There was a packed house at Kilmainham last month when Kodaline marked one of the most special nights of their careers.
While Hot Press was there – and duly impressed, as our review will attest – we didn’t have an opportunity to catch the group afterwards. Therefore, when our man Colm O’Regan spotted half of the group in The Academy last night, he grabbed a table and a few beers to wag chins with Mark Prendergast and Steve Garrigan.
“Kilmainham was incredible,” Mark smiled. “To play a gig that big in our hometown was incredible; we’re still kind of pinching ourselves, to be honest.”
“It all happens so fast though,” adds Steve. “It was great – especially with all our family and friends there – but we were straight off to Switzerland, then Poland, and on we went. It wasn’t until about three days later that I was like, “Fuck. That Dublin gig was amazing.”
As well as getting to strut their stuff in front of their adoring fans, it was also a chance to show some relatives how far they’d come.
“There were times,” said the frontman, “when we’d signed a deal but not released things. Relatives would ask ‘Is Steve still doing the music thing, or is he going back to college?’ Now that we’ve headlined 3Arena and Kilmainham, I think they get it!”
Though not everyone…
“My dad still doesn’t always understand,” Mark laughed. “If I say I’m going to stay at home, recording a song in my room, he’ll still burst through the door with a cup of tea! ‘HOW’S IT GOING, SON?! I think I’m going to have to move out very soon! To be fair, it is weird; you’re playing the piano in the kitchen, but you’re technically ‘working’.”
The boys joined Gavin James on stage last night, but rumours were already flying that they’ll be guesting with another flame-haired troubadour this weekend. Unfortunately, if the ‘music thing’ ever falls apart, the pair could probably have a future in high-stakes poker; HP prodded, poked, at one point going full Columbo… and got absolutely nothing.
They are, though – like everyone else in Ireland right now – fully-paid members of the Ed Sheeran fanclub. “It’s something so original, doing that without a band,” Mark opined. “I think it’s great. I hope he never gets a band, actually; bands ruin everything!”