The Mary Wallopers - "The Idler"

Photo by Sorcha Frances Ryder

"The Idler" is one of three original songs on The Mary Wallopers upcoming album. This one lands more on the folk side of folk-punk, as it's just Sean McKenna on vocals and acoustic guitar. That doesn't mean the Irish band are getting soft for this single. "The Idler" is one of the most biting and vicious songs of the year and attacks landlords, the clergy, the taxman, and xenophobes. You can just hear the venom dripping off of this song, and others should take note of how folk-punk can be done. The Mary Wallopers are more punk on this one than most bands playing what is considered punk nowadays. 

Sean McKenna says of the band's new song:

“The song was written in response to the scapegoating and vilification of ordinary people just doing what they need to do in order to keep struggling through life, rarely harming anyone. Meanwhile those in positions of power, the ones who often create or uphold such situations, are held in high esteem and regarded as pillars of the community. In essence it is a simple call to punch up, not down.” 

You can watch the video for "The Idler" below. Irish Rock 'n' Roll is due out October 13, and is available for pre-order here. For more on The Mary Wallopers, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

10/11 - Philadelphia, PA @ Foundry

10/12 - Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java 

10/14 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

10/15 - Boston, MA @ Middle East

10/18 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern SOLD OUT 

10/20 - St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall

10/21 - Chicago, IL @ Martyrs

10/24 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore SOLD OUT 

10/25 - Portland, OR @ Holocene

10/27 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill

10/30 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour

10/31 - San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room at HOB 

11/9 - Bristol , UK @ Trinity

11/10 - London, UK @ Forum Kentish Town

11/11 - Manchester, UK @ Academy 2  

11/12 - Cardiff, WL @ Tramshed

11/15 - Folkestone, UK @ Quarterhouse 

11/16 - Oxford, UK @ The Bullingdon 

11/17 - Brighton, UK @ CHALK 

 11/18 - Liverpool, UK @ Academy Liverpool

11/19 - Norwich, UK @ Epic Studios 

11/22 - Exeter, UK @ Phoenix 

11/23 - Wolverhampton, UK @ Wulfrun 

11/24 - Northampton, UK @ Roadmender

11/25 - Sheffield, UK @ The Leadmill 

12/7 - Dublin @ Vicar Street 

12/8 - Dublin @Vicar Street

12/9 - Belfast @ The Telegraph Building 

12/13 - Edinburgh, UK @ The Liquid Room

12/14 - Dundee, SC @ Fat Sams 

12/15 - Aberdeen, SC @ Lemon Tree

12/16 - Glasgow, SC @ Barrowland Ballroom

12/20 - Galway, IE @ Leisureland 

12/21 - Kilkenny, IE @ Langtons Ballroom

12/22 - Limerick, IE @ Big Top 

12/23 - Cork, IE @ City Hall 

The Mary Wallopers - "The Blarney Stone"

Photo by Sorcha Frances Ryder

It's always great to hear Irish folk/punk outside of March. The latest from The Mary Wallopers, aka "The Clancy Brothers meets The Dead Kennedys," is everything we want from the genre. "The Blarney Stone" is very traditional Irish folk, but with an odd pop sensibility and the attitude and edge of punk. The choruses are basically gang vocals, albeit (mostly) sung and not shouted. This one is just pure fun, if you're into the genre. Even if you're not, "The Blarney Stone" is still worth a listen as The Mary Wallopers truly know what they're doing.

The Mary Wallopers say of their new single:

“The Blarney Stone is a famous monument in Ireland. It’s said if you kiss it you get the gift of the gab. More business minded Irish people over the years have made their own blarney stones charging unsuspecting tourists for a kiss, this is their story.” 

You can watch the video for "The Blarney Stone" below. Irish Rock 'n' Roll is due out October 13 via BC Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on The Mary Wallopers, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

