Translated by a computer - Written by Thierry De Fagis (HIGHLAND MAGAZINE, FRANCE) Issue 33. DEC. 2006
Celtic? you have known as Celtic? More than ever, this eternal
music releases a beautiful vitality... Radiating superbly with
Highlands in the Appalachian Mountains, it knew particularly these
last years to avoid more beautiful fruits with sonorities afro, gypsy,
blues, country, heavy... Yes, the Celtic musical universe moves
enormously and does not have any more large-thing to see with this
music traditional Irish, certainly beautiful, but now obsolete.
Highlands Magazine thus presents in this end of the year the vintage
2006, which offers a very rich fish pond. To illustrate this file,
including one big part is devoted to the American Celtic rock'n'roll,
we chose THE INDULGERS, a local group of the Colorado, which has just
left its 6th opus. And OUT IN THE WEST, their excellent album, could
become the incarnation of one well... West Celtic Rock'n'roll! Welcome
in the large Celtic sky!
OUT IN THE WEST (the USA, 2006, Celtic Club Records)
Musicalement and that mean THE INDULGERS * wanted to rub their
Celtic heritage with the foot of the Rocky Mountains! CHASING THE
GHOST (2004), their precedent opus was rather pleasant CD mingling
pleasant a pop rock'n'roll with charming Celtic sonorities. (One could
nevertheless locate there very the country "Dance One The Tips Of Your
Toes").
With OUT IN THE WEST, THE INDULGERS explore new territories
musicals, already outlined in CELTIC TIGER (2002), their excellent 3rd
CD and in their other albums.
OUT IN THE WEST seems well to be the
most important change of this group so refined in the field of the
compositions.
Also the amateurs of rock'n'roll Southerner, country,
blues rock'n'roll and rock' roll will not be able to appreciate this
brilliant CD, which largely exceeds the narrow framework of the Irish
traditional music. Once again, THE INDULGERS excel in their great art
to mingle the traditional instruments (flute, violin, mandoline) with
more electric sonorities!
Moreover, with OUT IN THE WEST, the 2
songwriters of the INDULGERS, MIKE NILE and DAMIEN McCARRON,
chose in the field of the writing an ambitious concept: the evocation
of the West through its mythical decorations (railway, imposing
landscapes...) and its multiple characters (missionaries, workers of
the mine)...
The music and the texts of OUT IN THE WEST form an
exceptional synthesis. As HOTEL CALIFORNIA of the EAGLES represents
California, as GIVE BACK MY BULLETS of LYNYRD SKYNYRD can symbolize
the major South,
OUT IN THE WEST could incarnate the West well...
Let us unroll film... Engine! After instrumental - "Park City Silver"
- more melody, "High Noon", the 1st title sung, involves us in
discovered this enigmatic West. Light breezes of flute, ceaseless
shears of fiddle and some riffs dying constitute the very Celtic menu
of this very orchestrated title. The pretty voice with the Messianic
intonations, at the same time heat and serious, of McCARRON rises in
the large American sky: Here I stand all alone/Far away from all I' ve
known. A title of most convincing! Again, the ballades "Earth And
Blood" and "Wildfire" accompany us out of musical matter in the Irish
pot. The 1st piece with its delicate duet floating
accordéon/percussions and its riffs of guitar is the occasion to
hear
a pleasant ballade with the perfume of jig. The 2e title is
characterized by pretty crescendo a bagpipes/guitare acoustic,
accompanied by the always cordial voice by McCARRON.
As for "The
Journey West", it surprises: quiverings of fiddle, joyeuseutés
of
accordion and rain of riffs of guitar to the program!
"Master Jones",
superb piece, are very intelligently orchestrated. Of start, musical
eclecticism strikes with its air parts of fiddle, its magic keys of
piano very "arty" and its planing agreements of guitar. It is rather
indefinable. Sometimes the so cool musical structure recalls DIRE
STRAITS. And curiously the intonations of McCARRON on this song
point out CHRIS REA. In short, "musicalement, it is panoramic" as us
McCARRON in connection with this title announces.
