Two Portland bands here on another Rodent Popsicle / Pyrate Punx split release. My brother said he saw RUM REBELLION a while back and said I wouldn’t like them. Well…I, much like this CD, am split. I really like the guys voice, he has a cool singing voice that isn’t raspy or snotty, it’s just cool. I dig the Irish jig, pirate howdown, folk thing they have going on and they are incredibly talented. The arrangements are really cool, a lot of fun and I like how strong the backing vocals are and their ability to play off of the main vocal. But…They lost me when they started shouting “Oi, Oi, Oi”. The lyrics are pretty lighthearted and they state on their site they are not into being political they are more into Punk, Skin and Hooligan unity. HAMMERED GRUNTS share a drummer with RUM REBELION and play more straight forward street punk type stuff. Songs about being punk and pissed pretty much make up their half of this disc. Whenever a band enters into a split they, sometimes unfairly, risk being compared to the other band and on this split CD RUM REBELLION takes the (rum?) cake. Even with their chants of “Oi”. (Clusterfuxjosh)
Profane Existance

Six tracks apiece from these, er, "pirate-friendly" Portland bands, including a cover each of the others band's song - both of which (original and cover) are included here. Rather cool, actualy. RUM REBELLION has that folk-punk thingy down real good; acoustic (and electric) guitar, tin whistle, mandolin, etc. Fortunately, they dont claim to be Irish, so no weird/phony accents, just some rollickingly good punkified reels and jigs in there with the melodic punk. Somewhat akin to the best of the REAL MACKENZIES if you switched out the bagpipes for a mandolin. HAMMERED GRUNTS play a much more straight-ahead, driving punk/thrash with shouted vocals. Their RUM REBELLION cover has some fantastic lead guitar work. Well worth walking the plank for. (RK)
Maximum Rock 'N' Roll - March 2010

For the past decade or so there has been a loose association of bands flying the Pyrate Punx banner, in the past couple years they seem to have gotten pretty organized into chapters, putting on events, parties, and more, with an emphasis on DIY, drinking, supporting each other and having fun and trying to shake off some of the drama and violence that can plague the punk rock scene. It's become a healthy DIY network down the West Coast (and elsewhere) of punk bands that help support each other on tours... plus, there is the added bonus of pirate speak and pirate accouterments!
10 Things Zine - October '08 (Seattle, WA) [Read More..]

Originally named after an 1808 revolt in which the Australian government unsuccessfully attempted to outlaw rum as a means of commerce and trade, Rum Rebellion combines traditional Irish tunes and sea shanties with intoxicated punk rock fury to create a sound that the band sometimes refers to as "Oirish" (Oi Irish, get it?!). While supporting their current album Cruisin' For a Boozin', the quintet — which includes Dave on vocals and guitar, Sage on bass and backup vocals, Ben on bouzouki, banjo and backup vocals, Tyler on tin whistle and Jack on drums — has been building steady momentum over an exciting series of shows earlier this year, and are continuing the trend this summer with an extensive schedule set up on the West Coast and Southwest. Synthesis had the opportunity to speak with Pyrate Punx captain and all around badass dude, Dave, in anticipation of the band's upcoming tour.
Synthesis - June '08 (Chico, CA) [Read More..]

Throughout grade school, it was probably hard for most of us to think about our teachers having any kind of life outside the classroom. We probably blindly envisioned them going home every night, popping a can of Campbell’s chunky and going to bed at 9 p.m. Dave Noyes students in Portland, however, realize their elementary school music teacher who is the front man of an Irish pirate punk band...
209Vibe - June '08 (Stockton, CA) [Read More..]

[Rum Rebellion] has used the fact that they’re eseentially a micro-genre untothemselves in the Rose City to reach a wider audeience. By playing with a variety of bands, Rum Rebellion has acquired an impressively large and diverse following for a local, unsigned band. Often their shows draw more than 100 people ranging from 14-year-olds fresh off their first Warped Tour to older, blue collar rock ‘n’ roll fans.
The Oregonian April '08 [Read More..]

"Crusin For A Boozin" is the first full length album from Rum Rebellion, an "Oirish" band from Portland, Oregon. The first thing I'd like to point out are the amount of original songs on this album. Nine out of eleven! There's obviously some talented songwriters in this gang of ruffians, no doubt. Then there's the music... Damn! For only being together for roughly a year and a half, these guys must have some weird telepathic thing going on here...The tin whistle, guitar, fiddle, and bouzouki seem to flow together like a musical stream of whiskey, backed up with a solid set of drumbeats and bass lines. The vocals accompany the music perfectly, and sound as if Popeye was clutching an empty bottle of rum instead of a can of spinach! (Spinach is bad for you nowadays!) Another thing I'd like to mention are the amount of sea shanties! I think every track makes at least once reference to something nautical, so at least you know this reviewer is happy!
Lucky for me, I have been able to witness this band start from scratch. I've been lucky enough to have seen them live a few times, (Some I can't remember... like cough*opening for the Tossers*cough!) and they sound just as good live as they do on record. I've also heard them absolutely nail a version of "Dirty Old Town" on the radio. I've seen them on street corners busking away like madmen. So let me mention that I am seriously impressed with "Crusin For A Boozin"

100% Pirate approved!
Shite'N'Onions December '06

[CELTIC PUNK] Rum Rebellion's melancholy, sometimes shouted vocals are raspy and honest enough to make you feel very comfortable trying to sing along, even if the words occasionally go by so fast they get kind of jumbled. And soon you'll be able to practice at home, since this release show will be your first chance to pick up the local five-piece's debut, Cruisin' for a Boozin', on which (if the couple of leaked tracks are any indication) the tin whistle carries the day, especially when it teams up with the bouzouki at the end of "Ramblers Road."
Willamette Weekly "Head Out"

LOW DOUGH SHOW
Ready to get rough and rowdy? Then let's throw down with Portland's best mix of Irish, punk, and sea shanties, courtesy of Rum Rebellion! Don't be surprised if spontaneous drunken pirate-inspiredthrash-dancing breaks out on the floor—especially with the inclusion of bill-mates Stach & the Rapes, Hot Rod Carl, and the Crawlers! Dress appropriately; it's gonna get messy.
Portland Mercury - August 24th '06 Edition