The Ramshackle Army

Frank Turner is one of those artists that my friends always get mad stoked on when he comes to town, but that I always hedge on for some reason. I never seem to remember how great a time I always have at his shows and how closely his lyrics mirror my life. After this night, I will not make this mistake again.

Frank brought his band, The Sleeping Souls and openers Ramshackle Army to my favorite spot on earth for the final stop of his tour, playing a sold-out show in the second tiniest venue in Asbury Park, the final resting place of good ol’ Tillie, the Wonder Bar (which I just now realized is German for wonderful, thanks to Rammstein. Shut up, I’m slow, okay?)

Doors were pushed up a half hour – thank goodness we were already in town! This caused a bit of stress, but only a bit. We all got our drink on as Ramshackle Army tuned up. We had had no prior idea who was opening, but boy did we get the surprise of our life as they blew the stage fucking up! A wild ginger fiddler chick stomped along to some of the most bruising Gaelic punk I’ve seen live since FloMo.

They were really fun – if you’ve never checked these dudes out before, I strongly suggest that you pick up some of their stuff. I know I will. Their set flew by; I rarely enjoy an opener quite as much as I did these guys. Very high energy, catchy jams.

Excerpt - Jersey Beat

See link - Dead Memory Records

I am here today give exposure to a really amazing punk rock and folk outfit from Australia called the Ramshackle Army. Now before I go farther, I want you think back two years and remember when Boston's own, Dropkick Murphys took this band out on tour for their St. Patricks Day weekend! The Boston area should certainly be familiar with them opening for night one of the Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues plus performing at President's Rock Club in Quincy, MA. Anyways, these punk rockers from Australia are back and are ready to make another stamp with their upcoming release, "Letters From The Road Less Travelled" coming out on East Grand Record Co. in Michigan. For those who are not too familiar, keep reading because this album is something you do not want want to miss. The band combines an amazing energy of punk rock and folk yet nothing you have seen before. The Ramshackle Army go above and beyond in pushing the limits of their sound.

After an accordion filled Intro, the band hops right into "Anchors Aweigh" which is an upbeat tune with a folkier edge to it. Lead vocalist and song-writer Gaz has a tendency to sing and write his songs in a story telling format. The upside to that is it keeps the listener interested in the lyrics and will perhaps go into the lyric book and follow along. The following track, "Coffin & Copper" is certainly another story teller as well and is a song about travels which happens to be a recurring theme on this album. Many other subjects include songs of laboring and work such as "Boilermaker" which is a personal favorite of mine. Work is a part of everyday life, so why not write about it?



I would say the biggest difference between this album and some of their previous releases is like I said earlier, their sound has expanded. They still have the punk rock edge but also have a huge emphasis on the folk and traditional music type stamp. With that style, this album could appeal to people of all ages much like bands such as Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly do. The Dropkick's certainly did right by taking these guys out on tour a couple years back. The title track, "Road Less Travelled" talks quite a bit about the travels they have been on to get where they are today. As everyone knows, there is no getting by in this business without hard work and dedication. Songs such as "Broken Town" and "Locked Down" give off more of a punk rock feel yet with a down trodden story. Toward the tail end of the album, songs such as "Drink It Dry" have a mid tempo feel as does"Skin Will Burn" but speeds up. The second to last track, "Signs Of Rain"is a slower start of a track the band clearly took their time on writing and recording. Like many of the other tracks, the band really went and turned it into a mid temp tune. Some might say this is a redundant formula but it is clear that they stick to what they know when it comes to their writing. The last track, "One Tree Hill" may be the catchiest of them all with the perfect mix of guitars, banjo and all around musicianship.



"Letters From The Road Less Travelled" out February 18th



Overall, "The Road Less Travelled" by the Ramshackle Army is a great album which shows how much the band as stepped up to the challenge to step out of their musical comfort zone. As noted earlier, this album is perfect for a crowd of all ages. From the older crowd who may appreciate the traditional folk elements, and the younger crowd that has a knack for the punk rock type of songs. Be warned though, if you are expecting a Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly carbon copy, please think twice because the Ramshackle Army are on a quest of their own - Run Don't Walk Blogspot

The celt-punk scene is one I dabble in more than the rest of the crew here. I’ve often thought I should write more about the music and started to with The Tosspints late last year. You’ve probably read my mini-rants on hating the idea of genres but let’s face it, human beings like to categorize things. So while celt-punk might not fit in to the pigeonhole that I imagine 9B fits in for most you out there, the fact is I like the celt-punk genre and so I’m going to write about it more (which doesn’t mean anyone else on staff will). I mean what’s not to like about music about drinking, fighting, and rebelling? Hell they even have fiddles and banjos. Now with that rant out of the way I’d like to introduce you to The Ramshackle Army…

Celt-punk, in my less than humble opinion, should accomplish three things: first and foremost it ought to inspire one to sing along and secondly it should actually have a punk feel to it, and lastly it ought to make me want to leave work and head down to the pub for drink before noon. Letters From The Road Less Traveled fulfills all of these these conditions quite nicely. As I sit here, typing this instead of working, with these kids blasting in my headphones, I really wish I had a nice Irish whiskey to throw back. While the genre is pretty crowded at the moment, RSA quickly rises to the top when you start comparing what’s out there right now, due to a combination of great song writing (the ability to make people want to sing along) and a strong approach to keeping the Irish inspiration and layering the punk very nicely on top.

