The Mahones have been playing their own brand of Celtic punk for 20 years and are starting to see success from it including legions of dedicated fans, numerous albums and even a shout out in an Oscar winning movie.

“Our song ’Paint The Town Red,’ is in the Oscar winning movie ‘The Fighter,’ and the manager in the film even shouts ‘Paint The Town Red’ by The Mahones,” enthused Mahones frontman Finny McConnell taking a quick tour break in Prince Albert. They will be playing the Slice, March 9.

“ So we’re pretty happy about it. We didn’t expect it, so we’re stoked,” he continued adding he is just as excited about the band’s tenth (sixth studio) CD “The Black Irish” which features guests like Ian Blurton of C’mon and Change of Heart, members of  Billy Talent, Big Wreck and  the Tragically Hip plus Scruffy Wallace and Rick Barton from the Dropkick Murphys, one of many bands to follow in the Mahones Celtic punk footsteps.

The Cd is a mix of classic Celtic punk,  lots of drinking songs, some tender ballads and a version of the Replacements “Here Comes a Regular.”

“In your  40s you start to look back on your life while in your 20s you are looking forward. I’m a storyteller, so  I’m starting to remember all of these stories,” said McConnell,  pointing out one of the songs  is about spending three days drinking with the Pogues’ Shane McGowan on “ A Great Night on the Lash.”

 The Mahones even get political on “The Blood is on Your Hands.”

“I wrote a song for all of the soldiers who have passed away . It’s wondering how politicians who send them tell the families of these kids. The politicians just don’t know,” he said adding  he also shows his sensitive side on “Girl With The Galway Eyes.”

“I wrote it for my wife Katie (who plays accordion in the Mahones). I had one about her on the last album too,” he said adding  he helped  put together a new Mahones tribute CD as well consisting of bands from all over the world covering Mahones songs.

“ A lot of people have really supported this band. It makes me feel pretty warm. Some of them even did the songs better than I did,” McConnell enthused adding many of the bands had already recorded  their versions of Mahones songs, so McConnell gathered them together for one CD, trimming down 25 submissions to 20. Some of his favourites include Brutus’ Daughters who  recorded “Take Me Back,” and the Ryan Brothers’ “ Streets of New York.”

One of the highlights is Real McKenzies’ Aaron Chapman who does a bluesy version of ’Cocktail Blue.’

“I treated all of them with five star care for this CD,” McConnell continued adding he is looking forward to playing Lethbridge again.

“We love Lethbridge. We were there last year with the Popes. We will be playing some of the hits. We won’t just be playing the new CD. It’s going to be real exciting. I can't wait to get there and have some of that pizza again, ” McConnell continued adding after this tour they are looking forward to a big European tour with the Street Dogs (including Dropkick Murphys’ frontman Mike McColgan), including  playing Canada Day in London, England, with his wife Katie’s uncle, Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo.
“It’s a tough job traveling the world, but it’s my dream job,” McConnell concluded.