A Tale of Immigration: The Pogues and "Thousands Are Sailing"

The Pogues bring us today's tune, which is called Thousands Are Sailing. A Celtic punk band from London, The Pogues were formed in 1982 and became internationally prominent in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band was originally fronted by Shane MacGowan, who left in 1991 due to drinking problems. The band has since been fronted first by Joe Strummer and then by Spider Stacy. The band broke up in 1996 after releasing their final album Pogue Mahone, but reformed in 2001 and has been playing regular gigs but has no plans to record a new album. The Pogues music is influenced by punk, but uses traditional Irish instruments such as tin whistle, cittern, mandolin and accordion. The band's name comes from "Pogue Mahone," an anglicized version of an Irish phrase meaning "kiss me arse." Thousands Are Sailing can be found on their 1988 album If I Should Fall From Grace with God, and is a tale of Irish immigration - not the 1800s immigration but the more modern immigration of Irish to America looking for better fortunes.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pogues

Not to Brag: The Pogues and "I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day"

Today's random tune is by The Pogues and is called I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day. A Celtic punk band from London, The Pogues were formed in 1982 and became internationally prominent in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band was originally fronted by Shane MacGowan, who left in 1991 due to drinking problems. The band has since been fronted first by Joe Strummer and then by Spider Stacy. The band broke up in 1996 after releasing their final album Pogue Mahone, but reformed in 2001 and has been playing regular gigs but has no plans to record a new album. The Pogues music is influenced by punk, but uses traditional Irish instruments such as tin whistle, cittern, mandolin and accordion. The band's name comes from "Pogue Mahone," an anglicized version of an Irish phrase meaning "kiss me arse." I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day can be found on their 1985 album Rum, Sodomy and the Lash, and the vocal is by bass player Cait O'Riordan.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pogues

DWI in the Making: The Prodigals and "Quart of Gin"

Today's random song, Quart of Gin, is by The Prodigals, an American punk band begun in 1997. The band describes their music as jig-punk and can be classified with other Irish music influenced punk bands such as The Pogues and Black 47 in their merging of traditional Celtic melodies with rock rhythms. The band's melodies are carried by a button key accordion with bass and drum underneath. Quart of Gin can be found on their 1999 album Go On.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prodigals

May We Be Happy: Golem and "Tum Balalaika"

Today's random song is presented by rock-klezmer band Golem, which was created in 2000 in New York City by Annette Ezekiel Kogan, who serves as bandleader, vocalist and accordionist. The band describes their music as Eastern European Jewish folk-rock, and combines elements of rock, punk, and klezmer with lyrics in mainly English, Yiddish and Russian. The name of the band refers to the monster created out of clay to protect the Jewish people, and turned back to clay when it got out of control. The band calls themselves a collective monster that approaches traditional music with respect, but without timidity and resistance to change. This song, Tum Balalaika, can be found on Golem's 2014 CD Tanz. The song chronicles the uncertainty that comes with beginning new love, and a young man asks "Young lady...what can grow without rain? What can burn and never be consumed? What can yearn, cry without tears?" And she answers "Foolish boy, why do you have to ask? A stone can grow without rain. Love can burn and never be consumed. A heart can yearn, cry without tears."

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golem_(klezmer_band)

Serfing Poland: R.U.T.A. and "Jak To Dawny Dobrze Belo"

Some traditional folk presented with the energy of punk is on tap in our random tune for today. The band, R.U.T.A., is from Poland and was formed by the founder of the Warsaw Village Band. Their songs are often no more than two minutes long, and strive to reach elements of hardcore rock and punk through their focus on songs that lament the fate of peasants in past centuries to draw parallels with issues today that fuel groups like the Occupy movement. You can find this song, Jak To Dawni Dobrze Belo, on R.U.T.A's debut album Gore (2011).

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.U.T.A.; https://culture.pl/en/artist/ruta

Down Under in Down Under: The Pogues and "South Australia"

Our random tune for today is by The Pogues! A Celtic punk band from London, The Pogues were formed in 1982 and became internationally prominent in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band was originally fronted by Shane MacGowan, who left in 1991 due to drinking problems. The band has since been fronted first by Joe Strummer and then by Spider Stacy. The band broke up in 1996 after releasing their final album Pogue Mahone, but reformed in 2001 and has been playing regular gigs but has no plans to record a new album. The Pogues music is influenced by punk, but uses traditional Irish instruments such as tin whistle, cittern, mandolin and accordion. The band's name comes from "Pogue Mahone," an anglicized version of an Irish phrase meaning "kiss me arse." This song, South Australia, can be found on their 1988 album If I Should Fall from Grace with God.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pogues

Let's Drink Until Our Hearts Stop: The Pogues and "Streams of Whiskey"

