The Fighting Jamesons-Virginian-Pilot Newspaper

Not long ago, Jeffrey McLaughlin, fiddler and mandolin player for The Fighting Jamesons was searching the web when he stumbled upon a blog post about the band.

 “We had just played a show and this girl was talking about seeing it with her dad,” he said. In the entry, the author wrote that when the Virginia Beach based Celtic rock band played the Irish classic, “The Leaving of Liverpool,” father and daughter looked at each other and smiled. “She said that he’s sung that song to her since she was a baby. They had this incredibly special moment. It was a really great story and it made us feel so good.”

On a recent Friday night in Richmond, McLaughlin and the rest of The Fighting Jamesons are gathered in their dressing room, pre-show at The National rock club to share stories about their relatively quick emergence on the music scene.

 “You think back to when you were a kid and you’re setting up a stage made of milk crates like you’re Gene Simmons or something putting on shows for your sister and cousins and then you’re actually playing clubs like The National or the NorVa or The Stone Pony in New Jersey,” said singer/guitarist Mike Powers. “It’s extraordinary. Playing music has got to be the coolest job in the world.”

Powers, who also plays the banjo, ended his 10 year on-air reign at Norfolk radio station 96X last year and founded The Fighting Jamesons in 2010. The quintet, including guitarist Geo Bauman and brothers Paul and Jon Bidanset on drums and bass guitar respectively, take their cue from such bands as The Pogues and Dropkick Murphys by blending traditional Irish/Celtic music with rock and punk. The band has quickly made a name for themselves thanks to their fiery high-energy shows. Think sing-along choruses, the occasional guest bagpiper and hoisted pints of Guinness.

“We take a lot of pride in our live act,” said Powers. There’s a lot of energy and heart behind it and we always do our best every time we go on stage. I think that’s missing in music right now; going out there and working hard for your audience.”

The band’s skillful performing chops even managed to surprise some family members. “My mom had never seen us play until last November,” said Jon Bidanset.

“After the show she was like wow, that was really, really good. I laughed because she sounded so shocked.” On Saturday, The Fighting Jamesons perform at the NorVa for what will likely be one of their more festive gigs. As the saying goes, everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. In the case of The Fighting Jamesons it also happens to be factual. Each of the band members can lay claim to some Irish ancestry.

 “My family emigrated from Ireland around 1913,” said McLaughlin. “The legend in our family is that they were actually going to take the Titanic to America a year earlier but they didn’t have enough money saved.”

At that revelation, Powers’ voice raises with good natured incredulity. “How have we not heard about this before?” he exclaimed. “This is ridiculous. You have to write a song about it. That’s an amazing story.”

It was Powers’ own visit to the Emerald Isle that inspired him to start the band in the first place. “It was kind of life changing,” revealed the musician.

 “My wife and I went there three years ago and it was the greatest time of our lives. The people, the atmosphere, the sounds, the smells; everything about it is just intoxicating. One night we were in a pub in Killarney and this husband and wife were performing. They saw me singing along and invited me up on stage. It was incredible.”

For lead guitarist Geo Bauman, playing in a Celtic band has even improved personal relationships. “My family is about as Irish as you can get,” he said. “Growing up I played in all kinds of different bands, mostly metal and really weird sounding stuff that really doesn’t mesh with other people. Now that I’m playing something that involves my heritage like Irish music, they’re really proud. I have a really strong connection with my family now.”

It’s easily apparent that the band mates are also exceptionally close knit.

“These guys are literally my best friends in the world,” said Jon Bidanset. And while his brother is mostly absent from the conversation to man the band’s merchandise table, his brief appearance initiates a wild flurry of jokes, anecdotes and good humored barbs. “What we lack in height we make up for in charisma and friendliness,” joked Paul Bidanset. “If you were to stand outside of a room and just listened to us talk, you wouldn’t go fifteen seconds without hearing somebody laughing,” added Bauman.

For Powers, that camaraderie helps keep the band motivated.

“I really believe in these guys and in this bond,” he said. “I think if we work hard and continue on this path, we can take it to the next level.”

To that end, the band essentially gave up drawing a salary last year, sacrificing immediate gratification in favor of the bigger picture.

“We took all of the money we made and invested it right back into the band,” said Powers. “We used it to make our record.”

