Hooligans United Review

John O'Regan
Brodcaster * Freelance Journalist 32, Singland Crescent
Garryowen
Limerick
Ireland
Tel: 061-417302
Int. Tel: 353-61-417302

Up in Sonora in the mountains of Northern California exists the Black Irish Band. Their material mixes historical songs and tunes based on the stories of the Gold Rush and the building of the railroads through California. "Hooligans United" features music of Ireland, America and Italy covering the eclecticism of the ethnic minorities thrown together in their new land of opportunity. "Men of Iron" tells of the building of the Central Pacific Railroad and "Ciela Luna Mezzo Marie" and "Garryowen" reflect the traditions of the Italian and Irish immigrants. Patrick Michael Karnahan's songs are articulate narrative ballads of which "Underneath Montana Skies" stands out while "Rocky Road to Reno" mixes Celtic folk with Spanish brass. "16" sounds vaguely like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and "Men of Iron" has bluegrass affinities. "Hooligans United" has the Black Irish Band delivering a unique musical history lesson along with some knockout performances.

California Story Review

John O'Regan Brodcaster * Freelance Journalist 32, Singland Crescent
Garryowen
Limerick
Ireland
Tel: 061-417302
Int. Tel: 353-61-417302

Black Irish Band - "California Story" - Black Irish Music Bimcd06

The Black Irish Band is based in Sonora, California and "California Story" is their sixth album. Playing a mixture of traditional and original material they have proven popular and influential in their home area and beyond. this new album is all original with fourteen songs based on historical occurrences, places, and people in California. Musically it ranges from the ballad styles of "Captain Jack" to the more cotemporary folk of "In the High Sierra". Some Mexican inflections emerge on "Sweet Thursday" with its mariachi/Cuban rhythm; and the use of trumpet and melodeon. "The Wreck of Brother Jonathan" tells of a steamship bound for the Pacific Northwest. Patrick Michael Karnahan's songs are strong and distinctive. "California Story" continues the Black Irish Band's odyssey of chronicling local and national history in song admirably. A work of maturity and accomplishment. Lend "California Story" an ear, you won't regret it.

Hear The Lonesome Whistle Blow

The Black Irish Band has just released their 11th album entitled Hear The Lonesome Whistle Blow. The album is a celebration of American railroading and features 14 tracks of traditional and original music. For over 13 years, the band has been entertaining people with historical railroad songs and stories. What makes this band and album unique is that most of the songs and the instruments used to play them date back to the 1800's.
     Songwriter Patrick Michael Karnahan has just penned his latest work, Dreams of the Yukon. This story/song tells of the construction of the famous White Pass & Yukon Railroad. The Black Irish Band was hired to perform for the railroad's 100th anniversary last year in the Yukon. Member Michael Lee has also written a new ballad called That Train. This original song is about the decline of passenger train service in the latter part of the 20th Century. Michael's words paint a sad picture to the end of a glorious past.
     Hear The Lonesome Whistle Blow is a celebration of the workers who built the railroads. The opening number, John Henry is the classic story of the African-American steel driver who must prove that man is greater than machine. Men of Iron is an original ballad about the hardships faced by the Chinese workers who blasted down the granite walls of the Sierra Nevada. Another original song, Mick and Paddy tells of the great discrimination faced by the Irish while building the Union Pacific. Mixed in among the original music are many of the traditional favorites and standards that the band have done so well for so many years.
     The Black Irish keep true folk traditions alive on this album by performing such classics as The Wabash Cannonball, Drill Ye Tarriers Drill, Paddy Worked on the Railway, 900 Miles, The Wreck of the Old 97, and The Ballad of Jesse James. The new album also features contemporary songs about today's railroading. The Last Train to Utah is about working long miles on a freight train. The Sierra is an original story/song about California's oldest operating short-line railroad.

If you are interested in great story/songs full of life and alive with history, you will love Hear The Lonesome Whistle Blow! With historic instrumentation and real-life folk spirit, The Black Irish Band will take you back to a time forgotten. Sit back, give it a listen and you will hear the whistle blow.

Fans Respond to American Landscapes

Hi Black Irish Band,

After listening to your new CD American Landscapes over and over I really love this new CD. Best so far. I especially like the song Teddy ....Great job on this one Steve the beat is awesome!!! I also like the new guy Jim Nelson on the song Alaska. Jim you have a pleasant voice that is wonderful to listen to. Also your Buster Keaton is awesome also. Not many folks these days know who Buster Keaton is. I like it!!!!!

I really like Kansas Farewell what a great haunting song. Great work

Patrick, Carl, Dennis, George & John what a great song in tribute to the Beach Boys and the Beatles. Well, done..............!!!!!

I have a Dell laptop computer and have some speakers connected to it and as I read my mail and surf the web I listen to your CD over and over. I really love this CD .....I just cannot say enough good stuff about this one Patrick. Keep up the outstanding work.!!!!!