10/11 - Philadelphia, PA  @ Foundry

10/12 - Vienna, VA  @ Jammin Java 

10/14 - New York, NY  @ Irving Plaza

10/15 - Boston, MA @ Middle East

10/18 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern  SOLD OUT 

10/20 - St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall

10/21 - Chicago, IL @ Martyrs

10/24 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore SOLD OUT 

10/25 - Portland, OR @ Holocene

10/27 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill

10/30 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour

10/31 - San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room at HOB 

11/9 - Bristol , UK @ Trinity

11/10 - London, UK @ Forum Kentish Town

11/11 - Manchester, UK @ Academy 2  

11/12 - Cardiff, WL @ Tramshed

11/15 - Folkestone, UK @ Quarterhouse 

11/16 - Oxford, UK @ The Bullingdon 

11/17 - Brighton, UK @ CHALK 

 11/18 - Liverpool, UK @ Academy Liverpool

11/19 - Norwich, UK @ Epic Studios 

11/22 - Exeter, UK @ Phoenix 

11/23 - Wolverhampton, UK @ Wulfrun 

11/24 - Northampton, UK @ Roadmender

11/25 - Sheffield, UK @ The Leadmill 

12/7 - Dublin @ Vicar Street 

12/8 - Dublin @Vicar Street

12/9 - Belfast @ The Telegraph Building 

12/13 - Edinburgh, UK @ The Liquid Room

12/14 - Dundee, SC @ Fat Sams 

12/15 - Aberdeen, SC @ Lemon Tree

12/16 - Glasgow, SC @ Barrowland Ballroom

12/20 - Galway, IE @ Leisureland 

12/21 - Kilkenny, IE @ Langtons Ballroom

12/22 - Limerick, IE @ Big Top 

12/23 - Cork, IE @ City Hall 

The Mary Wallopers - "Wexford"

Photo by Sorcha Frances Ryder

Irish folk punk can be a bit hokey at times, but when a band nails it, they just nail it. The Mary Wallopers are actually Irish, which is always a plus. The band they get compared to the most is The Pogues, and once you hear their latest single, you'll understand why. "Wexford" is a very traditionally Irish song, but it still has just enough of an edge to it to be considered punk. It's a ballad, and a beautiful and traditional one at that, but the song still has that punk thing going for it. It's not even a Mary Wallopers original, but a traditional Irish song written by Pecker Dunne. Still, they make this song sound like their own, imbuing the song with enough emotion to make it feel completely personal.

Andrew Hendy says of the new single:

“The song was written by Pecker Dunne, who was a travelling musician. He brought so many songs into circulation over the years he played, you’ll have heard the Dubliners playing a lot of his songs. He came from a line of traveling musicians. His father was a fiddle player and his mother was a tightrope walker, the whole family’s trade was entertainment. Wexford is one of the most beautiful songs in the ballad tradition. He wrote it about growing up in Wexford. It touches on his upbringing and on the grief that travelers suffer in Ireland which is something that’s not really talked about much. It’s an incredible, emotional song. We’ve always gravitated towards that side of folk music - the most accessible side of music, the kind you can just stand on the street singing. Pecker Dunne wrote so many funny songs, which makes it even more hard hitting when he’d sing a song like this.”

You can watch the video for "Wexford" below. Irish Rock 'n' Roll is due out October 6, and is available for pre-order here. For more on The Mary Wallopers, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

7/21 - Sheffield, UK @ Tramlines

7/28 - Inverness-Shire, SC @ Belladrum Tartan Heart

7/29 - Lowther, UK @ Kendal Calling

7/30 - Thirsk, UK @ Deer Shed

8/10 - Winchester, UK @ Boomtown

8/12 - Sion, SE @ Guinness Irish Festival 

8/18 - Exeter, UK @ Beautiful Days

8/25 - Portsmouth, UK @ Victorious 

8/26 - Tønder, DK @ Tonder Festival 

9/1 - Salisbury, UK @ End of the Road

9/2 - Birmingham, UK @ Moseley Folk & Arts Festival 

9/3 - County Laois, IE @ Electric Picnic

10/11 - Philadelphia, PA  @ Foundry

10/12 - Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java

10/14 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza 

10/15 - Boston, MA @ Middle East

10/18 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern 

10/20 - St. Paul, MN  @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall 

10/21 - Chicago, IL @ Martyrs 

10/24 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore 

10/25 - Portland, OR @ Holocene 

10/27 - San Francisco, CA  @ Bottom of the Hill 

10/30 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour 

10/31 - San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room at HOB 

11/9  - Bristol , UK @ Trinity

11/10  - London, UK @ Forum Kentish Town

11/11 - Manchester, UK @ Academy 2  

11/12 - Cardiff, WL @ Tramshed

11/15  - Folkestone, UK @ Quarterhouse 

11/16  - Oxford, UK @ The Bullingdon 

11/17 - Brighton, UK @ CHALK 

 11/18  - Liverpool, UK @ Academy Liverpool

11/19 -  Norwich, UK @ Epic Studios 

11/22 - Exeter, UK @ Phoenix 

11/23 - Wolverhampton, UK @ Wulfrun 

11/24 - Northampton, UK @ Roadmender

11/25 - Sheffield, UK @ The Leadmill 

12/13 - Edinburgh, UK @ The Liquid Room

12/14 - Dundee, SC @ Fat Sams 

12/15 - Aberdeen, SC @ Lemon Tree

12/16 - Glasgow, SC @ Barrowland Ballroom