Jekyl

Local band Jekyl describe themselves as a "hard rock/metal outfit, known for their explosive live performances, dueling guitar harmonies, melodic choruses, a singer with lungs like a Blue Whale, and a crazed rhythm section which you can't help but want to rock out to.

Such a description naturally provokes high expectations; they certainly talk the talk, what endears is the fact they won't shirk any opportunity to walk the walk. The lads are insanely motivated, hell bent at making the most of their considerable talents.

Reformed from a 2001 edition of Jekyl this version has been around since early this year. After a few months in the background, the lads are ready to unleash their sound on Kildare.

Guitarist Tom Keenan said " We are going to start playing lots and lots of gigs, trying to establish the band. We want to gig all over Ireland anywhere that will have us. We'd love to do a tour of Ireland.

Playing completely original material Jekyl thrive on the atmosphere of their explosive gigs. In the next month they plan to record a live demo, believing that their energetic onstage antics will make a longer lasting impact than a studio recording" A decent live recording of a good gig is ten times more powerful as a studio recording. If we know we're being recorded we'll have to be good" remarked Tom.

The band are prepared to commit, to take the plunge, do whatever it takes to make something of themselves; fully aware of the hard slog that lies ahead. "We'll give it a shot, between the lot of us we have 30 - 40 years experience. We really want to play music for a living. We're sick of working 9 to 5" "So you're going to be rock stars?" " Someone's gotta be" - Kildare post

ekyl is a band of local boys working to make it big. The musical mates hail from Carlow and Kildare and have been playing the South East in one form or another since 2003.

If time and energy count, then these lads will be the next U2. Their music is a mixture of rock blended with metal. The band will be familiar to from its high-octane performances.

This year, the lads are planning to make music their full time career. They will be moving to Dublin to build up a fan-base in the capital, then hope to do a nationwide tour.

The band's demo has been recorded in studio and showcases some of their newer sounds. It illustrates the direction that they have taken with the new members. They felt that it was time for this demo as they had been receiving such positive feedback from audiences and fans.

Last week the band shot a video for one of their demo tracks in the Music Factory. They are hoping to use it to get more airplay and to arouse the interest of record labels and venues around the country. This highly motivated group have under gone some changes to their line up lately. Last June, the bass and drummer left, opening the door for some new talent and influences within the group.

Cliff Deane (19) from Castledermot said he had been impressed with the band since he first heard them gigging. When the original line up split he jumped at the chance to audition and now plays guitar with them.

"We have been selling a lot of copies of the CDs that the lads recorded earlier at gigs," said Cliff.

"People are really interested in our stuff and we've been getting a great response. For the moment were going to concentrate more on the business side rather than gigging. We want to write some more songs too and hopefully make a start on an album. We've been taking to record companies and are working constantly. We are all totally dedicated to the band and making it work." - Carlow Nationlist