"Bringing Irish Punk past The Pogues…at last, a worthy contender for the Celtic punk crown is born!" - Irish Voice,
NYC Prior to the release of this, their début album for Golf, London-Irish band NECK had already established themselves as a leading force in the Folk-Punk scene; with over eight years of furious global gigging, previous album releases in Europe, and Anti-racist single 'Everybody's welcome to The Hooley!' charting in the UK in 2006. With the release of ‘Come out Fighting!’, they, again, set a whole-new bench-mark and remain, unquestionably, at the cutting-edge of this music - not just for their songs & the fact that they're taking it in new directions, while still staying true to their Irish-folk roots; but also in the sheer audacity, courage, speed and soul of their Irish musicians! Known as 'The Heavy Artillery of Irish Music', the 6 piece band's sound juxtaposes, perfectly, the swirling spiritual abandon of Traditional Irish music with the electric energy blast of a full-on Punk band! - Distilling the sound of two other mighty London rebel bands - The Clash & The Pogues into their own, unique London-Irish brew: Psycho-Ceilídh! - And, whether it’s swirling instrumentals; rowdy, raucous drinking songs; angry political polemic; chest-beating anthems or tear-jerking ballads - NECK cover ALL bases of Irish music with passion & pride. And all this is driven by the authentic voice of song-smith Leeson O'Keeffe - a man with an undeniable pedigree: ex-Shane MacGowan's Popes ; from the same North London Irish enclave as Johnny Rotten ; & close family roots in the same Dublin neighbourhood as Flogging Molly's Dave King... He's also guested with The Alabama 3 & co-written a song on Hayseed Dixie's latest album. Recorded with the legendary Pat Collier (an original Vibrator & an undeniable track record - from The Wonderstuff to Lars Friedrikson ), his powers & skill give NECK a new focussed, lean & muscular voice, which should see them take their rightful place amongst their contemporaries. But make no mistake: with this album they prove beyond doubt that - amongst the leaders and followers of Irish-folk influenced punk bands all over the world - with their roots, understanding and command of the music, NECK are most certainly the real deal! Eye-brows will be raised. Toes will tap. Tears will be shed. Bodies will be thrown all over the shaggin’ dance-floor!
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