Hair Of The Dog, originally established as an acoustic trio in 1993, has emerged as one of the leading Celtic rock bands globally. Over the years, they have released ten acclaimed albums, including “At The Parting Glass,” “Let It Flow,” “Donegal,” and “Liam Left The Lights On Again.” In May 2012, The Irish Echo praised the album “Liam Left the Lights On Again,” describing it as “simply a delight to listen to.” Additionally, the Kingston, New York Freeman Times noted in January 2008 that “Hair Of The Dog plays with a cohesive oneness that most bands never get. They are a regional music treasure.” The band has also received recognition in Billboard Magazine as one of the biggest sellers in Irish music. Their track “One Sunday Morning” was featured on the 2003 Colleen Records compilation CD “Songs of Irish Freedom Vol. 3,” and in 2005, they contributed to the charity compilation “One Child At A Time,” alongside artists like U2, James Taylor, The Chieftains, and Carly Simon. Since the late 1990s, Hair Of The Dog has consistently been named “Best Band” by prominent regional newspapers and magazines in Upstate New York.
The members of Hair Of The Dog bring impressive backgrounds to the group. Larry Packer, a former member of Sha Na Na, achieved a top ten hit with Cat Mother and the All Night News Boys, a band produced by Jimi Hendrix. He made an appearance with The Band in Martin Scorsese’s film “The Last Waltz” and was a guest on the third episode of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, which aired on October 25, 1975. Packer’s contributions can be found on albums and playbills from numerous major acts, including Hall and Oates, Lou Reed, The Band, Phoebe Snow, and the New York Rock Ensemble.
Rick Bedrosian spent the 1980s in Nashville, performing and recording with notable musicians such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Marshall Crenshaw, Gene Clark of The Byrds, and John Stewart of The Kingston Trio. In addition to his musical endeavors, he is an accomplished film critic and fine art photographer, with his photo of Paul McCartney featured on the cover of the Spring 2010 issue of Classic Drummer magazine. From 2009 to 2012, Bedrosian served as the head writer and host of “Rick’s Picks,” a humorous, award-winning movie review and interview podcast available on iTunes, which featured guests like Susie Essman from HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” He is also a founding member of the Celtic bluegrass group The McKrells and previously performed with Donnybrook Fair. Currently, he portrays lead guitarist George Harrison in Hey Jude, a popular Beatles tribute band.
Eric Finn, a graduate of Boston’s prestigious Berklee School of Music, is a renowned musical arranger and a gifted multi-instrumentalist. He is responsible for arranging many of Hair Of The Dog's songs and vocal harmonies, with his contributions on electric guitar, mandolin, violin, and vocals being central to the band’s signature sound.
Brian Gibney, the acoustic guitarist and singer, has a history of fronting several Irish groups before joining The McKrells and eventually Hair Of The Dog. In addition to his skills as an accomplished electric guitarist and songwriter, he has numerous students.
Drummer Joe Morizio, who majored in classical guitar in college, has always pursued his passion for percussion. His versatility and extensive knowledge of world-beat music enrich the band's rhythmic foundation.
Hair Of The Dog has performed in a variety of clubs and concert venues across the United States, including cities such as Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Port St. Lucie, Danbury, Hartford, New York, and Buffalo. They frequently headline or co-headline at several Celtic festivals, including The Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival, The Great American Irish Festival, The East Durham Irish Festival, The Fairfield County Irish Festival, The Chicago Gaelic Park Irish Festival, The Coney Island Irish Festival, The Cleveland Summer Fest, The Milford CT Irish Festival, and The Capital District Scottish Games. The band also tours Ireland regularly.
