If anyone is left standing, it'll be Black 47. The band is celebrating an astonishing 20 years of rocking the world with the Celtic-influenced genre it pioneered, not to mention championing various political and social issues. Known for its partying as much as its politics, Black 47 has released 13 albums on major and indie labels, toured the world and blown the genre of Celtic rock wide open for many a band to follow. Now, two years after the release of its provocative album, IRAQ, hailed by Rolling Stone as "an important document, more a prayer than a protest," Black 47 returns with its 14th release, Bankers and Gangsters. ...show more

If anyone is left standing, it'll be Black 47. The band is celebrating an astonishing 20 years of rocking the world with the Celtic-influenced genre it pioneered, not to mention championing various political and social issues. Known for its partying as much as its politics, Black 47 has released 13 albums on major and indie labels, toured the world and blown the genre of Celtic rock wide open for many a band to follow. Now, two years after the release of its provocative album, IRAQ, hailed by Rolling Stone as "an important document, more a prayer than a protest," Black 47 returns with its 14th release, Bankers and Gangsters.

The band employs its distinctive ever-broadening mélange of New York styles - rock, reggae, hip-hop, folk, Irish traditional, downtown noise, jazz and blues - on this celebratory eclectic mix highlighted by some top-shelf storytelling. The new songs range from the rocking socio-political commentary of "Long Hot Summer" and "Bankers and Gangsters" through humorous scenarios like "Long Lost Tapes of Hendrix" and "Izzy's Irish Rose" to the classic pop songwriting and romantic nostalgia of "Yeats and Joyce" and "That Summer Dress." "This time it was more about creating a balance between the joyous and the thoughtful," said front man Larry Kirwan. "Really focusing on the rhythm section and coming up with innovative arrangements for the brass and pipes. After immersing myself in IRAQ it was a blast to catch the humor in the old Lower East Side friction between Jewish and Irish in 'Izzy,' or the plight of a wily Yank who seeks to steal the long lost tapes of Jimi Hendrix from the sex-starved ladies of West Cork - a true story, I might add.

It was also nice to tip the cap to old friends like Hilly Kristal, Lester Bangs and Staten Island Danny in Long Hot Summer." As ever Black 47 has its finger on the pulse of the country with a title track commenting on the ongoing financial crisis and employing the band's trademark black humor. Bound to be a party favorite, "Celtic Rocker" combines Irish Reels and Kinks power chords in the coming of age saga of a lady addicted to the burgeoning Celtic Rock sub-culture. Nor does Kirwan stint on Irish politics and history. "Rosemary (Nelson)," "Red Hugh" and "Bás In Éireann" resurrect righteous figures including Civil Rights lawyer Nelson murdered in 1999. ...show less