Source: Profane Existence #57
http://www.profaneexistence.com
MEISCE - Shipwrecked in a Bottle CD
This is the first full-length CD from these Seattle miscreants, and it will send you into a tizzy of danceable music-melding styles of Irish, Gypsy, folk and punk into their own unique form. Featuring members of COUNTDOWN TO ARMAGEDDON, SLIGHTLY LESS THAN NOTHING, INHASTE, and WORMWOOD, this septet of fabulous guys bring you 8 songs about workin' the day away, drinkin', fighting for equal rights, and a haunting Gypsy Fiddle - my favorite song on this CD. If you haven't heard them, but enjoy the aforementioned styles of music, give this one a listen. Beware- if you see them live, you just might get caught in a happy, drunk, dancing, frenzy! (Maygun)
Source: Feminist Review
http://feministreview.blogspot.com/2008/05/meisce-shipwrecked-in-bottle.html
Meisce - Shipwrecked in a Bottle CD
Fistolo Records
A trip to Ireland turned out to be one of my favorite vacations, and when listening to Meisce, I felt for a moment that I was back there. The band consists of seven guys who sound like a mix of Irish folk music and punk rock. The songs are upbeat and make me wish I was in a pub drinking a beer. Although the band is from Seattle, Washington the sounds is so authentic that I banked on them being Irish, but boy was I wrong. Even the titles of the songs sound like Celtic folktales, which perfectly accompany the lead singer’s Irish brogue. The sounds of the guitar, fiddle, and mandolin are prevalent throughout the album and give a feel good vibe to Meisce’s music.
Not only does the band boasts on its website about its devotion to drinking and alcoholic beverages, but songs like “Sean Reilly” are dedicated to it, and is the perfect drinking song if I’ve ever heard one. From what I could find, the band gets its name for the word for “drunk” in Irish/Gaelic, and it is definitely appropriate.
Unfortunately, the bio section doesn’t give much information on the band, which seems like a really cool collection of guys. One of my favorite songs on the album is “Lock me in the Nick,” which expresses the band’s love for freedom of speech by exercising it in the song. Behind all of the amazing instrumentals are lyrics with political messages - such as the song “When the Guns Have All Been Fired.” The song expresses the problems with violence and war without making the listener mellow and depressed. The only ballad is the title song “Shipwrecked in a Bottle,” which isn’t as fast as the others and expresses the loneliness of a man drowning his heartbreak at a bar. As much as I enjoyed listening to the album, I have a feeling this band is best enjoyed live.
Review by Julianne DiBenedetto
Source: Rip it Up Webzine
http://ripitup.org/wordpress/?p=210
MEISCE - shipwrecked in a bottle CD
hailing from seattle and featuring a member of wormwood this band can be filed under anarcho-celtic punk. there has been a surge in folky celticy punk bands recently and one thing they all miss is the fight, the anger the revolution that is what makes celtic music what it is. it is easy to sing about drinking but its another to add real rebellion into the mix and thats what meisce do. bring the rebellion back to the bars. the revolution in ireland began in the bars with most meetings happening in central pubs in dublin. meisce is bringing those ethos to the modern day so drink up and plan the next rebellion lads!
Source : Profane Existence #54 -
http://www.profaneexistence.com
MEISCE – Bored of the Dance 7”
One day a bunch of drunk punk rockers in Seattle decided it was high time to step out of their d-beat induced worlds, tear themselves away from such notable other projects as WORMWOOD, COUNTDOWN TO ARMAGEDDON, and INHASTE for a few minutes, pick up funny instruments, and act like they’re Irish. Some five odd years later, out of the dim lights of pubs all around the Pacific Northwest, two lone songs have made their way onto a beautiful piece of wax. Musically, MEISCE are a wonderful mix of classic Irish styles, twists of gypsy tunes, creeps of Klezmer, and pure punk rock energy! The fiddle, accordion, and mandolin playing all add an awesomely eclectic addition to the mix, while backing guitars, bass and drums fill out the instrumentals behind droning, deep brash vocals. Lyrics are dark, sardonic, and funny. Simply put, if you like punk rock, and you like Irish music, this is the band for you. The two songs featured on this 7” are only a couple of the many beautiful tunes that you will want to sing along to. This is one of my favorite new releases. I hope to see more soon! (Maygun)
Source: Paddy Rock Radio Website
http://www.paddyrock.com/reviews_k.html
Meisce
"Bored Of The Dance"
-7" Vinyl Record-
Aborted Society Records
Meisce is back with an 7" vinyl EP... and of course I'm always waiting for more music from these boys from Seattle! "Bored of the Dance" has two of my current favorite tracks from the band since their Self-Released Self-Titled LP with "The Death of Michael Flatley" and "Drunk & Alone" (Which you can also find on Paddy Rock Radio Vol. 2). Meisce has taken their ORIGINAL mix of gypsy/celt/Eastern European/Folk-Punk sound to a whole new level on this 7" vinyl EP. It's great to see where they are headed and how everyone else is waiting to see what they are gonna do next! If you rock out to the sounds of The Mahones, Gogolo Bordello, The Mutiny, or even The Tossers... you had best start listening to Meisce... if not... I'll tell your mom that you have no taste in good music before I kick her out of bed... and who wants that?!
