John Blek and the Rats

One could wonder how the Rats feel about telling people that their current occupation is as one of the Rats. I'm sure though they are happy to be members of a solid americana band emerging from Cork. John Blek and the Rats are a straight-up americana band who are starting to get some deserved recognition. The name apparently is inspired by the French graffiti artist Blek le Rat, thus you have a band name. The band, currently made up of John (vocals, guitar, banjo), Luke (bass), Aisling (vocals, mandolin, harmonium) and Niall (drums, harmonium) have been around since 2008 in various forms and having been building their reputation ever since. The band released their first single in February "Old St. Catherine" through a successful fundit campaign where there they were offering some impressive gifts in return for sponsorship.

Their music is on the folk edge of americana. I think nothing demonstrates that more than the lovely song "Take me Home" which has a video shot for it, one could only describe as charming. I see elsewhere the band have been compared to Ryan Adams previously but personally, I see the best comparison as Bright Eyes. John sings in that same almost strained higher register as Bright Eyes which caries the emotion of the songs so well across.

The single "Old St. Catherine" is a more upbeat affair. Anchored by a bopping rhythm section and contrasted with supine steel guitar, that almost sea shanty vocal hook, this is a song of loss that is a great blend of old and new folk.

The Facebook page has some of their current tracks and you can purchase more on Itunes. Sadly I'm too late to mention their tour in May but I see they are scheduled to play the Knockanstockan festival in Wicklow at the end of July.