Another thing that sets RSA apart is that, for the most part, they aren’t singing Irish rebel songs. While the music is celt-punk the themes in the songs are from a distinctly Aussie view. To me this makes them even more interesting. Any band can invoke images of Athenry or Oulart Hill and try to bring a tear to the eye but it takes something extra to play the music and put your own experiences in to the lyrics. So while Letters From A Road Less Traveled is decidedly celt-punk it’s also something more. Of course there’s also the songs about drinking which we all know I love so it’s got that going for it. At the risk of upsetting the 9B purists out there (yes they exist) I declare this Essential Listening. Now while you listen to the tracks below I’m going to try and figure out the quickest way to get a drink in me today, sláinte! - Nine Bullets.net

In 2011 Australian Celtic Punks The Ramshackle Army released an EP entitled “Life Lessons and Drunk Sessions”. After a successful follow-up tour of the United States and a couple of beer The Ramshackle Army are back with “Letters From The Road Less Travelled”, quite an appropriate title for this album.

While I love this album, I am not going to lie to you. I am sure the first time through many of you are going wonder what happened. I will tell you what happened, an amazing Celtic Punk outfit expanded their already amazing sound into something extraordinary! Bottom line, be patient.. it may require a few plays through but I promise once this album lights you up there won’t be any putting the fire out.

Its true “Letters From The Road Less Travelled” does have a folkier feel to it, but the lyrics are still punk rock at the core. With “Letters From a Road Less Travelled” The Ramshackle Army deliver everything I have been anxiously awaiting for the last 2 years. This an incredibly tight, rad sounding and truly expressive Ramshackle Army. While every song here is a winner I find myself really enjoying One Tree Hill, Broken White Line and Anchors Away.

I think “Letters From The Road Less Travelled” is a debut brilliant album from The Ramshackle Army. While the sound is slightly different than you might remember from “Life Lessons and Drunk Sessions” after a few listens you will be belting out these new anthems right along with Gaz and company. My hope is this album draws enough attention to bring these folks from Down Under back up top to North America for a tour. - Paddy Rock Radio

‘Intro’ opens the album with distorted, loud speaker-esque bagpipes that immediately lead into ‘Anchors Aweigh’, a track which is recorded well; the band gets their guitar and drum tones down pat, making for a rawer yet professional, supportive sound. A fiddle enters, playing the lead melody, and an awesome chord progression backs the melody in an again supportive manner.

The verse was excellent and did not sound cliche; the instrument performance is solid, and the vocal parts in the verses play back and forth between the accents and the down beats, providing listeners with a bit of change. Everything is mixed very close together, meaning there is not much separation in the mix. Gang vocals are present in the choruses, and the track changes vibes near the middle of the track. This was the song’s highlight, showcasing musical diversity and a more haunting, diabolical feel.

After the bridge, we see a return to the main melody before an a cappella part enters, supported only by the kick drum. This section doubles and the rhythm guitar joins on the second go-round, providing a new foundation for the entering vocals. The song is structured well, the vocals are performed well, and really, everything is done well to capture the band in all its glory. ‘Lock Down’ has a very thin, Strat-like introduction and overtly cool first verse, full of interesting chord choices. This overall sound seems unique for the genre; the bass notes contrast nicely with the existing guitar chords in the verses, and the notation and coupling executed by the bass was outstanding.

The pre chorus section was the highlight of this song and seemed to contain elements of 00’s rock and modern rock. The second chorus contained only chords and no lyrics, and quickly jumped back into another verse. This is an awesome song with the potential to be an arena rock anthem with Irish elements. This track does an awesome job showcasing the band’s writing and performance style on a basic level, and the talent and all-around intelligence present is obviously apparent.

‘Broken White Lines’ opens with a jungle beat and odd feel, along with the inclusion of a fiddle. The drums come in “full”, which is mildly ironic because the drums are on the downbeat, emulating an almost behind-the-beat feel. The rhythm guitar sounds awesome, and the bass has great tone and is moving and very full. The song is instrumental through the first minute, the recording raw and in-the-moment in nature.

The feel and positive attitude is certainly right, and the song structure is easily memorable, as are the song’s transitions and supporting elements. The vocals finally do enter at 1:14 around the same time that mass changes begin to occur. A very large chorus, with group vocals in sections of it, follows, as does a cool drum and bass part after 2 minutes in, which in my opinion was the highlight of the track. This high-energy, in-your-face track was very passionate, anthemic, and aggressive and with lots of care and concern to finer details. ‘Drink It Dry’ is dynamically different than the past track, with an easier to follow story line and basic punk beats. Lyrically this track was very personal, intimate, and honest; the vocals were ambitious and there were very good harmony parts.

