
About Barleyjuice
How many bands can boast the fact that two of the members have played
bagpipes for royalty? Barleyjuice, the group with a penchant for all that is
³trad-rock² can, and are presently garnering affection and respect in the
New World. Formed by Staten Islander Keith "Swanny" Swanson after a
memorable stint with the now legendary Flailin' Shelaleghs, the 'Juice have
brought traditional sounds a long way from their Ellis Island predecessors.
³Why wouldn¹t people love Barleyjuice?² muses frequent frontman Kyf
Brewer, ³We can dance with your daughter, mosh with your son, sing with your
grand-mother, toast your dad under the table, and we¹re so handsome and
humble your mum¹ll be cookin¹ for us by night¹s end..²
Humble, indeed. Within one performance, the individual members of the
demonstrative sextet - Brewer, Keith ½Swanny. Swanson, Gregor Schroeder,
Billy D, Eric Worthington, & Jimmy Carbomb pilot a barrage of instruments
encompassing guitar, mandolin, fiddle, accordion, bouzouki, tinwhistle,
bass, drums, and pipes in addition to physical antics, gruff and tumble
vocals, and instrumental jawdroppers, all for seemingly as much their own
amusement as any audience member. The bagpipes close one set with a high
energy pipe duel. Brewer even executes an energetic highland fling. This is
a Concord across the pond for any zealot of the dog-eared celtic-classic
songbook.
Their sound having once been described as ³the Rolling Pogues²,
Barleyjuice is more inclined to dub themselves ³a Lovely Little Drinking
Band with a Serious Ceilidh Problem² - the word, ³ceilidh² (kay-lee), a
gaelic term for ³party², fitting them as aptly as their kilts - suitable
swatches of toggery that their rapidly widening fanbase has grown to expect,
as well the subject of much curiosity and repartee, along with knee-high
hose, sporrans, and t-shirts bearing images of rockstars and beer.
³People are endlessly fascinated with what¹s worn under the kilt," says
Brewer, "so we tease Oem a bit. During the shows we¹ve had women who¹ll just
wander up and boldly look for themselves..² ³I feel so cheap,² quips
Swanson, ³You could at least buy me a drink first.²
So why do their accents seem to meander from Irish to Scottish to Brit
cockney? Where are these guys from anyway? ³We¹re all yanks,² confesses Kyf.
³That¹s just the sound of tongue in cheek. But we love this music - it¹s got
such heart and wit that we can¹t help but mock it and rock it up.
Visit the Barleyjuice website

|