Source: Slug Magazine
http://www.slugmag.com/article.php?id=1297&PHPSESSID=407ac9c864842593a3e686f07ff89ebf
Meisce
Shipwrecked in a Bottle
Fistolo Records
Street: 03.11
Meisce = The Tossers + Flogging Molly + Blood Or Whiskey
It seems more often then not that all these Irish/Celtic/punk bands are trying way too hard to be the most Irish, like a group of high-schoolers hell-bent on popularity and the acceptance of others. During the first few listens of Meisce’s latest release, Shipwrecked in a Bottle, two things are made apparent: 1. They are talented musicians and 2. Although at times it seems that they’re pushing the drunken Irish theme too much, the music isn’t bad. From slow balladry to drunken fits of rage, Meisce has a song to fit every mood. For those who are of this Irish folk/Celtic/punk persuasion, open up your mouths and drink in what Meisce has poured for you with Shipwrecked in a Bottle. –Jeremy C. Wilkins
Source: No Front Teeth Webzine
http://www.nofrontteeth.co.uk/2008reviews.html
MEISCE – ‘SHIPWRECKED IN A BOTTLE’ CD
Well, I’ll quote myself on my last review of MEISCE’s ‘Bored Of The Dance’ 7” – “Both compositions on this 7" are extraordinary and really grabbed me and I think a full-length would floor me”…and floored I am, this is EXCELLENT. MEISCE do so much in their compositions and truly elevate the folk-punk style to a level that’s it’s never reached. This is so dark and uncompromising – in the sense that if it was half as good it would still be amazing but they push themselves that extra bit and make something ridiculously good and original. Sure these guys take cues from THE POGUES and that goes without saying but they do so much more than that, they are a far as a copy-band as can be. This is so honest, vigorous and sinister and even has elements of TOM WAITS and NICK CAVE menace in their blend of Irish / Gypsy / Anarcho-folk. You just have to hear this…I’m so fussy about what type of folk-punk I’m into and the fact that this grabs me like this means it’s really something special.
Source: Seattle Sinner
http://www.theseattlesinner.com/Pages/Music.html
Speaking of bands on tour (and i swear to the rock gods and saint Lemmy that if either of these bands break up on tour after this fucking column I will never again write about touring local bands EVER!), a few of our local friends were out on the road in April. First off, Meisce headed down the west coast for a mini-tour in support of their new “Shipwrecked in a Bottle” CD on Fistolo records. For those of you unfamiliar with Gaelic, Meisce means “drunk,” which is a good description for their rollicking brand of Irish folk-punk. Complete with guitar, drums, bass, accordian, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle, their shows are a whirlwind of dancing and (as their name suggests) PLENTY of drinking and flying beverages. Always a fun time. Do yourself a favor and check out myspace.com/meisce and make it out to see them play... you won’t regret it. Or remember most of the night.
-Terry Heretic
Source: No Front Teeth Webzine
http://www.nofrontteeth.co.uk/2007reviews.html
MEISCE - 'BORED OF THE DANCE' 7"
Wow, this is a fascinating mix of folk and punk/crust. It's much heavier than I have ever heard this style done before and it really works well! The superbly-titled 'The Death Of Michael Flatley' puts this intense blend in full effect with an eerie and sinister edge running through the music with hostile vocals scratched all over it. Great. The second track 'Drunk and Alone' varies pace from a staggering to convulsing and is dominated by the violin throughout and, again, is a hugely interesting mix. Both compositions on this 7" are extraordinary and really grabbed me and I think a full-length would floor me.
Fistolo Records
Source: Sepiachord Webzine
http://www.sepiachord.com/bored.htm
MEISCE - Bored of the Dance 7"
Label: Fistolo & Aborted Society
It's not often that I pick up a 7" record and I'm blown away by the cover. The cover to the first 45 by Seattle folk-punkers Meisce (pronounced Mesh-Kyuh) caught my eye right away with it's excellent layered wood-cut look.
If the cover wasn't enough for me buy it the song titles, "The Death of Michael Flatley" and "Drunk & Alone", were sure fire selling points. I wasn't let down by shelling out cash for this at my local punk rock emporium.
The term "punk" gets bandied about frequently in the music scene, so much so that it's hard to give credence to many of the bands who use it. But punk-savant Reverend Norb has the argument that if you write songs that piss off your parents then you're punk. By this basic guideline the seven man crew from the Pacific Northwest earns the term punk on this 45's A-Side.
"The Death of Michael Flatley" is a gleefully mean-spirited attack on the self-proclaimed "Lord of the Dance". Anyone who's had to cringe through a River Dance show will find them smiling a wicked grin over this barn-burner of a song. After all the tame "celtic" music that gets sold in convenience stores it's nice to have a raging antidote.
Not that the B-Side is mellow. It shouldn't come as a surprise to any band whose name means "drunk" that they would include a drinking song. "Drunk & Alone" starts off like a celtic-rock dirge before kicking into high spirited gear fueled by plenty of spirits. If this doesn't get the crowd dancing at shows I don't know what will.
Two songs, two sides, a few bucks... if you own a turntable "Bored of the Dance" is worth your time.
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