Wild Bill from San Jose the Black Irish's number one fan.

Into The Arms Of The Sea
The 12th Album Release

The long awaited new release is now available at most Tuolumne County specialty shops such as Beat Music & Sonora Music (Sonora), Railtown 1897 (Jamestown), Village Tunes (Twain Harte), Millers Carpenter Shop (Columbia), Ironstone Vineyards (Murphys), Sierra Railroad (Oakdale). The album contains sea chanteys, instrumentals, and ballads; 14 songs in all. Many of the works are about famous sailing & steam ships.

This new featured work contains both original & traditional material about America's Maritime history.

"They left their homes & loved ones far behind them. All were willing to take a chance with the ocean. Some had good reasons for leaving the safety of land. Many needed to find freedom in a new country while others searched for wealth and adventure. Whatever the reasons were, they all shared one common bond, they all risked their lives when journeying Into The Arms Of The Sea."

" A very creative & brilliant gem of Maritime Music from Patrick Karnahan & the Black Irish."
-Sean Laffey
Irish Music Magazine

"This album is watertight & lusty, as Maritime Music should always be."
-Sing Out Magazine

"A very impressive classy album. An easy listen with strong vocal harmonies and acoustic textures."
-Dave Soyars
The Irish Herald

"A rich cargo of traditional and self-penned maritime songs delivered with taste, gusto and lots of energy. 'Into the arms of the sea' stands as a marking stone for future maritime inspired collections."
-John O'Regan freelance journalist/broadcaster

“A job well done! The Black Irish Band’s performance and songwriting is of the highest standard.”
-Rick Spencer (forebitter) Mystic Seaport
The Museum of America and the Sea

“The Black Irish band perform the most remarkable and unique maritime music! “Into the Arms of the Sea” puts the band in the same company as America’s best maritime traditionalists, while at the same time creating their own new tradition.”
-Tim Thomas
Music Historian
Monterey Maritime Museum

Into The Fire

Contact: Doug Kohl www.blackirish.com

Sierra Communications P.O Box 769

Phone 209-586-5887 Twain Harte, Ca 95383

PRESS RELEASE

The Black Irish Band & United States Forest Service team up to produce music video in celebration of the forest service centennial (100 years of Service)

Sonora, Ca, July* 2005

The Black Irish Band from Sonora, has just released their new 15 CD album titled “From the Forest’. This new CD features 12 songs that relate to the history of the forest service. Band songwriter Patrick Karnahan composed ten of the selections on the album. Most of the ballads are in the Folk-Americana Style that has been the trade mark of the 15 year old Black Irish.

The album is a musical journey into the lives of those that work in the national forest. Three original song ballads, Into the Fire, Underneath Montana Skies, and South Canyon 1994, tell of the danger of wild land firefighting and honors their sacrifice. Two song ballads celebrate the very symbol of the forest service, Smokey Bear. Patrick Karnahan penned most of the songs based on his many years working for the forest service (1978-1994). He still works part-time as a Forest Interpreter for the Stanislaus National Forest.

Two song ballads on the album, “The Ballad of John Muir” and Manzanar, were inspired by the history of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Region. Other feature album ballads include, “I’ll see Alaska”, “Home on the Range”, “Boots of a Forester”, and The last Look (inspired by a tour of duty in a fire tower).

Three of Karnahan’s compositions have been chosen by the Smithsonian Museum to appear on their recording label as part of the forest service centennial.

The Smithsonian picked “Into the Fire”, John Muir, and Smokey to be on their CD.

Members of the Black Irish Band were selected by the Smithsonian Museum to be apart of the two week celebration this summer performing their original songs at our nations National Mall in Washington D.C.

A command performance was given by Black Irish members at the Kennedy Center on Saturday July 2^nd. This occasion marked the Washington D.C. screening of the bands first music video of the original song, “Into the Fire”

The video was co-produced by the forest service to honor men & women who fight fires. Most of the live scenes were shot on location in the Stanislaus National Forest. In the video over 40 forest service firefighters were featured.

From The Forest

From the Forest is a sort of concept album. It celebrates the great American outdoors, especially the forests and those who risk life and limb fighting fires in the wilds.

This album, from the Black Irish Band, is a series of songs about the heroic, from landscapes to individuals. There is a very real feeling of dedication to be experienced here, particularly on tracks like "Into the Fire."

"The Ballad of John Muir" celebrates the man who "discovered" the natural wilderness of the Rocky Mountains and was instrumental in inventing the national park system -- to whom we should be eternally grateful.

The majority of the 13 tracks were written by band member Patrick Michael Karnahan and show a great songwriting ability, as well as a love of his subject. You do not need to have experienced those wilderness areas to enjoy this album, but if you have been there it gives you that added thrill.

by Nicky Rossiter
Rambles.NET
6 January 2006