‘Skin Will Burn’ begins growing dynamically before launching into a huge chorus; at that point, all the instrumentation is in, and big at that. The instrumental tag after the chorus breaks everything down, making for still a cool vibe, just less volume. Everything is still present and builds back to the chorus; an awesome job is done structurally with this track, a song that featured interesting drum parts and drums that are mixed well. The track is reminiscent at points of Green Day, finally with good guitar tone, and lots of big, communicative energy.

‘Signs of Rain’ closes my review with a great drum sound and a pleasant melody. The vocal performances are solid, featuring much better vocal harmonies and quiet, soft, new perspective with everything coming in after 1:20. This happy, optimistic offering was still quieter than the past few tracks, yet was one of the better tracks on the album, showcasing great writing and employing the use of backing vocals especially towards the end of the song in a delicate, memorable manner.

Letters From The Road Less Travelled is a step in the right direction for The Ramshackle Army. Each of the tracks was musically optimistic and I can imagine the band being exciting and full of energy live. Here’s hoping we get a tour in my neck of the woods at some point. 4/5 stars - Punk.ie

Melbourne, Australia Celtic folk-punks The Ramshackle Army broke onto the local scene in 2010 and quickly started playing to diverse crowds up and down the East Coast of Australia. Setting out to create party music, they combined Aussie folklore with personal experience, while drawing inspiration from the sounds of Australian and Celtic folk, with a heavy dose of the punk rock which they had grown up on…and for this I thank you.

Yes, I know…another Celtic punk band, but wait, just take a listen buddy, these guys and gal are tight, energetic and totally kick ass! The band plays with their hearts on their sleeves, and so heart fully that you are drawn into the songs as the album takes you to the pub, but not just for a drunken night of debauchery, you get a touch more of folk than just straight out punk in the sound. The feel of the album is pure punk, no wimpy sentiments, no trying to be anything other than a band that’s having a great time and wants to give one to the listener as, well with the ability to get you up and dancing and singing along. “Broken White Lines” is a real barn-burner, full of energy, and a real kick in the pants that I had to listen to a ton of times before carrying onto the rest of the album. I also really liked “Anchors Away,” “One Tree Hill,” “Skin Will Burn,” “Road Less Travelled,” and “Boilermaker’s Hands.”

A Celtic punk album that stands out from the crowded genre and gives me hope that there is more than just the re-hash of The Dropkick Murphys out there, and luckily here is a fine example of that. The more that I listen to this, the more that I can’t stop listening to it, so do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy and listen to a band that is at the top of their game. (Rick Ecker) - New Noise Magazine

The Ramshackle Army is a six-piece celt-punk band from Melbourne, Australia. I caught them twice on their recent US tour and picked up their debut LP, Letters from the Road Less Traveled. While the album can’t entirely capture the excitement of their live show, it comes reasonably close. Ramshackle Army’s music is foot-stomping folk with punk energy. It’s both joyful and melancholy. It features lush instrumentation and the type of vocal hooks that stick in your head for days. The traditional string instruments compete for space in the mix with loud electric guitar, bass and drums. This is what creates the kind of tension that makes this really memorable.

It’s been difficult for me to attempt to impartially review this album, as I’ve developed a real personal fondness for it. Most of the tempos are upbeat, including the catchy opening trio of songs, “Anchors Aweigh”, “Coffin & Copper” and “Boilermaker’s Hands”. The album’s title, as well as “Road Less Traveled” seem like an obvious reference to the classic Robert Frost poem. It’s all about making tough decisions. A lot of the songs here seem to be about the fear of impending adulthood. Not the kind of adulthood they bestow upon you when you turn 18, the kind you feel in your late 20’s when commitments and responsibilities start piling up.

“Broken Town” expresses the feeling of loving where you come from even though there’s absolutely no future there. “Lockdown” has a little harder edge and seems appropriate for a band from a country that was once a penal colony. The Ramshackle Army provides the obligatory drinking song with “Drink it Dry”. It makes me thirsty. Last song, “One Tree Hill”, might be the album’s best. Truly, there’s not a dud in the bunch.

When I saw The Ramshackle Army earlier this year, I hadn’t heard their record yet. Now that I have, I can’t wait to see them again. Come back my Aussie friends. I’ve grown to love Letters from the Road Less Traveled, and would like to sing along. There’s something about that combination of guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, banjo and violin. If you’re a fan of bands like The Tossers, Flogging Molly or The Real McKenzies, you will almost certainly love this. - Punknews.com

REVIEW: The Ramshackle Army – ‘The Road Less Travelled’
February 27th, 2014 Brenton Harris
ramshackle

Artist: The Ramshackle Army
Album: The Road Less Travelled
Genre: Celtic-Punk

It’s no secret that despite its natural beauty and status as the world’s most livable city, Melbourne, Australia and indeed Australia as a nation, has a rather dark and sordid, yet fascinating past. Originally ‘settled’ as a penal colony by the British in order to resolve overcrowding of prisons in the motherland, ‘Van Diemen’s Land’ as it was then known, has grown from these humble beginnings to establish itself as a modern multicultural society that provides its citizens with a wonderful standard of life. Much of that early growth was done on the back of Irish free-settlers and pardoned convicts, who toiled hard amidst an unforgiving and unfamiliar environment to etch out their own little piece of paradise. The end result of this presence is that much of Australia’s early folklore is made up of tales of these Irish lads and lasses and their endless struggles to overcome the obstacles of the brave new world. It really does make for enthralling reading, but more importantly it makes for some pretty good source material for some riotous Celtic-Punk!

