Fighting Talk

Do you find Razorlight blunt and dull? The Libertines restricting? Does the prospect of Bloc Party make you want to stay indoors? Do you wish The Others were anyone else? In short: despite the hype, has the current crop of indie faves left you malnourished?

If so. Allow me to introduce you to Cahir O’Doherty – Derry boy, background member of Jetplane Landing but very much front-of-shop with Fighting With Wire – he’s feeling peckish too.
“You look at Razorlight or The Bravery,” he shakes his head, “and you think: I really don’t need these guys in my life. Throw enough money at something and go on long enough about how great they are and people are going to fall for it. But it’s short term. Fair enough, people can point the finger at us and say that we sound like Weezer, but I think that the music that the NME is hyping at the moment is just unbelievably bad. I picked it up recently and couldn’t believe what I was reading. They were writing about somebody’s haircut. If I’m into a band I want to know about their music and what they think about the world – not what shampoo they use.”
Despite being a mere two years old, Fighting With Wire carry themselves with impressive authority. Closer look at the CVs of those involved shows a band with extensive previous. Both Cahir and drummer Craig McKean played with the much-missed Clearshot, while Herb Magee is a shameless recidivist when it comes to local bands – Vapour Lounge, The Debonnaires, f.u.e.l, Volvograd. Perhaps, though, the most significant link is provided by Cahir’s involvement with Jetplane Landing – a band much admired for their DIY attitude and explosive live shows.
“People sometimes say that we’ve had an easy ride because of the Jetplane Landing thing, but that’s not how I see it,” says Cahir. “ We work really hard. We try to play everywhere – not just Belfast and Derry. There’s this barrier that’s supposed to exist between the Northern and Southern music scenes and we try to get over that. We play Cork, Galway etc and we haven’t been afraid to play in the UK. If the Jetplane Landing links have helped, it’s because they showed us how to do things yourself.”
And Fighting With Wire have been eager pupils. Their commendable work ethic and exploratory zeal has seen them make friends far and wide. Million Dead have offered them a support slot in their upcoming UK tour and the rock mag Kerrang! has, in recent months, clutched the three piece firmly to its bosom.
“We sent over a cd and got a phone call telling us that it was being played non-stop in the office,” Cahir reveals. “From that they ran a full-page feature on us and invited us on the showcase tour at the start of the year. They’ve been brilliant, really supportive.”
Any fears, though, that FWW are going to abandon home comforts for their cool new mates are unfounded. Cahir and his chums are one of a number of highly promising guitar bands currently plying their trade around the North. And at the moment, they seem content keeping warm from the sparks they’re all striking off one-another.
“There’s a really brilliant scene in Northern Ireland at the minute – better than it’s ever been. So many terrific bands who could all make the leap. I say to people when we’re in England that they should come over and see Corrigan, they should come over and see Lafaro, they should check out Contraband. But no-one does. Not that I think anyone is really worried. Local bands these days get bigger crowds at their gigs than signed bands from over the water. It’s really heartening to see how things have panned out.”
And, it seems, there’s one particular UK indie band that Cahir is looking forward to suffering a similar fate.
“I watched Razorlight on TV and they asked the lead singer who his favourite poets were. He said there weren’t any true poets anymore and when he was asked how he knew this, he replied that if there were any real poets out there, he would be hanging out with them.”
There’s another shake of the head.
“Honest to God, if I had been the camera man, I’d have smacked him.”
Right, no doubt, in his head and shoulders.