I've been a fan of Finny McConnell's since he was a roadie for Hugh Dillon & The Rattlers back in 1985.  I first met him when his father, Brendan, owned The Hotel Frontenac in Kingston, Ontario in the early 80's and I went to Muldoon's with friends to listen to traditional Irish music.  He has been a well-loved and much respected artist in the Kingston music scene since his early twenties.  We have always been friendly acquaintances, and he is one of the sweetest, most straightforward men I have ever had the privilege to get to know a little. 

I saw Finny's band The Reckoning nine times in Kingston between the years of 1989 and 1993.  I've seen The Mahones more times live, in all of the band's incarnations, than any other band in the world - at least 30 times - since the summer of 1991!  I've seen them play in Kingston, Toronto and Vancouver and although I was never an official "Mahonette", my good friend Vicki and I are definitely very big, longtime fans of Canada's premier Celtic-punk-country-rock band.
 

I've partied with Finny, enjoyed the craic with him, met his family and become friends with his relatives in Ireland.  He used to have the cutest Dachshund named Finnegan that I ever saw.  He is a good man, a loyal friend and a loving father.  Finny McConnell personifies Celtic/Irish passion and is THE BEST, bar none, Irish-Canadian

singer/songwriter/guitar player that I have ever seen. He is The Mahones and along with the extremely talented and very handsome Andrew Brown (accordion/organ/tin whistle), forms the heart and soul of the band.

I have to say that I have never quite got over the departure of Mauro Sepe and Owen Warnica from The Mahones' early days when "Draggin The Days" was an album I'd memorized and danced to in my living room.  "Drunken Lazy Bastard" is possibly the most infectious party tune ever to inspire one to jump up and down and pogo like a Pogue.  However, throughout the years some really excellent musicians have played with the band, including Ger O'Sullivan, Ross Carmody, Dave Allen, Barry Williams, Joe Chithalen, Greg McConnell, Gene Hughes and several others that I never had the pleasure to meet.  Finny's extraordinarily gifted sister, Dympna McConnell Radford, also often contributes guest vocals that blow the audience's collective mind.  Finny inspires other musicians to lend their very essence to his musical vision and always, always succeeds!

The Mahones are not only the best Canadian party/dancing/drinking band you'll ever hear, but they've also written some gorgeous ballads.  They are dichotomous: both poignantly folk and electrifyingly supersonic.  It's no secret that they are influenced by The Pogues, The Waterboys, The Ramones and The Clash.  They are bound to go down in Canadian history as being one of the best bands this country ever produced, along side their friends The Tragically Hip and Blue Rodeo.  They live the music they play and therefore are the most honest, pure and authentic artists ever to grace a stage with their rebel-rousing presence.  Yes, I LOVE this band and I love Finny McConnell for staying true to it for fifteen years.  Whenever I feel a bit wistful for Ireland or am just in need of a Celtic music infusion, I go to see The Mahones play and they never let me down and unfailingly make me smile.  What more can one say about a band's worth than that?

The Mahones have created five original CDs: "Draggin' The Days" (my sentimental favourite), "Rise Again", "The Hellfire Club Sessions", "Here Comes Lucky", a new and as yet unavailable title, one best of volume "Paint The Town Red" and "Live At The Horseshoe", the venue in which they've performed some of their most memorable and exciting shows.  Some of my very favourite tracks include:  "Draggin' The Days", "Back Home", "Drunken Night In Dublin" (from "Draggin' The Days") "100 Bucks", "Paint The Town Red", "Far Away",  "Take Me Back",  "Black Eyes" (from "Rise Again"), "Cocktail Blue", "There She Goes", "Heaven", "Another Night" (from "The Hellfire Club Sessions") and "Queen and Tequila", "Miles Apart", "Is This Bar Open 'til Tomorrow", and "You're The One" (from "Here Comes Lucky").

I look forward to the utter joy of seeing The Mahones and especially Finny McConnell in concert again and to many more superbly recorded offerings from them in the future.  Long may they reign as the kings of Celtic rock in Canada and abroad!  It's no small feat that they have also conquered Boston, New York, Las Vegas, Ireland, Germany and Holland to name but a few places outside of Canada.  If you haven't seen this band live, get off your ass and get out to see them as soon as possible!  You will thank me and most of all you will thank them for sharing their tremendous inspirational musical gift with you!  Come out and join them on Tuesday, July 19th, 2005 at The Toucan for a tribute to Barry Williams, former Kingston musician and past-owner of The Merchant MacLiam who recently passed away from cancer in Dublin.

For more information, tour dates and some great photos of The Mahones, visit their website at www.themahones.net