Okay everyone. Seven Nations was my first exposue to the world of Celtic Rock...but Enter the Haggis blew the genre wide open for me! Plainly put...they kick ass. And not only do they kick ass, but they are finely trained and highly skilled musicians, composers and songwriters from Toronto, Canada. The band is comprised of 5 men. The intrinsic bagpiper and veteran, Craig Downie, who - with his little caps and sunglasses - kind of reminds you of a cross between Bono and the Edge. Not only a very nice and kind man, but he's a lunatic on the stage. Very funny! Then there's the man with the ever-present, generous smile and the killer drum kit I once threatened to steal if he turned his back for too long, James "Seamus" Campbell. This man knows how to work his skins! Mark Abraham, the typically quiet bassist. Shy and quiet...until you get to know him. Then he relaxes and is great in conversation. Over the past few years, however, he's been loosening up more and more on stage...like when he and Trevor get into their pushing matches during "Lanigan's Ball". Great stuff!! And speaking of Trevor... Trevor Lewington, that is. Very quiet and shy when I first met him, but since then, he's come WAY out of his shell. Especially when it comes to adding his own lead vocals to many of the band's songs. Very sweet, but also fun and totally into the creation of music. My friends and I have noticed how he's really come into himself, and he even smoldered sensually on stage during "Down With The Ship" the last time the guys played the Radford Highland festival. And last, but certainly not least, the band's fiddler and most-of-the-time lead singer, the multi-hair-colored Brian Buchanan. The band's youngest memeber, he was just 19 when I first met them. But already an accimplished musician and songwriter. Together with Lewington, Brian wrote one of the most awesome songs that not only Haggis has done, but that I've ever heard. It's called "Icarus", and is more sophisticated in arrangement and more mature in subject than you'd expect out of two guys so young. If you can find it...listen to it. Period. Warning though - there is a 3-minute instrumental intro before the song actually starts. But wait it out. Trust me...it's worth it! Brian is also the most outspoken and extroverted member of the band, and is easy to get along with and have fun with. I was very happy to have Brian, Trevor, Mark and James all stay with me the first time they came to Roanoke. We had a great time, and they even let me exercise my behind-the-band-scene muscles by doing roadie duty and other stuff. I was glad to help them out, and am always glad to lend a hand whenever they revisit Roanoke, which they do at least once a year, now.
Their music rocks harder that Seven Nations, and they put on a hell of a stage performance. If you're not where you can see them live...they have a concert DVD! Get one...you won't be disappointed. Like all Celtic Rock bands, their music is comprised of tradional tunes that they've arranged for rock - like their signature song, "Lanigan's Ball" - as well as original songs that are amazing!
From the Album "Let the Wind Blow High" - this album was created actually before most of the current members were on board, and was mostly traditional and comedy, with Craig Downie in the lead. But several of these comedic songs have survived in live performance, and have been much enhanced with the addition of the younger guys and the more edgy instrument play. They are: Ride My Monster The Mexican Scotsman Donald, Where's Yer Troosers? Bagpipes on Mars
From the album "Aerials": Almost every damn track on the CD. But especially: Star (their take on a traditional Irish tune Arcturus (instrumental) December Ends (a fantastic original song that is kind of heavy/soft-rock - and there's a link to listen to it on their multi-media page) Lanigan's Ball...there's a reason it's their signature song...IT KICKS ASS!!!! Aerials (another great instrumental) Icarus - one of the best songs, ever!
From the album "Casualties of Retail" Another Round (original) Gasoline (original - and kicks ass!) Congress - but when watching it live! They pull of the great percussion antics! Haven (beautiful and original, but sounds traditional) Minstrel Boy (traditional, and I love it!) Martha Stuart Life For Love (a beautiful BEAUTIFUL original ballad) Down With The Ship (one where Trevor does lead vocal...and I SO wish he'd recorded it the way he sings it live...with that killer note at the end that he holds and hold and holds!!)
From their newly released CD, "Soapbox Heroes" It's so new that I don't even have my own copy yet! But as I see them whenever they come around, I've heard many of the songs that are sure to be on it, already. Such as: One More Drink and No More Stones
Check their tour schedule. If they're coming within 100 miles of you...go see them and tell them Vickie from Roanoke sent you! If they're not coming to your town, buy their DVD and CDs and check them out. I promise, you won't feel your money was wasted. They're fan-bloody-tastic!!!
