SICKBOY
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SICKBOY

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""We don't give a fuck if people sign us or not""

SICKBOY's latest interview July 2008 with Connected magazine

All our stuff is released off it's own back on Slap In The Face Records. Maybe someone will come in and throw us a few bob so we can finish off the album, at the end of the day we just want to get our shit out there, either way it's getting done, we don't give a fuck if people sign us or not for the moment.


I've needed a sick-bag for my very sick dog this week, I'm now sick myself with a sick throat and I'm sick I had to cancel my weekend orgy of free festivals in London and SICKER Ryanair hoovered unused ticket sales from me in the process. Any-fkn-way, here we are, one week later, chatting with Sickboy – Dublin's indie trio – responsible for last year's wonderful 'A-Tune' single, amongst other wonderful and not so sick things…….

Story?
We have an EP coming out on July 26 – three A-sides off the album and two B-sides, along with a couple of remixes. We're doing a mini tour of Ireland, playing Life Festival, Solas
Festival, and we're playing 11 dates over three weeks around the country as opposed to just staying in Dublin. After the 'A Tune' we did a few scattered gigs and just got the heads down for material on the album and started rehearsing it.

Your 'Crimes Against' tune is not typical Indie, care to explain?
The 'Crimes Against' thing (see MySpace) is just me (Dan), it's just another project I'm doing. Maybe
that (the electronic route) would be something we'll approach after this album but at the moment we're focusing on our own sound. That's all done at home, it's all done in my bedroom, and I'd rather give one project 110 per cent than have two half-arsed projects on the go.

Do you self-produce?
We have Mark Callihan, he's the live sound engineer for Muse, The Cure and people like that. We did the 'A Tune' with him two years ago and he hit the nail on the head for us soundwise but we couldn't work with him since then because he was touring with other bands so thankfully we
have him pinned down now for thealbum.

What's the long-term plan for Three Sick Boys?
We plan to start recording, it's all funded by ourselves so money is something that might hold us back but we want to record to the highest quality, we don't want to put out any second rate shit, so it is going to take a while to get the money together. Maybe in six months time, hopefully the start of January, the album will be ready to go. We'll probably follow this tour with another in
November, that's the plan. All our stuff is released off it's own back on Slap In The Face Records. Maybe someone will come in and throw us a few bob so we can finish off the album, at the end of the day we just want to get our shit out there, either way it's getting done, we don't give a fuck if people sign us or not for the moment.

Rock N' Roll! What are you listening to these days?
I'm listening to a band called Pale Saints at the moment, I'm a big Jesus And Mary Chain fan a swell as Underworld and Aphex Twin, I don't know if it reflects on us as a band musically, maybe lyrically it does. We wouldn't say no to a record deal but there seems to be a wave of bands producing very current music at the moment, music that I wouldn't consider honest, that's just my opinion.

Plugety plug-plug?
Yip, we have a double launch, it's also a small gig, upstairs in Whelans on July 25 . Then the main show is on at Antics in Crawdaddy on July 30. I'm also doing a 'Crimes Against' Live gig in Kennedy's on Westland Row along with Green Lights and Bangers and Mash – but the latter might be over by the time this gets to print!

- Connected magazine


"The sound of disobedience..."

"The sound of disobedience, Dublins SICKBOY have emerged from the capitals Punk scene with the rampant sloganeering of the clash and the isolated bass hooks of Joy Division dripping down their front.." - NME


"SICKBOY"

"Sickboy
Priorities: "Music, drink, drugs, smokes, women and avoiding the rat race at all costs."

"You want music with some balls," Dan told me, as I sat in the Mezz with himself and guitarist Brian, sipping beer and wishing it wasn't quite so hot. Brian agreed, and so did I, thinking it's a good thing there are bandslike Sickboy around.
The winners of last issue's demo of the month prize are four lads whose interests are, according to their MySpace page: "Music, drink, drugs, smokes, women and avoiding the rat race at all costs." Sounds like they've got their priorities straight anyway. The line up is Mick (vox/guitar), Brian (lead guitar), Colm (bass/vox) and Dan (drums/vox) and together they make music which makes Damien Rice look like the cunt he is. Their performances are known for their energy, and tunes you hear and feel on a visceral level (sorry, that was corny, but it's hard to be nice).
Although they've been together for the last couple of years, it's only now that they've started to gain attention and to realise that there's a lot more out there for a group like theirs than pay-to-play gigs in Eamon Doran's.
"Hopefully, we'll have a single out by December and then we have to try and get a manager." Dan is adamant that this is the band's real target for the moment. "We've been getting a good bit of attention and gigs and stuff without having to get in people's faces, but we really need to get a manager who can do all that shit for us. I think we've done as much as we can on our own."





