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 THE
MAHONES vs CATGUT MARY (Shite
'N Onions) Before spending the night on the tiles, you’ll spend the
night at the Irish pub and witness a brawl; imagine that. However,
there’ll be no fists, no bottle throwing, and no biting as the brawl is
of the musical variety between Canada’s The Mahones and Australia’s
Catgut Mary. Swinging first, The Mahones, who’ve been around a long
time, throw a haymaker with the tin whistle led “Drunken Night in
Dublin,” which I’ve heard before and always thought it was Flogging
Molly (so that should give you a hint as to the quality of The Mahones).
After throwing a couple of fakes, “Paint the Town Red” and “Celtic
Pride,” that seem slow but aren’t, The Mahones follow up with the
raucous “Whiskey Devils” that’ll have ‘em stomping the pub floor.
Quick to counter, the scruffy and salty Catgut Mary swings a wild swing,
“Jacky Butler,” that sounds like sea shanties sung by lads on prison
ships before landing in Australia’s Botany Bay.
Riddling quick jabs, the relentless “Melbourne Tram Song” and
“Chinatown Bound” get the energy flowing with nonstop singing and
pounding rhythm. Seeing the near end of the fight, Catgut Mary unleashes
“Paddy’s Lantern,” that’ll have the crowd pumping one arm in the
air while bending the other to down some stout. Now, both bands deliver
Irish Punk knockout punches while differing in style. Think of two pints
of Guinness: one in a perfect glass (The Mahones) while the other (Catgut
Mary) is delivered with a chipped rim. The contents of both are equally
magnificent, but one is delivered just a bit rougher-in style only- than
the other. And the winner is: all the ears that take in this CD’s blood
alcohol fattening music. Psst, over here you back alley gambler. After the
eight-song fight, there’s some hidden hi-jinx to be enjoyed. – Denis
Sheehan
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