We last checked in with the Fenians shortly after the release of their 2003 recording, Every Day's a Hooley. Recently, I dug out this more recent album, from 2013, and a quick check at the band's website shows they're still kicking in 2020. Great news! The Fenians are a rocking good band, taking their California-Irish sound and mixing it up with contemporary flair.

The lineup has stayed fairly consistent over its three decades of musical history. As of this recording, they were Terry Casey on mandolin, electric guitar and vocals, Rob Williams on acoustic guitars and vocals, Brendan Harkins on bass, uilleann pipes and vocals, Tardu Yegin on whistles, flute, sax, accordion and keyboards, and Bryon Holley on drums, percussion and vocals.

The band has lost none of its energy, nor its gift for crafting original songs that fit neatly among more traditional Celtic-rock fare. Memorable originals that will keep you moving to the beat are "On the Road to Ballybrack," "Banshee Under My Bed," "My One & Only Love," "Token Wake Song" and "Come Out of the Rain."

It's great to see these guys are still at it! (Discoveries such as Take Me Home are exactly why I love writing these flashback reviews!)

[ visit The Fenians' website ]