Brian agrees, but also points out their need to put together a decent package to pimp around to people, "We've got a video for 'The A Tune', and we're probably going to have an animated one for 'Silence In Conversation' (the two tracks on their demo)." This, they hope, will be enough to attract the right kind of attention and get them out of the loop of Dublin venues and out to the rest of the country and abroad.
Their most immediate goal, however, is making a good impression at the Popkomm event in Berlin in September. "That's what we're working towards at the moment," says Brian, "there'll be loads of heads there and it's a big chance."
Having been selected by IMRO as one of the Irish contingent to play in Germany at one of the biggest congregations of music-rights organisations in Europe is a big honour. While the band are concentrating on perfecting their performances for this, they're far from resting on their laurels. "One good thing we have," Dan tells me, "is our attitude – we're never fuckin' happy, we always want more. Whenever we get all the shit we want, we want bigger and better."
"Yeah, we're never complacent," agrees Brian. Definitely a good attitude to have, as is never allowing set-backs to turn into major problems.
"We're starting to get the buzz back," Dan says, "because after the first demo was recorded, we thought it was gonna lead somewhere, but it didn't, and so it was a bit of an, ‘Aw, bollocks,' kind of feeling, but we got going again."
Not surprisingly we found ourselves talking about the massive improvement in the current scene in Dublin, and how the last couple of years have seen a welcome shift away from the singer/songwriters having a stranglehold on everything, to a good old-fashioned, band-oriented rock n' roll scene. It's a scene which has been a long time getting itself together, but might finally be about to get somewhere. "It's been there for a long time, I think," Brian says, "but it's just finally starting to come into its own."
As are Sickboy. www.myspace.com/sickboyofficial
Stephen McMullin
- CONNECT MAGAZINE


"Working class heroes gig review"


By Liam Tyrell

The herd seems to be on the same track as me this evening, no shortage of bodies in venues as was evident on a slow-burning Friday night, which eventually sold out according to the event's organisers. The well trod path over the river is followed once more to arrive at Spirit's Rock Room in time to see those epic sound merchants Sickboy. The Gilesie twins (Colm and Brian) were worried on Friday that they might not pull a crowd, no fear of that boys, the Rock Room was set to burst that many folks decided to observe the fine Dublin four-piece peddle their audio wares. They put their foot the floor early as they engulfed the crowd with a wave of velvet melody and roaring, effects-laden guitars. Packed with presence, Sickboy provide a delightful roar of noise that both soothes and commands attention, the layered feel of their music swirling around the room as the vocals receive the sing along treatment from the crowd at the front. A fine show to put on for such a large crowd, venues bigger than this may not be beyond the ill men for much longer.

- DROP D REVIEW


"THE A-TUNE SINGLE REVIEW"

A newer name on the domestic scene,this three trcker is the northside Dubliners' first attempt to stamp their sound onto plastic. Employing electronics liberally but still keeping plently of organic sounds(The A tunes guitar in paticular sounds good enough to eat),the four-piece come across like a cheery mix between joy division,The futerheads and boxer rebellion. Like nothing youve ever heard before basically,which is a good thing. A very good thing. - HOT PRESS


"DUBLINS BEST KEPT SECRET"



“A favourite, simply titled 'The A-Tune', captures a great balance between melody and guitar noise which reminds me a bit of the exhilarating sounds of The Jesus and Mary Chain around the time of Rollercoaster, blended somewhat with the effortless euphoric energy of The Stone Roses in their early years..”. - ALTERNATIVE IRELAND


"TAKEN AWAY IN A CAR EP REVIEW"


''Sickboys debut EP gets going nicely with 'Taken away in a car',which revels in an intricately arranged cocktail of layered noise and infectious harmonies.



Things are then kicked up a further gear with the tense and highly charged guitar squll of 'Objects',an effective mash up of the bleak emotion of Joy Division with the dense and resonant riffwork of the Stone Roses.



'Shit Tv' completes the trio and confirms the impression of Sickboy as talanted and distinctive pracitioners of the indie art.''



