Feature article about the band in the Citizen’s Voice
Here’s the original article online…
Storyteller finds musical outlet
These days the Archbald resident is putting his tales to music, backed by three other performers. The group, called Tom Flannery and the Shillelaghs, recently released its first studio recording, “Teen Angst and Green Flannel.”
Inspired by musical greats Pete Townshend and Woody Guthrie, Flannery has been toying with songwriting since the ’80s, but it took a while before he was willing to share the tunes.
“The first time I noticed that what I was writing wasn’t terrible was the mid ’90s, and it took three years after that until the songs were good enough to let other people hear them. That was ‘Song About a Train’ in 1998, a record that I’m still very proud of,” Flannery said.
Though the creative process is different for everyone, for Flannery the lyrics always come first. He has an assortment of notebooks full of ideas, sometimes potential song titles, sometimes a verse or a chorus. For the most part though, he likes to let the full story pour out.
“Mostly I’ll sit down and try to write a complete lyric. From there I’ll either grab my guitar or sit at the piano and try to find a melody that fits. I may tweak the lyrics some, but for the most part the melody is created to fit the lyrics,” Flannery said. “But when the songs come, they come fast. Sometimes they don’t come, but when they do, I find that most of my records are written in short bursts of time, in a frenzy almost.”
Once the songs and lyrics are down, Flannery adds the band to the frenzy.
The Shillelaghs – Joseph “Wiggy” Wegleski (guitars and ukulele), Lenny Mecca (bass and background vocals) and Chris Condel (drums) – supplement Flannery’s lead vocals, guitar, and harmonica. After working as a solo artist for so long, Flannery is first to admit the band provides him with some necessary restraint.
“The songs are still mine, but I’ve got to discipline myself. It’s not just me and the guitar anymore, so I can’t veer off on tangents like I’m used to, four bars here instead of two, sing the chorus twice instead of once,” Flannery said. “I’ve got to remember there are three guys behind me expecting certain things in a certain way, and they’re all holding things they can and will throw at me. They’re all quite violent and don’t like surprises.”
All kidding aside, Flannery said he is thrilled to be part of the gang.
“I’d made all acoustic records for 10 years, not because the songs weren’t suited to a band, but because I couldn’t afford a band. So I’d write rock and roll songs and just adapt them to myself,” he said.
When Flannery could no longer control his impulse to “make loud noises,” he saved his pennies and called Wegleski. Wiggy agreed to the gig, and said he had two other musicians in mind.
“I had no idea they were Chris Condel and Lenny Mecca, probably the best rhythm section in the area,” Flannery said. “It was all sorts of surreal. I went from sitting in my basement writing 16 verse ballads about coal mining disasters to being stared at by the best pick-up band around with looks that said ‘You better show us something folk-boy.'”
The first thing Flannery showed them was “If Only I Knew,” the opening song on the band’s debut recording, “Teen Angst and Green Flannel.”
“It opens the record. It sets the table,” Flannery said. “It’s the first song I wrote for the record, and the first song we recorded. We did two takes. Done. I hadn’t even met the band yet. Chris was banging away and I didn’t even know his name. He scared me. I had no idea what I was doing. I played that riff so hard my finger started to bleed.”
The rest of the songs on the CD, including “I Don’t Want to Go Home Anymore,” and “Now She’s Gone” rock just as hard, and string together to tell the story of lost teen Jimmy, who is on the outside looking in.
“I used to be a teen, and now I’m the father of a teen. I could spend the next 20 years writing about teenagers. They fascinate me,” Flannery said.
The band’s upcoming gigs include a live recording session at WVIA in Pittston on Sept. 6 and a show at the V-Spot on Providence Road in Scranton on Sept. 29. Both shows are open to the public. CDs and downloads are available for purchase through the band’s website, http://www.theshillelaghs.com.
“My goal is not to have any copies left in my basement a year from now,” Flannery said. “And for it to replace Huckleberry Finn in schools.”
punch-drunk from too much bible…chicken and religion
So the chick-fil-a guy doesn’t like gays. He supports multiple organizations that don’t like gays. He gives his money to organizations who don’t like gays. Most Americans mind their own business and if a guy falls in love with a guy or a girl falls in love with a girl, well…good for them. We hope it works out for you.
This guy is punch-drunk from too much bible. He makes news because he’s rich. His 15 minutes will be up soon, thanfully. I wish we weren’t so fixated on rich people. Most are very unpleasant little cretins.
It’s not against the law to be an unpleasant cretin. It’s his restaurant. He can do whatever he wants. If you think he’s some sort of free speech martyr then go eat some of his fucking chicken and try not to choke on the little bones. That’s your right too. If you think he’s just a bigoted asshole and don’t like the idea of your money going to some shadowy hate organizations, then don’t go to his restaurant.
If you feel so strongly about his stand that you actually want to encourage people to eat at chick-fil-a, that’s your right. Have fun trolling for homophobes. If you are appalled by all this, it’s perfectly within your right to move in the other direction and organize a boycott. Or try to.
