In an effort to rid themselves of incessant
Pogues comparisons, the Mahones enlisted the production services of
Tragically Hip drummer
Johnny Fay. He drew from this band a more consistently muscular sound without sacrificing their penchant for Irish-influenced music. Chief songwriter and lead vocalist
Finny McConnell broadened his scope of writing in songs like the
Tom Waits-inflected "Cocktail Blue," and the zany "Shake Hands with the Devil," indicate.However, one cannot listen to "Jimmy Claibourne" without imagining a less-inebriated
Shane MacGowan singing. While
Draggin' the Days and
Rise Again concentrated almost solely on Irish-themed music,
The Hellfire Club Sessions experiments with acoustic rock, blues and subtle touches of country music. This album would mark the beginning of a stylistic shift for the Mahones which would manifest itself more clearly on 2001's
Here Comes Lucky.