Euphony By Name

Winners of a recent heat of the hotpress Ignition Unsigned band competition, Euphony are a testament to the benefit that showcase gigs can have on a band s morale and growth curve. Together for only a year, the band started out playing small pubs in their hometown of Bray, but are fast finding that platforms like the IMRO Showcase and Ignition Unsigned can give them access to better venues and a wider audience, not to mention a huge boost in confidence.

In accordance with their monicker, Euphony create a very pleasant sound indeed. Their first demo, recorded at Solitaire Studios, is exceptionally strong on infectious melody, with a nice confecction of innocence and attitude-laden cynicism in the lyrics. In songs like Destiny s Blind and Remember My Name, Britpop influences prevail, with sterling bands like the Beatles, and the Stone Roses cited by the band s two main songwriters, singer Andrew Hogan and lead guitarist Sean Casey. The pair went to school together and were involved a mickey mouse band called The Judes for a while. After that fell apart, they hooked up with bass-player, James Hall, newly-returned from Newcastle after a stint in a band called Hive. With the addition of drummer, Neil Byrne, Euphony was born.
We rehearsed three times a week in a freezing shed in Bray. In the early days, we were playing to just a handful people, which can be a bit dispiriting, Sean remembers. After a few gigs, we got more relaxed with playing live and started buzzing off the crowd, and in the last few months both the gigs and the feedback have been great
They have a refreshingly positive attitude to the Dublin scene at the moment. As Sean points out, Even up to four months ago the music scene in Dublin wasn t too good - we were all set to pack our bags and go to England. But things have definitely picked up a bit here as far as live music goes. Much of this can be attributed to the rise in the number of venues where young unestablished acts can get a foot in the door. In James view, Showcase gigs give bands access to good venues, with better sound quality, which allows you to really push what you can do as a band. When I was touring with the band in England, there was no support whatsoever, no-one to help you get gigs or get your name out there, so in that respect, Dublin s a really good place to operate at the moment.
The lads are extremely complimentary about all those who have helped along the way. Andrew gives credit where its due. There s a guy called Bill Casey, a pub supplier, who got us gigs in the early days by putting in a word for us with the owners. Also Dermot Flynn has been a big help, as regards IMRO showcases, and hotpress journalist Stuart Clark has given us loads of encouragement.
And what of every young band s favourite eccentric uncle, Aidan Walsh, Master Of The Universe?
Aidan s an enigma, certainly, laughs James. But he s always been very supportive, and given us sound advice - always keep the receipts, and so forth. And his showcases are brilliant for young bands, in the kind of access they provide.
As for the current state of Irish music, Andrew says, We admire JJ72 for paving the way for other Irish bands and showing the world that there is more to it than just Riverdance and boybands. Flying the flag for rock n roll .
Euphony consider themselves a classic four-piece rock band, with plenty of room for expansion, according to Sean. Eager to experiment, all manner of radical new implements such as keyboards have been mooted. The plan is to get another demo under their belt, before moving on to a full album. It would be very interesting to see what a producer could do with our sound. I suppose we can be stuck in our ways, James admits.
Lead vocalist, Andrew absolutely brims with enthusiasm. Our strength is our songs. I know for a fact we have a really good album in us. All our songs say something different, you have the ballads and then the pure hate, fuck-off songs.
The interview comes to a close as the lads get another round in, amid whispers of phonecalls from Polydor execs and more affirmations of self-belief. In the future, plenty of exciting developments can be expected. As for the new, soon-to-be-demo ed material, currently bursting to life in the their live set, Waiting For the Sun is described as a lot heavier, more powerful , while When You re Near has a lot of harmonies, which give it a different feel.
We also do a mean cover of Teenage Kicks , grins Andrew.

Euphony play Eamonn Dorans on 23 November