The Road Less Travelled, the debut full-length by emerging Melbourne Celtic-Punk upstarts The Ramshackle Army, takes full advantage of this colourful past, merging local folklore with tales of modern struggle with their unique blend of Celtic-Punk/Folk punk to create an engaging, energetic, and above all else, entertaining listening experience. Led boldly from the front by the tuneful snarl of vocalist Gaz, The Ramshackle Army meld guitar, fiddle, bass, drums, banjo and mandolin into eleven tracks of the finest Celtic-Punk the island continent has to offer. A festive and fun-filled journey down The Road Less Travelled, the album grabs your attention from the get-go with the triumphant ode to the seafarer’s life in “Anchors Aweigh,” a fast-paced slice of Celtic-Punk that serves as an ideal introduction to the band’s sound. “Anchors Aweigh” is followed in quick succession by live favourite “Coffin and Copper,” an uplifting anthem that tells the tale of a miner setting off to find his fortune amidst the height of Victoria’s gold-rush. A swashbuckling tune with an insanely addictive chorus, “Coffin and Copper” will have you chanting along in triumph by the time the second chorus drops and should ensure that your spirits are high (or perhaps held high as this album is arguably best enjoyed with drink in hand) for the remainder of the album.

The dynamic one-two punch of “Boilermaker” and “Road Less Travelled” follow, with both tracks featuring strong choruses and inventive use of guitar, fiddle, banjo and mandolin to keep the feeling of fun and frivolity alive, while at the same time bringing enough depth to further the album’s narrative. The excellent “Broken Town” marks the midway point of the album, and the less frantic delivery of the verses provides the perfect opportunity to gather your breath and appreciate the musicality that is on display here. As the axe-work of Nath blends beautifully with Kat’s fiddle, Josh’s mandolin and banjo and the jig-inducing rhythms of bassist Jig and drummer Ash, the trilogy of “Lock Down,” “Broken White Lines” and “Drink It Dry” make it hard to stop your feet from tapping along feverishly. At this point, the band would be forgiven for taking a breather, but as the intro of “Skin Will Burn” gives way to its frenetic chorus it becomes quickly apparent that they have no such intention. Instead, Gaz and his merry band fire on all cylinders and will have many listeners searching for their nearest circle pit.

Penultimate track, the reflective “Signs of Rain,” provides a brief respite, with its more subdued and somber tone reminding you that while these songs are triumphant in tone, many have their origins in tales of great hardship. As if to highlight this juxtaposition the band chooses to finish The Road Less Travelled with the harrowing, yet undeniably festive tail of a drunkard’s life with “One Tree Hill.” A fantastic choice of finisher, “One Tree Hill” is perhaps the perfect combination of all of the band’s elements, with every member given the chance to shine, the track ensures that the listener finishes off their journey on a high.

While admittedly same-ish at times, as seems par for the course for the genre, The Road Less Travelled is an accomplished debut by one of Australian punk-rock’s hardest working and most respected new acts. It’s an album that is undoubtedly best enjoyed with a drink in hand and big night planned, but bottles enough passion and energy to make even a Monday morning commute seem less bland.

SCORE: 8/10 pints of Fosters - Under The Gun

Today we have the privelage of being able to bring our readers some amazing news about this months Chucking a Mosh Band of the Month. The Ramshackle Army will be opening for the Dropkick Murphys and Lucero for their second Melbourne show at the Forum on October 26th which goes on sale this friday!

This is a huge support for the young (Except Gaz) band to get and will provide a massive exposure to their prime audience, all whilst playing alongside some of their idols.

The Ramshackle Army are this months Band of the Month, they also have a limited shit design in our Mosh Merch which is only available until the end of this month that you can purchase from HERE and will be playing in Melbourne this weekend as part of our Show of The Week.

Any more celt punk on this site this week and i’d have to sell it to the Irish!

Tickets for the Dropkick Murphys second Melbourne show are on sale Friday and you can pick them up from here
- Chucking A Mosh

Beat Magazine

James Young dutifully introduced each band in his bright blue sequin onesie and trademark cowboy hat. In talking up the next band to take the outside stage, he solemnly swore he'd "take a bullet for these guys".



The Ramshackle Army are a Melbourne-based Celtic punk band, recently returned from a month-long USA tour with the Dropkick Murphys – an unusual tilt away from the straight rock'n'roll genre this festival is notorious for. The band claimed intoxication, then exploded into an expertly-executed pulsating set of incredible Irish-influenced tracks. It was the most fun I've ever had near a fiddle.

