen the movie 'Ghost World'? If you haven't, please pick it up at your local movie rental.
Treading on thin ice mandocaster? Not at all. Growth is good! Change is fine! I think my only point is that all change or growth should be done if it helps the music (note: NOT the record label, NOT the ticket sales, NOT the aggrandizement of the player/performer).
Oh! Here's some thoughts!
1) Traditional music spoke for itself and the tunes lived or died on their own merits. In progressive-traditional it's only a matter of marketing to the right age-group.
2) You can participate in traditional music, you can only be a spectator in progressive-traditional.
Anyway, please discuss! (and yeah, another thread might be a good idea if we want to take this further)
Since when have we ever stuck with one topic in a thread? That would be totally against all the past history of the session!
Funny thing, Kev. Some really good Irish players I know were playing at a festival that Brother was playing at. They went along to listen to them play, ostensibly to be supportive at a very small festival, but also for the crack, they figured at least they would get some giggles out of the experience. They sat on the grass for the first song, but after that they were up dancing. They were really surprised, but they thought that Brother was a decent band. Not traditional, of course. But a great party band, funnily over the top (leather kilts!) and imminently danceable.
I don't think they think of themselves as "Celtic", by the way. I believe insofar as they're concerned, the pipes and didge are just two of the instruments they happen to play. Personally, once the novelty wore off, I actually preferred the music they played as straight ahead rock, but then I love anything the Brothers Finn were/are involved with, and there's more than a little of that in Brother's sound.
I'm fine with discussions wandering off-topic. This would happen anyway if we were all hanging out in a pub together, right?
Anyway, my initial request specifically for Irish prog-trad artists was because I was familiar with only of few such artists, as opposed to the many Scottish and other "envelope pushers" that I'm more familiar with. However, I welcome any and all feedback regarding your recommendations from artists anywhere -- one can never buy too many CDs or support too many artists, right?
- my only point is that all change or growth should be done if it helps the music (note: NOT the record label, NOT the ticket sales, NOT the aggrandizement of the player/performer).
1) Traditional music spoke for itself and the tunes lived or died on their own merits. In progressive-traditional it's only a matter of marketing to the right age-group.
2) You can participate in traditional music, you can only be a spectator in progressive-traditional.
I love this kind of discussion!
1. An interesting aspect to ITM as it is played in sessions is how little it is about the individual performer. The focus is on the tunes, and on authentic performance. But when we buy a recording of even the most traditional music (unless it was recorded in the field Lomax-style and distributed through the
Library of Congress) some individual performers had to have enough interest in getting their music out to a wider audience to put their music and reputations on the line. Why do people get on a stage and perform? The player/performer has to believe that their music is good and needs to reach an audience. If there
were no desire to desiminate your music and get paid at least enough money to keep in strings and beer, there would be no commercial recordings. There may be a CD out there that was made and distributed with no attention to marketing, but we would never see or hear it. I don't believe that prog-trad is nothing more than a marketing ploy by record labels. For one thing, nobody is getting rich doing this. There are only a handful of groups that are making any kind of living through prog-trad or traditional. The maligned group, Brother, does not arrive at an arena gig in a limo, they arrive at the club in a beat-up van.
They play their kind of music because they love it, even though the harrowing tour schedules take a large toll. A few years ago, their van wrecked between gigs and both brothers were seriously injured. They are back at it now, and not because they are expecting to be pop sensations. My band opened for Altan a couple of years ago. I didn't notice a trace of cynicism.
2. Somebody gets interested in ITM, learns tunes, and goes to sessions. They are certainly participating in traditional music. Let's say that this same person, even though they love going to sessions, gets together with some musicians found at the sessions,and plays prog-trad in their living room. After a while, they play at clubs for an audience. How is this not participating?
Well, eventually you have to slow down and stick to the music that really turns your crank, otherwise you'll never have time to learn any tunes.
A bit of a stretch, but Nightnoise might qualify as a "prog-celt" band, in spite of the "New Age" label. I got a couple of their cassettes because I wanted to hear Brian Dunn(ing?)'s flute playing, and I was a fan of Triona and Michael O'Domhnaill's stuff from the Bothy Band. It's not something I'd recommend to people for its Celtic content, but they have some interesting melodic ideas, some of which sound like expansions or explorations of Irish themes. Or if you just want to hear a flawless band play oddly pleasant music...
