GET UP JACK was founded in 2013 by lifelong friends, John Haggerty and Mike DeAngelis, together with long-time musical collaborator, Scott Apicelli. Originally inspired by The Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem, and The Wolftones, they have had the distinct pleasure of sharing the festival
and concert stage with all of them over the years, as well as with a true
“who’s who” list of the greats in Irish folk and Irish rock music. GET UP
JACK has played and toured throughout Ireland and the USA, including
many of the top Irish Festivals and concert venues.
Described as Celtic/Americana, GET UP JACK takes the great Irish folk
music of yesterday and merges it with the energy of American classic rock music, forming an incredible combination of outstanding vocals and musicianship. Ever evolving, GET UP JACK features Irish-Americans John Haggerty on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Scott Apicelli on drums and vocals, Crick Diefendorf on mandolin, banjo, steel drums, electric guitar and vocals, Doug Johnson on harmonica, ukulele and vocals, Tucker Callander on fiddle and vocals, and Mike McLean on bass and vocals.
GET UP JACK has released three albums that have been critically acclaimed and award-winning. Their 2nd CD, “Alive And Well, Volume I” was named “2015 Album of The Year” by Celtic Radio, and their version of “The Spanish Lady” was voted “Traditional Song of The Year”. Their shows will strike your heart and your soul, and you will find yourself singing, laughing, and yes, maybe even shedding a tear or two (in a good way)!
John Haggerty (octave mandolin, guitar, banjo, accordion, vocals). A journeyman Irish pub singer, John is now in his 5th decade of performing. He started as a solo singer at The Washington Tavern and The Grinch in the late 70’s, was a founding member of the Irish bands “The Wilde Irishmen” and “The Porters” in the 80’s, and was a founding member and performer with “Hair Of The Dog” (which included 8 tours of Ireland, 10 CDs, numerous award-winning accolades, and performances at festivals and pubs all over the U.S.) from 1993 until 2014.
Mike DeAngelis started with his solo career in 1980, playing the summer Cape Cod circuit. During that time, he also performed in and around his college campus at the University of New Hampshire. After college, Mike returned to the Capital Region and joined John in the Irish Band, “The Porters”.Since 2011 he has also been performing (alongside Scott Apicelli) in The Standard Clams (www.standardclams.com), a jazz quintet focusing on classic standards by Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles & the like. In 1993, Mike co-founded the popular Irish band ‘Hair of the Dog’. Twenty years, eight tours of Ireland, numerous Irish Festivals, sold out shows and a library of recordings later, Mike is excited to be putting his efforts into ‘Get Up Jack’!
Scott Apicelli (drums, percussion, vocals) is a graduate of Berklee College of Music. Scott spent the 80’s and 90’s touring the northeastern U.S., later landing a gig with the well-known Boston ‘jam’ band, The Candles. After relocating to New York to join local legends Slipknot and Box of Rain, he opened Blue Sky Recording & Music Studios in Delmar, NY (www.blueskyrecording.com). In the late 90’s Scott played with jazz-fusion-R&B group Soul Confusion and freelanced in both the rock and jazz circuits, as well as being an in-demand recording session drummer. During that time, Scott honed his producing and arranging skills, while also maintaining a busy teaching schedule. From 2003 until mid-2014, Scott performed in the popular Irish-rock band Hair Of The Dog and produced their last two CDs. Since 2011 he has also been performing (alongside Mike DeAngelis) in The Standard Clams (www.standardclams.com), a jazz quintet focusing on classic standards by Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles & the like. In addition to his busy performing schedule, Scott is a sought after producer, arranger, engineer and session player at Blue Sky.
Crick Diefendorf (guitar, banjo, mandolin, steel drums, vocals) is also a graduate of Berklee College of Music, and has been a professional musician and music educator since 1987. Crick is proficient in all styles of American popular music (jazz, country, rock and R&B) and well-versed in African, Latin, Asian, and European music. He co-founded the Boston-based eclectic acoustic band Made In The Shade in 1990, playing throughout the U.S. and Europe. They have performed with the Boston Classical Orchestra and at the Newport and Boston Jazz festivals along with such notables as Dave Brubeck, Al Jareau, and Maceo Parker. As an educator, Crick has taught at numerous private schools in New York and Massachusetts, and now teachers out of his own studio in Albany, NY. He has also created and developed several arts and education programs, workshops and residencies that he brings to public schools in New England as well as the Tri-State region. In addition to Get Up Jack, Crick can be seen performing with acts like Harold Ford and the Spirit of Johnny Cash, Captain Squeeze and The Zydeco Moshers, Tropical Beat Steel Band, Skip Parson’s Riverboat Jazz Band, and The Clarinet Marmalade Trio.
Tom (TP) Pirozzi (electric and upright bass) was the bass player, as well as a singer and songwriter for the seminal 90’s jam band, Ominous Seapods. From 1991 to 2001, the “Seapods” recorded 5 CDs and toured relentlessly throughout North America, playing such notable venues as Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, Irving Plaza in NYC, and the House of Blues in LA, Boston, and Chicago. TP then went on to compose and perform with the Pittsburgh-based modern dance company “Attack Theatre”, performing throughout the U.S. as well as Japan, Indonesia, and Germany. In 2009 and 2010, TP toured the U.S. and Asia with a Cello/Bass/Drums trio featuring world-renowned cellist Dave Eggar. Tom currently teaches bass and guitar in the Albany, NY area.