The Mighty Regis

I'll admit it. I am a sucker for a good mix of Celtic and punk. The Pogues, Flogging Molly, Blood or Whiskey, The Tossers. I like all of them. So when I heard about The Mighty Regis, I knew it was a band I needed to explore further.

This 7-piece band from County Sligo (it now calls Los Angeles home) brings a lot of what you'd expect on Another Nickel for the Pope. "Celtic Storm" kicks off with mandolin. That song is followed by "Pay the Piper," which features a prominent accordion part. So, yeah. It definitely has that Irish flavor. It also has the energy of all of the aforementioned bands. And I don't know if it's just coincidence, but these Irish bands seem to specialize in some gravelly vocals. "Celtic Storm" is a good example of that from Franky McNorman.

The Mighty Regis shows a decent amount of humor also, particularly in the song "Scotland (You Owe Us)." This song explains why Scotland owes Ireland by explaining a particular scene from Braveheart. If nothing else, you have to appreciate the line "Scotland, you're not all that great. Scotland, you fill us with hate."

And what Celtic punk album would be complete without a song about drinking. This album has three of them: "Drinkin, Laughin, Dancin, Fightin," "Hungover," and "Get Drunk and Go Home." The latter is the only song on the album with lead vocals by the one lass in the band Ryan O'Neill (she also sings lead on the intro to "Danny Boy"). Her vocals are very interesting because her voice is sweet and snarling at the same time. I mean, the quality of her tone is really good and pure, but she's got a certain "don't screw with me" attitude in this song about having her heart broken one too many times. If this song doesn't make you want to dance, drink, or fight, I'm not sure what will.

This album closes with a couple songs that might ring a bell. OK, one is utterly familiar, although The Mighty Regis puts its own spin on the old classic "Danny Boy," and that song is preceded by "Molly Malone's." If that name sounds familiar (aside from being the name of the fishmonger in "Cockles and Mussels"), there is probably a good explanation. Yes, there is another Irish band in LA that was known in its early days to play Molly Malone's. I guess it goes to show that if you are an Irish band in LA, you will play this fine pub.

All in all, this is an album to be enjoyed with a pint and a shot of whiskey. Who doesn't love songs about drinking, or talking smack with a neighboring country? It's safe to say that if you like any of the bands mentioned earlier, you will enjoy The Mighty Regis. Grab a glass, pour your pint, and put your dancing shoes on. You're going to need them. - examiner.com

The Celtic punk LA band The Mighty Regis were hanging out in the press tent and turns out we’re mutual fans of Rev Peyton’s Big Dam Band, so we starting chatting.


Frankie McNorman (Singer/acoustic guitar), Darby (Bass), Gavin (Mandolin), and Paddy (Accordion) gave me the lowdown on their group, the camaraderie of the fest, touring as an Indie band, and finding a label…

Tell me about your band?
Frankie: We are in our 4th year as a band. We are a punk-Celtic group that started in LA. We got our chops at the same place Flogging Molly started, at Molly Malone’s. We’ve been playing all over the area and some East Coast shows for 3 years and this is our first Warped Tour.

Did you cats play the whole Warped Tour?
Darby: We didn’t play the whole tour. We’re a do it yourself band, so we did the ones that were most financially viable. We financed it ourselves and have to do the whole thing, so we did the first 24-

That’s a lot!
Darby: It was crazy. We’re used to playing a show, and maybe 2 or 3 more that week, but with this, we’d play a show and the next day, we were in the next state. The weather was crazy…but the fans were out there dancing and the fans don’t care how long you drove, they just want to have a good time. That charges you up again.

Makes it worth doing? So it’s the fans that keep you going?
Gavin: No. Not at all. Oh, wait, is this recording? No, yeah, of course it’s the fans. That’s the great thing about Warped Tour. There are no other tours like it where fans get to meet the bands up close and personal. You know, we’re fans of bands here. We talk to people then invite them to go see Rev Peyton, Bouncing Souls, or someone like them with us. It’s great. It’s a great way to build your fan base and meet great people at the same time.

And meet other bands too?
Gavin: That’s one of the beneficial parts. It’s always been like a gateway tour, you know, somebody sees you out here and your playing, and they ask you to come support them, like Rev Peyton, and it’s amazing.

