We made a list of favorite Irish songs, it was a lot of fun. The list was aimed at traditional Irish folk songs, but a few rock songs creeped into the list too. Sometimes people think that since you like one genre of music you dislike another, nothing could be further from the truth. So this humble post will add praise to Irish music that rocks.

We’ll start of with my favorite Irish rock band of all time. Thin Lizzy

Thin Lizzy, Phil Lynott and the boys were responsible for some of the greatest hard rocking, guitar blaring, lyric based rock music, this old fart listened to during my youth. Classic songs; The boys are back in town, Jailbreak, Dancing in the moonlight, Cowboy song, Bad reputation.

albums like “Jailbreak”, “Bad Reputation”, “Chinatown”, and “Nightlife” included great guitarists like Snowy White, Brian Robertson, John Sykes, Scott Gorham, and of course the late Gary Moore, and would establish Thin Lizzy as one of the world’s greatest rock bands.

On a personal note even 30 years later I still get revved up when the Boys are back in town plays on the radio. maybe the best lyrics for a straight forward rock song, “and if that chick don’t want to know, forget her”.

Rory Gallagher, This Cork man with the honest bluesy Rocking Guitar was completely missed by many when he was alive. Irish natives are probably screaming at me but in the states you had to be a rock star hero to know this Irish legend. I came across Rory’s story when I was poking around the web, and immediately felt ashamed not knowing the man’s work. The next hour or two of listening to songs and watching videos of Rory Gallagher’s work made me mad I missed out on this classic rocker.

U2, International superstar group, endless hits by Bono and the Boys, I have to say I appreciate U2 but never went head over heals for them. No arguing over results though as Bono has set all records for hit songs, albums, touring, and social causes. You could write the whole post on what their best song would be. I vote for the following.

The Pogues, The best of both worlds, high energy, emotional, kick ass rocking, traditional music. The only problem I have with the Pogues is now every band thinks they can throw in an Irish lick or a bagpipe and call it Irish rock. Of course famous for “Fairy tale of New York”, and many original and Irish folk songs, done in their high energy, hard rocking way.

The Boomtown Rats, Another band from the eighties most famous for ( almost don’t want to tell the uninformed, as they will be singing this tune all week) “I don’t like mondays”. I’m pretty sure listening to their song Rat trap, that Bruce springsteen stole their idea for his hit, Born to run, “It’ a Rat Trap” to “it’s a death trap”, just saying?

Hothouse Flowers, Dublin Buskers turned rock and roll band, a little less in your face and even a bit hopeful in spots, best known for their song ” Don’t Go.”

The Undertones, Northern Irelander rockers commented on by a Donegal lass as  producing one of her favorite Irish rock songs “Teenage Kicks”. Another group that had it’s hay day in the eighties, and now regrouped and spreading some good old rock. Tom Petty once said “there ain’t been nothing new since a whole lot of shakin goin on”. I say play your three chords, play them well, play them hard.

Ok I’ll take on all takers find a better set of Irish rockers,

Cheers.

Oh and here’s a bit from  Paul Kenny.