"Park City Silver"
and "Simply Fine", both instrumentals of the disc, also offer a solid
rythmology. The 1st title one circling instrumental country, is given
rhythm in devil with its palpitating cords of dancing guitar and its
tambourinements. In short, air of the large Appalachian Mountains
plains, that which undoubtedly breathed the grandfather of MIKE
NILE at the time of its ceaseless displacements (see Interview DAMIEN
McCARRON).
As for the 2nd title, full with charm, it is quite simply
époustouflant of virtuosity: "Simply Fine" begins with a very
fascinating length guitare/fiddle crescendo. Then the sound of a
trumpet introduces a station-wagon seizing with the traditional
reminiscences. (One thinks of the Italian instrumental classical music
of the 18th century, in particular with the listening of this court
but remarkable solo of trumpet to the rhythmic promptness of a
SCARLATTI.) The melody screen continues with the same one crescendo
where comes to associate a percussif play the most succeeded of. The
harmonies of the INDULGERS are really astonishing!
"Western Town
Justice" subjugates with its endiablé tempo jazzy and its
rhythmic
door ska. (rhythmic, the very effective one, recalls that of Tan title
the "& Black" on their 2e album). In a very fine way of
évanescentes
volutes of bagpipes and delicate parts of flute coat this stirring up
piece of rockn' roll.
"When We Were Young" and "Cheyenne" are 2
pleasant titles without claim, which give us in the atmosphere of
CHASING THE GHOST, the 5e opus of the INDULGERS. The 1st title is the
occasion to hear a merry duet accordeon/battery. The 2nd whose name
evokes capital of Wyoming is a fast piece supported by the voice of
McCARRON which tells in a picturesque way the railway one: How many
times must I lay this rail/With all the tears that we've bleed.
"Man
Mission" is a supertitre sung by MIKE NILE. (It also lends its
voice on the title "Out In The West".) This piece, impresses of a very
Californian relaxation, appears unusual in the musical repertory of
the INDULGERS. In any case, it could have appeared in THE LONG RUN,
one of chief-of?uvre of the EAGLES. Moreover, the soft and firm voice
of NILE has the same emotional impact here as that of a LOWELL
GEORGE (LITTLE FEAT). The seduction of "Man Mission" primarily
rests on this musical duet sunny voice chaude/guitare, if Californian
"New Frontier", another supertitre, offer - once again - an
interesting musical screen. It is an eclectic title, streaked
zigzagants agreements of guitars way EAGLES, vapor bituminous mix of
fiddle and a cherishing mandoline. The very given rhythm, borrowing at
the same time from sonorities country, Celtic title and Southerner,
rests mainly on the very persuasive song of irreplaceable McCARRON.
Last once MIKE NILE and its western celtic rock'n'roll band
evokes this crowned ground of the West where "the sun turns red". It
is "Out In The West", a a little mystical blues rock'n'roll song, sung
by a NILE in full form. This title is stretched like a long snake
bluesy with its quiverings of agreements of guitar, its felted
percussion and this serene voice a little in withdrawal. (the song of
NILE points out that of J.J. FIXES on "I Got The Same Old Blues") It
closes in any beauty these mysteries of the West (*****).
* line-up: Damien McCarron (vocals), Mike Nile (vocals,
guitars, mandolin, accordian, keys, whistles, electric bagpipe), Renee
Fine (fiddle), Pat Murphy Jr (drums), Chris Murtaugh (bass).
Product by Mike Nile and Neale Heywood (FLEETWOOD MAC)
Interview DAMIEN McCARRON realized on August 15, 2006 per
Thierry de Fages
THIERRY OF FAGES (Highlands Magazine): You are the singer of
the INDULGERS, an American group of Celtic rock'n'roll. You are also
of Irish origin... Can you evoke us your first musical discoveries?
Which were for you and the INDULGERS your influences?