Tone Deaf

Somewhat oddly cast Celt punks The Ramshackle Army get one hell of an introduction from organiser James Young- “If you don’t like them today you’ll never like them but I’ll take a bullet for this band they’re that fucking good”. Lead singer Gaz Byrne admits “there is no way we can fuck it up after an intro like that” and blissfully they do not. While playing to an alleyway of leather clad rock fans is a daunting task if there ever was one, but RSA manage to win the crowd over with great ease.

Rock City Networks - Live Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiDyjQ3UiWU - Beat Magazine/Tone Deaf

uality Celtic infused punk rock isn’t what you’d expect to be coming out of Melbourne, Australia but The Ramshackle Army are making it happen and they’re doing it bloody well. The 6 piece have been around since 2010 and their debut EP, “Life Lessons and Drunken Sessions” is full of foot-stomping sing-a-longs which has been turning heads since the moment it hit streets. The band are heading out shortly on a US tour supporting The Dropkick Murphys and I’m going to go as far as saying that these 6 Australians do Celtic punk better than the Irish and Boston combined. Yep, I just said that. Check them out here (like their page to stream the EP). - Dying Scene

While Melbourne is the cultural hub of Australia and has produced some of the greatest bands the country has to offer, punk or no, the last thing you’d expect to come out of the city is a Celtic punk band to rival the best in the genre. The Ramshackle Army are this band. Their first offering, an EP titled “Life Lessons and Druken Sessions,” supplies everything a great Celtic punk record should (drunken-party-dancing-good times), and now they’re about to head to the States for a run of dates with Dropkick Murphys, a huge opportunity for the budding local band. I recently had the chance to sit down with the band’s lead singer, Gaz, to discuss the upcoming tour, new music, and how its possible that six musicians from Melbourne came to play Celtic punk better than the Irish.

Check out the full interview here.

Brittles (Dying Scene): Tell me a bit about the history behind The Ramshackle Army.

Gaz (Vocals): We formed in early 2010 in Melbourne, Oz. Began playing shows around the pub scene in the middle of the same year. We’ve come from a variety of backgrounds, which means we’ve had a hell of a lot of fun finding a sound and how we can make it all fit together. Since the first, let’s face it “shaky gig”, we’ve had the chance to play across Melbourne and Sydney at some pretty iconic venues with some pretty amazing Aussie bands. I can list them all if you like? Got a couple of hours?

Me, yes. Our readers, probably not. How do 6 people from the streets of Melbourne start playing Celtic punk?

You have to play to your strengths and away from your weaknesses. We’re too ugly for a pop band, too attached to the devil drink to go straight edge hardcore. But honestly, half of the band were in a similar style of band called the Hornswagglers, before Nath (guitar) and I joined. This allowed Loc, who was previously on guitar, to explore mandolin, banjo and bouzouki. We’ve all taken influence from the usual suspects like Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Pogues and The Dubliners, but in Melbourne we’ve had great bands lead the way for us like Mutiny and The Currency. All in all we take our own punk backgrounds, add a touch of our Celtic heritage and a distinctive Aussie overtone.

What is it about a music style rooted in English and Irish heritage that The Ramshackle Army connects with?

Alcoholism… booze… drunken party songs. Notice the theme? A number of us have heritage rooted in that part of the world. Relatives who came out on the ships etc. So while we may have not been born or raised over there, it definitely played a part in family themes and traditions. There’s also something about the relative simplicity of a catchy as hell traditional riff, which takes on a wall of noise when more and more instruments are added. The kind of music you don’t ever need to have heard, to get your arse out of your chair. Although we are a “Celtic punk” band in sound, there is often a distinct Aussie theme lyrically. But then again, songs about the pub are universal.

Indeed. What are some Australian bands that influence The Ramshackle Army?

Man, counting all the Aussie bands who’ve influenced us in some way growing up would go on forever. A lot of us grew up with the 1990s and early 2000s Aussie punk scene with “starting out” local bands like Bodyjar and The Living End, but of course you could go back further to traditional Aussie rock. We are surrounded by a heap of bands across all punk, folk and hardcore “sub genres” in Australia that more than hold their own against the scene’s big boys. I guess it is a combination of population and distance (cost of touring) which make the European and US markets hard to break into. We’d be naïve to think that we’re not amazingly influenced by our peers and those we currently listen to.

You guys are heading out with The Dropkick Murphys for a US tour soon. How did this tour come about?

It was more good luck than good management I’d say. Our fiddle player Kat had been fortunate e - Dying Scene

Issue 1074 pg 45.

Laughter and the clinking of glasses is the appropriate lead in for Uprising Young Citizen and the Celtic-inspired hoedown that characterises this Melbourne-sextet. The riffs that introduce No Rest For The Wicked add a heavy guitar edge to The Ramshackle Army's usual Fiddle-featuring fodder and lyrics present various snapshots of working- (and drinking-) class life - you can almost see Frank McCourt chasing the coal cart or fetching his da' from the local during the title track, Bays End Guns has a suitably insendiary energy and singer Gaz Byrne shows a softer side, punking us into thinking the EP closer is a ballad until the whirling instrumentaldervish once again takes hold. There's bound to be a do-si-do or a thousand when The Ramshackle Army launch Life Lessons and Drunken Sessions at the Tote this Saturday (if there's room). - Inpress Magazine

Coming screaming out of Melbourne, six piece The Ramshackle Army have released their 7 song set Life Lessons & Drunken Sessions. Embracing such influences as The Pogues, Flogging Molly, The Dropkick Murphys and Weddings, Parties, Anything, this release sees the band truly finding their sound and beginning to gel.