The Fighting Jamesons released their self-titled debut late last year. The eight song CD features a healthy respect for Irish music tradition while infusing the genre with a decidedly modern day attitude. The disc kicks off with the thrashing, fiddle fueled “Ghost Ship Baltimore,” an original song about the ships that carried Irish immigrants trying to escape the country’s Great Potato Famine. On “Uncle Michael” the band charges through their own version of an old school drink soaked Irish anthem. Elsewhere, “Sink” finds the band taking on a more introspective tone.

“It’s about having an emotional night kind of alone in a bar,” said McLaughlin. “It’s not slow by any means but it’s the slowest song on the record. We were kind of scared to do it because we’re such an upbeat band but people seem to really like it.”

"There are so many different styles of Celtic music,” added Powers. “We tried to hit every single one from traditional to punk rock to straight up rock and roll to something more folksy. There’s so much to pull from.”

The next challenge for The Fighting Jamesons is expanding their predominantly east coast fan base. “I’d love for us to tour nationally and even internationally at some point,” said McLaughlin.

The band recently got one step closer to that objective by signing with a national agency that also represents such artists as The Clancy Brothers, The Irish Rovers and The Saw Doctors. The Fighting Jamesons have since been booked to play several big Irish music festivals this summer, including gigs in Colorado and New York. If all goes according to plan, the band mates will one day be able to quit their day jobs.

 “My number one goal and I think everyone else is on the same page; is to make this band our number one priority,” said Bauman.

“I think we owe it to ourselves and all the people that supported us to see how far we can take it,” added McLaughlin. “We’re in this place now that so many musicians are never fortunate enough to reach. We want people to know that we’re incredibly appreciative and humbled by the ridiculous amount of support that’s been shown to these five nerds. We intend to work incredibly hard to hopefully be worthy of it.”

Hank 3-Same Name, Different Sound - Virginian Pilot Newspaper

For Hank Williams III, aka Hank 3, musical boundaries are meant to be crossed. He’s spent his career traveling from country to punk, with occasional road trips to speed and doom metal. It’s not your grandfather’s music, or in Hank 3’s case, it’s not your father’s either.

“Hank Williams and Hank Junior have covered the country world as best as it can be covered,” said the younger Williams’ of his famous bloodline. “If I was just a country singer I don’t think I would have gotten the respect of people like Henry Rollins of Black Flag or Jello Biafra of The Dead Kennedys. I think even people in the country world can see that I’ve stayed true to myself,” he said by phone from his ranch in Nashville, Tenn. “I’ve always loved different kinds of music. I think it sets me apart.”

Still, it would have been easy for the musician to cash on his legendary last name.

“Yeah, there were some suggestions,” Williams revealed. “The easy road would have been to work with some famous Nashville producer, do what they told me to do, and make tons of money.”

As a matter of fact, the musician’s first CD, “Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts,” signaled a turn in that very direction. The 1996 mainstream country release brought the voices of all three generations of Williams men together through modern technology. Hank 3 has been distancing himself from it ever since.

“Even though I’m not famous or making that much money, I like being independent,” he said.

That kind of determination has put Hank 3 on a rather unconventional career path. In the country music genre, he’s recorded such fittingly named albums as “Risin’ Outlaw” and “Damn, Right, Rebel Proud.” The material includes an amped up, attitude driven version of rockabilly, that Williams dubs “Hellbilly.” The musician, who plays the NorVa on Wednesday, has also been a punk rock drummer and a heavy metal bass player. He says the seemingly disparate genres are not mutually exclusive.

“There’s a lot of connection there,” he maintained. “I think the barriers have been broken down over the years and people are a little more open.”

 Williams, 39, offers up a few of his musical influences as evidence.

“Just look at someone as big as Willie Nelson. Nashville told him we don’t like your sound and we don’t like your look. Well, he moved to Texas and started getting bikers and hippies and all kinds of different fans. David Allan Coe was singing about long haired rednecks. There’s a bunch of people that love Johnny Cash and Hank Williams who also love Pantera and heavy metal.”

Note the absence of any references to mainstream country in Hank 3’s discussion.

“Everything is so clean and pretty and perfect.” Williams is unapologetically the opposite. “I’ve been known to cuss,” he said. “I sing about drinking and raising hell but my main goal is to make people forget about their problems. I want people to have a good time.”

That attitude has awarded Williams a loyal fan base and it’s something he derives much satisfaction from.

 “A lot of musicians nowadays just show up two minutes before they play and when they’re done, they’re outta there. I take pride in the old country way of shaking hands and thanking the people that are there for you.”

