The Tossers

The Tossers
Mygoditsboring · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	The Tossers
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Celtic punk, folk punk
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Thick Records, Victory Records, 8th Note, Born & Bred
Associated acts	The Mahones, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, Street Dogs

The Tossers are an American Celtic punk band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1993. They blend traditional Irish music with punk rock energy, touring internationally and releasing numerous albums on independent labels. The group has shared stages with prominent punk and folk acts and maintained a loyal following through frequent live performances and festival appearances.

History

Formed in Chicago, Illinois during the early 1990s punk resurgence, the band emerged alongside scenes represented by The Offspring, Green Day, Rancid, NOFX, Pennywise, and Social Distortion. Early lineups gigged in venues such as Cabaret Metro, Double Door (Chicago), Eddie's Attic, T.T. the Bear's Place, and toured regionally with acts like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Violent Femmes, Screeching Weasel, The Vandals, and The Misfits. Their first recordings on small labels connected them to the independent network including Fat Wreck Chords, Epitaph Records, Lookout! Records, and Victory Records, allowing collaborations and split releases with peers such as Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Mahones, The Rumjacks, and The Dreadnoughts. Over the 2000s they participated in festivals like Punk Rock Bowling, SXSW, Warped Tour, Glastonbury Festival, and Folk Alliance International. Lineup changes paralleled those of contemporaries like Billy Bragg, The Pogues, Sinead O'Connor, The Dubliners, and The Clancy Brothers, while the band continued recording and touring into the 2010s and 2020s.

Musical Style and Influences

Their sound fuses elements associated with Celtic punk and folk punk as practiced by bands such as Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Pogues, The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers, and The Mahones. Instrumentation recalls traditional performers like Christy Moore, Planxty, The Chieftains, Van Morrison (in his folk-inflected work), and The Waterboys, layered over punk approaches linked to The Clash, The Ramones, Sham 69, Buzzcocks, and Stiff Little Fingers. Lyrical themes echo topics found in the catalogs of Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Joe Strummer, Phil Lynott, and Dropkick Murphys—combining storytelling, working-class narratives, and political commentary. The band employs fiddles, tin whistle, mandolin, and accordion alongside electric guitars and drum kits, reflecting techniques from artists like Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, James Galway, Bell X1, and The Pogues' Shane MacGowan.

Members

Current and past members have included a rotating roster comparable to other long-running groups such as The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Specials, and Rancid. Key figures have played roles analogous to those of Shane MacGowan, Ken Casey, Dave King (Flogging Molly), Tobin Bawinkel, and Joe Strummer. Members have participated in side projects and collaborations with musicians from The Mahones, The Rumjacks, Street Dogs, NOFX, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and have recorded with producers linked to Butch Vig, Steve Albini, Dave Jerden, Kurt Ballou, and Ted Hutt.

Discography

Their recorded output spans albums, EPs, singles, and compilations, released on labels similar to Thick Records, Victory Records, Epitaph Records, Fat Wreck Chords, and Alligator Records. Major releases entered catalogs alongside records by Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Pogues, The Dubliners, and The Clancy Brothers and were distributed through networks involving Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and independent distributors. They contributed tracks to compilations and tribute albums celebrating artists like The Pogues, Bruce Springsteen, Thin Lizzy, Van Morrison, and The Clash.

Live Performances and Tours

Touring frequently in North America and Europe, they have performed in cities including New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Dublin, Glasgow, Belfast, Berlin, and Paris. Shared-bill appearances have placed them with Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Mahones, Street Dogs, The Dreadnoughts, The Rumjacks, Mick O'Brien, and The Elders at venues and festivals such as Warped Tour, SXSW, Glastonbury Festival, Punk Rock Bowling, and regional folk festivals tied to St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Live reputation draws comparisons to performances by The Pogues, Bruce Springsteen, Social Distortion, The Clash, and The Rolling Stones for intensity and audience engagement.

Reception and Legacy

Critical reception placed them within the lineage of Celtic-inflected punk alongside Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Pogues, The Dubliners, and The Clancy Brothers. Music press from outlets associated with Rolling Stone, NME, Spin (magazine), Kerrang!, Pitchfork, and Alternative Press commented on their blending of trad elements and punk vigor. Their influence can be traced in later acts operating in scenes around Chicago, Illinois, Boston, Cork, Belfast, and London, and in the continued popularity of Celtic punk at festivals and in independent label catalogs connected to Epitaph Records, Fat Wreck Chords, and Victory Records. The band's career intersects with broader movements represented by figures such as Shane MacGowan, Ken Casey, Dave King (Flogging Molly), Joe Strummer, and Bruce Springsteen in discussions of authenticity, diaspora identity, and punk fusion.

Category:American punk rock groups Category:Celtic punk groups