Hmm... what to make of an Irish-Folk-Rock band from Recklinghausen, with influences from the Pogues and Billy Bragg to rock and country diddlyeye? Especially with other bands already establishing a solid reputation at folk festivals- the likes of Schandmaul, Fiddler's Green, Paddy Goes to Hollyhead, Dropkick Murphys and so on - do these guys actually stand a chance?

Well, seeing as these guys claim to have been around for 10 years together as a band, maybe they do! 'Bad Ass Molly' features a few covers and traditionals, including 'Lakes of Ponchartrain, Folsom Prison Blues (yes, from Johnny Cash) A New England, The Foggy Dew and Streams of Whiskey. The last, incidentally, does try to imitate Shane MacGowan's drunken swagger and growl. Unfortunately, it falls short of convincing, and I simply stuck the original on. Schade! I think the guys do a better job with their original compositions (check out the last track, 'Forgotten Love'), which just goes to prove the cliché, 'just be yourself' eh?

Rabies are: Karsten Fechner (vocals, tin whistle, accordion), Sebastian Gerdes (guitar), Stefan Schlautmann (vocals and blues harp), Michael Meinders (bass), Andreas Herzmann (drums & percussion), Denis Wildschütz (vocals, mandolin, guitars) and Andreas Belz (livesound - yes, whatever that means!)

Check out the Rabies' website, at www.rabies-online.de. And no, they don't bite, and they're not contagious!

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