Shite'n'Onions

THE MAHONES Vs CATGUT MARY SPLIT EP - OUT NOW!
$9.99 plus shipping

The Mahones / Drunken Night In Dublin
The Mahones / Paint The Town Red
The Mahones / Celtic Pride
The Mahones / Whiskey Devils
Catgut Mary / Jacky Butler
Catgut Mary / Melbourne Tram Song
Catgut Mary / Chinatown Bound
Catgut Mary / Paddy's Lantern
Bonus Track

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Reviews

Shite N Onions/Mustard Finnegan's Good Times Rock 'n' Roll Emporium released this album in hopes of spreading the word about Celtic punk music. For their first release, they have a split CD featuring The Mahones from Ontario, Canada and Catgut Mary, Melbourne City Australia. I've been a Mahones fan for 8 years and always look forward to their new albums. Sadly, this album doesn't have any new music from the Mahones. I never heard of Catgut Mary so I'm glad I got this album to review.

Adam, my partner in crime for the website (or as I like to call him behind his back, my puppet) reviewed this album already. The thing is, you can't really take Adam seriously since he only listens to Canadians playing big synthesizers. I mean really, who still listens to Rush besides him and the bands' family members? He also likes to listen to Gothic music in the dark and write deep poetry about kitty cats, but let's not get into that here. So I decided to write my own review of this CD since I actually listen to good music...

As far as this CD is concerned, it's a nice introduction to the Mahones and Catgut Mary. I thought the song selection for the Mahones was all right. I don't really care for the song “Celtic Pride” but “Paint the Town Red” is one of my favorite Mahones songs. The other two songs from the Mahones is “Drunken Night in Dublin” and “Whiskey Devils.” As a bonus track, you can hear the Mahones do a live version of “Across the USA” and it goes on for 9 minutes! As far as Catgut Mary, they have an accordion-driven Celtic punk/pirate sound and the singer has a groggy voice. You gotta have a groggy voice if you want to do a pirate-style punk band. The one thing I can gather from both bands is that they seem like excellent live bands. Whether its in the pub or a concert venue, they both seem like they can put on an exciting live set. If you haven't heard from either band and want to check out some Celtic punk, pick up this CD!

Bryan

http://www.readjunk.com/cdreviews/the-mahones-vs-catgut-mary-split

In this Celtic-rock showdown, we've got four songs each from Toronto's Mahones and Australia's Catgut Mary. My assistant/intern Bryan loves The Mahones, but they're too folky and forest-clearing-jamboree for me.

I'm not big into Celtic rock to begin with, but some rock bands that are very trad-influenced still manage to appeal to me, like Flogging Molly and even Black 47. But The Mahones sound like hobbits frolicking in Smurf Village. It doesn't help that the songs are the usual cliches - "Drunken Night in Dublin," "Celtic Pride," "Whiskey Devils"... I expect this crap from a third-tier McPunk band of Boston fratboys, but from respectable Torontoans? Rush would not approve.

Catgut Mary have a little more edge, in part from the bad, phlegmy vocals. They too are awfully traditional, with way too many penny whistle solos (jeez), but they have a slightly faster pace and a more nautical/pirate feel. So I guess this CD is hobbits vs. pirates. But as the LOTR and POTC movies have taught us, there are no winners. Especially not the audience.

PS - Bryan, if you want this CD, you have to say in the comments that you are my intern. And I am your master. And Rush rules.

Adam

http://www.readjunk.com/cdreviews/mahones-catgut-mary-vs

The Mahones from Canada serve of top-tier Irish folk deeply in the vein of The Pogues, and have been doing so long enough to release no less than seven prior CDs. While they capably do justice to their chief influence (Pogue Mahone), they don't really distinguish themselves too far from that template. Still, their four songs are highly enjoyable, as are the four served up by Australia's Catgut Mary. Catgut Mary has more gruff-style vocals over top the Irish folk-influenced rock. One thing I enjoy about Irish music is that it demands somewhat sharper lyrics than other genres, with no small amount of wit and heart necessary even when jovial simplicity is the song's raison d'être. While neither of these bands disproves that theory, I'm still not overly smitten with either of them. Both are talented (I'm partial to the Mahones for the heavyweight championship), and I'd prefer listening to either of them over countless other bands, but they're not so good that they stick out from the pack of Irish-minded musicians.

Ben

http://www.rocknrollpurgatory.com/

THE MAHONES vs CATGUT MARY (Shite 'N Onions) Before spending the night on the tiles, you'll spend the night at the Irish pub and witness a brawl; imagine that. However, there'll be no fists, no bottle throwing, and no biting as the brawl is of the musical variety between Canada's The Mahones and Australia's Catgut Mary. Swinging first, The Mahones, who've been around a long time, throw a haymaker with the tin whistle led "Drunken Night in Dublin," which I've heard before and always thought it was Flogging Molly (so that should give you a hint as to the quality of The Mahones). After throwing a couple of fakes, "Paint the Town Red" and "Celtic Pride," that seem slow but aren't, The Mahones follow up with the raucous "Whiskey Devils" that'll have 'em stomping the pub floor. Quick to counter, the scruffy and salty Catgut Mary swings a wild swing, "Jacky Butler," that sounds like sea shanties sung by lads on prison ships before landing in Australia's Botany Bay. Riddling quick jabs, the relentless "Melbourne Tram Song" and "Chinatown Bound" get the energy flowing with nonstop singing and pounding rhythm. Seeing the near end of the fight, Catgut Mary unleashes "Paddy's Lantern," that'll have the crowd pumping one arm in the air while bending the other to down some stout. Now, both bands deliver Irish Punk knockout punches while differing in style. Think of two pints of Guinness: one in a perfect glass (The Mahones) while the other (Catgut Mary) is delivered with a chipped rim. The contents of both are equally magnificent, but one is delivered just a bit rougher-in style only- than the other. And the winner is: all the ears that take in this CD's blood alcohol fattening music. Psst, over here you back alley gambler. After the eight-song fight, there's some hidden hi-jinx to be enjoyed.

