Bangers and Mash

FolkWords on MySpace

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Music for drinking

They say that Celtic music is an art form designed to reach inside you and either reduce you to tears or drag you forcibly from your chair. Now at this point, hard men refuse to be moved (while trying to wipe a tear from the eye) and the terminally boring sit riveted to the spot (but I bet your feet are tapping) – see caught you! Add rock to Celtic roots and you've got Patchogue-based, New York Celtic folk-rockers Bangers and Mash – add their drinking music to an evening and a party is guaranteed. And their music follows their Celtic heritage to make you shed a tear or draw you out to dance.

If you're in the mood to experience the speed and passion of American-Irish Celtic music then you really need to give them a listen. 'Welcome to the Session' is insanely fast (I can see all the dancers tripping over their feet) but brim full of wicked fiddle playing and machine-gun fast percussion. No one sits down in this one – perhaps not high on musical dexterity but way up there when it comes to having a good time. From the same vein comes the ultimate drinking song 'Out of the Frying Pan' another piece of Celtic insanity only this one forces you to sing a long as well. And one listen to 'Reel It Out' makes it clear that these guys can turn out a seriously good reel – actually five of them bolted together.

However, it's important to note that their skill set extends way beyond simply playing at floor-board blistering speeds. There's depth to these guys and 'Nothing Stays the Same' is the proof. It's a haunting song that's faintly reminiscent of the Byrds – perhaps it's the guitar work or maybe the metre of the lyrics – whatever, it's delivered beautifully. There are certain songs that catch your mind and run themselves through your head all day long, 'Eclipse' is one to catch you instantly. It has a pulsing beat and powerful lyrics driven along by Scott's edgy strident voice. 'Danny and Mary' is another, so is their rendition of Christy Moore's 'Ordinary Man' – both great ballads given an edge by the frantic package that is Bangers and Mash.
- Folk Words

Bangers and Mash the celtic rock band that was playing celtic rock before it was cool. (Scott Carney is their second generation of vocalists)Now the rest of the world is catching up Seth and the rest of Bangers and Mash are leading the Long Island charge. They helped usher in Grand Marshall Underwood and saw to it that a wonderful time was had by all.
- Long Island Advance

FolkWords on MySpace

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Music for drinking

They say that Celtic music is an art form designed to reach inside you and either reduce you to tears or drag you forcibly from your chair. Now at this point, hard men refuse to be moved (while trying to wipe a tear from the eye) and the terminally boring sit riveted to the spot (but I bet your feet are tapping) – see caught you! Add rock to Celtic roots and you've got Patchogue-based, New York Celtic folk-rockers Bangers and Mash – add their drinking music to an evening and a party is guaranteed. And their music follows their Celtic heritage to make you shed a tear or draw you out to dance.

If you're in the mood to experience the speed and passion of American-Irish Celtic music then you really need to give them a listen. 'Welcome to the Session' is insanely fast (I can see all the dancers tripping over their feet) but brim full of wicked fiddle playing and machine-gun fast percussion. No one sits down in this one – perhaps not high on musical dexterity but way up there when it comes to having a good time. From the same vein comes the ultimate drinking song 'Out of the Frying Pan' another piece of Celtic insanity only this one forces you to sing a long as well. And one listen to 'Reel It Out' makes it clear that these guys can turn out a seriously good reel – actually five of them bolted together.

However, it's important to note that their skill set extends way beyond simply playing at floor-board blistering speeds. There's depth to these guys and 'Nothing Stays the Same' is the proof. It's a haunting song that's faintly reminiscent of the Byrds – perhaps it's the guitar work or maybe the metre of the lyrics – whatever, it's delivered beautifully. There are certain songs that catch your mind and run themselves through your head all day long, 'Eclipse' is one to catch you instantly. It has a pulsing beat and powerful lyrics driven along by Scott's edgy strident voice. 'Danny and Mary' is another, so is their rendition of Christy Moore's 'Ordinary Man' – both great ballads given an edge by the frantic package that is Bangers and Mash.
- Folk Words

