For nearly a decade, The Fisticuffs have been proving themselves as a band to be reckoned with. Their songs are fast paced, complex in nature and direct in delivery. While many bands in the Celtic punk genre lean heavily on played out and sped up traditional pub melodies accompanied by lyrics that are heavy on shtick but low on substance, The Fisticuffs make every effort to steer clear of these pitfalls. According to singer Bobby Baldwin, “If you want that leprechaun b.s. don’t buy a Fisticuffs record, go eat at a Bennigans.” The earth pounding drums and bass of Tony Dellorto and Neal Farrell meet head on with the thrashing guitar work of Sean Moriarty. On top of this mix Dave Beneventi’s mandolin and Arcadia Kust’s fiddle unleash melodies that, depending on the song, can dampen your eyes or clench your fists. Through it all are Baldwin’s growling lyrics about family, hard work, a great many sins, and life on the South Side of Chicago. The band are known for their raucous live shows that can be described as equal parts Irish wake and soccer riot. These kinds of heart racing performances are achieved by the groups love and respect for their music, fans and from the experience gained from years of playing all over Chicago and the eastern United States. In a musical landscape where the term Celtic punk is often synonymous with watered down punk rock, The Fisticuffs are hell bent on standing out. They’re all whiskey, no water.