In America we’ve got rights. You can’t chip away at the first amendment. If you do, it’s only a matter of time before it crumbles. Once you start down a slope, it’s already slippery. You can’t legislate hate, mostly because what most people consider “hateful” others call “religion”. And so it goes. We’re free to practice any religion we choose….or none at all. A lot of religions use hate as a way to keep the masses in control…and to keep them dropping silver in the collection tray. Organized religions spend so much time damning others to hell you wonder when they’ll find the time to ensure their own spot in heaven.
For me it comes down to this. Mind your own business. If in practicing your religion you hurt others, find another fucking religion to practice. Or better yet, start dropping silver into baskets of actual poor people. I never knew Jesus was so perpetually in need of funds.
In a bit..
–tf
Video for “If I Only Knew” from “Teen Angst and the Green Flannel”
Our first video. Directed by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Bruce David Janu. Filmed in Chicago over a few days this month. Our teen is Tony Fragale. And pay attention to when Annette calls. Check out that number. Dial it up. You’ll be glad you did.
We are today’s featured band on Strummerville – The Joe Strummer foundation for new music
Strummerville is a registered charity that gives support to aspiring musicians and help to projects that help change the world through music.
Set up by the friends and family of Joe Strummer in the year after his death, the charity seeks to reflect Joe’s unique contribution to the music world by offering support, resources and performance opportunities to artists who would not normally have access to them.
Visit our page over at Strummerville. We’ve posted our track “Maybe It’s True”. This is a huge honor for us. Joe Strummer is one of the main reasons I do what I do.
In a bit..
–tf
Tales from the Clubhouse – vol XI (new blog post is up)
The Death of Joe Strummer (wanted to hear this one again)
The Death of Joe Strummer
(Tom Flannery)
from 2004’s release “Auctioneer“
What happens when the heart is too big for the chest
and it just can’t keep up with all the rest
what happens when it takes you on
and wears you down until you’re gone
what do we take from that Joe?
what do we take from that Joe?
now that you’re gone
I got these sounds in my head
they make no sense so we’re stuck instead
with recycled trash and computer chips
rock and roll for food and tips
what do we take from that Joe?
what do we take from that Joe?
now that you’re gone
You were Woody Guthrie with a mowhawk
and a scratching loud guitar
a ravaged voice from screaming
telling us where we are
now you’re knocking at the backstage door
trying to get in
panhandling on the boardwalk
wondering what might have been
It still don’t feel right that you’re gone
without the blaze of glory of a deathbed song
so used to watching ’em waste away
eaten to the bone by a brand new day
what do we take from that Joe?
what do we take from that Joe?
now that you’re gone
Reviews are coming in for “Teen Angst and the Green Flannel”
Visit the band website….
“Teen Angst and the Green Flannel”
by
Tom Flannery and the Shillelaghs
will be released on June 15th
visit us on our band website
www.theshillelaghs.com
New Shillelaghs record….DONE
Finished up the mix and mastering last night, helped along by a copious supply of Schlitz cans. The “original 60s formula”. Hard to pass that up when you’ve just recorded a loud sorta 60ish rock and roll record. It seemed to fit like a glove. At least Wiggy and Borthwick thought so based on what was left when the night ended.
So the Shillelaghs are real. The record exists. 11 songs. No frills. Just some serious bashing. No official release date yet. Still gotta handle the artwork and the duplication. And come up with a title. Right now I’m leaning towards “Angst and the Green Flannel”, but that could (and probably should) change.
Once the release comes, look for a serious of riotous shows by the Shillelaghs around town. Things could get loud, but it’s a glorious volume when the boys get locked in. Shows will be a mix of the record and a pile of specially chosen covers (ie. easy ones to play).
A Shillelaghs website is coming soon with all the ugly details. Pics, videos, bios etc. Perhaps the ability to stream the new record before it’s released. Join the mailing list to keep up to date on what we’re planning. We’ll probably do the Facebook thing too.
For now, I’ll just leave you with the line-up.
Tom Flannery – guitar, vocals, harmonica
Joseph “Wiggy” Wegleski – guitar (he’s also desperate to get some ukelele in there)
Lenny Mecca – bass, background vocals
Chris Condel – drums
honorary members include…
Tom Borthwick – piano, hammond organ
Lorne Clarke – background vocals
Combined, the boys have been pounding out rock and roll for over 100 years. So I feel pretty confident in saying that I got me the best band in the land.
Rehearsals for our world tour of Avoca bars start in earnest this Sunday night. Stay tuned.
In a bit..
–tf
Tom Flannery and the Shillelaghs
A Good Night Was Had For Days
Available Now
10 new songs
Tom Flannery and Bret Alexander
Available Now
10 new songs
Tom Flannery and the Shillelaghs
Available Now
11 new songs
Tom Flannery and Bret Alexander
Available Now
11 new songs
Tom Flannery and Bret Alexander
Available
Now
Some of the best storytelling and wit
this side of John Prine and Loudon Wainwright.....
more great work from a prolific talent
–Mike Naydock / OurTownRadio
Available
Now!!
Please help us..
TomFlannery.com 