There are few bands that have the power to make anyone listening to their music in utter awe of the skill and prowess of the musicians performing.
Off Kilter is one of these special Groups to have just such a power.
The group offers up their second dose of a blend of traditional Celtic meets heavy metal music, touching on just about every other type of music in between. Make no mistake about it; they do it well.
If their first self-titled album was a potent dose of music, then their second is lethal.
The opening track of the album, the original “Miracle Fingers,” provides listeners with a preview of what is to come. Jamie Holton plays furiously on the bagpipes on top of a solid backing provided by the Randy Holbrook on guitar, Mark Weldon on bass, Tony Escapa III on keyboards and Scotty Zymowski on drums.
What is truly amazing about Off Kilter is the level of skill in terms of ensemble playing among the quintet. “We’re an equal kilter…Everyone really plays their part,” sings Holton in the album’s seventh track, “Rap,” a unique track for the group, but nonetheless, it shows their diversity to expand their ability to play any musical genre.
If the group’s quest is to “take Celtic music to the next level,” as Holton suggests, then their version of “Danny Boy” is just that. A traditional Irish tune it is; a traditional Irish performance, it is not. The songs explode out of the stereo, providing a glimpse into what Off Kilter does best: rock traditional music and make it a little out of the ordinary as their name suggests.
The highlight track, in my opinion, is the tenth, “The Rovin’ Dies Hard.” The song’s introduction, performed by Holton on whistle and Escapa on the piano, is nothing short of stellar. Then enters the vocals and Holbrook’s acoustic rhythm guitar. The song is epic in nature and, at its pinnacle, amazing.
The closing track of the album, “Trouble in the Kitchen,” works once more to show just how well Off Kilter performs as a unit, as well as their humor in music, interlacing a few bars of “Born to be Wild” played on the bagpipe. In the true spirit of “jam bands,” Off Kilter really brings the goods home.
Though Off Kilter may not be heard on Top 40 radio, they deserve a listen. Anyone claiming to know Celtic music, or any genre of music for that matter, doesn’t know a thing until they’ve experienced Off Kilter.
For more information about Off Kilter, connect to their web site at: http://www.offkilter.net/.
Grade: A+
-Todd DeFeo