Black 47

[nboldock]

I was listening to my "Pogues Radio" channel on Pandora.com today whilst at work (yes, I know, and I wasn't being paid either... sap), and up came Black 47 who I have never heard before. I think the track was called Uncle Jim. Good stuff. Sounded almost exactly like the Pogues, only not quite as good, if you see what I mean. Very enjoyable.

[Billie]

I only know a song of them, "Bobby Sands MP", but it's a great tune

[orrok61]

http://www.connollyspubandrestaurant.com/

This is Black 47's live music "home base"..you can see them here & buy all of their releases & merch!!Being a frequent customer,I can only recommend them HIGHLY!!

[idlebagger]

I've heard them alot on Pandora, too. There's also a band called Flatfoot 51 who crop up quite regularly, and play in a similar style.

[SonOfErin]

Great band! Check out "Funky Ceili." or pretty much anything from "Fire of Freedom" I think it's their best album.

[Michaelo]

Great band! Check out "Funky Ceili." or pretty much anything from "Fire of Freedom" I think it's their best album.

I agree. I think Fire Of Freedom is their best album. James Connolly is another good song they did.

[Sam's Cross]

Not trying to be a downer here, I think anytime anyone likes music it's a good thing, but I came across Black 47 in my desperate search for more bands of the Poguish type and I bought a Black 47 cd. I found it unlistenable and I'd give it away if anyone wanted it. So, if you're thinking about getting them, I'd take a listen to a couple of tunes first.

[barbinberkeley]

A friend kept trying to get me interested in this band. I checked out their youtube videos and wasn't impressed. I got to see them last week at a Celtic faire and I changed my mind completely. I love this band! There's a really nice fusion of styles in their pieces. One song "Rockin' the Bronx", is a celtic/rap song, I guess you could call it. "Those Saints" reminds you of New Orleans. The music takes you all over. You could even be in Zurich trying to get laid on James Joyce's grave, "solicitin' ladies for an orgy at a cemetery." Traditional Irish music runs like a little stream through their songs via the melodies of uilleann pipes. The other instruments that I remember, are electric guitar, trombone, sax, drums. Their new album, "Iraq", just came out last week. The album's concept, is a soldier trying to get home alive. Larry Kirwan's voice is different. Really unusual. At first I thought he was putting on the wobbly emo style for some effect. But that's just his voice, and it grows on you.

[Mike M]

I run hot and cold on them...some of their songs I really enjoy, and others leave me scratching my head. That said, I'd love to see them live, as I understand that they put on a hell of a show!

[barbinberkeley]

I just bought Home of the Brave by Black 47. This is a pretty old album, from 1994. This is my favorite of theirs. Every song is great, I think. There's the story of the making of the album on Black 47's webpage by Larry Kirwan. It was quite a harrowing experience for him, apparently. He put his heart soul and guts into making that album, and it shows up in the quality of the songs and music. The first song is Big Fella, about Michael Collins, which prompted me to watch that movie again, and start to read up on Irish history. Home of the Brave is an album that I can listen to very often without getting tired of it, and even try to learn to sing the songs.

[paddy garcia808]

Saw them support the Pogues a few years back, can't remember where though! Camden or Shepherds Bush I think! A gig for the Guildford 4 from what I recall.

They were pretty good that night.

[O'Blivion]

Someone from work gave my Sweetie & I tickets to see them in a small theater in Harrisburg on the 30th. Looking forward to it, after reading this thread.

[JoTro]

http://www.connollyspubandrestaurant.com/

This is Black 47's live music "home base"..you can see them here & buy all of their releases & merch!!Being a frequent customer,I can only recommend them HIGHLY!!

My office is across the street from Connolly's, and I've never ventured in there (yet).

Agreeing with what earlier posters have said, "Fire of Freedom" is their best album, "Funky Ceili" being my favorite song of theirs.

[Jon]

Great band! Check out "Funky Ceili." or pretty much anything from "Fire of Freedom" I think it's their best album.

Not trying to be a downer here, I think anytime anyone likes music it's a good thing, but I came across Black 47 in my desperate search for more bands of the Poguish type and I bought a Black 47 cd. I found it unlistenable and I'd give it away if anyone wanted it. So, if you're thinking about getting them, I'd take a listen to a couple of tunes first.

Ironically I have to agree with both of these posts, FoF is a good album for about 3 tracks but the rest is filler.
The 3 tracks that are good, and the standout is James Connolly, are very 'diet Pogues lite', which is a shame as Larry Kirwan is a pretty good songwriter but I think they need a bit more of the Bronx in their music and be a bit edgier like the Dropkick Murphys.

I still have the CD but it's not on high rotation

[NewJerseyRich]

Anyone interested in Black 47 they're touring in the Northeast and New England during this summer,

They play the Stone Pony in NJ 7/31. Even making a trip to Ireland in November.

JUL 9 ALBANY, NY ALIVE AT FIVE
JUL 10 MATUNUCK, RI OCEAN MIST
JUL 18 SELLERSVILLE, PA SELLERSVILLE THEATRE
JUL 31 ASBURY PARK, NJ STONE PONY
AUG 8 SPRINGFIELD, MA JOHN BOYLE O'REILLY FESTIVAL
AUG 13 SPRINGFIELD, MA STEARNS SQUARE
AUG 15 HUNTER, NY INTERNATIONAL CELTIC FESTIVAL
AUG 18 LEWISTON, NY ART PARK FESTIVAL
SEP 4 EAST DURHAM, NY BLACKTHORNE RESORT
SEP 5 NEWPORT, RI NEWPORT IRISH FEST
SEP 6 EAST DURHAM, NY BLACKTHORNE RESORT
SEP 12 NEW YORK, NY ROCKS OFF CONCERT CRUISE
SEP 18 ALTAMONT, NY IRISH 2000 FEST
SEP 18 ALTAMONT, NY IRISH 2000 FEST
SEP 25 BAYSHORE, NY NUTTY IRISHMAN
OCT 3 JIM THORPE, PA MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
NOV 13 WEXFORD, IRE WEXFORD ARTS CENTER
NOV 14 DUBLIN, IRE WHELAN'S
NOV 15 WESTPORT, IRE MATT MOLLOY'S