Writer’s Choice: Why wait for St. Patrick’s Day? Gaelic Storm visits Union Theater

They may be led by a Cork native named Patrick Murphy, but the band Gaelic Storm has its feet planted firmly on American soil. The combination reflects the fierce pride of Irish-Americans — and those who love a good time.

“I brought a few friends over from Ireland for the Irish Festival in Milwaukee,” Murphy recalls. “After three days of seeing people with elaborate Celtic-knot tattoos and Irish flags on their shoulders, these guys were in shock about the amount of Irish pride people displayed here in America.”

Gaelic Storm blows into town at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19, as part of the Union Theater’s World Stage Series. Tickets are $34, $30 and $20 for general admission; UW–Madison students get in for $10. A cash bar with beer and wine will be available.

The 30-date Shamboozle tour comes on the heels of Gaelic Storm’s seventh studio album, the cheekily named “Cabbage.” Why “Cabbage”? Aside from the obvious reference to traditional cuisine, “nobody can deny listening to an album named after the coolest vegetable around,” says the group’s MySpace page.

As usual, the album is filled with crowd-pleasing paeans to Irish pride. Written in response to a fan’s compliment, the song “Space Race” pays tribute to the remarkable cultural influence that the small island of Ireland has had on the rest of the world. The band agrees, adding to the list “Rascals, rogues and losers/Rapscallions, roustabouts and a bucket full of boozers,” but it also quickly notes in a great shout-along chorus that America has all the astronauts.

As the main singer, accordion player Murphy serves as the face of the band and lead storyteller. Guitarist and vocalist Steve Twigger, originally from Coventry, England, handles primary songwriting duties and produced “Cabbage,” with co-production by percussionist Ryan Lacey. The band’s lineup, the same through the last two albums, also includes Canadian pipes and whistle player Peter Purvis and English violinist Jessie Burns.

The band got its start not in Dublin, London or New York, but in the decidedly non-Irish climes of southern California — Santa Monica, to be exact. The band had its genesis from monthly gigs at Santa Monica’s O’Brien’s Irish Pub in the mid ’90s.

Murphy, the manager and bartender at the time, recalls the start: “On opening night a beach bum walked into the bar. We said, ‘Sorry, we’re not open just yet. He said he was dropping off a good luck gift for the bar and just wanted to say hello.”

Steve Twigger’s gift, a framed Guinness poster, still hangs on the pub’s wall.

Gaelic Storm got its big break when James Cameron walked in one night. “Titanic” introduced the group to millions of people worldwide; as the Celtic party band in third-class steerage, they sent Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet whirling about the tight confines of a ship’s underbelly.

Thankfully, the group managed to stay afloat after its quick ascent. The band has succeeded with nearly no mainstream radio or video airplay, depending on tours and word-of-mouth. Despite that — or, perhaps, because of the strong live following — “Cabbage” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard World Chart, peaking at No. 14 on the iTunes overall Album Chart and No. 11 on the Billboard Independent Album Chart.

It’s only the latest in the groups successful run; each of the band’s albums of the decade has debuted among the top three spots on the World Chart.

Following three major-label studio albums on Virgin/EMI, Gaelic Storm turned indie in a big way. Its label, Lost Again Records, has since released four more albums. The band also designs all its own album art, posters and advertisements, and controls all its own merchandising, bookkeeping and marketing.

“Titanic” isn’t the only unusual place listeners may have heard its work. In addition to songs in two EA Sports video games, a Simlish-language version of their song “Scalliwag” was featured in the Sims 2: Bon Voyage expansion pack. Their song “Kiss Me I’m Irish” has even been used in a Hallmark greeting card.

Not bad for a band that spends more than 200 days a year on the road.

“We are first and foremost a live band,” says Twigger, who enjoyed a long career of his own before joining what he thought would be a casual bar band. “We got together to play music, to enjoy ourselves and enjoy being out with the audience. As the world has gotten darker, people have come and found us as a means to escape,” he says.

With rock, pop, bluegrass, African and Jamaican influences, the infectious blend of styles reflects the “melting pot” of the band’s American home. Still, the traditional Irish music remains at the core of Gaelic Storm’s mission.

“When you leave home, you always appreciate more what you left behind,” says Murphy.

More information and a link to purchase tickets are available online.

To purchase tickets by e-mail or phone, contact Campus Arts Ticketing at 265-ARTS.