DAMIEN McCARRON: I remember that child, I went each year in July to
Galway to the Irish College. One taught there Irish, the dance and the
music. The framework of the establishment was rather traditional but
was undoubtedly favourable to question me on my Irish roots. From
return in Dublin where I resided I recovered to listen to the HORSLIPS
or THIN LIZZY. Moreover, I always appreciated the marriage of the
traditional airs with a progressive rock'n'roll... When I settled in
the United States, I always kept in memory the music of the WATERBOYS.
I also appreciate like songwriters BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, JOHN MELLENCAMP,
ELVIS COSTELLO and MARK KNOFFER. These can sacrément tell stories!
Moreover much of these authors grant an important place the
traditional instruments. It is also one of our choices. If not, within
the INDULGERS, we appreciate among so many of other groups THE
CHIEFTAINS, RUNRIG, CLANNAD, ALTAN and JETHRO TULL. We like also RUSH,
WISHBONE ASH and of course the music of RANDY CALIFORNIA and SPIRIT **
MIKE formed part of SPIRIT and NEALE HEYWOOD is a member of
FLEETWOOD MAC. All these influences form integral part of us.
Highlands Magazine: Your group is based in Boulder (Colorado). Can you
for the readers of HIGHLANDS MAGAZINE evoke your environment and the
Celtic scene of the area?
DAMIEN McCARRON: Colorado, with its majestic Rocky Mountains, is
really a beautiful place! And people like the true music there,
especially in Boulder. Moreover there are many Celtic groups in our
city. Some borrow sonorities rock'n'roll, but the majority have a
repertory made up of traditional ballades. I think for example of
COLCANNON, a very good group of Boulder playing an Irish traditional
music. If not, the environment here is increasingly Irish. Only in
Boulder, one counts 8 schools of Irish dance and innumerable pubs of
the country. All that is new and pushes like mushrooms. At the time of
my first arrival in Denver, there were only one school of Irish dance
and no pub Irish... The things changed well into few years! The area [
Colorado ] account of excellent rooms. We often play there in company
of other groups of Celtic rock'n'roll coming to visit our State like
HOTHOUSE FLOWERS, BLACK 47, YOUNG DUBLINERS, SEVEN NATIONS, WOLFSTONE,
GAELIC STORM and so much of others. All that causes a stimulation very
enriching!
Highlands Magazine: Your 6th and new opus OUT IN THE WEST seems more
innovating to me than CHASE THE GHOST the precedent. It is not only of
the Celtic music. One can hear there sonorities country and blues with
a perfume of Californian music... a kind of West Celtic Rock? In any
case, I found it splendid. Can you tell us the history of OUT IN THE
WEST?
DAMIEN McCARRON: Thank you very much of the compliment! that summer a
great project finally carried out! We had already determined a certain
orientation in each one of our preceding CDS as well on the level of
the music as of the texts. With regard to OUT IN THE WEST, our
intention was to evoke this historical time of the conquest of the
West. One wanted to make revive this part of the world, this "new
border", which accomodated minor and workers of the railroads. There
was also like source of inspiration the image of all these unknown,
originating in Ireland and Scotland, emigrating in mass towards this
mythical West. Yes, I agree. One can speak about West Celtic Rock. One
undoubtedly feels with the listening of OUT IN THE WEST this strong
heritage of the West, with a Californian key. Moreover, for us, San
Francisco - and his history - formed also part of this border of the
West. For the album, we had present the memory of the grandfather of
MIKE. He extracted from gold in a mine of San Francisco then he
left for Utah where he became merchant of mules.
Highlands Magazine: Can you speak to us more precisely about the work
of writing?
DAMIEN McCARRON: We were very implied by this last. The ideas budded
in our heads. In any case, 54 songs were written. One retained only 13
for the disc of them. We liked some but did not return in the concept
of new CD. I never saw MIKE so quickly writing a great number
of songs! Moreover, we had not programmed of date as for the end of
the writing and the beginning of the recording. Also we continued to
write during the recording and spent 18 months to polish the album,
remainder faithful to this topic of the border of the West. At one
time the songs appeared to me as a chart on which I tried to trace a
course through vast meadows. Lastly, from the more recent songs, I
drew my inspiration in images of men to the mine, convoys railway and
armed gangsters!