Do you have any new releases?
Gavin: Just before we went on Warped Tour we put out a record. “Twenty-One” came out 3 days before we started Warped. It’s our 3rd self released and we’re looking for a label, but a label that does something we can’t do ourselves. Seems like more and more labels, and the business, are doing less and less.

That’s what I’ve heard.
Gavin: If anyone is reading this though, it’s not that we don’t want to talk to you, we’re still looking!

I just spoke to a band in Chicago and they said the label just basically pays for PR. I guess it will make you a stronger band if you know the groundwork?
Paddy: It also makes you appreciative further on that someone is doing the work you used to do, because you understand and appreciate what they’re doing, so it keeps you humble. If we can do a tour like this on our own and survive it, we can do anything. Everything after this will be easy. They call this punk rock boot camp.

Any last words?
Paddy: Go see live music!
Gavin: What is this “Almost Famous”
Paddy: “I am a golden God”, what can I say?

(Laughing) Awesome guys, thanks! - examiner.com

Let's play a little word association. Celtic punk. If you didn't think about particular bands, you probably thought about music that features mandolin, tin whistle, maybe accordion. Well, The Mighty Regis is a Celtic punk band (originally from Sligo, now living in the LA area) that features the aforementioned instruments. It certainly has some similarities to bands like Flogging Molly and The Tossers. However, there is something different about this band. While other Celtic punk bands seem an equal mix of Celtic and punk, this is a band that highlights the punk and uses the Celtic as an accent in the music. Just listen to the guitar in "The Junkyard Dog and the Parlor Cat and tell me it doesn't bring Ramones to mind.
The song with the greatest Celtic influence is "Those that Gone Before." This ballad features harmony vocals and tin whistle by Ryan O'Neill. It is significantly slower in tempo than the rest of the songs. It wouldn't surprise me at a live show to hear the band introduce this as its pretty song. this is the sort of song that, when you hear it performed live, you want to raise your pint glass and sway as you sing along.
As on Another Nickel for the Pope, Ryan sings lead vocals on one song. I still find her voice really striking. It's a pretty voice backed by some punk attitude. Whenever I hear her voice, I wish someone could bottle that sweet-tough combination. But then the more I think about it, I'm glad no one has figured out a way to do that because it would make singers like Ryan O'Neill less rare.
This album is a good follow-up to Another Nickel for the Pope. If you're already a fan of this band, 21 (available at CD Baby)will not disappoint you. If you don't know this band, but you like high-energy Celtic punk, go out and get this album. It will be a good warm-up for St. Paddy's, but I guarantee that won't be the only time you listen to this album. - examiner.com

Pretty modest crowd at March 11’s Neon Reverb Thunderbird Lounge showcase — the kind that can often dismay performers into half-assedness — and yet still, full-assedness was the trend.

After a punky set from Oklahoma City’s The Boom Bang, all seven members of The Mighty Regis (”We’re an Irish band stuck in Los Angeles,” said frontman Frankie McNorman) packed the T-bird’s corner stage, sound-checking, brandishing acoustic, electric and bass guitars, mandolin, accordion and drums, before finally tearing into opener “Holy Heads Rolling,” a tight, rich, up-tempo Irish punk-lite original. “Paddy Don’t Live in Hollywood” came next, with its clean musical drop-outs during each sung delivery of the title phrase — a kind of fish-out-of-water lament, doubly melancholy after McNorman’s introduction. Stuck inside of SoCal with the Dublin blues again, and all that.


The Mighty Regis only got more relaxed, more energetic as its set went on, eventually showing off some formidable shape-shifting in the form of a sudden key change (’80s/’00s rock fusion interlude) and accompanying wails from female backup vocalist/acoustic guitarist Ryan O’Neill, all culminating in an awesome, ripping blast on the downbeat to finish. At some point, O’Neill mentioned having lost her balls gambling, not having any balls left, and it now being “all smooth down there.” Maybe so, but it was her acoustic that really made that downbeat blast work, and her vocal movement from a high-note crack-squeak to a guttural growl showed a range not heard last night in McNorman.

Even in 2010, this kind of music, this Irish trad-rock thing, still chugs along beautifully, all green and chewy when brought by bands like TMR. It’s not their fault the last decade’s over-playing of such stuff on dive bar jukeboxes by packs of swaying, thick-necked hooligans has cheapened the sound so. - Las Vegas City Life

Sometimes you're in the mood for fisticuffs, and an old Irish trick to rile an opponent up is to offer them milk at the bar. The other way is to slap some headphones on them and turn up The Mighty Regis -- a band that isn't afraid to pen a few songs about hard drinking and Irish pride.

