The Rumjacks
The Rumjacks are a punk-folk band originally formed in Sydney, Australia in 2008. Known for their loud and energetic live shows, the band has released five studio albums, two live albums, and a series of EPs and singles. In 2016, the Rumjacks relocated to various parts of Europe, where they currently live and tour. One of the band's best-known songs, "An Irish Pub Song", became a viral hit and has earned over 75 million views on YouTube. History. Formed in 2008, the Rumjacks combine a variety of musical influences, including elements of punk rock and  traditional Celtic folk. They released their debut EP "Hung, Drawn & Portered", which was followed by their second EP "Sound as a Pound" later that year. The Rumjacks secured international support from punk legends like U.K Subs, GBH, and Gypsy punk legends Gogol Bordello. After early lineup changes, the band maintained their lineup of lead singer Frankie McLaughlin, bassist Johnny McKelvey, drummer Anthony Matters, guitarist Gabriel Whitbourne and banjo/mandolin/bouzouki player Adam Kenny, recording three critically acclaimed albums together: "Gangs of New Holland" (2010), "Sober and Godless" (2015), and "Sleeping Rough" (2016), before Matters' departure after their 2016 European tour . The Rumjacks have also performed on European tours. The first European tour, in 2015, included the Jarocin Festival in Poland and Boomtown in the UK, and was followed by their 2016 Euro tour, where they performed at festivals like Woodstock Poland, Mighty Sounds, Punk Rock Holiday, and the Lowlands Festival. The Rumjacks embarked on their first US tour in March 2017, which included performances at San Diego's Get Shamrocked Festival Launch Party and Austin's South by Southwest Music Festival. The band later toured across Europe in 2019. Rivkees began filling in for Dropkick Murphys singer Al Barr in  February 2022. Barr was forced to drop off of his band's tour to take care of his ailing mother. Section::::"An Irish Pub Song". An international breakthrough for the band came with their 2011 single, "An Irish Pub Song", which was taken from the 2010 album "Gangs of New Holland". The song is an observational commentary on the fact that there are Irish-styled pubs in every part of the world, and a protest against what the band saw as a commercialization and inauthentic expression of Irish diaspora culture. The song's official music video amassed over 77 million views  on YouTube. In 2016 Billboard published an article stating the song was #4 of the 25 "Most Popular St Patricks Day" songs on YouTube for the US demographic, before becoming #5 in 2017, #3 in 2018, and #5 in 2019. Section::::"Saints Preserve Us". In early 2018 the band recorded their fourth studio album "Saints Preserve Us" over two weeks in Milan, Italy at Crono Sound Factory. It was the first album to feature new drummer Pietro Della Sala. Paul McKenzie from the Real McKenzies was featured on the duet "The Foreman O’Rourke", and Mickey Rickshaw appeared on the song "Billy  McKinley". The album includes a version of the Irish classic (The Mad Puck Goat), which is sung in Irish. The album was released on 12 October 2018. At the end of 2018, the band toured Southeast Asia for the first time and went to Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Legal issues. McLaughlin was sentenced for three domestic violence offences in 2012: an assault occasioning actual bodily harm committed on 2 March 2010; a further assault occasioning actual bodily harm committed on 18 August 2010; and a common assault committed on 26 September 2010, which the band addressed publicly through their Facebook  page at the time. Due to public backlash, the Rumjacks released another statement in 2016. He was removed from the band in April 2020 due to bad behaviour and violent acts towards band members and support crew.