The Montana ShamRockers, those wacky fellas from Polson released their new CD, A Soalin’: A Joyful Christmas Celebration, in late 2015. The collection features a mix of original tunes, mostly by Neal Lewing (aka Nialls), coupled with traditional Christmas fare. John Glueckert (Liam), Rick Skates (Mick), Mike Lozar (Paddy), and Rob Sloan (Robbie) fill out the quintet. Instrumentation includes guitar, banjo, fiddle, percussion, whistle, and mandolin.
The men take turns singing lead and the group usually joins in to contribute a rousing chorus in harmony. It’s a good mix of sentiment and jauntiness.
An idea to do a Christmas concert birthed this Celtic Christmas show. Besides Lewing’s pieces and some time-honored classics, rocker Jackson Browne (“The Rebel Jesus”) gets representation. Scottish poet Robert Burns’s seasonal nugget, “Auld Lang Syne,” completes the album.
“Come Buy My Nice Fresh Ivy”/“A-Soalin’” is the opener. Lewing sings the first part in his sweet understated tenor, and “A-Soalin’” gets gospel flavoring. “A-soalin’” was an age-old European custom of begging for “soul cakes” to honor the dead; it morphed into a holiday song in the 1800s.
Some tidbits, like Lewing’s “Bright Christmas Day,” celebrate what it means to gather with family, sharing good cheer; others extol the miracle of Christ’s birth. For example, the oldest piece is “Curoo, Curoo,” a waltz from 12th century Ireland; in it, we hear soft cooing as birds flock to the newborn child in the manger. Fun songs with kazoos share space with serious work – all the better to represent this special time of year.
The lads hit the road next month to share their vocally-driven Irish tunes. Catch them March 10, 2016, in Polson, March 11 in Deer Lodge, March 17 in Whitefish, and March 18 in Thompson Falls. Visit the Shamrockers’ Facebook page for more information on the popular Irish quintet.
– Mariss McTucker