After cutting their teeth on Co. Sligo and Another Nickel For The Pope, the third and most recent album, 21, shows the band off in fine form. "Paddy Don't Live In Hollywood" has Franky McNorman leading the charge on vocals over punk-bred choruses. Gavin McLoud's mandolin raises the tide on "Celtic Storm", a high energy seaside yarn built on the foundation of a traditional Celtic melody. The remainder of the album winds through the familiar, but fun, territory that is Celtic Punk. The Mighty Regis reels back from the distorted guitars of their contemporaries Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly though, to show off the more traditional mandolin, tin whistle, and accordion.

The band will be playing a free show at the Silverlake Lounge w/ Kinch, Sleep Maps and Mouse Kills Tiger on January 17th, so make sure to pick up a few pints of Guinness and the album 21 beforehand. - The Deli Magazine

Ever wonder where Hollywood hotties go when they're not trying to get into Opera on Thursday nights? Well, you can find a good amount of them at Molly Malone's on Fairfax Ave. - we kid you not. Every Thursday, The Mighty Regis performs for a packed crowd of cute Irish -folk music lovin' guys and gals. The Mighty Regis is an Irish folk comedy band - yeah, we didn't know what that was either, but it's totally entertaining. Michael Bunin, one of the stars of the TBS sitcom "My Boys", is the band's drummer and says it's a myth that drummers get all the girls because "it takes us too long to break down our equipment - by the time we're done all the groupies are gone." Formed by members of The Improv Olympic and named after Regis Philbin because they believe him to be "the greatest American Irishman alive", the band goes on at 9:30pm every Thursday. Check 'em out and see how they get a crowd of (hot) Irish eyes smiling. - LA.com

Any band named after the greatest Irish American of all time - Regis Philbin - is O.K. with me. Seriously though, The Mighty Regis are a very fine Celtic-punk band from Hollywood, California who along with The "Mighty" Dirges form the backbone of the scene at LA's Molly Malone pub. Though The Regis are much more rooted in the traditional Irish sound then the more punky Dirges. The Pogues at full galloping Bottle of Smoke speed is the very obvious influence here. A twenty fuckin five to one winner. - shitenonions.com

Celtcore is a hard genre to be in if you don’t like being compared to other bands. No matter what a band sounds like, it will inevitably be compared to the Dropkick Murphys (if the band is on the punkier side), the Pogues (if it’s on the folkier side) or Flogging Molly (if it’s somewhere in between). A reviewer with more diverse tastes might even compare to the Tossers (for the folkier side) or the Real McKenzies (for bands that sway more Scottish than Irish). I’d be against these constant comparisons if most Celtcore bands didn’t fit so neatly into them.

Then I heard the Mighty Regis playing the Kevin Says stage at Warped Tour. If ordered at gunpoint to make a comparison, I would have to say they’re closest to Flogging Molly (with whom the Mighty Regis are friends, and in fact started at Molly Malone’s, the LA pub where Flogging Molly also got their start and their name). However, the Mighty Regis manage to cut a unique sound from the now widespread blending of Irish and Scottish folk with punk. I can’t quite explain what makes them so unique (I guess it’s an x-factor kinda thing), but you can hear it for yourself on the band’s latest release, 21.

The band doesn’t go for the diehard street punk vibe of Dropkick Murphys, staying more mellow and fun. The result is that this is a full-on party album instead of, well, whatever feeling the Murphys give people (for me, they just make me want to run around punching stuff). And unlike most albums by the Murphys or every album by their brethren Flogging Molly, there isn’t a single ballad on the album. The band never breaks down to just acoustic guitar and vocals with maybe some slight accordion or tin whistle. The closest the band gets is on the mid-tempo “Those That Gone Before” (to be fair, the song is just very light instrumentation and vocals for the first 45 seconds before the rest of the band kicks in) or the mostly instrumental closer “Jeni’s Whiskey.”