Denis Sheehan

http://askewreviews.com/music/mahones_vs_catgut_mary.htm

Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the review of The Mahones vs. Catgut Mary, forever to be known as the Thrilla in My Cella (or car, or bathroom - wherever you listen to your music).
In this corner, hailing from the Great White North, weighing in with four incredible pieces of music – The Mahones.
And in this corner, a Thunder from Down Under, weighing in with four equally awesome songs, Catgut Mary.
The Mahones bring to the ring their Drunken Night in Dublin, Paint the Town Red, Celtic Pride, and Whiskey Devils combination (as well as one amazing surprise jab) that would bring any heavyweight champ down. But Catgut Mary’s counterattacks Jacky Butler, Melbourne Tram Song, Chinatown Bound, and Paddy’s Lantern make them a more than worthy opponent to keep the Mahones fighting.
The winner of the title World Heavyweight Champ? That’s for you (and all your friends you should buy this for) to decide.
Muhammad Ali said “there are no pleasures in a fight,” but this is one fight that is definitely a pleasure to listen to. So…are you ready to rumble?

Brighid Skamarakas (Celtic Lounge)

About Mustard Finnegan's Good Times Rock-n-Roll Emporium

Mustard Finnegan's Good Times Rock-n-Roll Emporium is a Boston based indie music label specializing bring the best of new Celtic Punk to the masses. Mustard's first release is a split CD/EP between THE MAHONES (Toronto, Canada) and CATGUT MARY (Melbourne, Australia).

The Mahones were formed at the end of the bar at the Toucan Irish Pub in Kingston, (Ontario Canada), over a few pints of Guinness and plenty of Jamesons Irish Whiskey. It was the brilliant idea of Dublin-born Finny McConnell and his musical mentor Barry Williams to put together a band that sounded like The Clash, The Pogues, The Who, The Waterboys, Husker Du and The Dubliners with a dash of The Replacements and a name that rhymed with The Ramones. Once the stew was complete, a one off gig was booked, March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. Go figure. The world has never been the same since that day!! AAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Seven cd's have now been released (Draggin' The Days, Rise Again, The Hellfire Club Sessions, Here Comes Lucky, Live At The Horseshoe, Paint The Town Red, and Take No Prisoners) and The Mahones have been on too many tours to count. Europe, Scandinavia, Australia and North America have been the usual stomping grounds for these Irish Punk Legends. Always enjoying a rotating line-up of fantastic musicians, this Irish gang of rockers led by singer/songwriter Finny McConnell have played at many major concerts and festivals in Europe (Folkwoods, Huntenpop), Australia (National Celtic Festival) and North America (Guinness Fleadh, NYC, Molson Park Canada Day - Toronto, etc.) alongside legends such as Van Morrison, Shane MacGowan, The Band, D.O.A., The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Steve Earle, Sinead O'Connor, Flogging Molly, and Christy Moore, to name a few. More recently, Terry Woods and Phil Chevron of the Pogues joined The Mahones on stage for a tour of Central and East Coast Canada! Over the years the music of The Mahones has appeared in several places other than their previously mentioned cd's, including the title track for the Hollywood Pictures movie "Celtic Pride" (featuring Damon Wayans, Daniel Stern, and Dan Akroyd) which the Mahones composed specifically for the film. The song 100 Bucks was showcased in the movie "Dog Park", featuring Natasha Henstridge, Luke Wilson, Janeane Garofalo, as well as Bruce McCulloch and Mark McKinney from Kids in the Hall. The Mahones also made a special St. Patrick's day appearance to sing the Canadian and American national anthems at the Air Canada Center for the Toronto Raptors, and then there was the time that they blah blah blah... Now armed with a brand new cd (Take No Prisoners), and a brand new video (A Little Bit of Love, featuring Damhnait Doyle), The Mahones are back!! Look forward to a new world tour starting in early 2007 that will take the band through North America, over to Europe, Australia and Scandinavia, and maybe even Japan. Hide your drinks, and lock up you daughters...

Canada's 1 Irish-Punk Rockers are back!!!!

Catgut Mary - A high energy seven piece hailing from the bluestone streets of Melbourne City, Australia,Catgut Mary is a trad/punk band devoted to a short, fast and loud musical ethic. Strongly influenced by bands like The Pogues, The Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly, Catgut also incorporate a strongly Australian folk sound into their style. Carrying a swag stuffed with their own originals, the band also throws in a few Scots, Irish and English tunes for good measure. With members hailing from Melbourne, Northern Ireland, Sydney, Brisbane and the bush, Catgut Mary is an uncompromising live act that looks, feels and sounds like the most raucous night of the year at the local in any town in Australia and is probably what music would have sounded if amplification and punk spirit had arrived on the colonial goldfields 150 years ago; roaring vocals, riotous energy and, most importantly, rampaging fun.