The Pogues bring us our random tune for today! A Celtic punk band from London, The Pogues were formed in 1982 and became internationally prominent in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band was originally fronted by Shane MacGowan, who left in 1991 due to drinking problems. The band has since been fronted first by Joe Strummer and then by Spider Stacy. The band broke up in 1996 after releasing their final album Pogue Mahone, but reformed in 2001 and has been playing regular gigs but has no plans to record a new album. The Pogues music is influenced by punk, but uses traditional Irish instruments such as tin whistle, cittern, mandolin and accordion. The band's name comes from "Pogue Mahone," an anglicized version of an Irish phrase meaning "kiss me arse." This song, Streams of Whiskey, can be found on their 1984 album Red Roses for Me, on the 1991 compilation The Best of The Pogues and on the 2001 compilation, The Very Best of The Pogues. The song sings the hope of going to a better place through alcohol.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Purified: Golem and "Mikveh Bath"

Our song today, called Mikveh Bath, references the traditional Jewish bath taken by women to purify themselves after menstruation and before marriage. The song is presented by rock-klezmer band Golem, which was created in 2000 in New York City by Annette Ezekiel Kogan, who serves as bandleader, vocalist and accordionist. The band describes their music as Eastern European Jewish folk-rock, and combines elements of rock, punk, and klezmer with lyrics in mainly English, Yiddish and Russian. The name of the band refers to the monster created out of clay to protect the Jewish people, and turned back to clay when it got out of control. The band calls themselves a collective monster that approaches traditional music with respect, but without timidity and resistance to change. Mikveh Bath can be found on Golem's 2014 CD Tanz.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Waiting in Vain: The Prodigals and "Long Ago"

Today's tune, called Long Ago, is by The Prodigals, an American punk band begun in 1997. The band describes their music as jig-punk and can be classified with other Irish music influenced punk bands such as The Pogues and Black 47 in their merging of traditional Celtic melodies with rock rhythms. The band's melodies are carried by a button key accordion with bass and drum underneath. Long Ago can be found on their 1999 album Go On. The song is a lament and a wish for death by a woman abandoned by a lover.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Frankly Scarlet: The Pogues and "Turkish Song of the Damned"

Our random tune for today is by The Pogues, a Celtic punk band from London. Formed in 1982, The Pogues became internationally prominent in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band was originally fronted by Shane MacGowan, who left in 1991 due to drinking problems. The band has since been fronted first by Joe Strummer and then by Spider Stacy. The band broke up in 1996 after releasing their final album Pogue Mahone, but reformed in 2001 and has been playing regular gigs but has no plans to record a new album. The Pogues music is influenced by punk, but uses traditional Irish instruments such as tin whistle, cittern, mandolin and accordion. The band's name comes from "Pogue Mahone," an anglicized version of an Irish phrase meaning "kiss me arse." This song, Turkish Song of the Damned, can be found on their 1988 album If I Should Fall From Grace with God. The video was created by a longtime Pogues fan and artist who represents the song as a graphic novel.

The Beauty Inside: Golem and "Miskayt"

So what happens when two people, unfortunately challenged in looks, happen to meet? Today's song, called Miskayt, answers that question. The song is presented by rock-klezmer band Golem, which was created in 2000 in New York City by Annette Ezekiel Kogan, who serves as bandleader, vocalist and accordionist. The band describes their music as Eastern European Jewish folk-rock, and combines elements of rock, punk, and klezmer with lyrics in mainly English, Yiddish and Russian. The name of the band refers to the monster created out of clay to protect the Jewish people, and turned back to clay when it got out of control. The band calls themselves a collective monster that approaches traditional music with respect, but without timidity and resistance to change. Miskayt can be found on Golem's 2014 CD Tanz.

Help in the Sack: Gogol Bordello and "John the Conqueror"

A song based on a folk hero is our random tune for today, and is performed by Gogol Bordello. Gogol Bordello was formed in 1999 in the lower east side of Manhattan, and is known for their sound of gypsy-inspired music mixed with punk and dub. Originally called Hütz and the Béla Bartóks, they changed their name when they realized nobody knew who Béla Bartók was. Instead, Gogol is the last name of classical Russian-Ukrainian writer Nikolai Gogol, and bordello is a gentlemen's club. The band tours relentlessly, and cites Parliament-Funkadelic as one of their main influences. They have released nine studio albums. This song, John the Conqueror (Truth is Always the Same), references the folk hero with magical powers from African-American folklore, and is also the name of a root used in folk magic for sexual spells and gambling spells. You can find it on Gogol Bordello's 2013 CD Pura Vida Conspiracy.

Forerunner: The Prodigals and "Spancil Hill"

The Prodigals, an American punk band begun in 1997, bring us Spancil Hill, which the was the original song that Ghost Riders in the Sky was based upon. The band describes their music as jig-punk and can be classified with other Irish music influenced punk bands such as The Pogues and Black 47 in their merging of traditional Celtic melodies with rock rhythms. The band's melodies are carried by a button key accordion with bass and drum underneath. Spancil Hill can be found on their 1999 album Go On.

