Celtic Elvis CDs

Celtic Elvis

CELTIC ELVIS is a crazed, cutting edge folk quintet; a practicing heavy mental band. They are also a traveling musical comedy troop bursting with angst, lust, and social commentary. They 're entirely original.

Celtic Elvis uses folk 'n roll arrangements, tight four-part harmonies, hilarious theatrical antics, and meanly accurate satire to skewer modern life. Its a musical bbq out in the 'burbs, but instead of your father's hamburger, Celtic Elvis runs the stick through the thin skin of contemporary facades and relationships. Setting satire to harmony with a beat, their songs become warped Americana mini-operas. Known for songs with titles such as High on Stress, The Road to Gridlock and Love As Real Estate- You're My Fixer Upper, Celtic Elvis is: "The ultimate party band for people who think too much...as much fun as folk music gets."

Celtic Elvis is a folk theater group started in Contra Costa County, CA in 1988 when Jim Ocean hatched the idea of using theatrics and laughter to ease people through explorations of the significant issues of our times. Jim, the band's primary songwriter, explained that band's appeal: " People want to be entertained, but they are tired of trite love songs. They want something that is funny, but not just mindless fun- something that makes them think, too. And we do our best to push our concepts right to the edge. "

The origins of the band's name are obscured by unreliable memories. It is suggested that Celtic Elvis, among other things, sprang out of the "Big Bang Elvis." The name does imply a sense of humor and hints at music that is undeniably original. Warning: They're not Elvis; they're not Celtic; and they don't play basketball.

What Celtic Elvis does is " some of the best satirical songs you're likely to hear ." ( Dirty Linen )

The group has toured nationally and internationally, performing their skewed sense of humor and original songs at such venues as the Bottom Line, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and the Kerrville Folk Festival.

A truly fresh force of acoustic music on the west coast. - Christine Lavin

I like everything about Celtic Elvis, their song concepts, their harmomies, humor and energy are great! They're as fun as shooting out a television set after eating a gross of jelly doughnuts! - Justin Mitchell, Rocky Mt. News, Denver

An interesting band to watch. - Todd Rungren

Celtic Elvis...just the names catches the wonderfully skewed sensibility of this San Francisco area (quintet). Four part harmonies and songs that consistently skewer modern life in the USA. The songs are smart, as well as clever, but avoid the novelty stance of going for cheap laughs: instead, they get under the skin of contemporary facades and relationships. Music for our times. - Garth Johnson, Victory Music Review, Seattle

As their name suggests, they mix old world folk roots with a boomer generation's rock sense. A hot folk-harmony quintet. - Oakland Tribune

What they do is some of the best satirical songs you're likely to hear. Their songs have folk rock arrangements, very well played. For a truly weird and wonderful group that's bound to make you feel weird about being normal, check out Celtic Elvis. - Dirty Linen

Celtic Elvis is entirely original. Politics, social commentary, traffic reports, angst, lust...there's something for everyone! - Westward Magazine, Boulder

Great songwriting, comedy, vaudeville, their stage show is one of the best in the business. - Rod Kennedy, Kerrville Folk Festival

Celtic Elvis is what Broadway musicals would sound like if Tom Wolfe were president. - The Contra Costa Times

A cutting edge act. - Winnipeg Sun

Folk music needs bands like Celtic Elvis because they're energetic and funny. - Christine Lavin