Highlands Magazine: There are two excellent instrumentals [ "Park City
Silver" and "Simply Fine" ] in OUT IN THE WEST. Which is the origin of
these names?
DAMIEN McCARRON: Park City, located in Utah, was a mining city. It
accomodates a festival of cinema nowadays. We retained this title
because the grandfather of MIKE had worked in a money mine
where one extracted from the money. As for the name given to the title
"Simply Fine", it comes simply owing to the fact that we always have a
melody with the word "fine". It is the name of Renee besides, our
violonist. Its melody lines are remarkable on this last title. Renee
is a very gifted violonist.
Highlands Magazine: Your title "Man Mission" surprises. It gives the
feeling of a typically Californian music, a little with the EAGLES,
with its air guitars...
DAMIEN McCARRON: We remained in California; perhaps that
influenced us. California is a part of the West, but it is for us very
far and very different from Colorado. But the EAGLES often turned in
Colorado around Boulder and perhaps their sonorities are not
completely foreign for us...
Highlands Magazine: Loneliness and the uprooting through the
topic of the emigration traverse the background of OUT IN THE WEST.
Which were your sources of inspiration?
DAMIEN McCARRON: Historical accounts, strange stories glanées at the
time of our voyages and especially the letters of the grandfather of
MIKE nourished our inspiration. This colourful character,
originating in Dublin, had left as I already announced for San
Francisco then Utah.
Highlands Magazine: A large red cross illustrates the cover of OUT IN
THE WEST. The same cross (with a green color) illustrated IN LIKE
FLYNN, your 1st CD. What symbolizes such for you?
DAMIEN McCARRON: IN LIKE FLYNN had a very strong conceptual identity.
Our 6th CD also draws from these same roots but in a different way.
The Celtic cross on the cover of OUT IN THE WEST emphasizes all that.
Highlands Magazine: The cover of CHASE THE GHOST, your preceding CD,
was unusual. Who had had the idea to photograph the group with Celtic
clothing?
DAMIEN McCARRON: I think that it was a secrecy desire on behalf of
MIKE to carry the kilt and this small pocket gave the
opportunity of it to him. Moreover, on this album, there was a music
more directed towards Scotland than on the precedent.
Highlands Magazine: You seem very influenced by various styles
musicals like the blues, the rock'n'roll Southerner, even hard rock...
I think in particular of your resumptions of "Freebird" (Lynyrd
Skynyrd) and "Born To Be Wild" (Steppenwolf) on album CELTIC TIGER...
DAMIEN McCARRON: Certainly, we are nourished by all these
influences. Last week, we played "Born To Be Wild" at the time of
Sturgis Bike Rally. And that makes a lease which we had not
interpreted this title. It was funny to see all these bikers listening
to us with our digital bagpipes on a title that they appreciate
particularly!
Highlands Magazine: There is also in the majority of your discs a
perceptible influence of the country as on "I Must Go" and of the
rock' roll as on "Tan & Black".
DAMIEN McCARRON: These 2 titles were reproduced on our TAN CD § BLACK.
This last offered a broad pallet of titles as different as the day and
the night. The mandoline characterized "I must go" in opposition to
"Tan & Black" dominated by the electric guitar. The musical concept of
the album was traced on the opposition clarte/obscurity, even if the
many titles with mandoline rather supported the balance on the side of
the serene titles.
Highlands Magazine: Can you tell us a word on the marketing of your
discs to the United States and in Europe?
DAMIEN McCARRON: Maintaining with Internet, our CDS can be available
on sites like Amazon and CD Baby. One also finds our CDS in
many places in the United States. But I doubt extremely that our new
CD is available in France, or even in Europe. Nevertheless, we are
pleased sometimes to hear some of our titles on European radios. But
in any event the diffusion and acquisition of our CDS are much more
accessible to the United States.
