MySpace.com - Finn’s Fury - New York, New York - Celtic / Rock / Punk

Make sure to visit my blog! Add yourself to the map, color some Finn's Fury coloring pages, request a song. New furious festivities added all the time!

Where did Finn's Fury come from?

The Name:

FINN MAC CUMHAIL (Finn mac Cumhail) Fionn mac Cumhail, or Finn MacCool, semimythical Irish hero. His exploits are recorded in long narrative poems by Ossian and in many ballads, called Fenian ballads after the Fenians, or Fianna, professional fighters whom Finn was said to have headed in the 3rd century. Certain tales involve such events as Finn's pursuit of the lovers Diarmuid and Grania, who was Finn's wife. The stories of Finn inspired the Fingal of James Macpherson and played an important part in the Irish literary renaissance . The legend of Finn Mac Cumhail is varied at best. What follows is a generally agreed upon synopsis:

† Finn's father Cumhail, a Fianna chieftain, was mortally wounded and killed in battle by Goal Mac Morn, the leader of a rival clan, before Finn's birth.
† Terrified for her new baby's survival, Finn's mother sent him away intrusting him to two of her closest colleagues - a druidess named Bodbal and a woman warrior named Fiachel.
† Together these women successfully raised Finn in secret hidden deep within the mountains of Erinn (Ireland). During this time they taught him all the lessons and skills he would need to survive he set out to avenge his father's murder.
† When it was time Finn ventured out and served under several kings who immediately sent him away, in fear of a retaliation from Mac Morna, after they discovered who he was.
† Discouraged, Finn wandered throughout Ireland until he met an old poet living near the river Boyne whom he ended up studying under for seven years.
† At one point, near the end of these seven years, he was charged with catching the Salmon of Knowledge and cooking it for his master, being told not to eat it. Whilst it cooked he burst a blister on the Salmon and inherited its wisdom. He know possessed what was needed to challenge Mac Morna.
† Gathering 150 of the bravest and best of the Fianna, Finn sought revenge on Goll Mac Morna. The battle was long, lasting a few days, but in the end Mac Morna's men were no match for the Fianna and Goll Mac Morna died on Finn's sword.

The Band:

The idea of Finn's Fury began when 4 members of a previous NY Celtic rock band, Sean, Leenya, Kevin and Vinnie, left due to creative differences and decided to try a new line-up. I had worked with Sean for years in several different bands ranging from funk, goth, jazz and alternative in sounds. I had also worked in the studio with said previous band singing background vocals, playing some keyboards and bass, co-arranging, producing a song and designing both their CD's. I have a background in illustration and digital graphics. Over the course of searching for a new singer, I was playing percussion and Vinnie, the bass. For reasons to lengthy to get into on this page, Vinnie opted out and I jumped on the bass. (We're all on the best of terms with Vinnie...it didn't end badly) Many rehearsals and jams passed with many singers and then, finally, Frank walked in. We knew after that night we had our man. Beautiful fiddle melodies with crunching guitars and booming bass and drums that sound like cannon fire fronted by the lilting brogue of a faraway son of Cork. Not a thing to be easily ignored, this lot.
We come from quite a mixture of backgrounds. Leenya is a performer who sings, acts and plays fiddle and has appeared in Cabaret among many other known plays. She's also been featured in several movies such as Mona Lisa Smile and Loser. Obviously she's great at her craft because we recently lost her for a while as she performed in a revival of the play "Company"on Broadway, eventually winning a Tony award! The play has since closed and she's back with a vengeance! Between Calum and Leenya we have two smokin' fiddlers in one band, gotta love that. Calum recently won the Northeast Scottish Fiddle Championship...that'll give you some idea of the man's talent. He can also play a wicked highland bagpipe, mandolin and guitar. He's a prominent music director and outstanding teacher here in New York. Sean is a Drum Sergeant for the Nassau County Fire Fighters Pipe and Drums as well as a drum teacher. Frank is an active member of The Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and has released a CD where all money goes to the ILIR. He has performed on many stages and opened for the likes of the Furey Bros, Finnegan's Wake and Luka Bloom to name a few. Unfortunately after a good year of playing out and recording, Frank has left the band for personal/family reasons and has relocated back to Cork. Kevin has also moved on for personal reasons. Good luck to him. They'll both be sorely missed.
Charlie Drannbauer is the new addition to the fold. He brings years of guitar, sound, stage and road experience to the group. He's toured with Flyleaf and Nine Days to name a few and kicks serious ass!
I have a background in music, art and the martial arts. I've done a bit of everything...voice-overs for TV commercials, radio spots, animated series...appeared on MTV along with Sean....won medals and ribbons for my stereography (3D pictures)....and was also a trophy winning Shaolin Kempo Karate instructor. My first love has always been and forever will be music. As the bassist and singer for Finn's Fury, I'm completely in my element...so when you see me with a grin so big that it looks my head may split in two while I'm on stage, there's the reason.
As former members of a previous Celtic rock band, Sean and Leenya have years of touring and headlining behind them. Charlie and I are no strangers to the stage either. We've played 'am all, big and small.....so....Hope you're all ready for the sound of the Fury, 'cause we're coming and there ain't a whole helluva lot anyone can do to stop us.

What's up with the boxer?

Well...Both of Sean's Grandads boxed, my Grandad boxed, my Dad boxed when he was a youth, I box and kick-box, my 6 year old son kick-boxes, Leenya kick-boxes, Charlie likes juice boxes and Calum's head is shaped like a box (just kiddin' Cal)...so there ya have it. PLUS...He just looks so damn ready to kick somebody's ass, doesn't he?

What's the story with the logo?

The logo is a stylized version of a tattoo on the ball of Sean's right shoulder which is a memorial to his Dad, who's no longer with us. It's a direct copy of the design on his tombstone. I've been in several bands with Sean over the years and he's taken that logo with him through 3 of them. It's his...He can take it wherever he damn well pleases. You'll notice it pops up on our boxer's shoulder and also on my son's if you check out the pic gallery.

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