In only 3 albums, the band seem to have mastered the delicate blend of instruments involved in Celtcore faster than other bands of the genre. Dropkick Murphys are set apart from other punk bands by the non-traditional use of folk elements. Flogging Molly modernize Irish folk by adding electric guitars. The Real McKenzies started as a punk band and added bagpipes as revenge to their heritage loving parents that dressed them in kilts in their youth. By contrast, the Mighty Regis make acoustic guitars and mandolins sound perfectly natural next to electric guitars. For good examples, see “Paddy Don’t Live In Hollywood,” “Celtic Storm,” and “The Junkyard Dog And The Parlor Cat” (on that last one, I didn’t even notice the mandolin the first time through).

Overall, I think 21 straddles a fine line. Any previous fan of Celtcore should love the album, or at least fall on the more positive side of toleration. And I think most of my friends that don’t like Celtcore would be able to listen to it without wincing. Who knows, might even convert some of them to fans.

Just for fun, here’s a video of the band playing Flogging Molly’s “The Worse Day Since Yesterday” with Molly’s own Matt Hensley on accordion.


Side note: I didn’t mean to imply in that first paragraph that I don’t like Celtcore, but I feel like I came across as critical of the genre. I love Celtcore. I own several albums by the bands mentioned. I own both volumes of Shite & Onions and subscribe to the PaddyRock podcast. So I really do like Celtcore, I just feel like there’s not a lot of unique bands.

Side note 2: I do see the oddness of starting the post complaining about comparisons and then spending the rest of the post comparing. What I meant in the first paragraph was comparisons composed of “they sound like...” Later on, I mentioned the other bands to show the relative differences of the Mighty Regis. That may not be any better, but at least I didn’t just say “the Mighty Regis sound like Flogging Molly.” - the Library Punk

The Mighty Regis are back with yet another release of smokin’ Celtic Rock release with their latest ’21'. The Mighty Regis have finely tuned their sound both lyrically and with musicianship with each release they have put out over the years… which is very prevalent on their re-released versions of ‘Celtic Storm’ and ‘Brothers Rafferty’ from their previous releases on the albums “Another Nickel For The Pope” and “Co. Sligo“. THE MIGHTY REGIS ARE CELTIC ROCK!!!! If you enjoy the sounds of The Mahones, Flogging Molly, and the Pogues… you will love this release!!

I do believe ’21' will not only be getting a ton of requests for airplay here at Paddy Rock, but will be at the top of our list of BEST Celtic Rock & Punk releases for 2010. - paddyrock.com

The Mighty Regis are back with yet another release of smokin’ Celtic Rock release with their latest ’21'. The Mighty Regis have finely tuned their sound both lyrically and with musicianship with each release they have put out over the years… which is very prevalent on their re-released versions of ‘Celtic Storm’ and ‘Brothers Rafferty’ from their previous releases on the albums “Another Nickel For The Pope” and “Co. Sligo“. THE MIGHTY REGIS ARE CELTIC ROCK!!!! If you enjoy the sounds of The Mahones, Flogging Molly, and the Pogues… you will love this release!!

I do believe ’21' will not only be getting a ton of requests for airplay here at Paddy Rock, but will be at the top of our list of BEST Celtic Rock & Punk releases for 2010. - paddyrock.com

Winner: The Most Surprising Performance Award!

Whoa, where did these guys come from?
Pure madness!
Enter accordion, banjo, and Blue Jays t-shirt.
Welcome to my heart!

Don't mind my surprise at your appearance at Warped Tour, more particularly the West 49 Stage.
You kind of blew me away!
With your crazy stage use and heavy choreography between each member AND their instruments.
Wowza!

Mighty Regis were definitely the shock of the day.
Will I be checking them out again now that Warped has passed?
HELLS YES!

I'm Sarah. I do what I want. - Music She Blogged

Not often does one have the opportunity to find a genre that can genuinely be called unique. Having said that, enter “The Mighty Regis”: a Celtic Punk band that does a feisty seesaw of sounds between a cozy Irish pub and a downtown New York punk club. Take a listen to their song “Take Me Home” to hear them leap between gentle intimate settings and an Irish jug of punk. It’s impressive how singer Francis McNorman is able to switch between emotions so quickly, (though the song would be an easier swallow if the group didn’t jump from gentle to severe quite as rapidly. It is an artistic choice, but one that needs a bit more of a build to make it radio-friendly).

