Dust Rhinos
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | SELF
Music
Press
Winnipeg's most enduring -- and endearing -- Celtic rockers finally return with new music.
Propelled by returning drummer Darren Wittman and new bassist Dan Cannon, the Winnipeg quintet sounds reinvigorated as it exhibits more power than the Energizer Bunny while blowing the dust off traditional numbers Sally Brown, Sam Hall and Step It Out Mary.
Originals Drinkin' Like a Fiddler and the title track echo punk-traditionalists Flogging Molly. Contemporary instrumental Squid Jiggers is solidly anchored by fiddlers Andy Bart and Dale Brown, who also contribute mandolin and banjo. The band's most important instrument is still Blair McEvoy, whose powerful voice demands your attention even as you bounce across the dance floor, hoisting a Guinness and shouting "Sociable" till the wee hours of the morning.
The Day After the Night Before is the Dust Rhinos' most enthusiastic and accomplished offering yet. 4 Stars
--Bruce Leperre
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 26, 2009 D2
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg's most enduring -- and endearing -- Celtic rockers finally return with new music.
Propelled by returning drummer Darren Wittman and new bassist Dan Cannon, the Winnipeg quintet sounds reinvigorated as it exhibits more power than the Energizer Bunny while blowing the dust off traditional numbers Sally Brown, Sam Hall and Step It Out Mary.
Originals Drinkin' Like a Fiddler and the title track echo punk-traditionalists Flogging Molly. Contemporary instrumental Squid Jiggers is solidly anchored by fiddlers Andy Bart and Dale Brown, who also contribute mandolin and banjo. The band's most important instrument is still Blair McEvoy, whose powerful voice demands your attention even as you bounce across the dance floor, hoisting a Guinness and shouting "Sociable" till the wee hours of the morning.
The Day After the Night Before is the Dust Rhinos' most enthusiastic and accomplished offering yet. 4 Stars
--Bruce Leperre
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 26, 2009 D2
- Winnipeg Free Press
Straight from Winnipeg Canada…. here comes the Dust Rhinos with yet another Celtic Roots Rock majestic of a release with “The Day After The Night Before”. The song writing is sharp, witty, and humorous… the musicians are masters of their craft… and the baritone pipes of Blair McEvoy make you want to get up out of your seat and start singing along while swing your pints from side to side.
Tracks of interest: “The Day After The Night Before”, “Sally Brown”, “Drinking Like A Fiddler”, “St Peter of the Pub”, “Just Can’t Drink Anymore”, and…. hell…. the whole damn disc.
If you enjoy the sounds of Barleyjuice, Great Big Sea, and other great Celtic Rock bands that we play on Paddy Rock… then you will need to buy this disc.
-- John Bowles
Republished from www.paddyrock.com cd review, Sept 09 - PaddyRock.com
Straight from Winnipeg Canada…. here comes the Dust Rhinos with yet another Celtic Roots Rock majestic of a release with “The Day After The Night Before”. The song writing is sharp, witty, and humorous… the musicians are masters of their craft… and the baritone pipes of Blair McEvoy make you want to get up out of your seat and start singing along while swing your pints from side to side.
Tracks of interest: “The Day After The Night Before”, “Sally Brown”, “Drinking Like A Fiddler”, “St Peter of the Pub”, “Just Can’t Drink Anymore”, and…. hell…. the whole damn disc.
If you enjoy the sounds of Barleyjuice, Great Big Sea, and other great Celtic Rock bands that we play on Paddy Rock… then you will need to buy this disc.
-- John Bowles
Republished from www.paddyrock.com cd review, Sept 09 - PaddyRock.com
This CD has all the Celtic rock energy you need to go all night long feeling good about life. It has the push and raucous style of punk music without the anarchy--a really great combination! The five-piece band from Canada is no new kid on the block and it shows here in their tight stylings and unbounded energy. Somehow they still manage to show off their considerable talent on the instruments while barreling down the road full-steam with song after song. Funny without being slapstick silly, these guys know how to bring just the right touch to each song they craft.
Don't miss songs like track 4, "Sally Brown" and track 11, "Step It Out Mary" which help show that the band is as versatile as they are talented. If you are looking for a CD that you can get excited about, this would be one that I would recommend checking out. The right blend of fun, skill, music and energy, Dust Rhinos are immensely listenable. I look forward to the next one--and even if it was just more of the same--I'd be satisfied.
--Catherine L. Tully
Republished from www.celticmp3s.com CD Review, Oct 2009 - www.celticmp3s.com
This CD has all the Celtic rock energy you need to go all night long feeling good about life. It has the push and raucous style of punk music without the anarchy--a really great combination! The five-piece band from Canada is no new kid on the block and it shows here in their tight stylings and unbounded energy. Somehow they still manage to show off their considerable talent on the instruments while barreling down the road full-steam with song after song. Funny without being slapstick silly, these guys know how to bring just the right touch to each song they craft.
Don't miss songs like track 4, "Sally Brown" and track 11, "Step It Out Mary" which help show that the band is as versatile as they are talented. If you are looking for a CD that you can get excited about, this would be one that I would recommend checking out. The right blend of fun, skill, music and energy, Dust Rhinos are immensely listenable. I look forward to the next one--and even if it was just more of the same--I'd be satisfied.
--Catherine L. Tully
Republished from www.celticmp3s.com CD Review, Oct 2009 - www.celticmp3s.com
Discography
The Day After the Night Before - 2009
Second Set (EP) - 2007
Up Your Kilt - 2004
Sociable Live - 2002
Got Guinness - 2000
Photos
Bio
If your band consists of fiddles, mandolins, and something called a bodhran, and your audience looks like it could hold its own at a soccer hooligan convention, youd bloody well better be able to use those instruments to mercifully bludgeon that rumbly bunch with a Celtic sonic assault that will leave them pounding on the bar, picking each other up off the Guinness-soaked floor, and screaming for one more song.
It also wouldnt hurt if your combined weight is roughly that of the Canadian womens hockey team in full gear.
Fortunately the Dust Rhinos have both. Theyre big men with a monster sound. A sound rooted in an ancient time and a faraway place. Using traditional airs, reels, and jigs the Rhinos conjure up the Ireland of olde with leprechauns, shamrocks, tweed caps, and sure and begorrah. And then, like a shillelagh wrapped in a potato sack, they knock the bejeebers out of that green and lovely image and unleash a freight train loaded with banshees and the furious ghost of Cuchulainn.
From basement pubs to festival stages the Dust Rhinos have been bringing their particular brand of punk flavoured Irish trad to venues large, small, and otherwise since 1992. Blossoming from a trio of buskers to a 5-piece Celtic rock juggernaut, the Rhinos have tread the boards with acts as varied as The Dropkick Murphys, Gaelic Storm, Alabama, Leahy, the Barra MacNeils, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Whether a house concert, pub night, or festival (Dauphin Countryfest, Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Grey Cup Festival and counting!) the Rhinos controlled chaos will get people out of their seats, on the dance floor, and clamouring for One! More! Song!
With influences that include the Pogues, the Oysterband, Spirit of the West, the Clash, and Peter Gabriel, its no wonder the Rhinos have a powerful, yet multi-faceted and layered sound and playing style. An aggressive, but subtle sonic assault. Ever seen a ceilidh break out in a mosh pit? Or vice versa? Expect it at a Rhinos show. As their loyal and ever-growing fan base can attest, when the Dust Rhinos are on stage, the only thing that wont take you by surprise is how much fun youre having.
Band Members
Links