Well if you look at my name there’s not too much question of where my heritage lies. In the past, I have told you of my desire to visit the land of my forefathers and my pride in their lives in Ireland and their journey to America. I’ve lamented the fact that it is my parent’s generation that has stayed in touch with distant Irish cousins, but recently I’ve started to remedy that with a cousin my age that lives in Thurles in Tipperary.
Even if they couldn’t figure out through a DNA sample that a certain percentage of my blood runs Irish green there would be one other dead give away and that is to watch my toes start tapping whenever Irish music is played. Whether it’s Enya or U2 give me that Celtic beat and I’m there. Hit the bagpipes and I’m either twirling around or wiping a tear from my eyes. There is just something about it that makes me feel so in touch with the place.
In that case, you better stay clear of me this weekend because the “Woodstock” of Celtic music is coming right here to Patchogue’s Shorefront Park this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and I just might dance right over you. Trust me, the names of the musical performers playing here by the bay are the superstars of Irish music both over there and in the Irish communities in America and they cover a WIDE spectrum of traditional, pop and rock influences.
From the favorites of my parents like Tommy Makem and the Makem Brothers to popular performers like Solas, Morning Star and Andy Cooney to the all out rockers like Fathom, Gael Force, Ceili Rain and the Prodigals this is, take my word for it, one hell of a lineup and that’s with leaving out three of my favorite acts.
On the heavier rock side there are the incredible “Black 47” (their name is taken form the worst year of the Irish potato famine). Their music covers everything from the unrest in Northern Ireland to the unrest in urban New York. They have headlined the Irish Night after ballgame concert at Shea stadium quite a few times.
In a more traditional vein, but with an exquisite beautiful sound is “Cherish the Ladies” their music will enchant you and take you back to the green glens of Ireland even if like me, you’ve never been there. I not only cherish these beautiful lassies, I cherish their music.
The last band has not quite reached the exposure of these other two other acts, but they bill their music as being “music for the celticly insane” and that’s good enough for me. Besides, any Irish band that boasts a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn as their bass guitarist in the person of local realtor Seth Lesselbaum is just warped enough for my tastes. The band is called “Bangers and Mash” (Bangers are an Irish Sausage) and ask the band how that name came to be I won’t spoil the story. But seriously, to listen to Seth talk about and to see how his face lights up talking about the bands music it makes you want to just sell all your possessions and follow the band around the world.
Well Seth, I’m not selling all my clothes off my back, but I can’t wait to see BAM up on stage along with all the other fantastic acts too numerous to mention.
Music is not the only thing on tap. There will be tons of vendors of Irish wares at the festival and of course step dancing, which is enjoying a renaissance since “Riverdance” will be shown throughout the fair. The whole thing is being billed as the largest Celtic fair in New York State and I have no reasons to dispute that.
The fair is open on Friday from 12 noon to 11 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 11 pm. There is tons of more information available, but the best thing I can do for you is to send you to their web site which is www.longislandirishfest.com.
The web site is also the best place to get the lineups of when and where the bands are playing and on what stages. Top of the morning to you … and I’ll see you there.
- Long Island Advance

Bangers and Mash the celtic rock band that was playing celtic rock before it was cool. (Scott Carney is their second generation of vocalists)Now the rest of the world is catching up Seth and the rest of Bangers and Mash are leading the Long Island charge. They helped usher in Grand Marshall Underwood and saw to it that a wonderful time was had by all.
- Long Island Advance

Christopher Capobianco didn't think Patchogue Village's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade gave village residents and visitors enough time to party..in the true tradition of the holiday.

So the director of communications for the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts came up with an idea that would spread the green gala throughout the day.

"I organized a concert featuring Irish rock bands because the annual St. Patrick's Parade in Patchogue is always a fun event," Mr. Capobianco said. "I thought that we could prolong the party by having a concert at the Patchogue Theatre on the same day."

Joining forces with the Greater Patchogue Foundation and the Patchogue Business Improvement district, Mr. Capobianco put together a Celtic rock concert featuring three bands, Fathom, The Prodigals and local legends Bangers and Mash.

The concert follows the Main Street parade on Main Street, which begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Concert organizers have left enough time between the parade and concert for people to catch a late lunch or early supper at local pubs and restaurants before the roughly four-hour-long concert begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are $35, $25, and $15 each.

Bangers and Mash, or BAM, offers a unique sound that kicks typical Irish/Celtic music up a notch by mixing contemporary Celtic rock covers from bands like Saw Doctors and The Pogues with hard-hitting versions of revered Irish songs, including a [hard rock] version of "The Fields of Athenry."

The band is known for its high-energy sets and catchy, powerful originals, the most popular of which is "Eclipse," a driving, soulful number about a murderous, suicidal father.