 Creating a bond with fans he said, is the best part of his job.

 “The biggest payoff is when someone tells you how your music has helped them or affected them in some way.”

 When Hank 3 performs in Norfolk, he’ll have plenty of new material to draw from. Last fall the musician released four albums simultaneously. “Ghost to a Ghost/Guttertown,” is a double disc of outlaw country and swagger packed “Hellbilly.” “Attention Deficit Domination” features a grinding metal sound reminiscent of Black Sabbath, and the unusual “3 Bar Ranch Cattle Callin’” is a concoction Williams calls “cattle-core;” speed metal mixed with the voices of actual livestock auctioneers.

 Hank 3 will perform separate sets of each genre.

“I’m basically opening up for myself,” he laughed. “You don’t have to stay for all of it but I always pay respect to my deepest roots first,” he added. “No matter what, the first set is always the country part of the show, then it’s the “Hellbilly,” and then the rock.” While he may not be as well-known as his forebears, Williams seems content. “If anything happened to me tomorrow I’d feel like I’m satisfied,” he said. “I played with some of my biggest heroes in the rock world and the country world. I’ve had great audiences and I have quite a few records out there. I think some people would say that kid was a true artist and did things his own way.”

Celtic Woman Feature- Virginian Pilot Newspaper

Susan McFadden had just wrapped up her leading role in the London production of Legally Blonde- the Musical when she got the invitation.

“I was in Dublin visiting my parents,” said the performer about the phone call asking her to join the Irish female vocal ensemble, Celtic Woman. “Of course I absolutely jumped at the chance. I was over the moon.”

The 28 year old singer has good reason to be excited. Created by the musical director of “Riverdance,” Celtic Woman has become something of a phenomenon. Their 2005 debut release remained on Billboard Magazine’s World Music chart for a record-setting 81 weeks and their numerous PBS television specials are consistent ratings grabbers.

“I’ve followed the success of the girls over the years,” said McFadden, who joined the band late last year. “I really admire them. They are very dedicated to their work and dedicated to their fans. I think they are very elegant ladies and really good role models for young girls.”

The group, who perform Wednesday at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, mix traditional Irish music with pop songs infused with a Celtic twist. A typical set list by the group may include everything from an Enya tune to a classic like “Danny Boy."

“Every Irish person has grown up with music in their house,” said McFadden by phone from a recent tour stop in Nashville, Tenn. “My mom is one of 11 children and my dad is one of 14 so there are hundreds of us in our immediate family. We were always having parties and without fail there was always music. At some point the guitars would come out and there would be singing. The music is really kept alive because we all keep singing these songs,” she added of Ireland’s rich musical heritage. “My great- great grandparents were probably singing these songs. It’s lovely to have those passed down.”

A native Dubliner, McFadden made her performing debut at the age of 11, playing the role of Annie in the classic musical. The entertainer’s theater background will serve her well in Celtic Woman. More Broadway event than traditional concert, the ensemble’s performances are typically highly theatrical, lavish affairs.

“Visually it is beautiful,” said McFadden of the group’s current production. “The costumes are stunning and the lighting is gorgeous.”

The show will also feature a champion bagpiper, a choir, a six piece band and Irish step dancers. Given the band’s considerable commercial success, it isn’t surprising that McFadden is just a bit nervous in her new role.

“The girls have all worked so hard,” she said of her band mates. “They’ve set the bar so high and are very passionate about what they do. It’s important to come in with the same standards. I want to make them proud.”

A seasoned performer in her own right, McFadden needn’t worry too much about measuring up.

Among the other notable entries on her resume is winning the British television reality show “Grease is the Word,” which landed her the lead role of Sandy in a West End production of “Grease.” She’s been a fixture in London’s musical theatre scene ever since. Now, the singer is eager to lend her performing chops to Celtic Woman’s brand new production called “Believe.” An album and companion DVD of the same name was released in January.

 “All of the songs are about belief and hope,” said McFadden. “There’s so much negativity in the world at the moment. All you need to do is turn on the television and see the news.”

McFadden says Celtic Woman’s latest show is designed to give the audience a much needed escape.

"The world can be a hard place and we want to take people out of that for a couple of hours. At times like this, entertainment is really important. I think we need more of it.” So, how does it feel to be an ambassador of that kind of inspiration? “It’s wonderful,” McFadden said. “It’s such an amazing feeling to know you have that ability to share something so powerful.”