The Dunn Boys - Volume 1

The Dunn Boys - Volume 1
2011, The Dunn Boys

The Dunn Boys are a family band from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.  Started by Paul Dunn and his sons Jason, Josiah and Jacob, rumor has it the Dunn Boys started a hockey team and a band broke out in the confusion.  Blending Celtic, folk, rock and punk with spiritual themes, The Dunn Boys seem to be on to a winning combination of style and sound.  Their debut EP, Volume 1, sets the stage for bigger things to come. 

The Dunn Boys represent the East Coast of Canada well on their debut album, Volume 1.  Kicking off with the snippet "Mullac Abu", The Dunn Boys move quickly into the raucous party song "Nova Scotia".  "Brian Moore" is an energetic tribute; a toasting song that is entertaining and fun.  "Ballad Of Danny Fitzgerald" has a fairy tale feel, an old school love song where things work out well in the end.  "St. Jerome" is an urgent and energetic prayer for survival at sea with a vaguely haunting quality.  "Norland" finds The Dunn Boys employing some of Celtic-punk oomph of Captain Tractor, while cannibalizing the melody of "It's A Long Way To Tipperary" for the chorus.  Lead singer Jason Dunn shines here for both vocal acumen and attitude.    "Rosaline" is the second highlight of the album, a heartfelt and sincere love song with a melody you won't be able to shake.  "Black Velvet Band" is the story of how a woman and drink lead to Van Diemen's Land.  It's the sort of shanty sung to both make the work pass and remind young sailors to not get too tied down on shore leave.  Volume 1 closes with the gorgeous and lilting "Lullaby", the brightest moment on the album and an indication that within the heart of these warrior poets beats the heart of true songwriters.

The Dunn Boys impress on Volume 1, although it may take a few listens to really get the vibe.  These guys slowly grow on you; their music opening to you on successive listens like a flower slowly unwrapping in the sun.  Volume 1 should be the first of many, as The Dunn Boys find their balance between raucous fun and outstanding songwriting.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about The Dunn Boys on MySpace and Facebook.  Volume 1 is available digitally from Amazon.com or iTunes.

Review: Nightmare River Band - Call The Cops!!

Nightmare River Band - Call The Cops!!
2009, Nightmare River Band

“We are The Nightmare River Band, and we are coming to your town whether you like it or not.” This is the quote that closes the brief bio on Nightmare River Band’s web page, and it is very revealing of the band. Call it moxie, chutzpah, cajones, or what else you might, Nightmare River Band succeeds on musicality, but makes it work by getting your face and turning it up a notch. Former Fire Flies Matt Krahula (vox, acoustic guitar) and Seth Faulk (drums, vox) teamed up with The Designated Drivers alumni Kris Hayes (guitar, vox) and The Freams’ “Tall” Andy Tekverk to form Nightmare River Band. The band’s debut album, Call The Cops!!, takes Celtic, Punk and Folk elements and rolls them into one dynamic ball of fun.

Call the Cops!! opens with Center Of The Earth, an Irish drinking tune with electric guitars with a dark aspect. The instrumentation and vocal harmonies are outstanding, and the exuberance level from the band is off the charts. Jeffrey Dahmer continues in the vein of drinking tunes, but the title is really a lyrical afterthought. Dreamin' is a strong Rock tune with Pogues-like energy. It sounds like Nightmare River Band had a blast recording this tune, and I bet its killer live. To top it off, Matt Krahula is in great voice here with a smooth sound and just a hint of whiskey rasp. Pictures Frames & Photographs continues the strong songwriting; the song is very musical, intelligently written and has impressive vocal harmonies.

To The Sea takes on the age-old practice of burying the dead in the ocean. This dark subject is set against a driving Punk/Celtic tune that will have you running for the pits ready to pogo the night away. Summer Sun Sets takes a disco beat, surf guitar and horns and crafts them into an emotionally tumultuous but enjoyable listen. The song Procreate has a title with significant potential, but the energy just doesn't get it there. It's decent, but the title builds an expectation that just wasn't quite met. Call The Cops!! is a fun song with a huge tableau including horns and vocal harmonies. This is a pure Pub/Bar tune and probably brings the house down live. Nightmare River Band closes with the quiet epilogue, Where Do We Go. It is a radical change from the rest of the album in both style and volume, but reflects the introspective nature of the artist once the music stops. It's a lovely tune worth sticking around for.

