Irish rockers The Prodigals have a rep for delivering killer shows at the Skipperdome, making them an ideal choice for this pre-St. Paddy's Day bash. The NYC quartet's distinctive take on traditional Celtic music — the band calls their style "jig punk" — features a heavy dose of funk with bassist Ed Kollar unleashing his inner Bootsy Collins while singer Gregory Grene contributes boisterous button accordion. Vintage melodies are cleverly contemporized and fitted with lyrics that address in modern language the same basic issues the old-timey originals explored: women, booze and redemption. Unlike many bands operating under the Celtic-rock banner, The Prodigals' punk tendencies don't include unbridled screaming or sloppy performances. They bring the party vibe but also pepper their sets with poignant numbers about the vagaries of love and such.
The Prodigals w/Ricko Donovan, 8 p.m. Sat., March 15, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa, $10 advance, $15 day of show. —Wade Tatangelo
This article appears in Mar 12-18, 2008.