I'm tempted to describe it as "Best Attempt to Invent Irish Easy Listening Music", only they were beaten at their own game by Enya. Most of it is too soft and floaty for me, but worth listening to once or twice in your search for prog-trad goodness.
Yeah, this is fun! If Kevin Glackin, James Kelly and Matt Molloy decided to start a Rock-Celtic band backed by a full double-bass drum kit and electric guitar, I think I'd be the first to buy the album. I don't think that's going to happen any time soon, so don't start any rumors!
On point number two, I totally agree! You model what I was saying earlier, 'Progressive-Trad can only borrow from traditional'. Your example shows people coming from trad into prog-trad. Furthermore, whatever the prog-trad player is doing musically can rarely be shared amoung trad players (example:I'm not going to put a wah-wah pedal on my fiddle to make that sound at session), which is another example of why prog-trad can only borrow and not participate.
I'm fairly sure we're both in agreement here, but it's fun to discuss!
Kevin played with Afro-Celt Sound System, didn't he?
I forgot, what about The Prodigals, has anyone mentioned them yet? I liked quite a bit of their stuff. They've sort of given themselves the def of "jig-punk". http://www.prodigals.com -- what makes 'em particularly Irish rock is Gregory Greene, who writes about himself as follows:
"I was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to a small farm in Co. Cavan, Ireland when I was five months old. I divided my time growing up between the two places, studying accordion with Sean Donaghue in Ireland and Liz Carroll in Chicago, under whose tutelage I won the Midwest Fleadh Ceoil in the Junior and Senior Divisions. At Trinity College Dublin I spent my time hanging out in the Buttery Bar, where I ended up founding the Dublin University Traditional Music Society and writing a Guide to Dublin Pubs which became the object of a libel lawsuit by the Shelbourne Hotel. As a result I still have a thousand or so stacked in my apartment. Let me know if you want to buy one."
"Crazy about:
"* Music: Joe Burke, James Keane, Josephine Marsh, Liz Carroll, Martin Hayes, Solas, Tannahill Weavers, Relativity and Silly Wizard, Sharon Shannon, Dermot Byrne, Deanta
* Shane MacGowan's successively brilliant songs
* Very, very solid meals, without which I become the crankiest member of the whole group (and that's saying something), Guinness, Jameson, milk
* Going out to great gigs, playing gigs and in sessions
* Films: Spanking the Monkey , I Went Down
* Books - well-written, plot-driven novels (Stevenson, Dickens, Austen, Fielding, Patrick McCabe) In general, I'm not that crazy about artsy style-driven writing"
"I play a Castagnari Tommy accordion (below), handmade in Recanati, Italy. I think they're just great, deserving of their fine reputation. Feel free to contact me regarding where to find 'em! "
i would call it irish punk most of the time, and i dont think it only borrows from traditional music. tons of irish punk bands play lots of traditional songs. has anyone ever heard saint bushmills choir? they are a prog. trad. group as you call it, and on their cd they have at least three sets of straight up traditional songs, with a more rock background. its still traditional tunes, you just switch your bodhran for a snare and get an electric bass
I think a danger point is when a known singer of traditional or other peoples' songs, usually in a band or with backing musicians to call on, wakes up one morning and decides that he/she has talents as a singer-songwriter. Sometimes that's the case - and I'm all for people having a go. But sometimes the result is pretty mediocre lyrics and tune warbled, or the male equivalent, to mush or thrash played by a backing band who've obviously had to stoop musically to play along to the novelty material, while the punters sit it out itching for the next track on the album or the next set of the gig. I assume this one will always be with us.
Well, eventually you have to slow down and stick to the music that really turns your crank, otherwise you'll never have time to learn any tunes.
# Posted on January 23rd 2003 by Gzeg
Funny thing about how I look at ITM. To me, it's kinda like "speed metal" only ITM has a soul. The fact of the matter is, 95 % of the time, rock-n-roll is played at a much slower tempo than ITM. Rock-n-roll merely sounds heavier.
And to the poster who enjoyed Flogging Molly but said they only played one note... WE are not listening to the same band. I might be temted to say that about the Dropkick Murphy's. But FM is waaaaay to melodic to be described like that.
oops, sorry for that knee-jerk reaction. That youtube is sooo out of tune. The thing is, a lot of the bands mentioned are NOT trying to be Irish traditional music. Also, progressive suggests they are trying to move traditional music on to better things, they're not (I hope) they're simply doing something different with traditional type melodies.
Wow, this thread has been around longer than I have been playing pipes. Resurrection!
