While this album has a bit of a different flavor than the others featuring new instruments, and two new band members, it will still make you toes tap--so pull up pint and give her a listen. How Are We Getting Home is Gaelic Storm's fifth album. This little band is probably the best thing going in Celtic music. They are fun and energized in concert--I caught their act again in Long Beach over the weekend. The members of Gaelic Storm are Patrick Murphy (Vocals), Steve Twigger (Guitar), Tom Brown (Bagpipes), Steve Wehmeyer (Bodhran, Didgeridoo), Ryan Lacey (Percussion), Ellery Klein (fiddle). Since I have seen them last, Ryan and Ellery are new editions, but they certainly hold their own. There are 15 songs on the new album. Featuring silly songs such as Punjab Patty to the traditional An Cailin Deas Rua, which is sung in Gaelic. The songs on this album are either traditional or written (at least partially) by Gaelic Storm.

1. I Miss My Home (Murphy/Twigger/Wehmeyer/Reid)—a catchy little tune. It’s about listening to your mother and appreciating your home.
“I miss my home! The chimney stacks and the cobbled streets I roam, wherever I go, when I find myself alone,
I just close my eyes and the memories take me home.”
Its got some nice fiddle and whistle in it. One of my favorites of the album.

2. Born to Be a Bachelor (Murphy/Twigger/Wehmeyer)—Do the lyrics need an explanation? Believe the title says it all. It has a nifty “electronic” bagpipe music line running through it.

3. Punjab Patty (Murphy/Twigger/Wehmeyer)—This song is about a man who leaves the Emerald Isle and goes to India? He likes he there, therefore he is never going back home. The band explains this was written out of the sediment that the Celts came from India to Ireland—so they decided to switch it up a bit. Good fiddle in this one as well.

4. Stain the Grout—Three Tradition instrumental pieces (Rocking the Baby/Paddy’s Leather Breeches/Galician Jigs) with bagpipes featured. Very nice “bouncy” type of tune. Great Fiddle as well. I really enjoy this piece.

5. Tear Upon the Rose—(Murphy/Twigger/Wehmeyer/Sanders/Sellers)—Beautiful Ballad about leaving the home you have always known to join the one you love.
“I grieve to leave, I grieve to leave this native land,
Across the sea, she waits for me to take her hand,
My every breath, my every bone,
Have drawn what strength they have from home.
But love is stronger I suppose, And there’s the tear upon the rose.
Very soft—with nice percussion/guitar in background. Fiddle prominent and beautiful.

6. Summer’s Gone (Twigger)—This song is bouncy, almost mainstream eighties cross country (cause of the fiddle) sounding. It compares love to the seasons, features great blending vocally by the group, but gets on my nerves. Again good fiddle.

7. Pina Colada in Pint Glass—(Murphy/Twigger/Wehmeyer/Wehmeyer)—about a girl who is tired of the Dublin cold weather and dreams of warmer, sun-filled climates. Who doesn’t dream of relaxin’ in the tropics? Good instrumentals (fiddle)—but vocal centric. Catchy, I find myself singing or humming this one.

8. Fish and Get Fat (Twigger)—The song is about being fed up with our high-tech fast moving/tiring lives. It’s about going fishing, getting fat and perpetual good times. Good music—whistle, fiddle, percussion, guitar—catchy as well.

9. The Lone-Star Stowaway (Pretty Little Girl—Traditional/House of Hammill (Ed Reavey)/Humours of Ballyconnell—Traditional/The Twisted Bridge—Traditional). Instrumental. Got the didgeridoo going on—excellent fiddle—makes your toe tap for sure. Go Ellery! Fun piece.

10. When I Win (Twigger)—song about what they will do “when” they win the lottery. Cute song. Good country sounding backing to this one. Guitar and Fiddle.

11. An Cailin Deas Rua (Traditional)—This song, supposedly about a redheaded girl, is sung in Irish Gaelic by Patrick. It has the prettiest instrumental I have ever heard. It has the electronic bagpipes blending with the fiddle that makes me want to laugh/cry all at once. Its beyond beautiful. Easily and by far my favorite on the album.

12. Down Underground (Murphy/Twigger/Wehmeyer/Reid)—A song for miners. Has the harmonica even. Primarily guitar has a country sound.

13. Cab Ride to Kingston (Moving Cloud—Traditional/Jenny Dang the Weaver—Traditional/The Korgi—John Walsh). Instrumental. Featuring the bagpipes. Another toe tapper—very beat centric. I really enjoy this piece, but I am a sucker for good bagpipes!

14. Time, Drink ‘Em Up—(Twigger/Wehmeyer) Last Call, Irish storytelling style. Blending vocals. Harmonica/percussion—reminds me musically of Summer’s Gone. Bouncy—not a sad time to go home song.

15. Short A Couple A ‘Bob (Twigger)—It’s a song for graduate students! It’s an, I’m broke song. —seen better days kind of song. Good guitar, good percussion and fiddle. Sounds more like the songs from the other albums.

This album is okay. I don’t like it as well as some of the other albums. Although, I love the instrumental pieces and "An Cailin Deas Rua" could become my favorite song of theirs. I think I like Tree as an album better. So if you are just starting as a fan, buy Tree first. What I really love about these guys is their live performances and how nice they are to their fans. I happened to run into Steve (bodhran player) carrying his daughter around the Celtic Festival when I saw them last week. He stopped and talked to me for a moment. His daughter is so cute. These are great guys. If you liked their other albums then you won’t be disappointed by this one.


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving