Irish musicians to rock Brendan's

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the sounds of Wild Celts, Killian's Angels

SPECIAL TO VIEWWalter O?Douling and the Wild Celts are a Celtic-inspired punk band that will be performing around the valley for St. Patrick?s Day. The band will perform Monday at Brendan?s Irish Pub at The Orleans. Advertisement

In a town laden with fake accents and countless bands looking to capitalize on the music industry's recent quasi-obsession with all things Irish, Dublin-born musician Walter O'Douling is the real deal.

O'Douling is the lead singer and front man for the Celtic-inspired punk band the Wild Celts, a group that is gaining momentum within the Sin City music scene.

"There does seem to be a demand for Irish bands this time of year," O'Douling said. "But I think that's a cultural thing, not just because of the holiday."

The Wild Celts will play Brendan's Irish Pub inside The Orleans, along with fellow rockers Killian's Angels, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday.

"St. Patrick's Day is big every year," said Tony Taeubel, The Orleans' general manager. "We really try to go all out, from specials on beers like Fat Tire, Bass and Pyramid, to great Irish-inspired entertainment. We will indulge in all things Irish that weekend."

According to Taeubel, O'Douling's band is one of the more original and entertaining in town.

"They're great fun to watch," he said. "I'm confident that we will pack the house with the great lineup."

With a neo-punk sound and offbeat, hard-edged originals such as "Johnny Give It Up" and "Don't Get Married," the Celts are following in the footsteps of bands such as Flogging Molly.

"Our songs are great for working out to," O'Douling said. "All or most, anyway, are based upon characters that I knew in Dublin."

According to O'Douling, "Don't Get Married" is a ditty he wrote about an old friend who remained a bachelor into his 60s and seemed quite content.

"I always asked him what his secret was," O'Douling said. "And he said, 'Don't get married.' When I saw him again years later, he looked worn down. When he told me he had seven children, I was shocked. He then revealed that he'd gotten hitched and repeated his earlier advice."

O'Douling said the band would include a few Irish drinking tunes during its normal sets in honor of the holiday, along with a few other St. Patrick's Day-inspired surprises.

"We're really looking forward to the gig," O'Douling said. "You just never know, we may have a leprechaun on stage or pull audience members up to do an Irish jig. We'd have to buy them a drink afterward, of course."

Admission is free. For more information, call 365-7111.