Black 47

"Elvis Murphy's Green Suede Shoes"

(Gadfly 289)

Far Side of the Wall
mp3 sound clip here:


Downtown Baghdad Blues
mp3 sound clip here:


The Bells of Hell
mp3 sound clip here:


Gadfly Records is proud to announce the release of Elvis Murphy's Green Suede Shoes from seminal Irish rockers Black 47. It is a unique new album that is a rich biography of a group that has been established for 15 years as "New York's house band." It is the companion to a book memoir ("Green Suede Shoes") by group leader Larry Kirwan being released simultaneously by Avalon Publishing.

Elvis Murphy's Green Suede Shoes is a unique project that combines six all-new songs with four tracks from Kirwan side projects, and two tracks re-recorded from previously deleted albums. It is a combination of story-songs that tells a story -- of an Irish immigrant's hopes and dreams upon arriving in America, and all the highs and lows that accompanied his integration into the big bold worlds of both the United States and Rock and Roll.

Taking their name from the blackest year of the Irish Potato Famine, Black 47 burst out of the Irish pub scene on the success of 1992’s Fire of Freedom (EMI). With their signature eclectic sound, socio-political lyrics and off-the-wall live shows, they paved the way for other Irish influenced bands such as The Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. Black 47’s songs articulated the hopes and fears of working people, and they became the musical voice for young, politically aware, Irish Americans. Their cutting-edge lyrics are now used in political science/history courses in hundreds of high schools and colleges.

The band is led by Larry Kirwan (guitar/vocals). His plays have been performed both in the US and Europe, while his first novel Liverpool Fantasy, an alternate history of the Beatles, was published in 2003. Other members include ex-Dexy’s Midnight Runners founder Geoffrey Blythe (saxophone), Joseph Mulvanerty (uilleann pipes), Fred Parcells (trombone), Thomas Hamlin (drums), and Andrew Goodsight (bass). Black 47 annually performs 150 dates in North and South America and Europe. Their Winter Saturday night NYC shows have been described by the New York Daily News as "a rite of passage for all New Yorkers." Black 47 live shows are incendiary and legendary - they once closed down the town of Hoboken – where celebrities can be seen rubbing shoulders with cops, writers, hard hats and students

Black 47 will embark on a U.S. tour following the release of New York Town, with a confirmed two-show performance at B.B. King’s in NYC on St. Patrick’s Day. Visit http://www.black47.com for tour updates. For more information on Black 47, to request a copy of the CD or interview, please contact Think Press:Monica D’Ascanio / (323) 661-7802 / monica@thinkpress.net www.thinkpress.net

Also available from Gadfly Records:

Black 47, "Black 47" (the indie CD), Gadfly 272

Black 47, "Live in New York City," Gadfly 248

Black 47, "New York Town," Gadfly 286

Black 47, "On Fire," Gadfly 280

Larry Kirwan, "Kilroy Was Here" Gadfly 273



Ordering Information
Return to the main page