After some changes, the new line-up is Pat Westmacott (guitar, vocals), Dylan Wickham (guitar, banjo, vocals), Aaron Bergen and Kevin Dougan (bagpipes, whistles), Bern Kinnear (bass) and Jeremy Fiddy (drums). The Grinning Barretts are currently the official house band at Riot Brewing Co. in Chemainus, the best brewery on Vancouver Island, and they released a 7 track CD last St-Patrick’s Day. The title, “The St. Padraig’s EP”.

The Grinnning Barretts “The St. Padraig’s EP” is a brilliant EP (or even mini-album). The first song on the EP is “Plutocrass”, a shot at the rich bastards who own news outlets, and pay them to lie so they can get richer. This excellent number was already on the demos and has the band’s trademark: pipes, guitars and  oi! singalong chorus.

Track no. 2 is called “W&B“. Bagpipes open and then the full band joins. If you like the Dropkick Murphys early stuff, this is a song for you. I’d daresay that they give DKM a run for their money if we take into account the Murphys last album.

“Kudatah” kicks off with bass, electric guitar and drums before the pipes are added. The sound is raw, with in yer face pipes, gang vocals and an electric guitar part before the end of the song.

The first traditional number on “The St. Padraig’s EP” is a Scottish song, “Wild Mountain Thyme” aka “Will Ye Go Lassie, Go”. This song was covered by The Real McKenzies on their second album “Clash of the Tartans”. Curiously, The RMCK rendition has no pipes. The Grinning Barretts deliver a badass cover full of pipes and guitars. The song finishes up a cappella.

The second traditional song on the EP is “Black Velvet Band”. The name of some places have been changed (Nelson in BC instead of Belfast) and the song reminds of the Dropkick Murphys cover with its gang vocals. However The Grinning Barretts rendition is full of pipes and they have added a traditional pipes tune too. Better? Worse? Different. I’d say better, but I admit that the Grinning Barretts cover wouldn’t exist without the Murphys previous version.

“UFS” is oi! at its best.  The chorus is so infectious that I can’t help but sing along.

The last song on the album is another celtic oi! gem, the fast-paced “To Your Name”. When one thinks that the song is over, there is a brilliant pipes solo.

“The St. Padraig’s EP” can be bought from Bandcamp, where the lyrics to all of the songs are available too. If you like bagpipes punk and oi! bands such as Harrington Saints or Bishops Green, this is the EP that you should add to your collection. A bagpipes punk must have.