LeperKhanz

The LeperKhanz

An unruly crowd on St. Patrick's Day at "The Gaslamp", Long Beach, during a LeperKhanz show in 2005.
Background information
Also known as The Leprechauns
Origin San Diego, California, United States
Genres Reggae, Celtic rock, rock
Years active 2003–present
Labels KhanVikt Wreckordz
Website www.leperkhanz.com
Members rhY Thornton
Steven Stotlemyre
Conrad Lund
Jackleen Thornton
Douglas Watson
Past members Colin Kohl
Alejandro Padilla
Mike Hurrin
Todd Pyke
Chad Thornton
Brett Wood
Anthony Nino
JP Hewitt
Devin Thomas
Aaron Hudson
Donald Carter
Hallyson Silva

The LeperKhanz are an experimental troupe of musicians that mix ancient sea shantys, Irish fiddle, reggae, classical, hip-hop, disco and rock. Originally formed in 2003, they tour extensively throughout the United States, particularly the west coast and California.

Their 2005 studio album "Tiocfaidh Ar La" (Irish for "Our day will come" which has been known as an Irish Republican Army slogan, though they claim no affiliation) has been played on radio stations in both the US and Ireland (FM94.9 San Diego, KCXX-FM X103.9 San Bernardino, KRBD-FM 105.9 Ketchikan, others), is popular on "Paddy Rock Radio" in Chicago, and has sold thousands of copies on iTunes and was also nominated for a San Diego Music Award. They are reportedly working on a new studio album.

The LeperKhanz have also had many television appearances and video dubs, particularly around the St. Patrick's Day holiday. (KUSI, Telemundo)

The LeperKhanz have endorsement deals with Dean Markley Strings, BarFly Clothing, and 186 Mafia Clothing.

History

JP, Nino, and Rhy were previously in the rock band "The Clydzdale Jockeyz". JP and Colin were previously in the heavy metal band "Scohltrick". JP and Rhy both were instructors at "The Encinitas School of Music" before leaving to tour full time with "The LeperKhanz". Rhy has also played fiddle in the Southern California Irish bands "The Hooliganz", "Rolling Down The Hill", "The Green Jacket", "The Whiskey Rebellion", and "The Bleeding Irish". Thornton was once arrested at a "Hooliganz" show by riot police, around the time of the Tyisha Miller [1] police killing and subsequent Jesse Jackson march in Riverside, Ca.[2] Rhy went with "The Bleeding Irish" on the Vans Warped Tour in 2008.[3] Guitarist Colin Kohl left the band in late 2007 to join "The Burning of Rome" on the "Surfdog Records" label, and Alejandro Padilla, who had also taught at the Encinitas School of Music with Rhy and JP joined the band as the new guitarist. Conrad Lund was once in the "Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps". In mid 2010 Al left the band and Rhy's cousin Chad joined as the new guitarist. Anthony Nino, the original bassist rejoined the band in late 2010. Aaron and Don also tour often with the San Diego reggae band "Stranger". Nino also plays bass for the Orange County band "Robots Rise".

LeperKhanz trivia

The LeperKhanz perform "Miserlou" by Dick Dale at many shows. Allegedly O'Drinnan briefly met Dick Dale at the NAMM show in Anaheim. James Hetfield, George Clinton and Matt Hensley (Flogging Molly) have all been seen at LeperKhanz shows. They performed with Nickel Creek at a tsunami victim benefit in 2005, and Rhy and Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek) have shared violin students. O'Drinnan's sister May Jacob also runs a popular night club in San Diego called "Club Fashion Whore",[4] and is the singer in "Maystar", a band that has opened for such acts as The Dresden Dolls. "The Burning of Rome" has opened for The LeperKhanz at clubs in Downtown San Diego. "Suffer the Heat" were good friends of the LeperKhanz and shared many shows, and several members of "Suffer the Heat" played with rhY and Colin in the band "Rolling Down the Hill" and also in "The Whiskey Rebellion". JP has performed with Sheila E. as part of the Mira Costa Latin Jazz program. As I Lay Dying lives in San Diego and frequent LeperKhanz shows at Churchill's in San Marcos. "Those guys are awesome! On Warped Tour we had a real crappy bus,[5] and they had a real sweet bus, so they let me chill (literally) in their A/C!" The LeperKhanz once owned "The Grizzly Rose" a tour bus that had been previously owned by Willie Nelson. Fletcher Dragge, from Pennywise (band) once changed the carburetor for the "Grizzly Rose" when Rhy took the bus with "The Bleeding Irish" in San Francisco. O'Drinnan also played in "The Green Jacket" with Byron Blocker, also formerly of "The Bleeding Irish".

Discography

Published articles

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tyisha Miller - No Charges in Killing of Tyisha Miller - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2002-12-13. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  2. ↑ Bjelland, Sonja (2008-12-27). "Ten years after Tyisha Miller case, debate continues about improvements in Riverside police-community relations | Tyisha Miller | Special Reports". PE.com. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  3. ↑ "List of Warped Tour lineups by year - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia". En.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  4. ↑ "MayStar Fashion Whore - New Stylish Era in San Diego Nightlife - DiscoverSD.com". Blog.discoversd.com. 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  5. ↑ "Bad Luck o’ the Irish". San Diego Reader. 2008-07-09. Retrieved 2011-02-22.

External links