H I S T O R Y Formed in a downtown Irish pub in 1998 NYC by the brothers Griffin, the Ruffians are an original celtic rock band that entwines the heart and soul of celtic music with the exuberance of punk rock. They have the kind of energy associated with bands like the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly, but also uniquely incorporate the catchiness of American and British pop and alternative music. Their original songs and inventive interpretations of traditional dance tunes make them one of the most exciting bands out today. The Chicago Sun Times' Tim DeGrogatis called them the "Y-Generation Pogues." In the time the Ruffians have been together, they have opened numerous times for Black 47, Shane McGowan's band The Popes, were part of the People's Fleadh in 2003 and 2004,and were asked to play for the "Good Friday Agreement" peace talk. They have also played for the Ancient Order of Hibernians' Rose of Tralee Pageant for five years running. Being a favorite at many pubs in the northeast,if there's good music to be heard and fine whiskey to be drunk, Ruffians will be there. T H E C O R E P L AY E R S Sean Griffin is front man, singer/songwriter and guitarist. His writing depicts the joys and sorrows of being human, and his working-class sensibility is relevant to Irish, English and Americans alike. He makes sure the Ruffians' sound is as much rock, pop and punk as it is Irish so the crowd goes home singing Ruffians' tunes. Dan Griffin's bass playing can only be described as performance art. His energy and enthusiasm can get a crowd going in no time, along with his signature green jumpsuit and "lucky" boxers. Dan also contributes to songwriting, sings back-up and jumps into the crowd to play the bones! Jerome Morris is a master of drums and percussion. Trained as a jazz musician, his precise articulation and control makes him a driving force in the group. The Derry Journal hailed Jerome as "one of the best drummers in the world." Kevin Meehan is the band's button accordionist. After years of studying piano accordion under Galway's Peter Kelly, he quickly adapted to the button accordion and soon formed the traditional Irish group Gallowglass and played with Johnny Cuomo. Formerly a competitive bagpiper, he is currently an active piper in the American Celtic Bagpipe band. Also plays piano, whistle and guitar.In addition to these four, some of the area's best traditional players will occasionally sit in to add tin whistle, uileann pipes or fiddle. www.ruffiansband.com S O M E R E V I E W S Chicago Sun Times: review of "Together for Christmas" (3 stars out of 4) by Tim DeGrogatis, Dec. 2002 "Now this is my idea of a rockin' Xmas disc! Irish punk-rockers the Ruffians (think of an American, gen- Y version of the Pogues)..." "...the music (as well as the sentiments) will still sound fresh in every sense of that word by mid-Jan..." NY Daily News: review of "Together for Christmas" (3 and a half stars out of four), Dec. 2002 "Only five songs and 14 minutes, but an entertaining, hard-edged look at the season from these Irish rockers." Irish Echo: feature by Stephen McKinley, Dec. 2003, "Griffin's a Ruffian Ready for Fame" "A Ruffians gig is a zany experience of lyrical, sometimes angry songs about the vagaries of the life of the common man..." Griffin's "...latest ballad [is] a haunting song, called "Be My Girl." Irish Voice: Off the Record, review of "Naked & Famous" by Mike Farragher, August 2001 "If you are looking for a meatier portion of Irish music than what you'll find cooking in the Corrs' kitchen, I suggest ordering something from the Ruffians' menu."... "My only complaint about the disc is they stopped at six songs." Shite n'Onions: review of "Naked & Famous" by John Murphy/Sean Holland, Dec. 2001 "...imagine the Pogues kidnapping Morrissey, getting him real drunk and making him sing for them." "A good young band with plenty of potential." S O M E P L A C E S T H E Y ' V E B E E N : Boston College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boston, MA Buckleys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Southhampton,NY Byrne's Pub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Columbus, OH CBGB's. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York City The Downtown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Long Island Fitzgerald's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clifton, NJ The Half-door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hartford, CT Hungry Trout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saranac, NY Iona College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Rochelle, NY Kennedy's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stamford CT Knitting Factory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York City Luna Lounge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York City Manitoba's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York City Mick O'Shea's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baltimore, MD Molly Darcy's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danbury, CT Molly Malone's . . . . . . . . . Bay Shore, Long Island Mulcahey's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Long Island N.E. Brewing Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norwalk, CT Paddy Reilly's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York City Princeton University . . . . . . . . . . . . Princeton, NJ Revolution Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Troy, NY Rocky Sullivan's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York City Sin-e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York City Toad's Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Haven, CT And no doubt soon, a college near you!