Previously known as Double Indemnity, Empty Hats is a Florida-based group, comprised of Carl Asch on guitar and whistle, Gary Mazzu on guitar, and Lynda Kavy on bodhran, with all three doing vocals. Their first CD under their new name, The Hat Came Back, is an excellent collection of Celtic and English traditional and tradition-inspired music.

The title track embodies the feel of the CD. Written by Asch, the song tells of an Irishman who returns late from the pub and follows the tradition of tossing a hat into the house to determine whether his wife is angry with him. If the hat comes back, it means he's not welcome in his house that night. Asch's singing is both expressive and light and there's some nice fiddling by guest Felipe de Souza. Another song written by Asch is "If It's a Rose (Then it Will Bloom)." Set to the tune of "The Lakes of Ponchartrain," this is a lovely song about the concerns about new romances. I don't think anyone will ever do a better job on "The Whistler" than Jethro Tull, especially with Ian Anderson's flute solos. But Empty Hats' version does the original justice.

The masterpiece of The Hat Came Back, "The Twa Magicians" is kind of a touchy song. For all the sexual banter and punning, the tradition song describes what is, for all intents and purposes, a rape. There have recently been some versions in which female magician turns the tables on the male, but these versions have come off as too obvious and overwrought. Besides, the battle of the sexes remains unresolved in these versions. Asch, however, has come up with a completely different twist, giving this song, for the only time I'm aware of, a satisfactory conclusion that matches the humor and sexuality of the song. Bravo.

I had the opportunity to see Empty Hats, minus Mazzu, but plus fiddler de Souza, at the Hogtowne Medieval Faire this past February. While I only heard a few songs, what I heard was excellent. Taking a look at their schedule they seem to make more than a few of Renaissance faires, doing Florida in the spring and Pennsylvania and upstate New York in the summer, which demonstrates that

Empty Hats doesn't have empty heads when it comes to the weather.

Whether it should be considered a debut or not, The Hat Came Back is a great, upbeat CD. I'll be looking for more from Empty hats -- and I'll be on the lookout for them at the next Hogtowne Medieval Faire. Anyone else who wants to join me on the lookout, can check their web site.