Record Label: Beagletone Records
Genre: Celtic Rock
Band Link: www.billgrogansgoat.com
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Enjoying Detroit’s Bill Grogan’s Goat depends on one’s tolerance of recycled traditional Irish and Gaelic melodies and accompanying bagpipes, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, tin whistles, and bodhran (a small drum – I looked it up).

The musicianship is competent and lively, and is much more cheerful than other American-based Irish pub bands that play up the “woe are we, we’ve been drunkenly suffering since King William beat King James in 1690, boo hoo” bullshit. Even their versions of “Danny Boy” (ugh) and “Whiskey, You’re the Devil” are chipper.

There is nothing new here – literally. You’ve heard all these melodies before, even on their originals. But “Second Wind” does provide a happier twist on the normally self-piteous tunes. Basically, these guys are your typical good neighborhood Irish pub band playing the same ol’.

Bottom Line: Black 47 without the whininess.
Notable Tracks: Pumpkin’s Fancy, Greenwood Sidee
Overall Rating: