Just a wee note in the papers,
Anybody who listens to as much music as I do will understand that each genre has an abundance of bands that sound way too much alike. It’s not easy to create new music that doesn’t sound even a little like som...ething else you’ve already heard. Which makes what Scottish band Albannach has accomplished all the more impressive. This Celtic pipe and drums band are unlike anything that I have ever heard, and more refreshing and exciting than ever.
“We play primal tunes, music that makes folks connect with there inner Scot,” says the lead vocalist and bass drummer, who goes simply by Jamsie.
“We have always tried to keep it ‘real.’ I have always believed that the tribal sound of Scotland must have sounded similar to what we are playing: deep, moody and aggressive sounds with the frantic fast flowing pipes keeping it moving along. It would be easy to fling a bass guitar in there to beef up the bottom end, but what’s the doing? It’s taking the ‘real’ out of the sound.”
And luckily for us, we don’t have to travel to Scotland to experience Albannach at their best. They will be performing at Molly Maguires Irish Pub and Restaurant in Landsdale on May 22, from noon to 6pm. Joining them on stage will be The Paul Moore Band and the Brian Boru Pipe Band. This is your chance to experience the roots of Celtic music at it’s best.
“Playing any type of fair gives you the feeling of going back to the grass roots of entertaining,” Jamsie explains. “It’s always been close to us due to our years of playing at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, there's something to be said for getting up close to the crowd, the energy flows way better!”
The event is being produced by East of the Hebrides, who has put together plenty of great Scottish/Irish entertainment in the past. And this event is setting up to be one of the best yet.
It also will be kicking off a United States tour for Albannach. Naturally, I had to confront Jamsie on who has the better fans, the U.S. or the U.K?
“This will get me in trouble, it has to be the U.S. fans. My friend David Ross, who sadly passed away last year, summed it up once, ‘Americans hold on to something they lost or think is missing and that comes down to their ancestors being up-rooted and shipped off to the New World. So now many years and generations on they are uber proud of their roots.’”
And, of course, the U.S. has the better food as well, “Foods great as well...I swear I always put weight on when I am out there. Late night pizza and my new found love of Pabst Blue Ribbon. I’m aware it gets bad press in its native land but us Glasgow boys thinks it's just magic!”
This is an event like no other, and one not to be missed. Landsdale get’s to be Irish one more day this year, and Molly Maguire’s will be playing a great host. Adult’s get in for just $10 and get to experience a stage full of incredible talent.
“We know there’s thousands of people of there that we can’t get to or are just waiting to hear our music and become alive through it. It’s our mission to keep pumping the primal tunes of Scotland out and hope we can put as many of them in touch with their inner Scot!”
ALBANNACH....
