[Editor's note: This story previews The Killigans ninth annual St. Patrick's Day concert at Knickerbockers tonight starting at 9 p.m. Thirst Things First, Dean the Bible and Banjo Loco open the show. Cover is $10. RSVP here.]

story by Meagan Jungman | photos by Dawn Thorfinnson

Going on nine years, The Killigans have greened up Knickerbockers in celebration of St. Patrick's Day: a fitting tradition for the Celtic-influenced, folk-punk band.

This year, they played a prelude to the the beer-soaked stages of Nebraska in Washington D.C. Last week, guitarist Chris Nebesniak, lead vocalist Brad Hoffman, and the rest of the Killigans crew climbed into a large RV, and headed east for the ShamrockFest.

Although they played alongside bands such as Sublime, CelKilt, The Mahones and The Fighting Jamesons, Nebesniak isn't sure the Killigans will participate in another long-distance St. Patty’s tour.

“The verdict is still out on whether we will ever do this again … kind of stressful,” he says. “We have always had offers to play out but have never taken them. Now that we do have families there is obviously no time for real touring. Sure, we could have toured, but our wives, kids and jobs all take precedence over that and we have no regrets.”

Back home, the band will enjoy their ninth-annual St. Patrick's Day concert tonight at Knickerbockers. The boys recounted experiences they had over the years.

“Year two, Brad told the crowd to throw beer on stage,” Nebesniak says. “No idea why, but a guy in the band got a half full can to the bridge of the nose."

A labor of love, The Killigan's latest album, Another Round for the Strong of Heart, took more than two years to write, edit and record. 

“The album has a lot of sounds,” Nebesniak says. “I personally wrote about missing my younger years, our Lincoln scene. There’s a little bit of politics, some character story songs, and some other introspective stuff.

In the same vein of their previous work, you won’t find any mention of Ireland in Another Round for the Strong of Heart.

“We made the decision long ago to focus our sound around all aspects of folk and punk and roots music,” Nebesniak says. “We like to mix a little gypsy or eastern Euro sound or street punk sounds or even some country feel into it. We still use a bit of the Celtic here and there, but our songs are about much more than just drinking and fighting. Not that there isn’t a place for that. We still play those songs but we have more to say and offer.”

Meagan Jungman is a contributor to Hear Nebraska. She can't handle her whiskey — so the only thing she inherited from her Irish forefathers is the propensity to fry in the sun. Reach her at meaganjungman@hearnebraska.org.