On another side of Celtic Punk, we find their song “Murphy’s Broken Heart”. This song had us quite a bit intrigued. Here we find a drinking-song that has actual potential for marketability (if you can believe that). Normally, when someone “talks” to the listener/audience in a song, there are groans from the listener. In this one, however, it was very entertaining, even a bit like an Irish Cash. For what it is, this song is well written and the energy of the group is very real. The brief chorus presents interesting rhythm choices from drummer George Glooney, which gives the song an intriguing off kilter heartbeat. “Murphy’s Broken Heart” may not be your immediate cup of tea, but it really grows on you. As the lyrics say “Give Murphy a Chance’. - Nunatak Entertainment

County Sligo is a northern district of Ireland widely known for holding the tomb of Queen Maeve from Irish Mythology, and for nurturing traditional Irish music. It is also the native lands of the Celtic-rock band, The Mighty Regis whose latest record, Co. Sligo is a reflection of their homeland’s music. The photo on the band’s album cover is of lead singer, Franky McNorman's family emigrating to America in the turn of the century, although the band's name on the lifesaver is the work Photoshop. The image unintentionally alludes to the band's album being music that you could imagine was made at the time that this photo was taken, or it could be music made today in 2008. Celtic-rock has a certain perseverance that allows its music to go through time without sounding old or outdated.

The Mighty Regis have the kind of fists-in-the-air angst relatable to Black 47 and the spirited folksy bluegrass stomping of The Chieftains. It’s apparent that the music of The Mighty Regis comes from their heart, and its ethnic tint has made its way into punk music’s spheres with the likes of its principle players, The Sex Pistols and The Dead Kennedy’s taking some cues from Celtic music like the cranking beats and rebellious voice. In some ways, Co. Sligo is a homecoming for the band who return to their roots, and for punk music which returns to its principle players.

The album’s intro and exodus are delivered with the lithesome instrumentation and soft caroling of “The Parting Glass,” which opens and closes the album. After a quick prologue of “The Parting Glass,” the album dives right into a series of jug-stomping rotations wicking “Real Deal Irish.” The song’s pulverizing rhythms orchestrated by drummer George Glooney, who has been recently replaced by Gabby Byrne, and bassist/mandolin player/backup vocalist Gavin McLoud bluster boldly as the tussling coils of accordionist Paddy McRib twine around them. The Might Regis have recently added bassist Darby, so McLoud can concentrate on playing the mandolin. The vocals of Francis McNorman vaunt with the velocity of a rambunctious kangaroo and the frothy guitar chords of Ryan O’Neill and Ronnie McDunnald accentuate the gallop in the rhythms and synchronize a square-dancing tempo in “Reilly’s Daughter,” while culling a warm simmering shuffle along “Black Shamrock.” The cranking pedals of “21 Patty Finn” and “The Brothers Rafferty” put the listener in the heart of the storm, while the cozy rhythmic cobbling of “Me Mother Became A Werewolf” is thatched with folksy bluegrass stalks. The oscillating rhythmic swells of “Take Me Home” seesaw between soothing and rushing fervently harboring an unstable sternum in the melody.

McNorman is heard saying in the intro of “Murphy’s Broken Heart,” that the song “is an Irish love song, but I decided let’s make this an Irish drinking song.” That is true for most of the album. These songs are tales influenced by the events in one’s life, or events in other peoples lives. The verses in “Murphy’s Broken Heart” reflect, “No spring in his step / No lovin’ in his gaze / Murphy’s set adrift / Murphy’s in a haze / She’s gone away like the ride / Murphy’s feeling robbed / (He) sits alone with his thoughts / All Murphy does is sob.”

Produced by Brett Pearsons, Co. Sligo offers a pint of traditional Irish prose joined by tankards of Celtic-rock. The music is typical of Ireland and of old school punk, so where does one draw the line? The Mighty Regis weave songs grounded in an ethnic Irish lilt, and add elements of folk, bluegrass, and punk rock into an album that harbors drinking songs. And every country likes a good drinking song.

Recommended if You Like: Black 47, The Sex Pistols, The Dead Kennedy’s - absolutepunk.net

Artist: The Mighty Regis
CD: "Another Nickel For The Pope"

Bonnie Raves: I love the Mighty Regis. Okay, that’s not really descriptive of the depth of the feelings that I have for the Mighty Regis. I would cheerfully listen to this band until my ears fell off, while buying every last one of them all the Guinness they could drink. (Or all the Guinness they could drink until I ran out of money, which would undoubtedly happen long before they were topped off.) I am CONSUMED with bitterness because they are on the west coast and I’m stuck over here on what is obviously the WRONG coast. Their album Co. Sligo is amazing, and I’m tempted to say that their newest offering, Another Nickel For The Pope, is even better.