What is so striking about the band is their very local take on this kind of music, namely punk with a more traditional Anglo/Celtic influence. All accomplished musicians, The Ramshackle Army have created a very accomplished EP. Tracks such as “Rue The Day” virtually jump out at the listener with their attitude and vibe.

Lessons Learned & Drunken Sessions sees a band moving beyond their senses of inspiration and very much forming their own sense of musical identity and being. It is a great and highly enjoyable listen. Tracks such as “No Rest For The Wicked” and the title track are great examples.

A very polished effort from this up and coming Melbourne band.

- Neil Evans - Tone Deaf

Straight from Melbourne, these Aussies have come from out of nowhere with some of the best Paddy Punk I’ve heard in a while. Their debut release, “Life Lessons and Drunken Sessions”, is full of raise your pints, sing along Paddy Punk songs that will kick you in the teeth with their explosive sound and have you coming back for more!Hard drivin guitar, thunderous drums and bass, layered with some masterful fiddle, mando, and banjo throughout with Gaz’s taking the helm with his snarling vocals… The Ramshackle Army’s sounds is like a well oiled machine that has been putting out records for years, and is a band that is turning heads in the Celt-Punk community around the world. - Paddy Rock Radio

That The Ramshackle Army called their debut Life Lessons & Drunken Sessions augurs well for their grasp of the simple truth that music and drinking are as intrinsic to human nature as banging whores is to Charlie Sheen.


More impressively than simply acknowledging that people like to party - and that traditional Celtic folk remains one of most primal of boozily-fun genres of music - is that The Ramshackle Army have only existed for twelve months. Life Lessons & Drunken Sessions feels like the work of a group of grubby ne'er-do-wells who've spent years in each other's company, slowly but surely crafting a cohesive musical approach, but The Ramshackle Army - unlike many bands in their embryonic stages - have a clear grasp on who they are, and what they want their band to stand for.



From the loping shanty of No Rest For The Wicked, or the Celtic-folk-punk of Rue The Day, they're not afraid to acknowledge who they are: a band steeped in the brash and ballsy attitude of classic punk (see Uprising Young Citizen), the melodic graft of intelligent modern punk (check Bays End Guns), but with a clear appreciation for the finest of Celtic folk tradition (as on the instrumental title-track).



Fire Is Burning is a barnstorming drinking song of the highest degree - a mandolin-and-fiddle led call to link arms, dance a jig and spill beer on yourself. In fact, that doubles almost as a literal reading of the song's entire lyrical content too. But the EP's ultimate track, Time Immemorial, is an all-time spine-tingler. It fuses the melodicism of the band's violin and mandolin/banjo combination with charging punk guitar and bullish vocals, leaving you awash with nostalgia for a warm, dark Irish pub, a pint and your best lady on your arm, lamenting the times when life isn't this perfect. Or, how Alec Baldwin always feels.



Crucially for the band, though, their mix of styles never seems forced. That they blend punk and traditional elements of folk - mandolin, violin and banjo - successfully by never relying heavily on any singular aspect of it means that The Ramshackle Army come across as a true collective, and their is music all the more impressive for it. In the finest tradition of Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly or local bands like The Currency and The Go Set, forging that consistent identity is hard, but not impossible; what they've done is risen to the challenge with aplomb.



While the EP certainly depicts a band figuring out what works for them songwriting-wise - at least in forging a solid musical identity - with the evidence here presented with such conviction, they're definitely on a path to greater exploits. As a debut release, Life Lessons & Drunken Sessions stands impressively against the best efforts of more established bands.



Best Track: Time Immemorial



If You Like These, You'll like This: Rum, Sodomy & The Lash THE POGUES, Sing Loud Sing Proud DROPKICK MURPHYS,The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death THE TOSSERS, Within A Mile From Home FLOGGING MOLLY



In A Word: Celtic
- Beat Magazine

(Translated from German)

Some Australian bands we've reviewed in the past. These include, primarily groups like The Go Set, The Rumjacks, Catgut Mary or The Currency. With The Ramshackle Army has now joined another group from Down Under to this very illustrious round. The Ramshackle Army play- in the tradition of the previously mentioned Australian allies - a blend of folk and punk rock.

Life Lessons and Drunken Sessions - a 7 track EP - the first official release of this still relatively young band from Melbourne. Quite unusual for an EP, this disc comes as a small digi-pack and therefore convincing not only musically but also visually. Life Lessons and Sessions Drunken therefore acts as a closed whole, and both recorded a collection of small musical highlights. Although some songs sound similar to bands like The Rumjacks, The Killigans or Flatfoot 56 are visible, they nevertheless manage to develop a very unique sound.

