New music video from Sean Griffin

Sean Griffin has been a fixture of the Irish-American music scene for decades, a voice that carries both the edge of punk and the soul of Celtic tradition. Based in New York, he first made his mark with The Ruffians, the Irish punk outfit he co-founded with his brother Dan. Dubbed the “Y-Generation Pogues” by The Chicago Sun Times, The Ruffians became a beloved live act, playing over two thousand shows across pubs, clubs, colleges, festivals and just about any stage that would have them. For more than twenty years, Sean stood at the centre of the band as its principal singer and songwriter, shaping their sound and carrying their stories with panache.

Now, Sean is stepping into a new chapter; though a seasoned veteran of the stage, he’s preparing to release his debut solo record, a project that feels both like a culmination of his journey so far and an introduction to a new side of his artistic vision. Where The Ruffians leaned into full-throttle Irish punk, his solo work broadens the scope, pulling from a vast array of influences and instruments. It’s a move that’s set to take his music to new audiences, with tours lined up across North America, the UK and across Europe.

That sense of ambition is matched by the team behind the album, recorded at Old Soul Studios in Catskill, New York, Sean worked alongside Grammy-winning producer Kenny Siegel, engineer Mathew Cullen and a stellar cast of musicians. The record was later mixed by Paul Kolderie, known for his work with Radiohead and Pixies and mastered by the revered Greg Calbi.

The first taste of the album comes in the form of “People Are Mad,” a track that distils Sean’s knack for turning observation into anthemic, singalong-ready music. Built on a buoyant beat and tinged with banjo melodies, the song transforms a familiar muttered phrase into a communal chant. It’s as timely as it is timeless, speaking directly to today’s fractured social climate while still keeping one foot in folk tradition.

With its mix of humour, harmony and honest songwriting, the track finds a strange comfort in chaos, as Sean reminds us that humanity has always been a little unhinged. Packed full of upbeat energy, grooving rhythm and instantly catchy songwriting, it’s a superb showcase of Sean Griffin’s enduring songwriting talent and performance flair.

The playfulness of “People Are Mad” comes to life even further in its music video, shot in the artist’s hometown of Kingston, New York, the video captures him wandering through a Victorian cemetery and through protests in a shopping cart, striking a balance between irreverence and poignancy. Mortality and madness intertwine but the delivery still feels joyful rather than heavy.

Like the song itself, the visuals embrace absurdity as a way of finding meaning, offering a sense of levity that’s sure to delight fans. Sean Griffin’s first solo outing is shaping up to be a statement of determination and reinvention and after decades at the helm of one of the Northeast’s most enduring Celtic punk outfits, he’s ready to stride forward with a sound that’s at once reflective, lively and refreshingly uncompromising.

Watch the music video for People Are Mad below

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