If you caught the Co. Sligo review I’m sure it will come as no surprise to you that there are some naughty words in these songs, so be aware. If you were hoping that this crew had repented and mended their wicked ways, I’m thrilled to be able to disappoint you. The Mighty Regis is just as bad - and just as good as ever. They not only deliver, they practically gift wrap: superb guitar, rocking percussion, awe-inspiring vocals, and avant-garde song writing.

Conroy’s Pub is a strong instrumental to start out the CD with, and is a nice snapshot of the album as a whole. In less than two minutes it segues from lovely and mellow to fast and dirty. The accordion really shines here.

When I listened to Scotland You Owe Us for the first time my jaw hit the floor and I shook my head, wide eyed as I stared at the computer. Then I almost laughed myself to death. (Scotland - you’re not all that brave. Oh, wow.) Part of me is now obsessed with the idea of locking the Mighty Regis in a room with Albannach and seeing who comes out! The other part of me realizes that would be A Very Bad Idea. Bad Bonnie. Bad. Clever and hilarious lyrics combined with ridiculously great vocals make this song a must listen.

Get Drunk And Go Home is my favorite track from this CD. Ryan O’Neill really does have the voice of an angel, most likely because she ripped it out of the unsuspecting feathered being’s throat. Ryan strikes me as the kind of woman that will straight up kick your ass, and make you like it. Everything about this song is dead on - Ryan delivers the cheeky lyrics with perfect inflection and attitude. My f***ing heart’s been broken I can’t take it anymore … well, we’ve all been there, eh? Sometimes getting drunk and going home - alone, is the only thing in the world that makes sense.

Danny Boy, oh, hello to my new favorite version of this song. Freaking a, this is good stuff. It’s pretty, it’s punk, it’s pretty again. A little injection of Irish Lullaby, complete with too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ras, some fast paced mandolin, and punk guitars transform this tune from tired old classic to brand new knock out.

I had very high expectations Another Nickel For The Pope, and I am not feeling the slightest bit let down. I highly recommend this CD to anyone that loved Co. Sligo, and to anyone that is unfamiliar with the Mighty Regis, but has a spot in their heart reserved for Irish Punk.

Mike declares: Here at Celtophilia, there’s a particular love for The Mighty Regis. We reviewed their first CD, and did an interview with the guys earlier in the year, and we’re thrilled to have a shot at their newest offering, Another Nickel For The Pope. If you don’t know about this amazing west coast Celtic Punk band, do yourself a favor and check them out. Their Myspace page describes the band as sounding like “The fastest mandolin in the world stealing your girlfriend whilst kicking yer arse.” Who am I to disagree? It’s a fairly apt description for “Another Nickel,” as well.

This CD has enough drive and high-energy music to fill three or four discs, and I can honestly tell you there’s not a track on the entire thing that I skip when I listen through it. There’s a little bit of everything here, some straight punk tracks, some ballads, a drunk chick rambling about some guy, a song about a venue for downing a few tasty beverages, one about what happens the morning after said beverages, and even that most ubiquitous of pseudo-Irish songs, Danny Boy! Oh, and there’s also a little bit of inter-Celtic rivalry, in a hilarious track called “Scotland (You Owe Us).”

One thing I’ll note here, for all you out there with wee ones. There’s a bit of ugly language on this CD, but when I played it within earshot of my ten-year-old (yes, I know I’m a bad influence) his only response was “I have no idea what that guy’s saying.” So, while individual results may vary, you can probably get away with this one in the car if the kids are only halfway paying attention.

Scotland (You Owe Us) definitely takes the title of “Mike’s Favorite Track of All Time (So Far).” I think, and kind of hope, this song is intended as a little good-natured ribbing between brothers. The whole song is predicated on the idea that the character Steven (the insane Irishman) saving William Wallace’s life in the movie Braveheart is the only reason Scotland won their freedom. The lyrics are brilliant, and filled with little inside jokes, like “Scotland, you’re not all that brave.” Far and away my favorite one, though, is “Make it Ireland East.” This song just makes me smile, every single time, and I’ve listened to it quite a lot.