- HOT PRESS


"HOTPRESS NEW EP REVIEW"

''Sickboys debut EP gets going nicely with 'Taken away in a car',which revels in an intricately arranged cocktail of layered noise and infectious harmonies.
Things are then kicked up a further gear with the tense and highly charged guitar squall of 'Objects',an effective mash up of the bleak emotion of Joy Division with the dense and resonant riffwork of the Stone Roses.
'Shit Tv' completes the trio and confirms the impression of Sickboy as talented and distinctive pracitioners of the indie art.''
- HOTPRESS


"Knockan Stock Festival Gig Review"

KNOCKANSTOCK GIG REVIEW FROM MUSICREVIEW.COM


If you know your old school punk well mix it with melodic pop and stir it up with an attitude that's Sick Boy this three piece band gave it socks on stage and very entertaining if your into chewing on your sleeve and jumping up and down… great set from the lads and well worth it to check these guys out live.
- MUSICREVIEW.COM


"July 25th Whelans Gig Review"

Sickboy- Live at Whelan’s (UpStairs) - 25th July 2008

Whelan’s was packed on Friday nights as hordes of late 20’s early 30’s men and more so women packed the downstairs venue for Juliet Turner’s show. The front bar was, as always packed with it’s usual gathering of rugby shirts and various trendies and the smoking area was clogged with rollie smokers and assortments of girls trying to looks as conventionally different as possible. Unfortunately for The Funeral Suits, Sickboys opening band of the night, the crowd had failed to fall into the new UpStairs venue for their set.

The Funeral Suits came on stage with a mere 15 people in attendance. The first thought that struck me was that Sex Pistols show in Manchester, made famous to the world by 24 Hour Party People. Sadly, the band failed to match such a musically historic moment but that’s a challenge few could measure up to. The lack of people didn’t stop the Suits from giving it their all but their songs were delivered with very little entertainment or presence, a problem that has become all too familiar on the Irish scene.

Next up as The Hassle Merchants who are, without a doubt the worst band I have ever had to endure live. Chicken bobbing and lead singer Donie’s furious attempts at a punk rock performance makes their set a chore to stand through and results in frequent visits to the bar to escape the pain. The crowd which had risen to roughly 30 people after The Funeral Suits set had dwindled down to 10 by the end of The Hassle Merchants.

The task was up to Sickboy to set things straight and thank god for all in attendance, they did. Emerging to a warm welcome from the crowd, which had suddenly packed in around the stage out of no where, the lads looked right at home and eager to put on a performance that would ensure at the very least a few in attendance would pick up a copy of their new single and hop along to Crawdaddy next week for the official launch. Taken Away in a Car was delivered with much more of an edge than the recording but sadly the vocals from their drummer remain the same giving the song it’s only flaw. Objects came third giving the band their best performance of the night. Sadly I was only familiar with the content of their new EP but many of their other songs sounded like exact duplications of the ones I knew. Shit TV and another airing of Taken Away in a Car were the final highlights of the night with Shit TV being dedicated to “all the cunts down the back”. Not a bad show from the trio by any means and certainly an incentive to keep an eye on the band as they make their next move - DROP-D MUSIC REVIEW


Discography

Their current 5 track EP “Taken Away In A Car” (produced by Marc Carolan, Muse producer) was released to sold out gigs in Whelan’s and Crawdaddy in Dublin and an extensive tour around Ireland and the UK.

The bands first single “The A-Tune”, received serious radio airplay, featured on a TV advert for the six nations rugby on RTE and was voted single of the Year on Phantom Fm, Ireland’s number one music station.
The bands have also been received warmly by Ireland’s music press, with positive reviews in Hot Press, The Irish Examiner, Downloadmusic.ie and Mixtape.

Booking agent contact:

slapinthefacerecords@gmail.com

Photos

Bio

Dan Doherty formed Sickboy with twin brothers Colm and Brian Giles while they were still in school in Dublin. They have spent the last couple of years carving out their sound in a basement studio in Dublin city centre and touring Ireland the UK and Europe
2009 will see Sickboy do a small tour of the US, appearing at the SXSW festival in Austin Texas along with shows in NYC and San Antonio.
The bands much anticipated debut album is also set to be realised this year as a follow up to the critically acclaimed: “Taken Away In A Car” EP.
After sharing the stage with the likes of The Coral, The Kooks, Gang of Four and The Bravery: Sickboy have proved themselves to be a hard live act to follow.