Call The Cops!! is a great listen. Nightmare River Band plays with great musicality in a quasi-Lo-Fi environment. The arrangements might sound a bit messy once in a while, but this is more by design than mischance; the core of the sound is the band's exuberance. There isn't a track here where it doesn't come across that Nightmare River Band thoroughly enjoys what they're doing. Even on the last track, the commitment is 100% apparent to the listener. The instrumentation on Call The Cops!! runs a bit light at times, but the gaps are filled in with strong vocal harmonies. Nightmare River Band also has a sense of humor that runs through their songs; when it's subtle and inherent in the song it works wonderfully. There are a couple of times here when it sounds like maybe they're trying to be funny or ironic; such attempts don't work quite as well as the subtle, mischievous spirit that runs through the album. Fans of Captain Tractor will love Nightmare River Band. These guys can play and sing, and they're so exuberant it rubs off on the listener. Nightmare River Band is probably best heard in a pub with a raucous Saturday night crowd, but they do an outstanding job of capturing that energy and sound on Call The Cops!! Make sure you check them out; you won't be disappointed.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Nightmare River Band at www.myspace.com/nightmareriverband. You can order a copy of Call The Cops!! Through CDBaby.

Review: The Killdares - Secrets Of The Day

The Killdares - Secrets Of The Day
2008, The Killdares

The Killdares aren't quite like anyone you've heard. You like Celtic music? check. You like a big rock sound? check. Grand master violin playing? check. Screaming bagpipes? check. Wailing electric guitar? check. A lead singer on drums? Got that too. The Dallas based quintet sets hearts and minds atwitter with their mind blowing mix of sounds and styles both in the studio and on stage. Traditional Celtic fans even fall in line for a Killdares show. On their fifth independent release, Secrets Of The Day, The Killdares even add a dark electronic element to their sound. It's an expansion on rather than a deviation from their sound. Prepare to be blown away.

The Killdares mix of Celtic and Rock is unusual but not unique. Several bands have done so over the years, most notably The Pogues, who mixed Celtic and Punk quite nicely. Other fine examples include Captain Tractor, Spirit Of The West, Great Big Sea and Seven Nations. If you enjoy any of these groups then there's a strong likelihood you'll love the Killdares. Rip-roaring bagpipes, searing violin and the strong vocals of Tim Smith make everything the Killdares touch turn to gold. Secrets Of The Day opens with Seasons, a strong, steady rocker with a memorable melody and great hooks. Closer Than You Know brings a big guitar sound and a delicious duet between pipes (Matt Willis) and violin (Roberta Rast). This song will get you moving in a big way and is likely to be a big time concert favorite.

Hold My Heart is a rock ballad with Celtic heritage and crunchy guitars. The Killdares just have this knack for creating very catchy arrangements that make you want to get up and dance. Long Island High is a must for jig fans. Irish jigs to a Rock N Roll beat -- need I say more? Be sure to check out Disappear, one of the more introspective and beautiful songs on the album. It's followed up by Along Came You, a delicious musical construct that leaves the listener picturing a lone horse and rider crossing a plain from the far horizon to here. The melody of Along Came You is inspired; it's a rock ballad that will be major mix tape material and has a great pipes solo to boot. Secrets Of The Day may just be my favorite song on the album. Guitar, pipes and violin intertwine to build a driving rock song that you won't be able to get out of your head. Other highlights include Glasgow, Push, Speak To Me and Rose De Lay.

The Killdares are the sort of band that do not come along often. The marriage of traditional Celtic style and Rock N Roll is a powerful one when done right, and the Killdares are definitely doing it right. They are an exciting band to listen on CD; I can't even imagine the intensity of a live show, but I bet its worth the time and money. Secrets Of The Day is a monster disc. It's a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc, and a must for fans of Celtic music or Rock N Roll. Don't pass this one by.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

To learn more about the Killdares check out http://www.killdares.com/, where you can purchase a physical copy or a download of Secrets Of The Day.