Little go large in the US

In March 2003 we quit our jobs and decided to move to New York. A month later we were all in new jobs. Getting to America was going to be harder than we thought.

The following June, I travelled to New York with a handful of record company contact names. Their advice was to return with the band and another six tracks and play some gigs. Easy when you have money.

On March 10, 2004, one year after we originally quit our jobs, we left for JFK to play six dates in New York City.

Wednesday, March 10th
Today we flew from Dublin to Paris and then on to JFK. A few days before we left we were reminded that The Revs and Mickey-Joe Harte got turned back for having no performance visas last year. It was something we had also overlooked and it was too late to apply but we got through.
A limo picked us up at the airport and brought us to our accommodation. It’s nice to live it up like a rock star: kickin’ back with the mini-bar in the back of a limo as the Manhattan skyline rises up in front of you. But it sucks when you arrive and have to pay the $200 rental. Williamsburg used to be a mainly industrial area in Brooklyn, populated by Polish Orthodox Jews. Over the last decade the warehouses have been converted into loft apartments. The first gig is tomorrow in – of all places – The Baggott Inn.

Thursday, March 11
We left for The Baggott Inn at 7pm to be on at 8. When we arrived there was a singer songwriter on who’d attracted all of four people, which was two more than we had. The venue is in a separate area at the end of the main bar. Towards the end of the set it began to fill up. Despite our best efforts, though, the crowd stayed at the bar and ignored us. I unplugged the mic, plugged straight into the desk and stood up on the bar. I explained to them that we’d travelled 3,000 miles to play and the least they could do was travel another ten feet and listen. Within a minute we had them in front of the stage, on their chairs and singing the song.
We ended the night in The Knitting Factory with Republic of Loose. They were playing the opening of the Irish Film Fleadh. There was an impromptu jam in the bar at the end with local legend John Longhorn who’d played on the night. Mick (ROL) and his sister did a beautiful duet of an original song.

Friday, March 12
Tonight we played Arlene’s Grocery. The gig was at 1am and we were knackered from last night. As we were going on-stage La Rocca arrived into the venue. They’re touring here and then SXSW, LA, Canada and onto Australia. We got half the audience on-stage. La Rocca joined us for the last track, with Björn on harmonica and Nick and Simon on vocals. It was amazing and the audience went nuts. Can’t argue with it.

Saturday, March 13
Tonight was Parkside Lounge on E. Houston and Suffolk. We were on at 11pm. It was a tougher venue to play. Initially it seemed more suited to a mellower sort of atmosphere but in the end we had them standing on their chairs and singing. Afterwards I spoke to Nadia, who used to be involved with A&R for Universal and tour management for Bruce Springsteen and James Brown. She said she thinks we might be the band she’s been waiting for and has taken two copies of the new recordings for Universal and a management company in NYC. We have two days off now before the next gig.

Sunday, March 12
We went to see Mark Geary play Parkside tonight. It was the first time I’d seen him. Really enjoyed it. He’s a bit like David Gray. But he told some good stories and played with the bizarre in-house band afterwards. It was like watching an episode of The Muppets with Geary as special guest.

Monday, March 14
La Rocca played The Mercury Lounge tonight. It was a showcase gig for industry in NYC. They played a stormer, debuting new tracks which I think are up there with their best stuff, especially Cambodia.

Tuesday, March 14
Yesterday I was in a t-shirt in Central Park. This morning I woke up to a foot of snow. We played Underground Acme on Lafayette St. tonight and if there hadn’t been another band on after us we’d have had two people to play to. Tensions are high in the band. A lot of arguing over nothing. Enough said.

St. Patrick’s Day
Froze our nuts off at the Parade. Played Sin-e on Attorney St. first. Lovely venue, good gig. Didn’t get to stay long before the car arrived to bring us to Liberty Heights Tap Room in Brooklyn for the second gig. It was one of our best gigs, great venue. The owner, Steve, used to be a sound engineer. He was really welcoming and the crowd was amazing. Nice way to end the tour.

Thursday, March 18
Today I went back to RCA in Times Square to meet Dave Gottlieb again with the new recordings. It can be pretty intimidating walking into the marble clad foyer of the BMG Building. Gottlieb is on the 36th floor and is one of the most senior members of the company, dealing directly with Dave Grohl, The Strokes, Kings of Leon. He listened to three of the tracks and said we definitely had the songs. Ireland, he said, was not our market. He’s setting us up with some contacts in American independent labels who, he says, will love the stuff. Dave was very straight with us. We have to move to the US and spend two years touring the colleges. It’s obvious, but when it’s put to you that you’d have to start in six to eight months time it can be pretty daunting.