As a man of Irish lineage, I tend to avoid the nonsense associated with the “American” St. Patrick’s Day and and usually, all economically created imagery surrounding my heritage.  Instead, when I think of Ireland, I think of labor, rural towns and fighting.  I think of bland food, warming folk balladry, and angst filled lyricism of strife and politics.  Truth be told, unfortunately, is that I’ve only traveled overseas once, and I really have no idea what I’m talking about.  These are simply associations I make, even if they’re a bit naive.  Perhaps it’s film, stories passed down from relatives, or even worse, history textbooks, that create my view of Ireland and what it represents.  One definitive certainty, however, is that Fight Like Apes has pretty much blown all of this to shit.

Fight Like Apes has been at it for a couple of years across the pond.  Their most recent release, Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion has garnered heavy critical acclaim and award nominations.  Their US debut is now on the horizon (dropping March 9th), with a hodgepodge of tunes from previous efforts mixed together in an EP entitled You Filled His Head with Fluffy Clouds and Jolly Ranchers.  What did you Think was Going to Happen. Besides having a panache for lengthy album titles, this is a band rooted in energy and a healthy mixture of fury and humor.  After a first few listens I was wholly undecided on what to think, but this is partially because I was startled at its open defiance to my concept of Ireland and its music.  A couple of listens through and I’ve got it on immediate repeat and have for the last few days.  The five songs they’ve chosen for this US debut paint a pretty good portait of the band and the styles explored in their previous work.

Guitars are sandwiched into the mix, but there’s a dominance of synthesizers with an Irish flavor.  If it’s possible to fuse a bagpipe sound into a synthesizer and loop it around into something viable, Fight Like Apes manages it throughout, specifically in “Canhead,” where their roots are impossible to ignore.  Lyrically, this is some witty stuff, spanning pop culture critique to slamming vulgarity;  ”Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues,” a Mclusky cover, spins an intricate web of squeals, plenty of F-bombs and edgy commentary.  ”Knucklehead” begins with what, I swear, is a tampon commercial vibe, into humorous asides about Fran Drescher, peoples’ obsession with shitty television and mindless consumerism.  Although there’s a quirky sound in each of these five songs, there’s a brash confidence in both the style and lyricism.  There’s depth here, despite the outward visage of frivolity and carelessness.  The closing track, “Snore Bore Whore” mellows things out a bit, and points to, what I think, where this ship is headed on future efforts.

This is not Bono and U2.   It’s not The Cranberries.  There’s not even a stout wind of Braveheart bagpipes coming from their northern neighbors.   This is a band you’d likely find in an NYC punk bar, squealing out raucous jams until 5 in the morning.  It’s dance music, but dance music you can fight to.  Pick it up March 9th.

Fight Like Apes – “Lend Me Your Face”

Fight Like Apes-”Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues” (Mclusky Cover)