Legion Of The Rearguard is a traditional song that I have to admit I don’t really know, but am glad to find it included here. Apparently written in 1923 about DeValera and the IRA, it’s a fine tune after being given a good Mighty Regis kick in the arse.

Molly Malone’s is a great piece, which I assume goes over pretty well when the band plays their regular gig there. I love this kind of song, paying tribute a place the guys obviously adore, and giving little random bits about band members. The one thing about this song I don’t really get is the need to break into “Ring of Fire,” by Johnny Cash. It feels kind of like the band learned it, then realized they didn’t know what to do with it, so they decided to shove it into the middle of a different song. Even with that strange interlude in the middle, it’s a fine track.

Okay, lastly I’ll talk about Danny Boy. I know you’ve heard it at least a thousands times, by virtually every band with any kind of Irish tendency. I know it was written by an Englishman, and lots of people don’t like that it’s played by Irish bands at all because it has become a cliche for Irishness around the world. Get over it, and listen to it one more time. This is one of the better ones.

If you want to know more about these guys, and who doesn’t, check out their website at www.themightyregis.com, which will redirect you to their Myspace page, but I like sending people on random trips around the internet. - celtophilia.com

Ever listen to someone sing about the drunken Irish and their mother becoming a werewolf? If you haven’t then you should definitely check out The Mighty Regis. They are an Irish/Folk/Comedy Rock group from California. Their music has the traditional Irish elements with a mandolin and accordion in the band, but has a nice modern feel like that of The Dropkick Murphy’s and The Tossers. The lyrics are amusing and sung very well; the instruments are also played brilliantly with catchy beats and rhythms. When listening to songs like “Take Me Home” “Me Mother Became a Werewolf” and my personal favorite “The Real Deal Irishman” you can’t help but want to clap your hands, sing, and dance to the music. The Mighty Regis are a great new band that i give 3 snowflakes out of five. - Icyblue

I have a confession to make. I am not Irish. I was not born Irish. Neither of my parents are Irish, and neither of their parents’ parents are Irish. Once, I lied to a guy and said that I was Black Irish - which is, apparently, a descendant of the survivors of the Spanish Armada who swam ashore to the coast of Ireland, settled down, had babies, and lived an irish life - but I, myself, am not Irish.

In any case, tonight, I had the great fortune of seeing The Mighty Regis at Molly Malone’s. For the uninitiated, Moly Malone’s is an Irish bar in the Kosher Canyon, in the neighborhood of Fairfax and Sixth. If you’re a fan of Tom Bergin’s, Molly’s is the “other” irish bar.

The Mighty Regis is a stellar Irish punk band, and tonight was their CD release party. They’re a local band, composed (or is it comprised? I can never remember) of improvisers from the neighborhood. They perform through their entire hour-long set sporting full-on thick, Irish accents, and the whole crowd goes nuts for it.

I started the show, sitting in the corner, sipping on a Guinness and enjoying quietly as they motored through their set.

But by the end, I was in the front, jumping around and clapping and singing along as they ran through a litany of original tunes and covers of bands like Flogging Molly and DKM.

Their music is great, and the show breezes by before you know it, but what sells The Mighty Regis the most is their stage presence. They lead the crowd through football (i.e. soccer) cheers and traditional Irish pub songs. At one point, they bring someone onstage from the audience and play a drinking game with him or her (in this case, her).

I highly recommend The Mighty Regis, who perform every Thursday night at Molly Malone’s at 9:30. PM! The cover is only $6. How can you go wrong? - OgMog.com

More often than not, hearing a new band will remind you of an old band you're quite familiar with. Perhaps it is the charismatic front man or perhaps it is the accordion and mandolin; perhaps it is their rowdy, jangling musical style, or perhaps it is the intangible amalgamation of these elements and others which will lead you to this end.

For The Mighty Regis, their time is near.

The Mighty Regis is an up and coming band with deep, deep roots in a variety of styles and substance. Just listening to their covers on a particular night, they move effortlessly from James to the Beastie Boys to traditional Irish folk to the Run DMC to the Pogues; all of it sounding uniquely their own. My head was ringing such at a recent show that I couldn't immediately place such a distinctive line as "This bed is on fire with passionate love; the neighbors complain about the noises above; but she only comes when she's on top." And then it was gone. In and out like the night to the dawn; The Mighty Regis owes a great deal of their present to those who have come before them, even if they're not fully aware of it. However the ground is laid fertile for a band like The Mighty Regis to flourish; and they will.

