http://www.prodigals.com/ Anyone else ever seen these guys live? I had never heard of them, but I just caught them last week, and they put on a great show, even though it was at a lame festival, and the family crowds had gone home by the time they went on at 11. They were gamers though, and played a fantastic final set to the 30 or so stragglers left at 1am. Pretty impressive for a group now playing the Dem. National Convention this week. Anyway, somewhere between Black 47 and The Pogues sounds right. Big sound, tight, and a kickass lead guy on button accordion.
I saw them open for The Undertones @ The Kintting Factory in NYC in March...I thought they were tedious in that Irish-folk-rock fusion way that kept Black 47 from breaking out. Having never heard them before, I thought most of their stuff sounded the same. However, the drunk Irish girls dancing in the front LOVED them, so they've got that going for them. You are right about the accordian player, he was pretty terrific.
I am a big fan. In truth, I have never seen them live... but I heard them live once! I discovered them in 1999 or 2000 driving from Chicago to Columbus for a match... NPR was playing a concert, and I thought they were awesome. I've always been disappointed that no one has ever heard of them. One thing I always noticed was that the studio recordings never sounded as hard as the live stuff I heard. I always did want to see them live, but I miss them every time they come through Chicago.