Brine & Bastards at Otto’s Shrunken Head, NYC: September 19, 2006

International Talk Like A Pirate Day was celebrated in style at NYC Tiki Mecca Otto’s Shrunken Head as dozens of gout-ridden swashbucklers gathered for an evening of drunken debauchery and rock ‘n’ roll. Pirates took to the streets scaring off anyone who dared step foot on 14th St. between Ave. A and B.

After an hour of tremendously unfunny comedy courtesy of Bad Ass Larry and a bunch of non-seaworthy folks, Brine and Bastards took the stage surrounded by a packed crowd of bloodthirsty fans, a few hot sailor girls, and at least one unpirate-looking member of My Chemical Romance. The band blasted through nearly every one of their sea chanteys, including “Overboard” and “A Pirate’s Life For Me.” New drummer Wally Fingers kicked everyone’s ass, adding a ton of depth to the band’s traditionally punk-leaning beats.

For better or worse, the band axed the banjo and accordion making for a more focused sound, but leaving songs like “Beneath the Waves” lacking texture. Hambone and George made up for the missing instruments with some great guitar work and singer Shawn Dillon just gets better and better with every show.

I remember seeing these guys at the Loop Lounge a while back and thought they were a sloppy version of Flogging Molly, but every time they come around they just get tighter and cooler and the songs get catchier. I dare anyone to go home after a Brine show and not catch themselves humming a song. Any naysayers who mock their seaweed-stank threads will soon be walking the plank into the Hudson as Brine and Bastards get ready to conquer the radio waves as well as the seven seas.