It’s a Hell of an Age EP is released on January 23rd.
Dublin alternative folk six-piece just released their debut single last month – ‘Blue & Gold’, an original song inspired by singer Paul Banks habit of buying scratch cards, which I said had “clear Lankum influences in the arrangements, but a bit more on the raggle taggle alternative Pogues kick.”
The band’s new single debut EP ‘I Was Just A Boy’ is an expansive seven minute plus tune that builds up with mandolin and drums into a swirling drone, and reflects on teenagedom.
The song came from Adam, it was originally just the riff and I remember saying that it would work well as a brief instrumental track. We started playing around with it as a full band, and suddenly we had this 7 minute track on our hands. I centred the lyrics around my adolescence, the tumultuous nature of it. We had fun experimenting with pedals for some unique sounds on the outro, it’s a bit of a diversion from the more straightforward folk writing on our first single.
Madra Salach tour Dates
27 October — Roisin Dubh, Galway, Ireland Supporting Brógeal
30 October — The Academy, Dublin, Ireland Supporting Brógeal
11 November — Ulster Sports Club, Belfast, Ireland Supporting Cliffords
13 November — Folklore, London, England TGE: First 50
15 November — Live at Leeds (In the City), Leeds, England
28 November — Other Voices, Dingle, Ireland
29 November — Other Voices, Dingle, Ireland
1 December — The Caves, Edinburgh, Scotland Supporting Brógeal
2 December — The Caves, Edinburgh, Scotland Supporting Brógeal
14 December — London Irish Centre, London, England Sunday Seisiún (Charity)
20 December — Button Factory, Dublin, Ireland Supporting Gurriers
31 December — Whelan’s, Dublin, Ireland New Year’s Eve
15 January — Eurosonic, Groningen, Netherlands
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