Not all songs are that dark. BAM also features songs that denote the band's quirky personality. One original that always proves to be a bar rouser is BAM's uproarious "The Music Keeps Us Drinking."

BAM also offers a humorous bend on its success. The band's slogan states that the group's music appeals to "the Celticly Insane." The name Bangers and Mash is derived from a traditional Irish meal of mashed potatoes and sausage.

"It's a name that reflects our collective musical ability," explained lead vocalist Scott Carney of Blue Point, "and that has some innuendo, which is always a major selling point."

Bangers and Mash, which has become a local phenomenon at pubs and parties across the New England area, provided music at the Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches cocktail party last Friday at the Rock Hill Golf and Country Club in Manorville, which raised funds for the upcoming Center Moriches St. Patrick's Day Parade. The band featured Manorville musician Deirdre Woodford on violin.

Mr. Lesselbaum and Connecticut guitarist Ed Carney laid the foundations for BAM when they began playing folk music together in the early 1970s. But folk pubs at the time were being swept away by a wave of disco nightclubs. Mr. Lesselbaum, 57, an East Moriches musician, said during the late 1970s, small Irish pubs began popping up around Long Island, which once again provided a venue for folk music.

"We were playing one of the last folk bars and this guy said he was opening an Irish bar in Sayville," said Mr. Lesselbaum. "He came up to us and asked, 'Could you do a whole night of Irish music?'

"So, we lied," he continued, "and learned 40 Irish songs in two weeks, and we were an Irish band."

- South Shore Press

Christopher Capobianco didn't think Patchogue Village's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade gave village residents and visitors enough time to party..in the true tradition of the holiday.

So the director of communications for the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts came up with an idea that would spread the green gala throughout the day.

"I organized a concert featuring Irish rock bands because the annual St. Patrick's Parade in Patchogue is always a fun event," Mr. Capobianco said. "I thought that we could prolong the party by having a concert at the Patchogue Theatre on the same day."

Joining forces with the Greater Patchogue Foundation and the Patchogue Business Improvement district, Mr. Capobianco put together a Celtic rock concert featuring three bands, Fathom, The Prodigals and local legends Bangers and Mash.

The concert follows the Main Street parade on Main Street, which begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Concert organizers have left enough time between the parade and concert for people to catch a late lunch or early supper at local pubs and restaurants before the roughly four-hour-long concert begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are $35, $25, and $15 each.

Bangers and Mash, or BAM, offers a unique sound that kicks typical Irish/Celtic music up a notch by mixing contemporary Celtic rock covers from bands like Saw Doctors and The Pogues with hard-hitting versions of revered Irish songs, including a [hard rock] version of "The Fields of Athenry."

The band is known for its high-energy sets and catchy, powerful originals, the most popular of which is "Eclipse," a driving, soulful number about a murderous, suicidal father.

Not all songs are that dark. BAM also features songs that denote the band's quirky personality. One original that always proves to be a bar rouser is BAM's uproarious "The Music Keeps Us Drinking."

BAM also offers a humorous bend on its success. The band's slogan states that the group's music appeals to "the Celticly Insane." The name Bangers and Mash is derived from a traditional Irish meal of mashed potatoes and sausage.

"It's a name that reflects our collective musical ability," explained lead vocalist Scott Carney of Blue Point, "and that has some innuendo, which is always a major selling point."

Bangers and Mash, which has become a local phenomenon at pubs and parties across the New England area, provided music at the Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches cocktail party last Friday at the Rock Hill Golf and Country Club in Manorville, which raised funds for the upcoming Center Moriches St. Patrick's Day Parade. The band featured Manorville musician Deirdre Woodford on violin.

Mr. Lesselbaum and Connecticut guitarist Ed Carney laid the foundations for BAM when they began playing folk music together in the early 1970s. But folk pubs at the time were being swept away by a wave of disco nightclubs. Mr. Lesselbaum, 57, an East Moriches musician, said during the late 1970s, small Irish pubs began popping up around Long Island, which once again provided a venue for folk music.

"We were playing one of the last folk bars and this guy said he was opening an Irish bar in Sayville," said Mr. Lesselbaum. "He came up to us and asked, 'Could you do a whole night of Irish music?'

"So, we lied," he continued, "and learned 40 Irish songs in two weeks, and we were an Irish band."

- South Shore Press