Over the last two years The Cast Of Cheers have become the go-to success story of the Irish DIY music scene. They talk to Celina Murphy about recording the new album in London, and how it was no party.

Work on the record in question, the pulsating, riff-heavy ten-track trip that is Family, began with Foals and We Have Band producer Luke Smith once the band had settled themselves in London.

“We freaked out,” Conor remembers. “We jammed for three weeks first but we didn’t even need to fucking jam, we were ready for it. Then we started changing all the songs, it was like Lego blocks, just sticking bits on for no fucking reason.”

“That was horrible actually,” Neil pains. “We were practising in this room in London and it was so hot in August and this room had no air-conditioning. It had one fan painted black with a red light on it that said, ‘Welcome to Hell’.”

“Two songs in and you were pumping sweat,” John adds. “I hated that time, I didn’t enjoy jamming. It was just gruelling.”

By the sounds of things, recording the album wasn’t exactly bathtime with Elmo, either.
“It was the toughest experience we’ve had as a band,” John admits. “Definitely.”
“We all had a separate day where we melted down!” Neil says. “It’s because Luke was pushing us really hard. There was a time when you’d leave the studio after hours of playing the same riff nonstop and you’d kind of look at the other lads and go, ‘Guys, I think Luke hates me...’ And we actually believed that.”

“We all had a day where we thought Luke hated us!” Conor remembers. “He’d know how to piss you off and he’d know how to make you upset. He’d do it and you’re hating him in the meantime, you’re actually going ‘You fucker!’”

Read the full interview in the new issue of Hot Press, out tomorrow.

The Cast Of Cheers play Whelan's, Dublin (Sept 19), The Roisin Dubh, Galway (20), Dolan's, Limerick (21), The Forum, Waterford (22), The Pavillion, Cork (23) and Limelight, Belfast (24).