Joe - Guitar and Vocals,
Lou - Fiddle and Vocals,
Sean - Bass and Vocals,
Influences
Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, The Pogues, Bill Monroe, Clancy Brothers, Irish Rovers, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Byrds, The Beatles, The Violent Femmes, Bob Wills, The Dubliners, Buck Owens, Gram Parsons, Johnny Horton,
Sounds Like
"A family of knee slapping, foot stomping, fire fiddling, bass plucking, guitar strumming, knuckle dragging hillbillies." -Kyle Snodgrass, editor of URgoodtimeguide.com
"You're gonna like what you hear, I guarantee it." -Merle Haggis, father of the Haggis Brothers (they all have different mothers)
The Haggis Brothers are a rockin, swingin, fiddle driven string band that play regularly around the Seattle area; from Irish bars to weddings and everything in between; farmer's markets, festivals and private parties.
Whether inquiring to hire them, or just looking to have a good time out with your friends, come check out the Haggis Brothers at a venue near you (see Upcoming Shows above)
History:
Back in March of 1997 Joe Ross put a group together as a one-off joke band, originally dubbed the Irish Posers, for St. Patrick's Day at the Back Door Lounge never dreaming it would blossom into the full time outfit. They got together again the next year for St. Patrick's Day, this time calling themselves Merle Haggis and the Drifting Highlanders, they all wore kilts. An annual tradition was born. Early in 2001 the band began a Monday night residency at the Lava Lounge and they evolved into the Haggis Brothers. They aquired a steady line-up of Ross, Lou Alexander, Sean Wheatly, and were soon joined by regulars Matt O'Toole on mandolin and Mike Collins on drums. Through constant gigging their playlist expanded beyond traditional Irish pub songs into American hoe-down music, honky-tonk, swing and whatever else they feel like playing. These days the band usually plays as a trio of fiddle, guitar, and bass.
Devolutionaries (with Justin Roeser) Green Handshake & Howlin' Houndog & The Infamous Loosers 01/29/2010 09:30 PM - Slim’s Last Chance 5606 1st Ave S. Seattle, Washington 98108 US Cost:$6 We will be returning to Slim’s Last Chance in Georgetown with our old pals Green Handshake and the Devolutionaries with Justin Roeser for our first band show of 2010. DON’T MISS IT!
In association with Burning Hearts Burlesque I will be appearing at "Bad Motor Booty" night on Thursday Nov 19th at Club Motor (1950 1st Ave S) opening solo for Joey "The Saint" & The A-men as part of this monthly event. Come hear some Dirty Blues, drink some rotgut Booze and see some wonderful (girls shake their beautiful) Boobs! It is only $10! Don’t miss it!
Joey "The Saint" & The A-Men PLUS Howlin' Houndog (solo) 19 Nov 2009, 08:00 PM - Club Motor (Bad Motor Booty night) 1950 1st Ave S. Seattle, Washington US Cost:$10
The Tiger Lounge is the new hip place. Located in Georgetown right near the Seattle Design Center on S. Orcas just off of 4th Ave S.
Bra's for the Cause (with Howlin' Houndog & Joey "The Saint" & the A-Men) 17 Oct 2009, 09:00 PM - The Tiger Lounge 412 S Orcas St Seattle, Washington 98108
OK so we have been nice and pretty so far, but now it is time to get "down & dirty"! Howlin' Houndog & The Infamous Loosers will be playing with our sax player's band Joey "The Saint" and the A-Men at Tiger Lounge down in Georgetown here in Seattle on Saturday Oct 17th.
Joey "The Saint" and the A-men will be serving up the nastiest (but tasteful) "Dirty Blues" and warming up the crowd for the "Bras for the Cause" charity auction to support the fight against Breast Cancer. Then Joey will play with Howlin' Houndog in the Infamous Loosers (along with their full Horn Section!) Shakin' it down all night!
Come give us (and "Bras for the Cause") your support!
09/03/2009 09:00 PM - Conor Byrne 5140 Ballard Ave NW Seattle, Washington 98103 US Cost:$5 Description:Come see us start the long Labor Day weekend one day early at the Conor Byrne in lovely Ballard WA (that is in Seattle folks) with us and Stefanie Lee & The Northern Lights. Both bands will be Honky-Tonkin’ and Country Rockin’. It should be a fun show. Don’t miss it!
OK so on Friday August 21st we will be playing at the Dubliner (3517 Fremont Ave. N.) in Fremont with the Ronnie Pierce Jazz Band for a double bill of some of the finest musicians in Seattle, but some of them will also be playing in my band that night too! Come see the incredible talents of;
Robert McNaughty on Drums Dan Stanard on Bass Ronnie Pierce on alto Sax Joey "The Saint" St.John Ryan on Tenor Sax John "Terp" Terpin on Trombone
and Me/Howlin' Houndog on Vocal/Harp & Guitar
so come see us! Here are all the details!
8/21/2009 9:30 PM at The Dubliner in Fremont 3517 Fremont Ave N., Seattle, Washington 98103 Cost: $5
If you're in town 5/22 stop by Club Motor and channel your own inner Elvis or Marilyn. Burning Hearts Burlesque, peanut butter and bacon sandwiches, booze, beer and broads. I'll be a judge and The Kings will be playing punk rock Elvis all night.
Ratfish Bone Howlin' Houndog & The Infamous Loosers and The Sumner Brothers
19 Feb 2009, 09:00 PM - Conor Byrne 5140 Ballard Ave NW Seattle, Washington 98103 US Cost:$5
Come see our last show here in Seattle before we pack up and head South for SXSW in March 2009. We will be playing with Ratfishbone again and Vancouver BC’s Sumner Brothers at Conor Byrne on Thurs Feb 19th. It will be a Bluesy night for sure. Come wish us well on our March 2009 SXSW tour! We may have our new Horn Section in attendance too!
Hey Joe.....Greetings from Montana.....It was great seeing you guys play at Matt and Annie's wedding....I love your band and wish you would come and play at my bar in whitefish...it's a irish bar ya know....lol..keep singing boys you rock...