Rats in the Burlap

On their ninth studio album, Scottish (by way of Canada) folk-punks the Real McKenzies offer up a strong dose of rock & roll with a potent chaser of Highland pride on Rats in the Burlap. Lead singer Paul McKenzie and his latest lineup of the band rolled into Motor Studios in San Francisco with "Fat Mike" Burkett of NOFX in the fall of 2014, and the Real McKenzies emerged in the spring of 2015 with another set of the band's trademark mix of yell-along punk, strong but heartfelt ballads, and prankish numbers like "Bootsy the Haggis-Eating Cat." The Real McKenzies have a well-earned reputation as one of the hardest-working and most raucous bands in Celtic punk, and Rats in the Burlap shows that after more than 20 years, they're still playing at the top of their game and eager to deliver for their fans. ~ Mark Deming