I don't like the term "progressive" trad, either. Most who use trad melodies but with modern, fusion influences are (a) a really good traditional players as well and (b) wouldn't describe their music as "progressive" since they don't see it as improving on anything. This includes Afro-Celt Sound System and Gaelic Storm. Probably not Flogging Molly, Am I likely to run into them at a session?
Wow, this thread smells like one of those old books someone took out of the back stacks in the library.
What a great song by the Molly. Too bad they feel like thay have to play their guitars like punk rockers, you can barely hear the vocals. No wonder the clip needed subtitles. STRUMMITY STRUMMITY STRUMMITY! "Eh, what's he saying there? All I hear is strummity."
Progressive-traditional Irish music
Progressive-traditional Irish music
I love trad so I don't wish to offend any trad-purists with this post, but I am quite fond of some groups who (IMHO) have successfully combined traditional themes with modern music, sometimes including Club, Electronica, Rock, Jazz, or World grooves. I am a big fan of work by the Pogues, the Afro Celts, Donal Lunny, and Kila, as well as Scottish artists Shooglenifty, Martyn Bennett, Capercaillie, MacUmbra, and Salsa Celtica. Can you recommend any Irish artists who produce similarly veined music?
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Celine Dion, Celtic Storm and Kenny G.
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by glauber
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
un ohhhhhhhhh...I'm ducking from the line of fire on this one. hee hee!
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by katiebythegate
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Since when are Celine Dion and Kenny G Irish???
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Glauber
Your comment was very unfair.
Alan
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Alanmmcgregor
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Glauber was being funny. There's been past threads and jokes between some of the folk who have been around here for a while.
zls
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
I remember Horslips and thier curious concertina-shaped album. God I feel old....
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Ottery
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
here's a piece of trivia re the horslips concertina-shaped album: the concertinas on the uk cover and the us cover are different instruments. somebody in the art department of horslips us label must not have had enough to do.
sarah
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by sarahc
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Ooops, i didn't notice he wanted artists who are Irish (presumably, born there?). In this case, Celine Dion and Kenny G don't qualify; not sure about Celtic Storm. Maybe Sinnead O'Connor? How about that Country&Western band which uses uillean pipes: the Chieftains? U2?
These days pretty much everybody does some kind of Irish music, loosely defined as music that has pipes or low whistle in it.
g
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by glauber
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
uh don't you mean Gaelic Storm, glauber? I know you have all their albums, esp the one with the Celine Dion guest appearance. ;)
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Ottery -- I used to have a Horslips album when I was younger as well (I too can remember vinyl
Glauber -- I did expect some humor at my expense regarding this post (and perhaps some flames as well -- after all, this is a site dedicated to perfoming traditional Irish music), but I took no offense (unless you actually WERE suggesting that I like Celine Dion and Kenny G )
I was specifically looking for Irish artists that were experimenting with Irish traditional music out of curiosity. It seems there is no shortage of Scottish groups that are taking liberties with the music they grew up with by performing it with modern and/or outside instruments, beats, and grooves, but I have found many less examples of this from Irish-born performers. I considered that this could be a trend that is unique to Scotland (thought I've observed that such groups may often have a cult following at best, but their following frequently seems to include other musicians);
maybe there is a greater reverence in Ireland for performing traditional music in a traditional manner (wasn't Sinead blasted in some circles for Sean-Nos Nua?);
or maybe I have simply been looking in the wrong places for it. Anyway, I thought that there was no better site to ask a question about Irish music with roots in trad, than at a site dedicated to Irish trad.
OK, now let the jokes continue...
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Well, there are several tracks on Martin Hayes' cds that spring to mind, especially Live in Seattle. Or listen to his Jimmy on the Moor on The Lonsesome Touch. Or are you thinking more along the lines of Lunasa when they rocked out on Maids of Mount Cisco? Or The Corrs?
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Ooops...how could I forget Eileen Ivers? Or patron saint of improvisation and innovation, Tommy Potts. Also give a listen to Leahy, Ashley MacIsaac, and Yanni (just kidding there!). Not that I'm recommending any of these, or even admitting that I might like some of what a few of them do...these are just the envelope pushers who come to mind.
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
I'll check out the Martin Hayes suggestions, and I think Will captured the spirit of what I was looking for, with his "envelope pushers" comment. I'm not familiar with Potts or Leahy, other than by name -- those too I'll check out.
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Re the Corrs, they are not what I had in mind, although they do perform a version of Man of the House on one of their CDs that's rather cool.