Polish Folky Punk: R.U.T.A. and "Jak to Dawni Dobrze Belo"

R.U.T.A., which seems to stand both for the Union of Reactionary Artistic Terrorists or Movement for Utopia, Transcendence and Anarchy, is a band from Poland that combines punk with elements of Polish peasant folk songs and traditional instruments. The result is roughly a stripped down but just as in-your-face punk sound that your Polish great-great-grandfather might have heard had punk existed among disaffected youth in his day. R.U.T.A. is made up of modern Polish folk musicians and members of well-known Polish punk bands, and they take for their inspiration folk-songs from the era of Polish, Ukrainian and Belorussian serfdom and turn them into songs of oppression, action, revolt and rebellion. You can find this song, Jak to Dawni Dobrze Belo, on their debut CD Gore (2011).

Lead into Gold: The Prodigals and "Alchemy"

Today's random song is by the Prodigals, an American punk band begun in 1997. The band describes their music as jig-punk and can be classified with other Irish music influenced punk bands such as The Pogues and Black 47 in their merging of traditional Celtic melodies with rock rhythms. The band's melodies are carried by a button key accordion with bass and drum underneath. This song, Alchemy, can be found on their 1999 album Go On.

Here's Looking at You: The Pogues and "A Pair of Brown Eyes"

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Our random tune is from The Pogues, a Celtic punk band from London. Formed in 1982, The Pogues became internationally prominent in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band was originally fronted by Shane MacGowan, who left in 1991 due to drinking problems. The band has since been fronted first by Joe Strummer and then by Spider Stacy. The band broke up in 1996 after releasing their final album Pogue Mahone, but reformed in 2001 and has been playing regular gigs but has no plans to record a new album. The Pogues music is influenced by punk, but uses traditional Irish instruments such as tin whistle, cittern, mandolin and accordion. The band's name comes from "Pogue Mahone," an anglicized version of an Irish phrase meaning "kiss me arse." This song, A Pair of Brown Eyes, can be found on their 1985 album Rum, Sodomy and the Lash, as well as many compilation and "best of" albums.

Gotcha: DeVotchKa with "DeVotchKa!"

Today's random tune is by an American band based in Denver called DeVotchKa. A four piece ensemble, their name is derived from the Russian word for "girl." Their instrumentation, besides guitar, drums and bass can include theremin, bouzouki, accordion and sousaphone. DeVotchKa started as a backing band for burlesque shows, and in particular traveled with and backed noted burlesque performer Dita von Teese. During this time they were also self-releasing records and touring in support of them which earned them an underground following. The band was eventually picked by the directors of Little Miss Sunshine to score the film which earned them a Grammy nomination for best soundtrack. The band, while essentially a rock ensemble, incorporates a gypsy punk feel into many of its songs. This song, DeVotchKa!, is on their 2008 CD SuperMelodrama.

Does She Have a Sister?: The Luminescent Orchestrii and "Neptune's Daughter"

Today's random tune is by The Luminescent Orchestrii, an experimental group based in the United States and founded in 2002. Their oeuvre consists of music influenced by Middle Eastern, gypsy, and traditional European music along with Appalachian fiddles, hip hop beats and an attitude often found in punk bands. They often use instruments that they have modified to create their sound. This song, Neptune's Daughter, can be found on their 2009 album of the same name.

Not While at Work: The Tossers and "Drinking in the Day"

The Tossers, who bring us the random tune for today, are a Celtic-punk band from the south side of Chicago. The Tossers are actually older than more well known American Celtic punk groups such as the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. This song, Drinking in the Day, can be found on their 2005 CD In the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

Move Your Booty Body to the Celt Funk: Black 47 and "Funky Ceili"

We are getting funky and rocky with today's random tune, Funky Ceili by Black 47, a Celtic rock band from New York City with roots in reggae, hip hop, folk and jazz. Known for their Irish Republican sympathies, their name refers to 1847, the worst year of the Irish famine. Their music was initially embraced by both right- and left-leaning people as they sang songs with socialist lyrics and about everyday life in America, but their outspoken opposition to the Iraq War and other topics garnered them controversy and their outspoken Irish republicanism led to a reluctance by UK labels to promote or support their albums overseas. A series of tragedies also befell various band members in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After 9/11, the band began to play regular and emotional gigs in Manhattan to allow people grieving over the tragedy to have a voice. Their albums have almost all been critically praised, with their music given as examples of how Irish music can rock, and their lyrics drawing comparisons with Irish author James Joyce. Black 47 announced in 2013 that they would disband in November 2014 after exactly 25 years of making music, and they have released their final album, Last Call. Their disbanding is, according to their statement, not due to any internal band dissension but because they want to go out at the top of their game and on their own terms. Funky Ceili can be found on their 1993 album Fire of Freedom.