Goats Don't Shave

Goats Don't Shave
Goats Don't Shave performing at Féile Earthcore on 17 July 2011 in Gweedore, Co. Donegal.
Background information
Origin	County Donegal, Ireland
Genres	Celtic rock, folk rock
Years active	1990 (1990)–1998, 2003
Labels	Cooking Vinyl
Past members	Pat Gallagher Charlie Logue Declan Quinn Gerry Coyle Seán Doherty Michael Gallagher Jason Philbin
Website	https://www.facebook.com/GoatsDontShave

Goats Don't Shave were an Irish folk rock band formed in 1990. Formed in Dungloe, County Donegal, the group was fronted by singer-songwriter Pat Gallagher and backed by musicians, Charlie Logue (keyboards), Declan Quinn (whistle), Gerry Coyle (bass), Seán Doherty (acoustic guitar), Jason Philbin (fiddle) and Michael Gallagher (drums).

The group released two albums together, The Rusty Razor (1992) and Out in the Open (1994). After a sabbatical which has lasted from 1995 onwards, a third album Tór was released in 1998 containing material from both Pat Gallagher and Goats Don't Shave. They are probably most well known for their songs "Let the World Keep on Turning" and "Las Vegas (In the Hills of Donegal)", both taken from their debut album The Rusty Razor.

History

Their name comes from a pub incident in which a drunken old man was told to go and have a shave and clean himself up - his response was to walk away muttering the words Goats Don't Shave!! Since their formation back in the summer of 1990, Goats Don't Shave have risen to become one of the most popular bands Ireland has ever produced.

They began performing their Celtic folk-rock in between their day jobs; which included plumbing and fishing, at which point the lads started to pick up regular bookings. Next they went around the country, cadging money to record a small tape. There were five songs on it, and managed to sell them locally.

Since then, the band have gone from strength to strength, never looking back. Five top singles and a series of sell out gigs at British Universities and Irish concert halls followed and 1993 saw the Goats stealing shows at the prestigious Glastonbury and Cambridge festivals. In the same year they were voted Best Band by Time Out Magazine.

In 1992, the Goats released their first album through Cooking Vinyl, The Rusty Razor. This fiery mix of folk, traditional music and rock was hailed by critics as an absolute classic, and the album went gold in Ireland. Following such success they released a second album in 1994, Out in the Open, a rockier, much rounder piece which maintained their well earned reputation as a band capable of great things.

Goats Don't Shave disbanded in the late 1990s. The first Album was "The Rusty Razor", released in 1992. The last full-length album they recorded was, "Out In The Open" in 1994, though the album "Tor" was released in 1998, this was partly Goats Don't Shave and partly Pat Gallagher's own work.

Reunions

The band reformed in 2003 to play at the popular Mary From Dungloe International Festival, the concert each year is usually held in the towns Main Street, however due to over 1,000 people showing up to see the bands rare performance it was moved to The Cope car park. This was the last time the band performed together. There were discussions between members of the band about a possible reformation in 2006, however the plans came to nothing.

Goats Don't Shave played at the Seaview Hotel, Gweedore at the Earthcore Festival on 17 July 2011.

Band members

• Pat Gallagher – vocals, banjo, guitar
• Jason Phibin – fiddle
• Charlie Logue – keyboard
• Declan Quinn – tinwhistle, mandolin
• Gerry Coyle – bass guitar
• Sean Doherty – acoustic guitar
• Michael Gallagher – drums

Discography

• The Rusty Razor (1992)
• Out in the Open (1994)
• Tór (1998)

Compilations

• The Best of Celtic Inspiration (1998)

This album contains 18 tracks, with the Goats Don't Shave song, "Eyes", at track 17.

References

• Wallis, Geoff (2001-04-05). The Rough Guide to Irish Music (1st ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. pp. 197–198. ISBN 1-85828-642-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

External links

• Goats Dont Shave on Facebook
• Goats Don't Shave site on Zetnet
• Artist Info page on Cooking Vinyl website
• Pat Gallagher website.