Cozy up to The Kissers’ Irish rock

Irish pub songs meet Johnny Cash.

It only seems like a weird pairing if you’ve never heard of The Kissers.

Hailing from Madison, Wis., The Kissers started as a Pogues cover band that carried with it an infatuation for all things Cash.

The Kissers played Pogues songs on Monday nights for nearly three years at a popular Madison nightspot, O’Cayz Corral, until the placed burned in 2001.

A year later The Kissers toured Wisconsin with its Johnny Cash show, re-creating Cash’s two prison albums, “At Folsom Prison” and “At San Quentin Prison.” It helps that Cash’s vocals suit singer-guitarist Ken Fitzsimmons’ singing range particularly well.

The Kissers built their sonic foundation by committing to learn two new songs every week, drawing on a vast repertoire of Irish-inspired rock, country and other styles.

The seven-piece group consists of guitarist-banjo player Nate Palan (aka “Waylan Nate McKisser”), mandolin player-guitarist Kevin Youngs (aka “Chef Kevin McKisser”), Fitzsimmons (aka “Chieftain Kenny McKisser”), drummer Jamie Ryan (aka “The Helicopter”), fiddler Kari Bethke (aka “Cowgirl Kari McKisser”), bassist-singer Caitlin Oliver-Gans (aka “Cousin Caitlin McKisser”) and accordion player- pianist Peter Colclasure (aka “The Kid McKisser”).

Only a couple of the members are of Irish descent, but they all share a warped sense of humor and a love for the stories relayed in Irish music.

The Kissers also have a cult following thanks partly to their wildly live stage show.

Check out The Kissers on Sunday at 9 p.m. at The B-Side, 230 W. Riverside Ave. There is a $4 cover.

Club hoppin’

• Also at The B-Side this week, The Makers come back Saturday at 9:30 p.m. to re-rock the house after a blazing show there a couple of weeks ago. It should be an absolute animal house as the lineup includes locals Gorilla Rabbit and notorious milk- spitters The Clap. There is a $7 cover.

• Local promoter for Seven Years of Loyalty, Terry “Two-Step” Swan is throwing a bash for his 31st birthday tonight at Talotti’s 211, 211 N. Division St. The $5 cover includes all-you-can- eat barbecue plus music by local hard rockers Clintch, Seven Cycles and solo acoustic singer-songwriter Sunny. Party time is 7:30 p.m.

• Spokane rockers The Longnecks, The Derivatives and Mistress and Misters take over tonight at 9 p.m. at The Blvd., 333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Cover to be announced.