Ollin was one of the opening bands for The Pogues last night. And for me, being an OG homegirl from East Los (that's East Los Angeles to you non-So Cal types), I was (a) surprised that I've never heard of these cats, and (b) damn proud that someone from my old 'hood opened for the fuckin' Pogues!
Dirty Pretty Things was scheduled to have been the opening act for our Irish friends, but for whatever reason, they cancelled. Disappointing, yes...huge plus for Ollin.
A brief write-up in this week's LA Weekly:
Quote:
Nothing says Irish folk music more than the East L.A. band Ollin. Yes, that’s right: The Pogues were so impressed with an impromptu live acoustic performance by Ollin near San Francisco’s fabled Fillmore Auditorium that they decided to book them as an opening act. Man, talk about respect. But what’s new — the talented Ollin (Maya for “movement”), fronted by classically trained twin brothers Scott and Randy Rodarte, have been performing the Pogues’ Rum, Sodomy and the Lash the past few St. Patrick’s Days to sold-out crowds.
The fact that the Pogues asked the band to open for them was quite apparent on their faces. Beaming onstage with their energy high, their folkloric-flavoured music quickly won over the audience. They blew me away! And it makes me a little bit sad that I've never seen them before. Doesn't matter, though, cuz they've a new aficionada in me!
RIYL? Hard presed on that one, but mix Mexican folklorico, Irish folk, big band, rock and you've got Ollin. I couldn't find a band website, but did find 'em on My Space which does have a couple of songs --
www.myspace.com/eastlosollin
Lemme know what you think.
