The Tim Malloys

The Tim Malloys fuse traditional Irish and Scottish music with a raucous Minneapolis sound. Founded in the Twin Cities in 1994, the band is a bootlegger’s dream, boiling down traditional Irish music into a potent electric Clash-meets-Suburbs mashup of punk guitar, Roma rhythms, and manic grooves.

Neil Johnston (bass/vocals/bodhran) and John Sjogren (guitar/vocals) are joined by Kirstin Johnston (flute/whistle), Tom Delaney (guitar/accordion) and Schwister (drums/percussion). After nearly twenty years, the Tim Malloys’ unique blend of Irish music with rock, punk and undertones is as ribald and raucous as ever.

http://www.timmalloys.com

The band’s long career in the Twin Cities has spawned four albums, numerous headlining acts, opening acts for local and international bands, and a long-standing gig as the Tuesday house band for the local Irish music venue the Half Time Rec. The Tim Malloys also make regular appearances at Kieran’s Irish Pub where their rowdy and diverse group of followers converge.

Laying down driving and melodic bass licks and lashing Bodhran riffs mark Neil Johnston’s signature music style. A member since founding the group in 1994, Johnston continues to re-work the Tim Malloys’ fusion of Midwest garage smorgasbord and Irish music. Neil has a long history collaborating in twin cities music and art communities; over the years playing and working with local musicians as well as visual and performance artists. His enthusiasm for creating music is only matched by his love of painting and he is often working to create new artistic expressions merging the two forms.

Johnny Sjogren bought his first guitar at the tender age of 12. By the age of 18 he had taught himself how to play well enough to let his hair grow long. In 1985 he joined his first band, Bedlam. He found his love for Irish music performing at the Irish Cottage at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and various pubs around the area. After playing in many short-lived bands in the Twin Citires, in 1998, he was invited to join the Tim Malloys. The rest, as they say, is history. In addition to holding down the rhythm in the Tim Malloys, he still plays with his first band, Bedlam. Johnny brings the traditions of The Grateful Dead, The Almond Brothers, The Who, The Beatles, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin and The Old Triangle to the Tim Malloys mix.

Kirstin Johnston calls up soaring melodies and haunting tunes on flute and tin whistle for the band. Kirstin’s musical roots run deep and she is inspired by the music of Ireland, Scotland, and Nordic countries. Her pulsing staccato and strong breathy style is her hallmark that carries the band well into the night. One of the founding members of The Tim Malloys, Kirstin rejoined in 2009 to once again marshal the lads and audiences away ‘cross the foam’.

Tom Delaney, or "Tomás" as they say, plays lead guitar, accordion and other strings in the Tim Malloys, bringing along a twist of bordertown soul. Before coming to the band he played lead guitar in local Tex-Mex groups Grupo Primera and Sangre del Alma, and performed with Max Baca (Los Super Seven & Los Texmaniacs) and the legendary Flaco Jimenez (The Texas Tornados & Los Super Seven). Eventually Tom returned to his own musical roots playing lead guitar and bodhrán in local Irish pub rock band the Durty Nellys, and in time crossed paths with kindred spirits Neil and John to join the Tim Malloys.

Over the last twenty-five years, Scott Schwister has drummed in a bewildering assortment of rock bands, skiffle groups, alt-country outfits, and other musical projects. In the mid-nineties, Scott anchored manic country rockers Buck Aldrich, whose Feelies-meets-'Mats sound and raucous Terminal Bar gigs cemented their popularity with the local bastards and brawlers set. He has also played with Lincoln, Nebraska popmeisters The Davenports; blues-rock mainstays The Dearborns; and sonic experimenteers ACME, among others. He currently plays and records with Goodbye Sun and virtual pop duo Mid-Am.