Loved by Morrissey and lauded by the likes of John Peel, teenage indie band the Would Be’s were very much the toast of the town back in the early ’90s and, after being courted by no less than 14 major labels, the County Cavan/Meath/Louth-born bunch seemed destined for greatness. Unfortunately, things never really worked out for the group (due in no small part to signing with a small label with zero funds) and they fizzled out, to the disappointment of many.

But our story doesn’t end there. After a chance meeting at a book launch in November 2011, the band realised that their chemistry was intact and they decided to reform for a one-off gig in March the following year. Of course, one gig quickly multiplied and before they knew it they were making a debut album (Beautiful Mess) and enjoying an all-too-rare second bite of the cherry.
“I suppose we’d a point to prove to a certain extent,” says singer Julie McDonnell when we catch up with her. “We didn’t reform to be a ‘comeback band’ though, the opportunity just presented itself and we grabbed it with both hands. The album was fulfilling something that hadn’t been done before. It just felt like a logical thing to do.”
“I’m very excited about it being released,” she continues. “The last year-and-a-half has been a bit of a whirlwind really but we’re enjoying it all.”
Even though Julie and her band-mates Aidine O’Reilly (trombone and sax), and brothers Matt (guitar), Eamonn (bass) and Paul Finnegan (drums) hadn’t shared a stage together in years, she reveals that while at first it was a bit strange reuniting after 20 years, once the music started to flow it was just like old times.
“We didn’t keep in contact over the years so it was a bit strange meeting up with everyone after all after that time,” says the singer. “It was all a bit surreal at first and it felt quite strange to be in the same room together again. We were nervous as well but it’s funny, when you start playing the music again you just remember how great it all is. It felt comfortable and strange at the same time.”
After deciding to leave the band in 1990 to return to school, we have to ask, does she have any regrets over her choice?
“It wasn’t an easy decision at the time but the small record company we signed with didn’t give us the financial backing that was needed to keep the momentum going. There wasn’t money coming in and it was quite tough at the time. I had to think of my future I guess. I’ve had a fantastic life and I’ve no regrets, but you do wonder what could have been if we’d made different choices and decisions. It’s cool to be where we’re at now. It’s not very often you get a second chance at something and it’s all going really well.”
With the long-awaited LP sounding like the band haven’t missed a beat despite the two decade lay-off, Julie tells us that their fans won’t have to wait another 20 years until they hear more new material.
“We’re all busy with day-jobs but we’re very committed to this,” she concludes. “There’s lots more music there and I can imagine that’ll continue to unfold and reveal itself over the months and years ahead.”

Beautiful Mess gets a live airing in the Academy, Dublin (October 11); Crane Lane, Cork (29); Cobblestone Joe’s, Limerick (30) and the Spirit Store, Dundalk
(November 7).