
Off The Record
by Mike FarragherRSS 
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So, I am happy to announce that some of the better columns you have been reading here have been picked up by a publisher and will be made into a book that I’ll be calling This Is Your Brain on Shamrocks sometime in February!
In reading over some of the edited essays, I was troubled by how many words were devoted to my poor self-image.
Barleyjuice is a rowdy collection of gloriously scruffy musicians from Philadelphia that have developed a legendary fan base by whipping up frantic crowds at Irish festivals. Kyf Brewer (lead vocals, guitar, accordion, mouth organ, bagpipes, piano), Keith Swanson (lead vocals, mandolin, bouzouki, bagpipes, whistle), Billy Dominick (fiddle), Carbomb (whistle, banjo), Eric Worthington (bass, backing vocals) and Greg Shroeder (drums) play their instruments with the urgency of a knife fight---a distinct possibility on the rowdy lane known as Skulduggery Street. Over 14 songs, the band tells the story of life on their disc Skulduggery Street, a piece of real estate that demands frequent visits.
The collection starts up with “Prettiest Girl At the Fair,” time is a hobo with dirt on his face/you can dress him in tails but you can’t take him anywhere,” Brewer sings, his voice scurrying in the darkness before the sun comes up after a long night of partying. By the time the chorus tun round and there she was/drifting on air she was/with ribbons and braids on her hair she was/the prettiest girl at the fair,” you wish you had your mates at the bar singing along with you.
Barleyjuice takes you back into the corner of the pub with “The Postman Always Jigs Twice,” a stellar traditional workout that showcase the band’s nimble musical chops.


