User:Stoney00/Hair of the Dog (band)

Hair of the Dog (band) is a celtic/rock band founded in 1993. Based in Albany, NY the band also travels to the mid-west, eastern seaboard and Ireland. The band's current members are Rick Bedrosian, Mike DeAngelis, John Haggerty, Larry Packer, Eric Finn and Scott Apicelli.

History
Hair of the Dog got its start in 1993 in upstate New York. The original trio was Rick Bedrosian (bass and vocals), Mike DeAngelis (acoustic guitar, bodhran and vocals) and John Haggerty (banjo, acoustic guitar, accordion and vocals). Bedrosian, who is also the band's manager and producer, had most recently been playing with the Celtic group Donnybrook Fair and the eclectic Celtic/bluegrass/world music group The McKrells. DeAngelis and Haggerty have been playing music together since childhood and had been with the Irish band The Porters prior to the inception of Hair of the Dog. As a trio the band published three CDs that included traditional celtic tunes, their own arrangements and covers. First, 1995's self-titled Hair of the Dog was recorded live at Eamonn's, a well-known Irish pub in Loudonville, NY. A blend of live and studio recordings, 1996 saw the release of K9 and in 1997 the band published Release the Hounds. In 1998 the trio put out a two-track EP titled Dirty Dog. By 1998 the band added two more talents: Larry Packer, a former member of Cat Mother And The All Night News Boys, Sha Na Na and a frequent collaborator with The Band (fiddle) and Berklee School of Music graduate Eric Finn (electric guitar, mandolin, violin, and vocals). The quintet released four albums which included tracks by songwriter Mike DeAngelis: Galic Bark (1998), At The Parting Glass (2001), Let It Flow (2003) and Collection (2005). Another Berklee School of Music graduate, Scott Apicelli (drums and percussion) who had appeared as a guest artist on previous Hair of the Dog CDs joined the band on stage and for the sextet's 2007 release, Donegal.

Live Performances
Hair of the Dog performs live at festivals, clubs, summer concert series, charity events and private parties. The music is characterized by "their unique, high energy sound, smooth four-part harmonies and tight instrumental attack." Audience participation is encouraged on many songs with well-timed shout-outs, claps and singalongs. Band leader Rick Bedrosian infuses humor at performances with off-beat jokes and commentary. The band is "in residence" for a Hair-a-thonmarathon in January at The Parting Glassin Saratoga Springs, NY. Periodically Hair of the Dog sponsors a week-long tour of Ireland which includes a performance by the band.

Festivals

 * Irish 2000 (Altamont, NY and Ballston Spa, NY)
 * First Night Celebration (Saratoga Springs, NY)
 * East Durham Irish Festival (East Durham, NY)
 * Hunter Mountain Irish Fest (Hunter, NY)
 * The Great Amrican Irish Festival (Herkimer, NY)
 * Syracuse Irish Festival (Syracuse, NY)
 * Elmira, NY Irish Festival
 * Capital District Scottish Games (Altamont, NY)
 * Red Cross Celtic Music & Art Festival (West Mountain, NY)
 * Greater Hartford Irish Festival (Glastonbury, CT)
 * Greater Danbury Irish Festival (Danbury, CT)
 * Gaelic Park Irish Festival, 2008 (Chicago, IL)
 * Cortland Celtic Festival, 2008 (Cortland, NY)

Personnel

 * Rick Bedrosian: bass and vocals
 * Mike DeAngelis: acoustic guitar, bodhran and vocals
 * John Haggerty: banjo, acoustic guitar, accordion and vocals
 * Larry Packer: fiddle
 * Eric Finn: electric guitar, mandolin, violin and vocals
 * Scott Apicelli: drums and percussion

Albums

 * Hair Of The Dog (1995)
 * K9 (1996)
 * Release The Hounds (1997)
 * Dirty Dog EP (1998)
 * Gaelic Bark (1998)
 * at The Parting Glass (2001)
 * Let It Flow (2003)
 * Collection (2005)
 * Donegal (2007)

Compilations

 * Songs of Irish Freedom, Vol. 3 (2003)
 * Favorite Irish Ballads, Vol. 3 (2003)
 * One Child At A Time (2005)

Solo albums

 * Rick Bedrosian - Rick Bedrosian (2003)
 * Rick Bedrosian - Rick's Picks: The Movie Review Podcast Sampler (with bonus music tracks) (2008)
 * Rick Bedrosian - Inside My Car (2009)
 * Mike DeAngelis - Son of a Dunigan (2005)
 * Larry Packer - Eye of the Sun (2002)

Achievements

 * 2011 - voted Best Band (pop/rock/country) by readers of the Albany Times Union Newspaper
 * 2010 - voted Best Band by readers of Capital Region Living Magazine
 * 2009 - voted Best Local Musician(s) by readers of Capital Region Living Magazine
 * 2008 - voted Best Rock Band by readers of the Times Union newspaper, Albany, NY
 * 2008 - voted a Best Band in the Region by readers of Metroland Magazine
 * 2006 - voted Best Local Band by readers of the Times Union newspaper, Albany, NY
 * 2005 - voted (with The McKrells) Best Bands by readers of Capital Region Living Magazine
 * 2001 - voted Best Band in the Region by readers of Metroland Magazine

Reviews/Articles

 * Metroland - Party Like It's 12209
 * Times Union - Hair of the Dog Profile
 * Kingston Freeman - Hair of the Dog a Regional Treasure - With Audio