The title track ‘People Are Mad’ is out now on all streaming services
Nights out at the pub with a pint of Guinness in hand are hard to beat—but they are even better with one talented musical force: Seán Griffin.
Starting in the late 90s, a group of musician pals called The Ruffians entwined the heart and soul of their Irish heritage with the exuberance of punk rock winning over the hearts of Irish music lovers across the Northeast.
At the helm of The Ruffians stands Griffin, the lead vocalist whose honeyed voice lies like a warm blanket, enveloping listeners into a vibrant world of crank-up-the volume Celtic rock-n roll bliss. 
Naturally, Griffin is no stranger to the stage: at their peak, The Ruffians played around 100 shows a year, with Griffin performing even more as a standalone artist. Though he’s been in the game for several decades, he shows no signs of slowing down. He’s picking up steam as he prepares to release his debut solo album—a carefully-crafted, mature batch of brand new tracks brimming with Celtic spirit and storytelling—and hit the road across North America, the UK, and Europe later this year
Griffin’s opening track and first single, “People Are Mad,” is borderline genius, transforming a familiar phrase often muttered under the breath into a shoutable mantra tailor-made for today’s, let’s say, chaotic social climate. It’s an instant earworm, a shimmering gem that properly introduces listeners to Griffin’s clever lyricism and effortlessly blended sound. Rooted in a bouncy, shuffling beat and infectious banjo melody, this timeless anthem evokes a sense of collective frustration, articulating what so many are thinking in today’s bewildering world. Yet, the amusing sound effects and soaring harmonies lift the track from nihilistic to oddly uplifting, reminding listeners it’s okay to laugh a little, especially when everything feels like it’s going off the rails. Truly, “there’s nothing we can do,” And somehow, it’s strangely comforting to hear that people are, and have always been, crazy “from the moment they’re born till they’re pushing up daisies.”
Though this new album is Griffin’s first official solo project, it came to life with the help of numerous virtuosic special guests and industry standouts—a truly collaborative effort. Armed with a set of surf-punk jams, Irish laments, and general garage-rock mayhem, Griffin headed to Old Soul Studios in Catskill, New York, teaming up with Grammy award-winning producer Kenny Siegel and audio engineer Mathew Cullen.
Seán Griffin of the Ruffian’s Releases ‘People are Mad’ From New Solo Album