Folk instruments like fiddle, banjo, mandolin here are very promising with punk instruments such as guitar and drums together. In combination with the hard-scratchy vocals of singer Gaz characterized here is a picture of contemporary punk rock and traditional sounds. The Ramshackle Army can command the entire range from quiet and harsher tones. A song like Young Citizen Uprising - banjo-heavy and very catchy - just like the brilliant example Mitgröhlnummer No rest for the wicked. The same track on the EP Life Lessons and Drunken Session - an instrumental - offers elsewhere a kind intro for the song Bays End Guns. This has sufficient hardness and bite, but also of variety not to sink into boring monotony.

Life Lessons and owns Drunken Sessions - despite the generally very short playing time - has enough authenticity, diversity and variety in order to act as the first serious exclamation point of the band. Even if the songs are all pubs and clubs have character, it is desirable The Ramshackle Army only that they pursue their musical endeavors and give them the success will be quite sometime. So listen and support - predicate worth listening to! - Celtic Rock Music - celtic rock & punk fanzine and internet radiostation (Germany)

THE RAMSHACKLE ARMY – LIFE LESSONS AND DRUNKEN SESSIONS

In Australian we like nothing more that to have a reason to go out with our mates and have some beers. There are plenty of public holidays that help out with this situation, from Australia day through to Cup day in November. Then there’s one day in mid march that’s we don’t even get a day off to celebrate that leaves most of the country waking up with a killer hangover and the taste of Guinness in their mouth. That’s right, its St Patricks day and the Irish know how to party! Aside from partying the Irish have developed a strong influence on the punk folk music genre with the help of some Dropkicks out of Boston. Now Australian Celt-Mosh newcomers The Ramshackle Army are stepping up to the barman and demanding to be served.

Doing the hard yards and working their way up from nothing, The Ramshackle Army have had to earn the respect of music fans in Melbourne. Debuting their live show in mid 2010 the band played extensively though the pub scene jumping on whatever shows they could and making the most of every opportunity. However it hasn’t taken long for the band to develop a solid following and allowed them to take their drinking skills to pubs all over the state.

Life Lessons and Drunken Sessions is an album with a sound quite different to most of the punk or folk bands in the country at the moment. As a fan of the banjo, I’m immediately happy with the opening track ‘Uprising Young Citizen’, a quiet little intro leading into a banjo heavy section. Although there is a very folk feel to the music, the guitars come across quite aggressive and in a more modern punk style and tone. This creates a huge contrast between the more traditional style fiddle, which is then balanced with the raspy vocals and masses of gang vocals. As with this style of music, these style vocals are designed to be enjoyed with a beer in hand, and rocking a bit of a cheeky jig while having a sing along with your mates.

Having recorded with a man that is often mentioned in my reviews, Sam Johnson, this recording is everything you would want from a Celt-mosh recording. Many instruments have been used to produce the sound, yet you can hear each one of them clearly at all times, while the mix provides a very warm tone making it very easy to listen to. While this might not be your style of choice to listen to on a regular basis, it is worth a listen as there are elements of various styles incorporated into the bands sound.

As you would expect seeing The Ramshackle Amy live, you are going to be entertained. Whether is from the positive and fun nature of the music, or from the drunken state of old man Gary trying to remember his lyrics, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. While you might not be able to stage dive to them, you’ll have no issues downing a few froffies to lube up the vocal chords before having a bit of a sing along. - Chucking A Mosh

Calling your opening statement Life Lessons And Drunk Sessions makes perfect sense if you’re The Ramshackle Army. It seems entirely warranted also, that those lessons are being discussed in a pub on a freezing wet Melbourne autumn evening, with the band’s singer Gaz Byrne and violinist Kat Chish in residence. It’s apt, too, as across two hours, this particular drunken session eventually devolves into carnal musing on the topics of Black Swan, Natalie Portman and webbed toes, drunken St Paddy’s day singalongs, but not before pondering the idea of “when in doubt, write about drinking”. The ideal setting for The Ramshackle Army, then.

The band - who've been together only 18 months - also named their debut EP perfectly: across its seven tracks there are plenty of drunken life lessons covered, with a hefty dose of Celtic-punk partying thrown in for good measure. Taking their cues from bands like The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly and Social Distortion, The Ramshackle Army fuse that very obvious Celtic-punk lineage with a certain Australian colonial-folk essence, crossing the classic heart-on-sleeve street-punk ethos with a happy-go-lucky drinking soundtrack for life, love and loss.



It goes without saying that it's an effective way to start a party. If you're not dancing when they're playing Time Immemorial or Fire Is Burning, you're a po-faced heartless Andrew Bolt-esque bastard with no love of life.



For such a new band to be so well formed- ideologically and musically - already, however, is indicative of their collective passion for the band's music and songwriting principles. "Without sounding like a cockhead old man," Gaz begins, "I've found that one of the massive thing about coming into this band is that we all have the one direction, we all have a common goal. So we've come from bands in our younger days where everyone is happy to sit around in a rehearsal room… but when actually it comes down to the hard work behind it, it's like pulling teeth. But being in this band it's like 'right, let's get this commitment onto the table'," he nods.