The band is comprised of 5 men. The intrinsic bagpiper and veteran, Craig Downie, who - with his little caps and sunglasses - kind of reminds you of a cross between Bono and the Edge. Not only a very nice and kind man, but he's a lunatic on the stage. Very funny!
Then there's the man with the ever-present, generous smile and the killer drum kit I once threatened to steal if he turned his back for too long, James "Seamus" Campbell. This man knows how to work his skins!
Mark Abraham, the typically quiet bassist. Shy and quiet...until you get to know him. Then he relaxes and is great in conversation. Over the past few years, however, he's been loosening up more and more on stage...like when he and Trevor get into their pushing matches during "Lanigan's Ball". Great stuff!!
And speaking of Trevor... Trevor Lewington, that is. Very quiet and shy when I first met him, but since then, he's come WAY out of his shell. Especially when it comes to adding his own lead vocals to many of the band's songs. Very sweet, but also fun and totally into the creation of music. My friends and I have noticed how he's really come into himself, and he even smoldered sensually on stage during "Down With The Ship" the last time the guys played the Radford Highland festival.
And last, but certainly not least, the band's fiddler and most-of-the-time lead singer, the multi-hair-colored Brian Buchanan. The band's youngest memeber, he was just 19 when I first met them. But already an accimplished musician and songwriter. Together with Lewington, Brian wrote one of the most awesome songs that not only Haggis has done, but that I've ever heard. It's called "Icarus", and is more sophisticated in arrangement and more mature in subject than you'd expect out of two guys so young. If you can find it...listen to it. Period. Warning though - there is a 3-minute instrumental intro before the song actually starts. But wait it out. Trust me...it's worth it!
Brian is also the most outspoken and extroverted member of the band, and is easy to get along with and have fun with. I was very happy to have Brian, Trevor, Mark and James all stay with me the first time they came to Roanoke. We had a great time, and they even let me exercise my behind-the-band-scene muscles by doing roadie duty and other stuff. I was glad to help them out, and am always glad to lend a hand whenever they revisit Roanoke, which they do at least once a year, now.
Their music rocks harder that Seven Nations, and they put on a hell of a stage performance. If you're not where you can see them live...they have a concert DVD! Get one...you won't be disappointed. Like all Celtic Rock bands, their music is comprised of tradional tunes that they've arranged for rock - like their signature song, "Lanigan's Ball" - as well as original songs that are amazing!
Check them out on their website: http://enterthehaggis.com
The only really good clip from YouTube is from their concert DVD. It's a killer song though, called "Gasoline" You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CDA6f_zijQ&search=enter%20the%20haggis
Fave songs...find them!
From the Album "Let the Wind Blow High" - this album was created actually before most of the current members were on board, and was mostly traditional and comedy, with Craig Downie in the lead. But several of these comedic songs have survived in live performance, and have been much enhanced with the addition of the younger guys and the more edgy instrument play. They are:
Ride My Monster
The Mexican Scotsman
Donald, Where's Yer Troosers?
Bagpipes on Mars
From the album "Aerials":
Almost every damn track on the CD. But especially:
Star (their take on a traditional Irish tune
Arcturus (instrumental)
December Ends (a fantastic original song that is kind of heavy/soft-rock - and there's a link to listen to it on their multi-media page)
Lanigan's Ball...there's a reason it's their signature song...IT KICKS ASS!!!!
Aerials (another great instrumental)
Icarus - one of the best songs, ever!
From the album "Casualties of Retail"
Another Round (original)
Gasoline (original - and kicks ass!)
Congress - but when watching it live! They pull of the great percussion antics!
Haven (beautiful and original, but sounds traditional)
Minstrel Boy (traditional, and I love it!)
Martha Stuart
Life For Love (a beautiful BEAUTIFUL original ballad)
Down With The Ship (one where Trevor does lead vocal...and I SO wish he'd recorded it the way he sings it live...with that killer note at the end that he holds and hold and holds!!)
From their newly released CD, "Soapbox Heroes"
It's so new that I don't even have my own copy yet! But as I see them whenever they come around, I've heard many of the songs that are sure to be on it, already. Such as:
One More Drink and No More Stones
Check their tour schedule. If they're coming within 100 miles of you...go see them and tell them Vickie from Roanoke sent you! If they're not coming to your town, buy their DVD and CDs and check them out. I promise, you won't feel your money was wasted. They're fan-bloody-tastic!!!