-- backing vocals, mandolin, accordian, tin whistle, harmonica, guitar
(Special thanks to Ben Dean, who supplied the fiddle.)
Influences
The Dubliners, the Clancy Brothers, Doc Watson, Woody Guthrie, Bill Monroe, James Brown, the Pogues, the Tossers, Pete Seeger, the Bothy Band, the Clash, The Weavers, The Stranglers
Sounds Like
Owing to their background and side projects in punk rock, the Blue Rock Boys have created a very stripped down, driving, but traditional folk sound. Drums and electric guitar are conspicuously absent, so their percussion energy comes from thumping their instruments, stomping their hoofs, and grunting occasionally. Their odd synchopation follows their enthusiasm for reggae, shuffle, and funk. It has been called the Cincinnati Donkey Beat.
Cincinnati, depending on which side of the Ohio River you stand, is either the very bottom of the North, or the crown of the South (as local bluegrass historian Jon Weisberger says). Consequently, a type of Irish or Celtic folk usually found in northern US cities like New York, Chicago, and Saint Paul, takes on a slight southern or Appalachian twist. Sad Irish ballads slide into country songs; bluegrass solos spring out of bar room sing-a-longs. Likewise, Appalachian songs find themselves treated to gaelic style.
Like the city they hail from, and the neighborhood that gave them their name, the Blue Rock Boys are a musical bordertown. The mixed heritage they revere pays tribute to folk traditions from north and south, black and white, Irish and Appalachian, modern and ancient, maritime, rural, and urban. In their shows, they hope to convey their appreciation for these traditions, while inducing sweat, stomping, singalong, imbibery, and general foolishness along the way.
The Blue Rock Boys have been thumping their acoustic mischief since September, 2003. Formed on Blue Rock St. in Northside Cincinnati, by longtime friends Bill Williams, Pete Wood and Erin Daugherty, they stumbled their way into creating their own blend of Irish and American roots music.
They spent 2004 playing at noteworthy Cincinnati establishments such as the Comet Bar, Northside Tavern (where they reign the last Sunday of every month), the Southgate House, CCM student radio, WAIF 88.3, and events such as the Newport Irish Heritage Festival, the Ten Years Late Scooter Club annual rally, and various productions of the Black Hoody Nation (anarcho-poetry thugs).
Having been steeped in Irish and Appalachian traditional music from childhood, the Blue Rock Boys fused this rekindled cultural enthusiasm with the many styles of music they had played previously. Their backgrounds in jazz, soul, ska, and hardcore punk rock become obvious in their rambunctious approach, making traditional songs sometimes quite unorthodox.
In August of 2006 they released "Volume 1", a collection of mostly traditional Irish and Americana songs and tunes, to much acclaim (particularly by relatives, close friends, drunks, and the disenfranchised). Still, their real energy is in their live show. Sometimes, even the "I'm too hip to move" head-nodders are clapping their hands, stamping their feet and sloshing their beers around. Large amounts of whiskey are imbibed. Old blue-collar men dance with young tattooed women. It's a hell of a lot of fun.
I am looking for help (venues, booking agents, bands/acts to do shows with) to set up a tour, this coming October and November 2008. I plan to start with the west coast of the U.S. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, then into Canada; Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, then back to the U.S. to Duluth (have to see where Bob came from, I played Greenwich Village December 2007, so the journey continues…), then through North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, over to nashville, then into Texas and back to Dallas where I lived and played 21 years ago, and of course Austin, then through New Mexico and Arizona back to L.A. to fly back home to Melbourne. Waiting to hear from you
Great show at the Comet! Hey, in my Jamison’s fueled, St. Patty's exuberance, I did not realize I was taking a zillion flash photos. When sobriety returned the next day, I saw how many photos I had taken when I only meant to take five or so candid photos. That is ridiculously obnoxious and I apologize for it. Here are a few good ones to share with you. Slainte!
Damn! I don't have any ringtones to offer, but let me give you a great Belgium beer and wish you a great weekend! Looking forward to St. Patrick's Day @ the Comet..
Don't miss this months show featuring Detroit's own Bruce Liles and his performance of "The Ghost of Woody Guthrie". A one man play using the stories and songs of Woody Guthrie to recount this legendary American folk hero's life. Please come out and support Peoples Songs and local folk. Show starts @ 9:00.
Aron and Pete! hay its DAnielle we used to hang back in the day ! I was just at work and I saw that you guys did a show there(Nicholsons) do you still play there??
Unexpected circumstances kept me home last night. I'm really bummed and sorry that I missed your last show. Keep us posted in case Y'ALL get together and have a reunion show of sorts.
Dammit Pete, School's canceled. Not for everyone, just you. You simply CAN'T break up the Blue Rock Boys to become a journalist. I have prepared a mathematical proof of reasons you can't go to school for journalism:
A) There is too much news already B) It's lame anyway C) The portion of your current fanbase that is literate, has probably read too much already, KNOWS they're being fucked, and politely requests that it not be brought up again... as it only serves to remind them of the pain
So
A+B+C is inversely proportionate to the joy of having a cold beer and listening to the Blue Rock Boys.
I couldn't link the graph I made... sorry.
I realize that isn't the most compelling argument, and likely hasn't changed anything... so I spent some time musing on possible projects for the rest of the boys while waiting for your return. Eventually, my thoughts drifted to the case of 'The Descendants'... When Milo left to finish his doctorate degree, they were never the same, but then I struck upon a name for you boys in Pete's (hopefully short) absence...
"Y'ALL"
Thank me with drinks next time I'm in the same town as you boys :)