One of the most immediate comparisons I could think to make with this band was…any pop/ska band. The presence of their permanent mandolin player brought immediate comparisons to my mind the "Out of Time" sessions of REM. Their zoot suits that most of the backing band wore made me think of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy; the mere fact that they were so jangled and high energy connected me with another favorite band of mine, Bim Skala Bim. The high energy set they played drew parallels in my mind with the Mighty-Mighty Bosstones breakout work; the imposing character on lead vocals, Franky McNorman, lent into the mic with a Trent Reznor aggressiveness and of course the obvious comparisons in his Irish lilt, disheveled good looks, and rising tenor and vibrato had me split, one part Eddie Vedder one part Bono. (Although I don't know how kindly he'd take to such comparisons)

All this made up for a rocking and revelrous set one night prior (and nearly every Thursday night) at Molly Malone's (575 S Fairfax Ave; Los Angeles - 323-935-1577) A number of their original tunes; Me Mother Became a Werewolf, Hungover, Real Deal Irishman, and their closer, Molly Malone's, paid tribute in large part to this afore mentioned fertile ground. They moved effortlessly from high energy comedy to morning-after repentance always keeping their audience fully engaged, rocking, and wanting for more.

Mr. McNorman asked the crowd numerous times during their hour long set, "How many of ya'll are drinkin' wit' us tonight?" to which the enthusiastic "Mighty Mob" egged the remainder of the crowd into a roared response. (The Mighty Mob is a group of their regulars who've been with the band for the majority of their 18 month long career) If The Mighty Regis made a gaff, they didn't try to hide it; they raised a glass and had a laugh (the stage was set with a dozen glasses of Guinness before they took the stage)

It is not every day that you see the past and the pending all wrapped together in one evening of joyous, musical bliss. However, there hopefully will be room for a band like The Mighty Regis somewhere on a larger stage than the back room of Molly Malone's and when that happens, you can say that you saw them, when.

When will this room on the world stage open up? Someday, I suppose. - Valley Scene Magazine

Hailing from Ireland (via Los Angeles) the Mighty Regis are an anomaly in this year’s festival being that, as far as I know, they’re the only band from the Emerald Isle. Never mind the malarkey! Living in America definitely hasn’t changed this band or their thick accents. Make no mistake, this is a band that’s as Irish as Guinness stout. At one point lead singer Franky McNorman introduced his bandmate, saying “Dat’s Gavin on da mandolin over dere, workin’ his fookin’ fingers to da bone!”? Singing many of the old traditional songs with a more amped up intensity, this seven-piece unit made the Yale feel like Saint Paddy’s Day either kinda late or very, very early. Alternate singer and rhythm guitarist Ryan O’Neil is an awesome singer in her own right, and, as Franky said best “Brings some fookin’ class to the place!”? Reminiscent of the Dropkick Murphys, this band is not punk-rock per se, but they do work the crowd (and themselves!) in to a frenzy with their high energy jigs, reels, and straight-out awesome songs. I would undoubtedly go see this band again and I really hope they come back someday soon. - ronatron.net

After much buzz being drawn to their debut CD “Co. Sligo”, LA’s The Mighty Regis is back with a release that is sure to smack you in the face and have you loving every second of it with it’s amazing Irish Folk Rock & Punk sound with “Another Nickel For The Pope”. This more refined sound has turned the heads of Paddy Rock Radio fans as well with requests already coming in from over 10 different countries already since we started playing the disc last week… with strong influences from The Pogues, Flogging Molly, The Tossers, and even Filthy Thieving Bastards prevalent…. “Another Nickel For The Pope” is a sure welcome CD for any Celtic Rock & Punk collector. The Mighty Regis’s strength lies within their witty songwriting, craftful musicianship (especially Gavin McLoud on Mando… this boy can play), and their cheerful/upbeat sound…. this group of 7 are the “Real Deal Irish”…. and no wonder they play LA’s famous Molly Malone’s every week!

Tracks of interest: “Celtic Storm”, “21 Patty Finn”, “A Tree Grows in Sligo”, “Get Drunk And Go Home”, “Hungover”, and a funny little tune for all die-hard Irish “Scotland (You Owe Us)”…. however all the tracks will tapping your foot and raising your pint from time to time. - paddyrock.com