Highlands Magazine: Finally when will we be pleased to see a concert
of the INDULGERS in France?
DAMIEN McCARRON: I wish as soon as possible. I was besides in Paris
briefly December last, right before going back to Dublin. It is sure:
the next time, I will take time!
**
File SPIRIT (interview of MIKE NILE) in the n° 31 of
Highlands Magazine
DISCOGRAPHY
THE INDULGERS
IN LIKE FLYNN (the USA, 1999, Celtic Club Records)
The disc worship of the INDULGERS! 12 titles superb, including
2 instrumentals, which runs in a fluid style, worms of the very Celtic
shores... No the hustle, that essence for this 1st disc,
produced by MIKE NILE and NEALE HEYWOOD (FLEETWOOD MAC). This
last will produce in company of his/her old friend of years SPIRIT the
5 others opus of the INDULGERS. Celtic magic in a pure state:
arabesques of fiddle, guitar quivering on fast tempo ("Always"),
celestial flutes and quite terrestrial gosiers ("Company Man",
"Banshee Shout"). Bet won for the ex-bass player of SPIRIT for a place
with the large Celtic sky! (*****).
TAN § BLACK (the USA, 20001, Celtic Club Records)
13 titles, including 1 instrumental, straight left the magic
box of the INDULGERS. The group offers new ballades délicieusement
Celtic but this time to us on a slower tempo ("Easy Come, Easy Go",
"It' S your life"). THE INDULGERS try out new musical forms. Stirring
up "Tan § Black" with sonorities at the same time ska and rock'n'roll
hardware or very convincing "I must go" and its entêtant rock'n'roll
country have much attraction. (* * * 1/2).
CELTIC TIGER (the USA, 2002, Celtic Club Records)
"Inspired by the universe of the Celtic music and the American
rock' roll", according to the INDULGERS, this 3e opus - which
includes/understands 12 titles - is a superb success. THE INDULGERS
réapproprient famous titles with their large Celtic breath. One can
hear there an astounding version of "Born To Be Wild" (STEPPENWOLF)
and another very original of "Freebird" (LYNYRD SKYNYRD). Other
excellent recoveries like "Tupelo Honey" (VAN MORRISON) and
"Fisherman' S Blues" (WATERBOYS) (* * * * 1/2).
HIGH ROAD TO HEAVEN (the USA, 2002, Celtic Club Records)
With this very eclectic disc - 13 titles including 3
instrumentals - THE INDULGERS insufflate with their Celtic attic a
sound more pop rock'n'roll. Therefore, of the short titles, often
fascinating like "Julia" and "Hard Back Dollar". One will also
observe an ambitious incursion towards the prog symphonic rock'n'roll
("Still Fine") as well as an interesting fusion "celtic space music"
("The Other Side"). Imposing "High Road To Heaven" closes the album
with splendid vocal parts and splendid shears of guitar (****).
CHASE THE GHOST (the USA, 2004, Celtic Club Records)
With this 5e album made up of 12 titles whose 2
instrumentals, one will discover well troussés titles ("Chase The
Ghost", "Let It Ride") same vein as those of the preceding disc. Thus
Celtic fulgurances intermingled with pop sonorities rock'n'roll, but
all that without back thought commercial. One will note the increased
presence of the play of accordion in CHASE THE GHOST, instrument
played very finely by MIKE NILE. Moreover, the Scottish music
impregnates the album. One will appreciate "Feeling Fine", a superb
Celtic running away, crossed by a merry accordion and stripes of
guitar in charge of electricity. Twilight "the Loch Lomand's Arms"
will astonish with its humming by accordion and its fugitive
keyboards. To also announce 2 pretty ballades ("Rain And On The Run"
and "The Promise That It Holds"). This last title, typically bushien,
sung by the duet DAMIEN McCARRON/SARAH MORNAVILLE, will undoubtedly
recall to good number celebrates it title "Don't Give Up", fruit of a
collaboration PETER GABRIEL/KATE BUSH (****).
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