Update & Gig Guide

It's official.Philip's EP is at large and is set for some serious guerilla tactics.

It took just over eight weeks to complete the four- song EP, which was recorded this Autumn in Furbo, Co. Galway, under the auspices of the mighty Barry Duffy, sound engineer extraordinaire, who delivered the goods and then some.

Musicians included band members Brendan O' Gorman on guitar and newcomer Rosina Joyce on fiddle in a fine display of all that is best in musicianship in the west.

The final mastering was turned over to Robin Robyns at Mid Atlantic Digital, Enniskillen, who proved effortlessly that magic is alive and well and living on his HUI system. (There's also a rumour going that while Philip was up there, he managed to wreck their hi-fi system ... surely not our Philip?!)

Roll on the guerilla tactics.

Baptising the Breed

Things have moved on apace since Philip got his hands on the first copies of Endangered Breed. Saturday 28th November saw a very special celebration cut loose in - where else - Fogarty's pub, Crusheen Co. Clare, right in the heartland.

The EP was baptised in a night that went from rock setups to video footage to seisiuns, Clare style, all to a pub bursting at the jambs with faces from far and near.

Philip would like to voice a special thanks to the Fogarty clan, Claire and Carmel, Ulick, Dave and Yvonne, Lara, Liz and Johnny for helping to make it a night to remember, not forgetting of course the other ten million or so people who were there rooting for the cause. Whatever comes to pass, the EP can now go forth secure in the knowledge that it's been baptised in the Clare faith ....

Breed Live

Mention must be made here of the special gig to give Endangered Breed its official airing, which took place on Thursday 21st January in the Roisin Dubh. What a great night that was, and credit is especially due to all those people who helped to make it what it was.

Town Hall Theatre stalworth Jack Cauley was the man behind the light show and he played, it must be said, a blinder ( If we don't get flamed for a pun like that, we never will ). Rory Horan was in the hot seat for sound and delivered a sterling performance for all elements of the mix. The band rocked, the crowd were on form, the caterers were almost eaten alive (fantastic grub from the Chur Catering Company) .... It was a night where everything just seemed to come together to make more than the sum of its parts.

In particular a huge thanks is due to all those who gave freely of their time and just pitched in for the hell of it, and also to all those who simply turned up and made it happen.

Cheers!

Radio Daze

Approached by Galway Bay FM to do a live recording session under the auspices of DJ Jon Richards, whose steady hand produced and engineered the session, Philip has recorded seldom heard versions of three songs from the set, with keyboardist Anna's help on piano and backing vocals. Cormac also aided on rhythm. These unusual renditions are currently on the airwaves so tune in!

Credit is also due to Jon for his hand in the production of the EP's fourth track, Stones Would Cry. Through the live studio sessions, Philip was able to hone his approach to the song and give it its final shape, ultimately defining the direction the recording would take on the EP.

Meanwhile Philip has been putting his voice about these days with extensive interviews and airplay on radio stations in the west. The EP had stirred up considerable curiousity in broadcast circles even before its official airing, and Philip himself admits that the EP thing has been taking off a lot faster than he expected. Since its appearance in record shops in Galway and Clare, radio action has been quite substantial, boding well for what's to come.