IR

Artist Information

Biography

IR is an alternative rock band based in Vilnius, Lithuania. Formed in 2003, IR has stormed the young Lithuanian alternative scene, winning several local band contests including the most prestigious Naujas Kraujas and Euro Rock Vilnius 2004, among others. After the original line-up broke up in 2005, the founding member and front man Germanas Skoris continued the IR drive with different semi-international line-ups until it stabilized in the current shape.

During just three years of its existence the band's music has been compared by fans and local media to about a dozen rock acts, stretching from Placebo and Smashing Pumpkins to Nirvana and Foo Fighters, which only suggests that IR actually do have an original style of their own. With this in mind, and having a wide range of musical influences, the band members themselves won't go into any deeper definitions than just "rock", leaving it up to the listeners to figure out for themselves.

In the winter of 2005, the band signed a record deal with Zona Music, which resulted in their debut album Now or Never. Released in the fall of 2005, it took the band’s career to a new level. The album received very positive feedback from numerous reviewers, both local and foreign, agreeing that it is one of the best alternative rock records to come out of the Baltic States. "The album has a drive from the beginning on. [...] Amazing quality so early in the band's history" wrote Overhook Music from Finland.

Despite a neglectful stance towards the rock format in the Baltic media, tracks from the album managed to enter several local charts. For three weeks, the video for the song "Idol” stood at number one on the Baltic Top 30 – a unified weekly chart conducted by several Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian radio stations and TV channels, and the ballad “Maybe” topped the charts at Mazeikiu Aidas radio station. “Maybe” is also in rotation on the new alternative radio station Opus 3.

IR is a hard-working live band, playing various local events and clubs. They opened for Tito and Tarantula at the Rudstock 2004 festival, toured in Germany, Poland, Latvia, the Netherlands and the UK. IR has won the Best Rock Artist of the Year award and Now or Never was nominated for the Best Album of the Year at the Lithuanian alternative music awards A.LT. The band was the featured artist of the week at ubl.com, an international independent music website, and will be a cover artist on the next issue of the popular Gramofonas music/hi-fi magazine. They have recently played numerous unplugged shows, not just in club venues but a live on-air radio performance as well. The band is currently preparing for a spring 2007 tour of Europe.

Instrumentation

GERMANAS SKORIS vocals & guitars
JOSH McCLUNG drums
JULIUS VALANCHAUSKAS bass

Discography

ALBUM
Now or Never (2005 Zona Records)
TRACKS
"Hell" @ Lithuanian Music 2006 (2006 Lithuanian Music Export)
"Hell" @ EuropaVox Compilation (2006 EuropaVox)
"Garbage Star" @ Popsas uzkniso juodai (2004 Zet Records)
DEMO
IR (2004 IR)

Audio

Lyrics

• Hell
• Idol
• Angry Blues

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• IR Now or Never - album review [+ Show ]
  

  "The album has a drive from the beginning on. The basic mood is more on the happy side but the melan..."The album has a drive from the beginning on. The basic mood is more on the happy side but the melancholy is not fully forgotten either. There are a few hooks that surely will go deep in people who liked such bands as Nirvana, Nickelback (early), Default and so on. No matter there are a few connections to known bands, IR has personality as well.[…] Amazing quality so early in the band's history." - Ville, 2005-12-11 (4/5)

• IR Now or Never – niekada nesakykite niekada [+ Show ]
  

  "Visumoje diskas ávairus, taèiau visus gabalus jungia smagus ritmas ir puikaus tembro Germano vokala..."Visumoje diskas ávairus, taèiau visus gabalus jungia smagus ritmas ir puikaus tembro Germano vokalas. Kuris jø iðskirtinis? Galbût „If You Have a Dream“, „Maybe“ ar lyriðkasis „To Father“, nors savotiðkai þavi visi. Kad ir lengvai ásimenamas „Idol“ ar labai originalus „Angry Blues“. Pagyros nusipelno ir boso gitaras keièiantis Maratas bei miniatiûrinis ir gana techniðkas muðamøjø „tramdytojas“. - Birutë Surinënaitë, 2005-11-10 (8/10)

• IR Now or Never - album review [+ Show ]
  

  "Germanas Skoris - vienas nedaugelio dainuojanèiø roko vokalistø Lietuvoje. Dainavimo maniera gal ne..."Germanas Skoris - vienas nedaugelio dainuojanèiø roko vokalistø Lietuvoje. Dainavimo maniera gal ne iki galo átikinanti - kartais norëtøsi daugiau ekspresijos, bet gal tai darbo studijoje patirties stoka. Þinoma, angliðkai daugelis tekstø skamba "kieèiau", taèiau tai nëra vien "sun-love-baby" lyrika. Bandymas iðtrûkti á laisvæ, iðsiskirti ið minios, þvaigþdþiø ligos padariniai, monologas apie tëvà ir kitos temos romantiðkai sukilëliðkos temos nagrinëjamos paprasta ir aiðkia kalba." - Ore editor, 2005-11-08 (7/10)

Setlist

Usually IR performs only original compositions with English lyrics. They play in 1 set and in 2, depending on the request of promoter and agreement.

One-set gig lasts from 45 to 60 minutes and consists of 10-12 songs.
Typical set-list:
Sad
Hell
If You Have a Dream
Maybe
Why
Another
1,2,3,4
True Love
Angry Blues
Fake World
Now or Never
Garbage Star

Two-set gig lasts totally around 90 minutes and consists of some 20 songs.
Typical set-list:
Sad
Idol
Fake World
Hell
Why
If U Have A Dream
Angry Blues
True Love
Another
1,2,3,4
Snake Pit
Wake Me Up
To Father
Vezk Mane Namo
Idol
Maybe
To Father
Mister A.
I Wonder
Now or Never
Garbage Star

Singer/guitarist Germanas Skoris also performs solo acoustic sets comprised of both originals and covers.

Solo gig lasts up to 70 minutes and consists of 18-20 songs.
Typical set-list:
Idol
Fake World
Hell
If U Have a Dream
Angry Blues
True Love
To Father
Vezk Mane Namo
Idol
Maybe
The One
Eternity
Hold On
Old Man
Vasia
You Know You’re Right (by Nirvana)
Scientist (by Coldplay)
Elektrichka (by Kino)
Dom Stit Svet Gorit (by Kino)

Basic Requirements

Calendar