The second album from Dundalk Irish trad punks The Mary Wallopers consolidates their standing (just about) as Ireland's premier bunch of merry pranksters.
A good lesson in how to make the most of lockdowns and possibly lock-ins, the band formed by brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy and their friend Sean McKenna livestreamed gigs from their home studio and became a viral hit amid the virus with up to 40,000 people watching at home.
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Now expanded to a seven-piece, they’ve since built a reputation as a hugely entertaining live act and happily Irish Rock N Roll manages to bottle the febrile energy of their stage show. Stout in both meanings of the word, this new batch of bawdiness stars a rogue’s gallery of ne’re-do-wells and young men up to no good.
To borrow a line from Talking Heads and The Undertones, this is more songs about drinkin’ and ridin’. Taking recordings made famous by the likes of The Clancys and Tommy Makem, The Dubliners and Cork banjo great Margaret Barry, The Mary Wallopers make short work of The Bauld O Donoghue, the skirts-up hooley of Holy Ground and knock the bejayus out of The Blarney Stone.
But it’s on their own compositions where they really come into their own. The Idler is a funny tune about the state of the nation that skewers politicians, the clergy and the "Ireland is full" merchants, while Gates of Heaven doesn’t hold back in talking about some of the ugliest events in recent Irish history.
There’s majestic reels, breakneck banjo playing and the strange vocals of the Hendy boys on this fast and furious set. All they need is someone, let’s say Spider Stacey from The Pogues, to appear and bang his head with a beer tray to keep time. There is also something of the mischievousness and nose-thumbing of early Dubliners.
If you thought these lads and lassie were a none too elaborate joke, Irish Rock `n’ Roll reveals a band growing in confidence and musicianship on a vibrant, salty and funny collection of roots music.
Alan Corr @CorrAlan2
