STREET FIGHTING MEN

Brawl. Never heard of them? Don't worry, they're not the sort of people to be upset by something like that. Coming from New Ross in County Wexford they play fizzing hardcore punk with a strong line in anti-establishment politics. Suffice it to say they do a good job.

But aside from their music, what really sets them apart from the slack mentality of most other bands in this country is their sure knowledge that if you want something done you've got to do it yourself.

Before the band there was the collective - the New Ross Musicians' Collective, part of the Federation of Music Collectives. "Then we started Brawl as a support act," guitarist/vocalist Greg tells me matter-of-factly. "With there not being many bands around this part of the country it seemed like a natural thing to do."

Meanwhile, he and the band's other vocalist, Murt, were putting all the rest of their energies into making the collective work and exploring avenues of finance. "We just work from our own house - from our bedrooms," Greg continues. "And it's going to take a long time to get anything done. Ideally we'd like to get a premises with a small restaurant, a couple of small shops and a small venue."

Pipe dreams? Well no, not really. Especially not when Murt is "the best letterwriter in the world" (official!) and when the collective is so determined to transform their 6,000 population town into a place that offers something concrete in the music department.

Anyway, Murt got onto the Arts Council - "not interested, no money," the beardy bald vocalist smiles - but rather than giving up he got straight in touch with the Council's Music Officer, Dermot McLaughlin. "And a few weeks later we got a letter saying we'd got a thousand quid off the Arts Council from last year's budget on the basis that we had a premises."

Up to this point the Collective had run most of its gigs from Galavans pub in the town, but they didn't have a premises of their own. Problem? Not really. "At the same time we got in touch with the VEC in Wexford and eventually got permission to use an adult education builiding."

On a roll at this stage, they had also been in contact with the South West Wexford Partnership and, lo and behold, "We happened to be looking for money at a time when they were looking to give it to people." Another £2,000 towards making their pipedream a reality.

And that's still not the end of the story. Had you forgotten about the band? Taking into account that through the Collective they've put on international as well as Irish acts they've managed to acquire some very useful contacts.

"From getting a couple of phone numbers off people about two and a half months ago we now have a European tour of 25 gigs covering 9 countries!" Greg says with just a hint of excitement.

They will also be appearing on the next compilation from the Bristol-based Words Of Warning label as well as a compilation release from German label.

Admitedly these are still very early days, for both the band and the Collective. At some stage soon they want to be able to offer rehearsal and recording facilities to bands all around the region as well as being in a position to organise gigs for them.

"This is something we live and eat," says Greg adding by way of confirmation, that he was up at 5.30 that morning making posters for a Dawson gig later that evening. "If you can actually get to the stage in music where you can make a small living out of it, there's nothing fucking better, really. If you're sitting around doing nothing, that's a pain in the arse!"

Wise words. Nobody ever said it was going to be easy, but Brawl and the New Ross Musicians' Collective are going to do their damnedest to make sure it happens. They're doing it for themselves - with a little help from their friends.

(New Ross Musicians' Collective: One Two Ten, Ballykelly, New Ross, Co Wexford. Tel. (051) 88584. Federation of Music Collectives, PO Box 148, Belfast BT1 2LZ)