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Um - there is an irish trad band called Grada that are worth a look - they have an album called 'Endevour" - they would be a bit to far out for alot of trad purist, but they wouldnt be as far out as say kila. They are very funky and play alot of their own compositions. I saw them last week and they really are worth a look.
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by bb
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
At the risk of being accused of shameless self-aggrandizement, my new band, The Churn fits into this category. If anyone wants to check it out it is at www.the-churn.com. There are some mp3's at the site. We do some pretty familiar session tunes with a mix of rock grooves. We emphasize improvisation pretty heavily. Not everyone's cup of tea, but...
Mitch Lawyer
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by mandocaster
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
A group put together in Alberta, Canada
BARRAGE!
Exciting to watch these young performers play fiddle while they dance.
http://www.barrage.org/press/living.htm
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by aliceflynn
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Lunasa?
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Edja
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Calico's debut recording "Celanova Sq." (http://thesession.org/recordings/display.php/219), and Michael McGoldrick's second recording "Fused" (http://thesession.org/recordings/display.php/154). The former is jazzy, and the latter is..... just fused.
If you are interested in the Gaelic ballad and mouth music, try Mary Jane Lamond's "Lan Duil." Quite modern, but the music itself is primitive.
And everyone shouldn't miss "The Big Day In" by Simon Thoumire and David Mulligan! It's a collaboration of a funky concertina player and a well-known jazz pianist, both from Scotland. Have you tried it yet?
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by slainte
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Emer Mayock (Flute/Whistle) has written some good tunes. My favourite is "Nearly Blue" played on a low F whistle...superb!
A couple of CD's of hers are; "Merry Bits of Timber" and "Playground"
Dave.
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Twiz
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
A good question is posed: why so many Scottish bands playing celticy, self-penned music? Could this be something which is being promoted by hopeful recording companies to maintain the interest and money of the CD buying public? I would not like to offend the earnest endeavours of some fine musicians but the repetitive playing of a few notes with the smallest of developments is neither good celtic music nor good jazz because it is neither sufficiently skilled nor, and more importantly, sufficiently interesting to the listener and yet this is what some of these talented troupes of musicians are actually producing. Have a listen to Moving Hearts, the daddy of them all. These people could play but it was also new and interesting for its time. Kila is not to my taste but again they do do interesting things and, as a result, I have bought a Kila CD to which I listen. Now Salsa Celtica....such potential but, I find their work becoming tedious. There is no need for this. Salsa and Celtic music is novel at first but where is it going? I entreat the Scots to develop their ideas and keep us guessing if they choose to go down this route with purpose and resolve and keep listening to those bands like Battlefield, Tannahill Weavers who bring interest and variety in traditional settings.
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by r&c
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
I'm a prog-trad fan, and for all you other prog-trad fans out there, keep in mind that on Sunday I'm seeing afro celt soulnd system, and Shooglenifty in about 3 weeks. Suffer in ya jocks boys and girls. Sorry I missed Grada two weeks ago though. About every two years we have this massive influx of prog-trad bands treapsing through old Sydney town, thank heavens I'm old enough to get into the gigs this time...
peace, dargs
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by dargs
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Eileen Ivers!! "Crossing the Bridge" is an exciting CD...mixing ITM with salsa, hip-hop, flamenco...one of my favorite CD's ever. Although, I am partial to anything Eileen does.
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by irishfiddler32
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Along the rock/punk-Irish fusion idea... I'll throw around some names...
The Young Dubliners mix ITM and big-sounding arena-rock. Sometimes they get it right (but not always). I base this on one album...
If the Pogues played ITM with a punk attitude, the Dropkick Murphys from Boston play punk with an Irish attitude. Bagpipes, mandolins, tattoos, thundering guitars, and Oi!, Oi!, Oi! Versions of (standard) Irish songs that will pin your ears back to your head.
Flogging Molly takes a more trad. approach, but the electric guitars are still potent. They draw more from trad. music than the aformentioned Young Dubliners and with less aggression than the Murphys, but their range of style is a bit limited. I would describe them as a one-note kind of band... but the one is a lot of fun! Definite bar-band (but a good one)...
Black 47 is another standby. By my general estimation, their albums contain 50% tremendous rock/Irish fusions (with saxophones, etc.) and 50% "what where they thinking?" If they would only produce half the number of albums...
Great Big Sea is a fun, sing-along kind of band.
