Canadian Celtic -punk icons The Mahones are back and ready to rock with a brand new album and a brand new tour, which stops by the Slice, Jan 17.
The Mahones, who have been together since 1990, have finally came into their own with their album “Black Irish” last year are getting well deserved and long awaited accolades and recognition, so, to build on that success released “Angels and Devils” in November.
“We’ve done really well with that album (Black Irish),” observed Mahones frontman Finny McConnell adding the CD has received rave reviews across the world. The Mahones formed in 1990 for a St. Patrick’s Day party, but have been based in Montreal for the past couple of years. Not that they spend a lot of time there, being constantly on the road, but the try to balance touring and time with their families at home.
The past year has been full of exciting events.
Their song “Paint the Town Red” was part of Oscar award winning film “The Fighter,” they toured with the Dropkick Murphys on the Shamrock-N-Roll tour then toured over in Europe with first generation Irish punks Stiff Little Fingers.
They forged a strong friendship with them and even feature Stiff Little Fingers’ Jake Burns on a couple of tracks on “Angels and Devils,” one of several guests and friends on the CD including Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor and Ken Casey from the Dropkick Murphys, United Steelworkers of Montreal accordion player Felicity Hamer and even the Brains.
“Like always, we got a lot of our friends to play on it,” McConnell said.
They cover The Stiff Little Fingers’ “Tin Soldier” on the CD. It will also be on an upcoming Stiff Little Fingers tribute CD.
“ I’ve been fans of them for a long time and we’ve since become really good friends with them,” he continued.
“They’re one of the reasons we decided to become an Irish punk band. They’re Ireland’s number one punk band so we were quite honoured to have Jake on the record,” he enthused.
They are excited to be on the road again.
“There is less Irish traditional music and more of a rock and roll show. It’s the Mahones meets the Clash. Finny gets to play a lot of guitar solos and Katie (his wife Katie McConnell) gets to play a lot of accordion,” he said, apologizing for speaking of himself in the third person.
He noted the tour will feature much of the new CD and of course Mahones classics like “Drunken Lazy Bastard,” and “Draggin’ The Days.’
“There a little less fiddle and tin whistle. We’ve got to change it up,” he continued adding they may go back to exploring traditional Irish music on the next album.
They are striking while the iron is hot as they will be touring Canada in January, then begin a European tour in Moscow in February. After that they have another tour with the Dropkick Murphys beginning in Boston.
“We’re booked up until November,” he said.
“When times are good, you don’t take a holiday,” he continued.
“But this is what we love to do we get to travel and see the world playing rock and roll,” he enthused.
The Mahones take the stage at approximately 9 p.m.., Jan. 17 at the Slice. There is a $15 cover.
