The Lost Highwaymen – Celtic rock band engages audience in energetic show
by Edmund Jordan
The Lost Highwaymen are a bodacious Celtic rock band that provides for an outrageous evening in show and performance.
Not traditional so much as what one would catch in the general rock realm, they are one that gets you going. With your feet and hands moving to the music, the band is truly unique in what they do. They are very interactive with the audience. They invite you to participate in the show, as the music is one that says “give me some more suds” while you’re engaged.
As primary lead vocalist and guitarist Rob “Bodhi” Wolf puts it, “We bring the party!! And it’s always fun.” Recently playing at Kelly’s Olympian Pub downtown on S.W. 4th and Washington, the band presented itself well. One could only think, as the music made you get out of your seat and shake a leg, where did these guys come from and where are they playing next?
Though this band has spent some time in the making (in a piece-meal fashion), its final formation in chemistry materialized this last March. Asher Wood, a long-time Portland musician with much diverse talent and energy, incorporated his fine mandolin and guitar work with Bodhi (who, by the way, is Canadian) to generate good time Celtic rock. They characterize it as some sort of 18th century idea of a “booty call” in music.
Once forming a foundation to build on, they pulled in Rodney Oliver for bass and added drummer / percussionist Danny Boy Coughlin to put the punctuation mark on the bottom line. The end result is a very tight band with a lot of energy coming off the stage with sight and sound.
The show is definitely cultured in the Irish country folk roots (hence, the motivation in the suds department). The overall flavor is just that as a powerful beat flies at you with an incredible sound of music and visual talent.
The Lost Highwaymen mix original tunes with contemporary rock and some cover by such groups as U-2, The Who (Pinball Wizard) Dave Matthews and the Rolling Stones. This group recently produced an album this year titled A Rover of High Degree, a combination of original tunes, traditional Irish, maritime songs and contemporary rock done in their unique Celtic-themed style.
Currently, the group hosts a Sunday jam from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Wichita Pub, located at the corner of S.E. King Rd and Linwood. They will also be a main act at the Portland Pirate Festival (St. Johns) Sept. 19, guaranteed to be one heck of a party!!. This group is well worth the time to catch, especially if you’re out for a good one!! Check your local listings in PE for future engagements.
