"Not since Bob Marley cried "Get up, Stand up" has an artist put a political rallying cry atop a reggae back beat with such a thrilling effect. For this track, Byrne enlisted friends from both sides of the Atlantic, including Damien Dempsey and head Pogue Shane MacGowan" - Irish Voice

Reviews

SEANCHAI and the Unity Squad has just released Rebel Massive, a CD brimming with Irish pride, world textures, and sledgehammer raps and scratches that is a must for your turntable. 

Seanchai is the artist formerly known as Brooklyn native Chris Byrne, who traded the bright lights of Times Square on his beat as a New York City cop for the harsh lights of the stage. He began rapping with Black 47 and teamed up with Pat McGuire (of SpŽir Mor) and acclaimed fiddle player Eileen Ivers to form the now legendary Paddy-A-Go-Go. 

Byrne became a performing legend across the Big Apple with regular stints at Paddy Reilly's Music Bar and Montauk's Old Shebeen. His contribution to Irish culture extended beyond music. In 1996, Byrne teamed up with former Irish Voice editor Patrick Farrelly to open Rocky Sullivan's Pub (at 129 Lexington Avenue) in an attempt to mix live music with literary readings. Byrne went on to form Seancha’ & the Unity Squad with Dublin-born Rachel Fitzgerald (turntables, vocals) and New York native Jason Goodrow, a veteran guitarist (who can also be seen occasionally in the window of an Indian restaurant playing sitar) of bands fronted by acts as diverse as Shane MacGowan (with The Rogues) and Mark Geary.

As he reflects on the evolution of his band, Byrne is pleased with the power of the threesome.

"I went to see the Police when they played in Shea Stadium around 1983," he recalls. "I was amazed at how just three people could create enough sound to fill a stadium. They played so big, and I think that's what we have in this band. Every person has their part and there is no room for anyone to slack off."

There's no slacking off on one note of this hard hitting new disc. Rebel Massive opens up with the punky title track, a call to arms that lay atop feedback-drenched power pop chords. 

"Why do we always look at what divides us?/When it's so easy to see what unites us?/End of the day we all want the same/thereÕs a lot more of us than of them/gotta get rebel massive," barks Byrne.

Rebel Massive takes an abrupt right turn toward the ocean for the tropical "Miss Eire." Not since Bob Marley cried "get up, stand up" has an artist put a political rallying cry atop a reggae back beat with such a thrilling effect. For this track, Byrne enlisted friends from both sides of the Atlantic, including Damien Dempsey and head Pogue Shane MacGowan. 

The end result is a track stuffed with so much Irish pride that Bertie Ahern may want to consider it for the Irish National Anthem in this Celtic Tiger era. 

"I am your servant/Mother Ireland/where Dan Breen and Sean Tracey/show the coppers in the glen/phoblacht na herin/workers and farmers/you're not only free but Gaelic/not just Gaelic but also free/the river flows/forces of nature/carry all in its path to the place its meant to be," sings the cast of proud Irish musical luminaries. 

"I'm really happy with it," said a clearly juiced Chris Byrne during an exclusive chat with the Irish Voice. "It's just a bunch of old friends getting together, representing their particular corner of their Irish community."

The song also marks the glorious return of MacGowan into the rebel army fold.

"Shane recorded his bit from Dublin, and Damien helped him with it," said Byrne. "They mailed it over from there. That's the beauty of modern technology today. He was the only one who changed the lyrics on his part. I had written the lyrics to the song, but then he went off and did his own thing. The guy has been known to pen a few good lyrics every now and then. He brought the song to a whole different level when he did it. I then had to do a rewrite to come up to his level. That's the genius of Shane MacGowan: when all is said and done, his are the songs that will go on. I donÕt know if people are necessarily singing "With Or Without You" in a pub one hundred years from now. You can bet they will be singing Shane's songs.

With Fitzgerald's native Irish roots and Goodrow's Big Apple seeds, Byrne sees a perfect blend of Celtic and New World influences that make the quintessential Irish American sound. 

"I am definitely a New Yorker, but I was obviously influenced by my Irish heritage," recalled Byrne. "I went over to Ireland for visits all the time, and of course there were Irish records played around the house as well."

Since the Irish blood is now mixed with other cultures that inhabit the States, it is only fitting that a true Irish American music group capture the varied textures of the mixed ethnicities. Very few do this better than Seanchai.

On "Bella Ciao," Fitzgerald's honeyed voice wraps itself around Spanish lyrics that slither across flamenco guitars and spirited hand clapping, while "We're In Seville" is a return to the Public Enemy New Yawk street rap-prose that Byrne cut his teeth on. Despite the explorations into new sonic worlds, you can bet that Byrne's uilleann pipes are never far away.

What would an Irish American CD be without a drinking song? "50 Pints of Stout" is a slinky reggae-rap track that will have Shaggy and Sean Paul shaking in their boots. Bono once said that Irish are Jamaicans who can't dance, and Seanchai makes such an authentic case for Irish reggae that it is hard to argue with the U2 leader. Drinking more pints of "G"/thank 101 dalmations/comes to stout/I'm willing and able/drink MacGowan right under the table/Dropkick Mur-phys?/surely youÕre jestin'/Boston mob/ought to stick to Dorchester

Those are fighting words on a score that will be settled next time the Yankees play at Fenway!

Seanchai has just completed the St. PatrickÕs Unrepentant Fenian Gathering tour, a concert bill that saw the Unity Squad team up with the Ruffians, Declan McLaughlin from The Whole Tribe Sings, and Eire Og from Glasgow. While there is certainly much to rebel against with the current standoff in the Irish peace process, Byrne has found a cause to fight for that is a bit closer to home: the smoking ban in New York bars.

It's been a disaster; it has been for everyone else, he says after I ask him how business is at Rocky Sullivan's. ÒWeÕre lucky to be situated in Manhattan, so I suppose youÕll always have people meeting with one another here. The numbers are way down at the bar scene here in BloombergÕs New York over all. When you get to the outer boroughs, particularly on the off nights, you have working people hooked on smoking who will not run outside to grab their smoke. TheyÕll just grab a six pack and head home. Even in Manhattan, you have a massive increase in house parties because people don't want to hang in an empty bar that doesnÕt allow you to smoke.

There's always smokin' craic at Rocky's, where Seanchai plays most Friday nights. With its party vibe, thought provoking Irish political anthems, and infectious reggae beats, Rebel Massive is the perfect transition from the Big Green Holiday of March to the warm summer months that we're all clamoring for. ~ Mike Farragher