Canadian Celtic punk rockers The Mahones will have Jasperites raising their pints to their new album with a local show on Nov. 11.

The Black Irish is the band’s 10th album in 21 years, and it’s their best work yet, according to Finny McConnell, The Mahones’ front man. 

“Sometimes you get worse when you get older and sometimes you get better, and I think we got better,” he said on the phone from Halifax, N.S. “It’s actually my favourite album we’ve ever made. 

“We’re getting great reviews all around the world, saying this is our best album. It’s kind of nice to make a great album this far into your career.”

The Mahones are currently on a cross-Canada tour, following an extensive international tour that included shows in 25 countries.

McConnell said the band book-ended this year’s tour with Canadian shows so they would start at home and finish at home.

“It’s our home country, so it’s good to run it across one last time before Christmas,” he said.

While talking about his upcoming shows, McConnell said he likes playing in places like Jasper because the people are a different breed than the ones you would find in a big city. 

“They’re just pretty laid-back people. It’s different from playing to a Toronto crowd where everybody’s living the grind; people out in mountains seem to be much happier. They always have a good time at the gigs. They really dance their asses off and really get the most out of a concert.”

Of the approximately 100 shows the band has played this year, Dublin-born McConnell said the most memorable was in his birthplace. 

“Being from Ireland, I had never played there before, in 21 years in the band, so it was our first time there and I was always wondering if they would like us or not, and it turned out that they loved us, so I was pretty happy about that.”

McConnell, although born in Ireland, was raised in Kingston, Ont., the city where the band was formed in 1990. Originally, the band came together for just one St. Patrick’s Day show, but 21 years later, The Mahones are still performing and writing new Irish punk rock songs.

McConnell said he’s not surprised it’s lasted this long.

“I kind of always knew I was going to get here. I never had a Plan B. 

“What I always wanted was to make records and travel around the world and that’s what we do. That was always my goal and we do it all the time now, so I’m quite happy with that.

“That’s why we’ve been around for so long.”