Appreciation of (even vastly) different musical styles doesn't have to diminish the respect for and appreciation of the traditional. I'll save my discussions of neo-honkey-tonk and North-African Gnawan instrumentals for another forum...
Schy
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Schy
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Going retro you may want to check out 'The Incredible String Band'. Although, they're sound is more renaisance than what would be considered traditional. Fun band, none the less. All the albums have been re-issued on cd(2 LPs per cd)and are available at Border's. There's a cheeky band from Scotland called 'Enter Haggis' you may want to check out, also. They do some very funny stuff like playing the Mexican hat dance song on bagpipes. Kind of like a celtic Spike Jones/Weird Al group, but much funnier than either of those hacks. Saw a band last year at the Highland games in Edinboro, PA called 'Bad Haggis' whose fusion of trad/jazz with a piper may be what you're looking for. And another band from Australia called 'Brother' have a rock/trad thing going. They feature the didgereedoo quite a bit. The aforementioned Gaelic Storm has a new fiddle player named Bob Banerjee who's classical/swing background is going to infuse them with a new direction, I'm sure. He's from India and is refered to as the 'Round Brown Mound of Hindu Sound'. One of the funniest people and best fiddle players I've ever heard. Pretty sure if you plug any of these names into your search engine you'll be able to come up with several websites featuring their music. Good Luck.
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by welshdude
oops, I mean ...'their sound...
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by welshdude
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
I like a couple of Irish tracks that were recorded by Kate Bush. Though, she is British, I think some of her family is Irish. The "Jig of Life" comes to mind.
-Dirk
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by dirk
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
You must get Mike McGoldrick's Fused album. Also, try Flook. They are hot stuff, too.
# Posted on January 21st 2003 by Odin
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Anam's version of the song "Lovely Joan" adds jazz scat to the chorus.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by aliceflynn
... but I should add that Anam is based in Scotland and Lovely Joan is English.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by aliceflynn
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Alice - I saw Anam a few years ago at the San Francisco Celtic Festival. They were very well recevied, and I really took a liking to them -- especially since there was a mandolin family instrument in every song.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
I'm a "trad purist" fan and this might seem wierd coming from a 16 year old but it's the truth. Im delighted to see people adding their own style and approach to Irish trad music. Gerry "Banjo" O' Connor - brilliant musician with his own unique touch. I've seen him play, listened to him play and have even joined in a few times!! Unfortunately, I feel that some musicians wander too far away from the trad roots of tunes and this is not the true Irish culture. I do however enjoy listening to the Pogues!! (Shane McGowen living near me so I've grown to like his style!!)
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by carrie
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
carrie,
Have you heard any Pogues albums post-Shane McGowen? Absolute trash! I've always heard Shane is a genius, but all the proof you'll need is listening to one Pouges album after Shane was gone.
I know I'm going to get flamed for this but, progressive-traditional is a bit of an oxymoron if you ask me. I think the most heinious example of progressive-traditional is the Celtic-Rock genre.
Typically, Celtic-Rock groups almost never go to sessions. They rarely know (or care to know) any of the names of the great players whose tunes they play. Their repertoire generally being limited to the three or four sets of heavily arranged music they play with the band. My overall impression is that Celtic-Rock is less about the tunes/songs than it is the ability to quickly and easily entertain an audience in a pub. There is a place for that, and it's quite fun in the proper context, but to call it progressive-traditional gives it a bit more credit than it deserves.
That being said, I'd prefer to label most of the progressive-traditional genre as simply un-traditional Celtic or better still 'irish or scottish influenced'. Exceptional bands such as the Pouges transcend all lables entirely. The Pogues are neither traditional nor un-traditional. They simply made great music and they didn't have to wear a green flag on their sleeve or a regimental kilt on stage to do it.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Caoimghgin
OK flamers! I'm ready! Bring it on!
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Caoimghgin
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Caoimghgin - no flame intended here, but you are not describing the prog-trad bands that I am familiar with, nor I trust most of the performers that are referenced in this thread. IMHO, that which what makes a successful prog-trad act click is having musical knowledge and skills deeply rooted in trad -- and perhaps the presence of roots is the difference between prog-trad, and the posers that you described who might call themselves Celtic Rockers.
BTW, Ashley MacIsaac has been known to wear a kilt on stage, but he can back it up with his heart and his fiddle.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by mad dawg
...and he has the legs to pull it off (now me, on the other hand...)
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Yeah. My knees are a little too knobby for wearing skirts in public too!
