The names Eamonn Hehir, John Steele, Sean Fox and Tony Brennan mightn't mean much nationally, but down Limerick way they're rock royalty, having spent the last 30-odd years working the local circuit, and inbetween the constant gigging assembling some very fine albums, which have never got the wider audience they deserve. Together in their present guise for the last two years, The Flag Listeners' full-length debut, And Other Short Stories, showcases the incredible songwriting talent in their ranks.

"You led me through open doors to worlds I hadn't known before/ Sinatra to John Coltraine, Hank Williams, Tony Bennett to Cleo Laine", proclaims the opening 'Sitting On Your Shoulders', which is actually more in thrall to Bowie and the Psychedelic Furs, but let's not nit-pick here; these guys know their musical onions.

Elsewhere there are nods towards Paddy McAloon ('Ocean City, Maryland'), Jarvis ('Bedsit Songwriter'), and Eddie Vedder ('Tearing Down The Homestead'), but The Flag Listeners bring enough of themselves to the party to ensure that it's far more than an exercise in fandom. If these guys were still troubled by teenage acne, they'd probably have record companies throwing suitcases of cash at them, but to misquote John Lennon slightly, a local hero is something to be.

8/10
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