The Fenians to paint the town green

Everyone loves an Irish band. Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or not, it’s hard to resist the lure of a good fiddle player and a smooth pint of Guinness. The amount of Guinness consumed is parallel to the likelihood of many to get up and dance, but whether you’re busting out into a jig or not, it’s a whole lot of fun.

In any event, St. Paddy’s day comes a little early to Maine this year, when The Fenians drop by the Unity Centre for the Performing Arts this Saturday. The California quintet is making its annual St. Patrick’s Day tour of the East Coast, and its first stop in Maine will round out the lineup for Unity’s spring schedule.

Terry Casey, vocalist and mandolin player, is the oldest continual member of The Fenians and has been playing with the band since 1989.

“We all met by happenstance,” said Casey. “We started as a duo as two Irish-American boys who loved the music. But we really wanted a mandolin player, and we couldn’t find one, so I learned it myself.”

After adding members and then shuffling through some cast changes, the current lineup features Casey, Rob Williams on vocals and guitar, Kenny Cosca on bass, Chris Pierce on drums and David Burnett on whistles and sax.

Sax? In an Irish band?

On their Web site, www.thefenians.com, the band proudly states that it brings in elements of rock, jazz and world music to its sound. So don’t be shocked when you hear Burnett, a rabid fan of all sorts of jazz, get on the horn. And true to his roots, Casey mixes in some punk rock, though his parents are both immigrants from Ireland and he was brought up around Irish music.

“I didn’t start out playing Irish music. In 1980 I was living in California at the height of the punk rock scene. I played in a band with all Catholic high school boys called First Offense,” said Casey.

He returned to his Irish roots after many years of playing in lots of different types of bands.

“I had been searching for my musical identity,” continued Casey. “And I heard one of my Dad’s best friends sing at a party, and I said ‘Duh, that’s what I’ve been searching for.’ So I started learning Irish songs. I definitely believe if you do what you love, you love what you do.”

Currently a mainstay on the Irish festival circuit across the country, The Fenians are more of a live band than anything – though their most recent album, “Every Day’s a Holiday,” is an engaging, energetic mix of traditional Irish folk and rock ‘n’ roll and is nothing to sniff at. They play both originals and classics when they’re on the road.

“We thrive in a live setting,” said Casey. “You really haven’t lived until you’ve seen a long-haired, kilt-wearing drummer come out from behind the set and give a really great version of ‘Danny Boy.’ It starts off traditional, but then [Pierce] gives it its own interpretation. You’ll be both laughing and crying. It’s great.”

The Fenians will play at the Unity Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Mr. Paperback in Belfast, Crosstrax Restaurant in Unity, or reserved online at www.unitymaine.org. Emily Burnham can be reached at eburnham@bangordailynews.net.

Supporting acts

If you haven’t got anything planned yet, there are Irish bands and celebrations lined up around the state for St. Patrick’s Day. In the Bangor area, the Napper Tandies will bring their raucous, potty-mouthed traditional music to the Sea Dog in Bangor from 4 to 8 p.m. and then the Bear Brew Pub in Orono from 10 p.m. until they kick everyone out. Boston-based band the Gobshites will play at Sugarloaf both on March 17 and 18, at 9:30 p.m. Friday and 3:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Three Tides on the Belfast waterfront will feature the music of Old Gray Goose – as well as 10 hand-picked Irish whiskeys – for their St. Paddy’s festivities. Remember, everyone: Celebrate, but celebrate responsibly.

The Fenians will play at the Unity Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Mr. Paperback in Belfast, Crosstrax Restaurant in Unity, or reserved online at www.unitymaine.org. Emily Burnham can be reached at eburnham@bangordailynews.net.