I think if I were to have an exception to the above rant, Ashley MacIsaac would qualify, though I'm not exactly thrilled with him either! I think we can chalk that up to personal preference.
I'd think 'Brother' is a very good example of everything wrong with the Celtic-Rock genre (they have somehow become the model for the genre). I guess some could argue that 'Brother' is the marijuana of Irish Traditional Music. Kind of an entry level drug to the heroin that is ITM. I don't exactly agree with that either, but that's one arguement.
Frankly, I just think it moves too far away to be considered part of the tradition. Celtic Rock cannot participate in the tradition, only borrow from it.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Caoimghgin
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Caoimghgin
--please insert all appropriate emoticons here, i think the last sentence sounded a bit too pendantic
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Caoimghgin
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
"Celtic Rock cannot participate in the tradition, only borrow from it."
Well said, which I think can be applied to prog-trad as well -- the difference from artist to artist being how superficially or deeply they borrow.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Good one! Exactly!
*I'm now stepping down from the soap box*
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Caoimghgin
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Well, I got to interview the Brother boys for The Celtic Cafe at one point. Really nice lads, really, really nice, perfectly good rockers, and a lot of fun. They don't consider themselves to be "celtic" so much as rock, and they're basically just using all the musical forms that they know (both brothers played in pipe bands as teens) -- I'd guess that they'd probably laugh hysterically at anyone trying to make out that they were trad players or wanna-bes, they're pretty much just out for a good time, and for them playing the pipes (and the didge) is part of that.
Is Brother really considered the model for the genre? Really? I had no idea.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
I know I treading on thin ice here, but hasn't ITM been in a constant state of change from the start, whenever that was? O'Carolan incorporated Italian baroque influences. Mazurkas? Polkas? Instruments have come and gone. How often does anyone play a hornpipe on a hornpipe? accompanied a fiddle with barrelhouse piano? Mandolins, guitars, etc. are recent additions. When ITM is referred to here, often what is meant is ITM frozen in time, a few decades back. There is nothing wrong with that, mind you.
# Posted on January 22nd 2003 by mandocaster
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Checked back and Whoa! Does anyone else think we may have gotten off the track a little here? Mad Dawg asked if there were any 'Irish' bands exploring a traditional/whatever mix. Need to apologize 'myself' for having mis-read the question and giving several examples of non-Irish bands. Start a new thread, maybe? By the way MD, try a band called Silly Wizard. Again, I apologize, they're 'not' Irish, but very good just the same. As far as 'good examples of everything wrong with the genre, re celtic rock, how about Thin Lizzy? Ever heard their version of 'Whiskey in the Jar?...ouch.
# Posted on January 23rd 2003 by welshdude
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Hey Zina,
Yeah, I think it's true. Given the variety of regional Celtic Rock bands I've heard, 'Brother' would appear to be the template for 'Celtic Rockers' in America. No doubt, they are nice guys having a good time and likely have no pretentions...
There is one scene in a movie that fairly sums everything up. Has anyone seen the movie 'Ghost World'? If you haven't, please pick it up at your local movie rental.
Treading on thin ice mandocaster? Not at all. Growth is good! Change is fine! I think my only point is that all change or growth should be done if it helps the music (note: NOT the record label, NOT the ticket sales, NOT the aggrandizement of the player/performer).
Oh! Here's some thoughts!
1) Traditional music spoke for itself and the tunes lived or died on their own merits. In progressive-traditional it's only a matter of marketing to the right age-group.
2) You can participate in traditional music, you can only be a spectator in progressive-traditional.
Anyway, please discuss! (and yeah, another thread might be a good idea if we want to take this further)
# Posted on January 23rd 2003 by Caoimghgin
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Since when have we ever stuck with one topic in a thread? That would be totally against all the past history of the session!
Funny thing, Kev. Some really good Irish players I know were playing at a festival that Brother was playing at. They went along to listen to them play, ostensibly to be supportive at a very small festival, but also for the crack, they figured at least they would get some giggles out of the experience. They sat on the grass for the first song, but after that they were up dancing. They were really surprised, but they thought that Brother was a decent band. Not traditional, of course. But a great party band, funnily over the top (leather kilts!) and imminently danceable.
I don't think they think of themselves as "Celtic", by the way. I believe insofar as they're concerned, the pipes and didge are just two of the instruments they happen to play. Personally, once the novelty wore off, I actually preferred the music they played as straight ahead rock, but then I love anything the Brothers Finn were/are involved with, and there's more than a little of that in Brother's sound.
# Posted on January 23rd 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
I'm fine with discussions wandering off-topic. This would happen anyway if we were all hanging out in a pub together, right?
Anyway, my initial request specifically for Irish prog-trad artists was because I was familiar with only of few such artists, as opposed to the many Scottish and other "envelope pushers" that I'm more familiar with. However, I welcome any and all feedback regarding your recommendations from artists anywhere -- one can never buy too many CDs or support too many artists, right?
# Posted on January 23rd 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
- my only point is that all change or growth should be done if it helps the music (note: NOT the record label, NOT the ticket sales, NOT the aggrandizement of the player/performer).
1) Traditional music spoke for itself and the tunes lived or died on their own merits. In progressive-traditional it's only a matter of marketing to the right age-group.
2) You can participate in traditional music, you can only be a spectator in progressive-traditional.
I love this kind of discussion!
1. An interesting aspect to ITM as it is played in sessions is how little it is about the individual performer. The focus is on the tunes, and on authentic performance. But when we buy a recording of even the most traditional music (unless it was recorded in the field Lomax-style and distributed through the
Library of Congress) some individual performers had to have enough interest in getting their music out to a wider audience to put their music and reputations on the line. Why do people get on a stage and perform? The player/performer has to believe that their music is good and needs to reach an audience. If there
were no desire to desiminate your music and get paid at least enough money to keep in strings and beer, there would be no commercial recordings. There may be a CD out there that was made and distributed with no attention to marketing, but we would never see or hear it. I don't believe that prog-trad is nothing more than a marketing ploy by record labels. For one thing, nobody is getting rich doing this. There are only a handful of groups that are making any kind of living through prog-trad or traditional. The maligned group, Brother, does not arrive at an arena gig in a limo, they arrive at the club in a beat-up van.
They play their kind of music because they love it, even though the harrowing tour schedules take a large toll. A few years ago, their van wrecked between gigs and both brothers were seriously injured. They are back at it now, and not because they are expecting to be pop sensations. My band opened for Altan a couple of years ago. I didn't notice a trace of cynicism.
2. Somebody gets interested in ITM, learns tunes, and goes to sessions. They are certainly participating in traditional music. Let's say that this same person, even though they love going to sessions, gets together with some musicians found at the sessions,and plays prog-trad in their living room. After a while, they play at clubs for an audience. How is this not participating?
# Posted on January 23rd 2003 by mandocaster
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Well, eventually you have to slow down and stick to the music that really turns your crank, otherwise you'll never have time to learn any tunes.
A bit of a stretch, but Nightnoise might qualify as a "prog-celt" band, in spite of the "New Age" label. I got a couple of their cassettes because I wanted to hear Brian Dunn(ing?)'s flute playing, and I was a fan of Triona and Michael O'Domhnaill's stuff from the Bothy Band. It's not something I'd recommend to people for its Celtic content, but they have some interesting melodic ideas, some of which sound like expansions or explorations of Irish themes. Or if you just want to hear a flawless band play oddly pleasant music...
I'm tempted to describe it as "Best Attempt to Invent Irish Easy Listening Music", only they were beaten at their own game by Enya. Most of it is too soft and floaty for me, but worth listening to once or twice in your search for prog-trad goodness.
# Posted on January 23rd 2003 by Gzeg
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Mandocaster,
Yeah, this is fun! If Kevin Glackin, James Kelly and Matt Molloy decided to start a Rock-Celtic band backed by a full double-bass drum kit and electric guitar, I think I'd be the first to buy the album. I don't think that's going to happen any time soon, so don't start any rumors!
On point number two, I totally agree! You model what I was saying earlier, 'Progressive-Trad can only borrow from traditional'. Your example shows people coming from trad into prog-trad. Furthermore, whatever the prog-trad player is doing musically can rarely be shared amoung trad players (example:I'm not going to put a wah-wah pedal on my fiddle to make that sound at session), which is another example of why prog-trad can only borrow and not participate.
I'm fairly sure we're both in agreement here, but it's fun to discuss!
# Posted on January 24th 2003 by Caoimghgin
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Kevin played with Afro-Celt Sound System, didn't he?
