Artist Gaelic Storm

The fact that there’s only one native Irishman in Gaelic Storm helps the Celtic-fusion band’s cartoonish view of Irish culture go down smoothly. Its sound may be as authentic an Emerald Isle experience as a night at Bennigan’s, but that doesn’t detract any from Gaelic Storm’s floor-stomping, stout-spilling live shows—especially for those who think Irish music doesn’t address drinking enough. The band returns to that particular topic again and again on 2010’s Cabbage, which stocks the bar with tracks like “Raised On Black And Tans,” “Rum Runners,” and “Just Ran Out Of Whiskey.” There’s talk of “Irish” activities like fighting and seafaring, too, all swept up in a dizzying mix of Highland bagpipes, mandolin, penny whistle, and other traditional instrumentation. 

Updated 11/03/2011