That's it for us in 2009!

We just finished our last show of 2009 last night. Now we get about 10 days off for the holidays and we are back at it in the new year. We've got lots of new things coming your way for 2010, but I wasn't to look back and thank everyone who helped us along in 2009. Especially PaddyRock.com, Celtophilia, IrishPunk.com, Shite 'n' Onions, Celtic-Rock.de, Marc Gunn, KC Irish Music, 67 Music, Celt in a Twist, Highlander Radio, Salty Dog Radio, Radio Rebel Gael, Celtic Roots Radio, and so many others. Your support has helped so much to make 2009 a great year for The Langer's Ball, and it has inspired us to bring you so much more next year.

So have a safe and happy holiday everyone, we'll be back with lots of surprises and lots more music for Y2K10!

A Great Review from www.IrishPunk.com

If you haven't searched whats what & who is who in Irish Music lately, you might not of heard about www.IrishPunk.com yet. But Jeff, the web master, is building another great site dedicated to Celtic rock, Punk and all that is happening in the scene. He was kind enough to agree to review our album, and gracious enough to give it a Great F-ing review! Thanks Jeff. Click over to http://www.irishpunk.com/ and read it on the page. Here is what says about our latest CD:

"Ship's Are Sailing is the second album from The Langer's Ball fallowing 2008's "As I Roved Out." This time we are treated with a great diversity of instruments, such as the snare drum in The McGrath set. And it does not stop there, you get everything and the Kitchen sink in this one, and I'm sure Hannah could make it rock. Whenever I form an opinion on music, I need to listen to it multiple times from start to finish to really appreciate it. Rarely can I just pop in something and just be taken in by it. So I took a listen to Ship's Are Sailing once, nearly an hour of music. Holy hot damn, this is good. There is nothing redundant about this album (a big pet peeve of mine band's tend to do.) The musicianship is some of the best I've ever heard, and really is the highlight of the album for me. This one is going on my ipod and phone which for me means something is getting deleted, yeah its really that good. Let's just take a look at some of the tracks here:Patriot Game. This is by far the best version I've heard, no question. You'll get chills from the soft ghostly sound of the steel lap guitar. Michael Strum's voice is on this track is outstanding. Not only can he pull off the rugged sound on other tracks, but he has a sublime singing voice.The Sailors Return. I'm a big fan of this one because one of my favorite things about this album stands out, the instrumentals, and I'm a big fan of the bodhran! The Titanic A great storytelling song. The clarinet in this one really set's the mood well. A Rainy Night In Soho. I tend to get a bit apprehensive when trying to review a Pogues cover, I tend to set my standers on that through the roof, but when upon hearing this I was not disappointed. Whiskey from The Still. Right here we are getting a bit into a country music feel almost. I'm not talking the water down pop you hear now, I mean it has a real nice country feel to it. It's a really fun song and well done. We also have a Rock Road To Dublin cover, and I'm A Man You Don't Meet Every Day with backing vocals from Karie Oberg.both of which are good covers.In conclusion this is one of the best Cd's I've heard in 2009. It's worth every penny and I highly recommend it. Christmas 2009 is right around the corner, these will make great stocking stuffer's. So for once why not get a gift someone will not want to take back! "

We are featured on IMDA Compilation CD

The Irish Music & Dance Association is releasing a compilation of Minnesota Irish Music called "Hooley in the Heartland" as a fundraiser for the IMDA. We are proud to have one of our songs featured on the album. You can pick up the CD at our shows very soon, and it is a double disc featuring tons of great Minnesota Irish Music.

The CD's will be $18.00, and they are sure to please! So check out one of our shows coming up, or look for it at many fine Irish retailers around Minnesota.

P.S. be sure to check www.irishpunk.com later this week, rumor has it, there is a review coming out on our latest CD!

The Amazing E-X-P-A-N-D-I-N-G Band!

Hey everyone, just a quick note, we've decided to pull the trigger on something that has been in the works for a while, we will be appearing at the Dubliner Pub in St. Paul tonight (Friday, Oct 2nd) with an expanded band. We are proud to feature Mutt O'Matic on Guitar, Banjo and Vocals, and Charlie Beekman on Bass and Vocals! Stop down for this special free show tonight starting at 9:30pm!

CD Review From Shite 'n' Onions

Here is the review of "Ships Are Sailing" from our new friends over at Shite 'n' Onions. You can get our CD from their WebStore, along with a bunch of other great CD's too, If you haven't visited Shite 'n' Onions before, click over and see what they are all about! Without any further Ado...The Review:

The Langer’s Ball: Ships Are Sailing
Mustard Finnegan @ 9:18 pm September 25, 2009
"I used to have a roommate from Cork city at one point who’s favorite term of endearment/insult was to call a person a “Langer” - not being a Cork man, I’m still not exactly sure what a langer is, but I think it’s a guys third leg. That been said then “Langer’s Ball” is a really great name for a band! Our friends here on “Ships are Sailing” are a 2 piece - with some help from their friends - from deepest MN playing Irish folk standards with an growl, a scowl and tattoos to match. If you’re looking for straight ahead no frills Irish ballads with just a hint of razor blades and safety pins and American rock n roll this is for you."

Steel-Toed Sundays play The Langer's Ball

We just found out that Steel-Toed Sundays, part of the Punk & Beans Radio Network featured songs off of the New CD "Ships Are Sailing" on their Latest Podcast (Episode #22)! Punk Rock DJ's Leigh Ann and Lizzy tear it up every Sunday from 6-8pm (cst) on Punk and Beans Radio spinning only the finest Punk Rock, Oi!, Rockabilly, Reggae, Soul, Ska, Metal and all other sub-genres that lurk in between. Check out their website, all their past podcasts are cataloged and can be downloaded. Thanks so much to both of them for contacting us and playing our music!

German review from Celtic-Rock.de

Guten Tag Mein Langers! Our new CD, "Ships Are Sailing" was just just reviewed by our pals in Germany over at http://www.celtic-rock.de/ You can click over and read it Auf Deutsch, or here is a translation (let me know if I got anything really wrong!)

"The White Stripes "of the American Irish folk scene are back with a
full-length album called “Ships are sailing“. The Irish folk duo, The Langer's
Ball, come from St. Paul, MN, USA, with Michael Sturm on guitar, mandolin,
banjo, harmonica & vocals, and Hannah Rediske on accordion, pennywhistle and
the oboe. A number of traditional songs, a Pogues tune (A Rainy Night in
Soho) and original compositions cover this work. It is striking that the duo has
developed significantly from their last release, which was somewhat risk averse.
The music starts soft but firmly with the classic "Galway Races," which was
recorded with just guitar, whistle, mandolin, Bouzouki and vocals.
It
continues with "The Shores Of Botany Bay ', a Traditional song about the
deportation of Irish convicts to Australia, which stands out from the Wolf Tones
version by very well arranged instrumental interludes. "The McGrath set" is very
much alive and enriched with the typical Irish Marching Snare. The album is fun
and good humor, and their version of the song "Patriot Game" has a gentle slide
guitar, I get the urge to authorize me a whiskey. The catchy "The Tinker's
Fiddle" and the Country Ramble "Whiskey From The Still" are original
compositions that blend seamlessly with the traditionals, all complete with
drums and bass that give the songs the necessary intensity.With the instrumental
"The Sailor's Return" show, once again, the versatility and mastery of folk
instruments from The Langer's Ball. Their gypsy-interpreted song “The Titanic"
has the classic clarinet, weaving in and out of the background, and then takes a
solo and prevails in the foreground with the other instruments. "Ships are
sailing" is a success, an album for the dark days of autumn in the pub, at home
or away."