"So we've come in and we've all had our specific roles in the band and we've been able to say that our talents are in different areas," he grins. "The common goal was very important; we're in a good place at the moment with sounds. We've got far enough where we have a sound that is kinda ours, we've still got that leftover of different influences. So on the EP every song is different but not so different that it's disjointed." Kat agrees, saying, "That was good actually because we all had different ideas and musical backgrounds."



"There's a lot of new personalities," Gaz nods of how the band figured out how to write and sound like The Ramshackle Army, rather than sounding like the sum of their influences, so effectively on Life Lessons And Drunk Sessions. "There's a whole bunch of times where you have to find your role - particularly with so many instruments in the same space and coming in writing new songs. We're honest with each other, there's not a massive amount of ego, and figuring out everyone's balance has been good: we're all headed in the same direction, and if you've got a problem they've just got to tell you," he shrugs.



"Also, most of the relationships were actually formed in that we were bandmates first," explains Kat, "and you develop that band relationship first, then we've also become friends out of it which is good. It makes communicating easier."



With a generation of bands like A Death In The Family, The Drones, The Go Set, The Currency, The Gunrunners, The Snowdroppers and countless others all mining Australia's rich vein of co-opted traditional colonial folk music - and utilising the unique attitudes inherent in it - to craft very distinctive types of Australian rock 'n' roll; with their added elements of banjo, mandolin and fiddle, The Ramshackle Army add a definite Celtic-folk touch to their slabs of punk. "Folk is very much the people's music," argues Kat, "it's often in simple keys, with simple melodies; the same as, I guess, pop music - and punk music as well - in that it harks on those really simple elements. It may sound complicated, but you could just as easily have inhaled eight pints beforehand and you can still get through it," she nods. "And, in fact, I do," offers Gaz with a laugh.



Lyrically, the band's take on Celtic-punk also offers avenues through which to offer those specific life lessons the band allude to with their EP title. "That whole positive re-enforcement thing has always struck a cord with me," explains Gaz. "I've got a Dylan Thomas poem tattooed on my arm, so it's always been a 'stand up for what you believe in' idea that's resonated more than anything." Espeically, it would seem, on the band's opening salvo, Uprising Young Citizen. "The fight song element of it struck a cord with me. The amount of times when a song has come up and you go 'you know what? This - Beat Magazine - Melbourne

When The Hornswagglers broke at the beginning of 2010 I must admit that I felt sad. I had enjoyed their songs and had the impression that they deserved to be heard by a bigger audience. Fortunately some ex-Hornswagglers were involved in a new project and The Ramshackle Army was born mid-2010.

The Ramshackle Army released some demos in which it was obvious that, even if they shared some members with The Hornswagglers, they were a different band. Some of the songs were included in the Fire in the Pub sampler that was posted in June 2010, then you will agree with me that both The Ramshackle Army’s sound and songwriting were awesome.

Almost a year later, the band fronted by Gaz is releasing their debut EP “Life Lessons & Drunken Sessions”, a collection of 7 excellent songs. Neither pipes, nor accordion are featured on this EP. However the band has developed their own sound based on a dynamic singer (Gaz), a wonderful fiddler (Kat) and a great banjo/mandolin player (Loc) backed by very good musicians on guitar and rhythm section (Nath - guitar, Jig - bass and Adge - drums)

The band recently released a video of the opening track, “Uprising Young Citizen”, so I guess that most of the fans will be familiar with this song. Fiddle, banjo and great vocals and chorus. The kind of sing-along song that any band should have in their setlist to start a show.

The next song, "Rue the Day", goes in a different way and features mandolin instead of banjo, but is also as powerful as the previous one.

The third song, “No Rest for the Wicked”, is also well-known, since a previous version was included in the demos.

Track no. 4 and track no. 5 are stuck together. “Life Lessons & Drunken Sessions” is basically an arranged version of “The Cooley's Reel” played at a slower pace When the tune ends, there is a banjo led transition part. The song seems to be calm, but the chorus is really strong.

The last two songs are my faves, together with “Rue the Day”. “Fire is Burning” is amazing! Do you like “The Night Paddy Murphy Died”? “Fire is Burning” is that kind of song, the one you expect to hear at St.Patrick’s Day. I guess that the sound is influenced by the Australian bush music.

The final track is also grand. Imagine that Billy Bragg , Paul Simmonds and Swill (both from The Men They Couldn’t Hang) are drinking together at a pub while they are listening to DKM “Caught in a Jar”. If they decided to write a song together, it would be this.

Ah, and the package design is also excellent, including lyrics, liner notes and a picture of the band.

The Australian scene is full of interesting acts: The Go Set, Catgut Mary, The Currency, The Rumjacks … and now The Ramshackle Army.

I love bands like The Ramshackle Army, the bands that take risks. It would have been easier for them to use other instruments or to copy the style of one of the other well-known Australian bands. However, they have followed a different approach and I'm sure that this will pay. - Celtic Folk Punk Blog