Country Cousins

There is a book to be written explaining why Irish people almost immediately took country music to their collective bosom to the extent that through the late sixties and early seventies it was the dominant music on the Irish music circuit, with a range of artists from the talented Ray Lynam to the much-denigrated Big Tom selling records and dancehall tickets by the tractor-load.

Latterly, a lot has been written about the so-called "new country" as purveyed by a mixum-gatherum of acts including the mind-numbingly awful Garth Brooks (check out his new "live" video to experience the full horrors of the man's gross insincerity) to the rather splendid Lyle Lovett, Randy Travis and so on.

But when you take a closer listen, it becomes painfully obvious that the "new country" tag is something between a mistake and a lie. There is nothing that the new country posse is doing that had not already been done as far back as the early seventies by the early Eagles, Poco, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard and a bunch of Irish country performers who have yet to receive their due - the afore-mentioned Ray Lynam, the seriously-talented Johnny McEvoy, and in more recent times, the Fleadh Cowboys and Hank Halfhead among them.

Although the intervening years had seen country music take a back seat to a multitude of other music genres available on the Irish music menu, it has always had a strong presence, and the last five years or so have seen a resurgence of interest in Irish acts both at home and abroad. At any given time there is at least one Irish country artist of substance showing his or her wares to their country cousins in the UK, whereas a reverse trip is almost unheard of, Hank Wangford and Gary Hall and the Storm Keepers notwithstanding . . .

The Hogan Stand

When we think of Irish country music or MOR artists trucking off to the UK for tours we tend to assume that they are mainly playing to Irish expatriates and/or their descendants.

Not so, according to John Hogan, one Irish singer currently causing serious ripples on the far side of the Irish Sea. Hogan's latest tour of England not only had him billed to play London and Manchester dates as expected, but he had long before sold out two shows in the East Anglia region, where the percentage of Irish in the audiences is likely to be minimal.

"They are nearly two distinct markets," Hogan told Hot Press, "the English fans in general prefer sit-down concerts whereas the Irish in Britain tend to go for a dance."

Hogan admits to being equally at home with either type of show and he explains he is particularly popular in East Anglia simply because he worked harder on that area. "Before I was signed to my present record company Ritz, a promoter called Jerry Smith did a lot of hard work building up my profile there and it worked. I go to England three or four times a year and I do a fair share of gigs in the Irish clubs, but it's important not to tour too often, otherwise you get over-exposed."

He also likes to keep some time off gigging to prepare for recording sessions. "I don't like rushing into a studio at all. I think you need a couple of free days beforehand to help you focus on it properly. If you don't, I think the end result suffers," he reckons.

His last album was recorded in Nashville, an enjoyable experience he would be happy to repeat. "The musicians over there eat, sleep and drink country music. It's in their blood. We have fabulous traditional players in Ireland and I suppose their country musicians are so good for the same reasons," he says.

But he also has enjoyed working with Irish musicians in Irish studios. "I really enjoy going into Westland Studios with a producer like John Ryan. He does most Ritz releases, and working with people like Philip Begley, Des Moore and Ray Lynam is a real treat."

He is already making plans for his next album which he might also record in Nashville where Ritz Records are planning to set up an office. "This time I'd like to use more original material, not just my own but by other Irish songwriters. We have some brilliant songwriters in Ireland, like Mick Hanly, for example, or Shunie Crampsie. I'd like to see more of their songs being recorded by Irish singers."

So if you have song you think might suit John Hogan's inimitable style, put it down on a cassette and send it to him, care of Ritz Records. After all it's not every day you'll hear of an artist of Hogan's popularity showing such obvious support for Irish songwriters when he could take the easy route and snatch a dozen or so songs off the Nashville conveyor belt. Guess you could call it The Hogan Stand?