On a dark and stormy night, a night just like this one, James was at a local rock show, discussing his band-forming plans with a young lady whom he had just met. As he finished his explanation, thunder crashed, a streak of lightning lit up the sky, and this young lady said, Thats odd, my friend [Gunslinger] was just telling me about his plans to do the same thing. Hes right over there. And thus, SHILLELAGH LAW was born!, the unholy union of Celtic traditional and rock/punk music.

James and Gunslinger and Trevor began to set the wheels in motion. James searched feverishly for more instruments, beginning with his flute-playing chum Piet Walvoord the band now had vocals, a guitar, and flute. He also asked literally everyone he knew, Do you know anyone who plays accordion? He faced many rejections, but his query was not in vain, for there was one at Evanston High School with the courage and tenacity to take on the mighty squeezebox. That man was Adam Whiteley Whiteley. A self-taught accordionist, he "just kind of felt like playing it". He was in.

Soon after came Trevor Ewen (who was always there in spirit) on the bull fiddle (bass), filling in the rhythm section. But drums were another story. The obvious choice was James and Trevors long-time associate Sam Spesh Durkes, but there were...issues. Sam was already involved (with Trevor) in a ska-core band, and after a difficult month of carting drums back and forth between practice spaces, everyone came to the conclusion that it would just be too difficult. Sam was out - for now.

But the fiery Shillelagh spirit could not be quelled. The band acquired Gareth "New Zealand" Hobbs on acoustic guitar, sadly lost Piet to the evil clutches of college, and began acoustic practices in Gareths living room, honing their sound and sharpening their skills. They searched, too, for a drummer, but to no avail. And then, as quickly as they had formed, Sams ska-core band was no more. So the kind-hearted Sam, seeing Shillelagh Law drummer-less and alone, opened up his services once again. This time, he stuck.

However, Shillelagh Law needed something more. Enter Dan Fields, soon to become the evil Tex Bloodstorm (as named by Trevor the Great). A film student roaming the campus of Northwestern University, with a history of bagpiping and lewd behavior. Kudos to James' sister for finding a bagpiper in the middle of Evanston, Illinois. The band was grateful, and Bloodstorm no less. Shillelagh Law had her last loud instrument. They played their first big-time show at a backyard fundraising concert, and have been looking for gigs and free beer ever since.

The rest is history.

Well okay, there's a bit more. Gareth went to college, Jack Woodbury joined the band on acoustic and Dan Whiteley joined up on the fiddle, the Law rocked out during the year, Gareth came back the next summer and played cello and banjo, the Law rocked out some more, and then people went off to college. At this point they all decided it would probably be best to cease and decist, at least for right now. Who knows what the future may bring?...but for right now they left a couple mp3s; the boys of the Law sincerely hope you enjoy them.