I forgot, what about The Prodigals, has anyone mentioned them yet? I liked quite a bit of their stuff. They've sort of given themselves the def of "jig-punk". http://www.prodigals.com -- what makes 'em particularly Irish rock is Gregory Greene, who writes about himself as follows:
"I was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to a small farm in Co. Cavan, Ireland when I was five months old. I divided my time growing up between the two places, studying accordion with Sean Donaghue in Ireland and Liz Carroll in Chicago, under whose tutelage I won the Midwest Fleadh Ceoil in the Junior and Senior Divisions. At Trinity College Dublin I spent my time hanging out in the Buttery Bar, where I ended up founding the Dublin University Traditional Music Society and writing a Guide to Dublin Pubs which became the object of a libel lawsuit by the Shelbourne Hotel. As a result I still have a thousand or so stacked in my apartment. Let me know if you want to buy one."
"Crazy about:
"* Music: Joe Burke, James Keane, Josephine Marsh, Liz Carroll, Martin Hayes, Solas, Tannahill Weavers, Relativity and Silly Wizard, Sharon Shannon, Dermot Byrne, Deanta
* Shane MacGowan's successively brilliant songs
* Very, very solid meals, without which I become the crankiest member of the whole group (and that's saying something), Guinness, Jameson, milk
* Going out to great gigs, playing gigs and in sessions
* Films: Spanking the Monkey , I Went Down
* Books - well-written, plot-driven novels (Stevenson, Dickens, Austen, Fielding, Patrick McCabe) In general, I'm not that crazy about artsy style-driven writing"
"I play a Castagnari Tommy accordion (below), handmade in Recanati, Italy. I think they're just great, deserving of their fine reputation. Feel free to contact me regarding where to find 'em! "
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
i would call it irish punk most of the time, and i dont think it only borrows from traditional music. tons of irish punk bands play lots of traditional songs. has anyone ever heard saint bushmills choir? they are a prog. trad. group as you call it, and on their cd they have at least three sets of straight up traditional songs, with a more rock background. its still traditional tunes, you just switch your bodhran for a snare and get an electric bass
# Posted on February 22nd 2005 by anarchofiddler
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
I think a danger point is when a known singer of traditional or other peoples' songs, usually in a band or with backing musicians to call on, wakes up one morning and decides that he/she has talents as a singer-songwriter. Sometimes that's the case - and I'm all for people having a go. But sometimes the result is pretty mediocre lyrics and tune warbled, or the male equivalent, to mush or thrash played by a backing band who've obviously had to stoop musically to play along to the novelty material, while the punters sit it out itching for the next track on the album or the next set of the gig. I assume this one will always be with us.
# Posted on August 1st 2006 by nicholas
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Solas.
Flook.
And any solo recordings from the members of either group.
# Posted on November 13th 2008 by Lint - upon - Tweed
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
There's also Tempest, they do some good celtic-progressive combination. Their singer is quite annoying, though......
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by Piping Crow
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Well, eventually you have to slow down and stick to the music that really turns your crank, otherwise you'll never have time to learn any tunes.
# Posted on January 23rd 2003 by Gzeg
Funny thing about how I look at ITM. To me, it's kinda like "speed metal" only ITM has a soul. The fact of the matter is, 95 % of the time, rock-n-roll is played at a much slower tempo than ITM. Rock-n-roll merely sounds heavier.
And to the poster who enjoyed Flogging Molly but said they only played one note... WE are not listening to the same band. I might be temted to say that about the Dropkick Murphy's. But FM is waaaaay to melodic to be described like that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALk2eZvFhcU
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by Fishmonger
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Bloody Hell
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by bogman
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
oops, sorry for that knee-jerk reaction. That youtube is sooo out of tune. The thing is, a lot of the bands mentioned are NOT trying to be Irish traditional music. Also, progressive suggests they are trying to move traditional music on to better things, they're not (I hope) they're simply doing something different with traditional type melodies.
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by bogman
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Wow, this thread has been around longer than I have been playing pipes. Resurrection!
I don't like the term "progressive" trad, either. Most who use trad melodies but with modern, fusion influences are (a) a really good traditional players as well and (b) wouldn't describe their music as "progressive" since they don't see it as improving on anything. This includes Afro-Celt Sound System and Gaelic Storm. Probably not Flogging Molly, Am I likely to run into them at a session?
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Progressive-traditional Irish music
Wow, this thread smells like one of those old books someone took out of the back stacks in the library.
What a great song by the Molly. Too bad they feel like thay have to play their guitars like punk rockers, you can barely hear the vocals. No wonder the clip needed subtitles. STRUMMITY STRUMMITY STRUMMITY! "Eh, what's he saying there? All I hear is strummity."
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler