Published: September 5, 2009 8:12 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight September 2009 Edition
Irish Wolfhounds
Irish Wolfhounds
The beauty of Celtic music is something that one must experience. Irish Wolfhounds have certainly made this experience more enjoyable with their fresh and unique take on this popular genre. The coolest aspect about the music of Irish Wolfhounds is their brilliant interpretation of the covers that the band does of Indie artists. For those fans looking for something new and refreshing to listen to, then check out Irish Wolfhounds; you will be amazed and excited with what you hear.
Isaac: What's the name of your band? What's the origin of that name? Have you changed the band's name before?
Irish Wolfhounds: We are the Irish Wolfhounds. Basically, our name is what it is because all the good names in Celtic music are taken. For instance, Gaelic Storm is just an awesome name, but well it's taken. In our search for names, we thought of many, but then we would do a search on the Internet, and sure enough it was already in use (Barley Juice would be one of those examples). We thought of perhaps using a Gaelic/Irish name, but there was concern over misspelling, mispronouncing and in general people foreign to the language and culture not getting it.
Luckily we had a friend, Tamara Dunn who raises Irish Wolfhounds. Her son Sean suggested the name at a gig, and it just sort of took. Over time it's proved to be a real good name. Our second guitarist and singer Bruce Stevenson is a caricature artist, so you can imagine he has much fodder with that name to produce really neat art work. Also, believe it or not the emotional disposition of the wolfhounds really matches ours. They are very friendly and loving, but they do like to have fun. Also, they are of all the dogs on the planet, in my opinion, one of the most faithful breeds, and though we sing drinking songs and other silliness, in Celtic music there is always this underlying theme of duty and love towards family, clan, and friend. So the name really just fits.
Isaac: What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
Irish Wolfhounds: Celtic Folk. We do some Irish Tunes and we do some Scottish tunes so we are not really tied to either specifically. As one musician once said, "it's about the tunes". If it's a good tune, if it moves our hearts, then we play it. I specifically say Folk, because we try to keep sound of the original song. We are not strict traditionalist, but if you hear a song done by us it should be recognizable. All that said we do some more modern stuff if the crowd is into that...they just tend to be sung with a hint of an Irish brogue.
As for influences, just to name a few: Silly Wizard, Planxty, Steeleye Span, Patrick Street, Tannahill Weavers. Also, there are countless musicians that we have had the privilege to play with in sessions and at campfires. Actually, I would say, in some ways one of our goals is to bring the feeling of music around a campfire to the stage. If we can make the audience feel the way we do when we are in that setting with friends and of course the occasional whiskey, well we have done our job.
Isaac: How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
Irish Wolfhounds: My accounting of time is not so good, but I've known Bruce for about 4 years now. Allen I met about 2 years ago. In both cases, we met in sessions. Bruce and I met at Horniblows, a brew pub above Big Bos Brewery, at their Monday night open jam. He's really a rock blues guy, but he really enjoyed playing along with the Irish and Scottish tunes I'd throw out, and I enjoyed improvising over his rock stuff.
Also, we developed the ability to play melodic lines simultaneously without having everything devolve into chaos. Allen I met in the Irish session at Tir Na Nog in Raleigh, NC. He is way more experienced than me, but we both have the same approach to tunes.
Make them sing, make them move hearts. I have to say all of us agree on that point. We are not trying to impress you, we want to take you somewhere, we want you to feel, and be better for it.
Isaac: When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
Irish Wolfhounds: Really about a month before Saint Paddy's this year we all got together as a band. As I mentioned above we really are trying to do the same thing with our music and personality wise we just fit. There is zero drama in our group, and we are generally all very respectful of one another. Basically, musically and emotionally we just fit.
Isaac: Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?
Irish Wolfhounds: No label, no organizations. We did do a recording through Greg Elkins of Desolation Row Recording. Greg's a great guy, and really knows what he's doing.
Isaac: What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever's available? What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?
Irish Wolfhounds: I play a classical guitar. I play the same classical guitar I bought for myself when I was 19 (I'm 38 now). In October, it will have its 20th birthday. Seriously, though, the wood in this thing has aged so well that it's really hard to find a replacement. It looks like hell, but plays like a dream and just sounds awesome. I play whistles and I've pretty much switched to all Shaw tin whistles as they just give a really nice tone for not too expensive a price. I, also, play bodhron and bones.
Allen Baker plays concertinas, accordions, lowland pipes, hieland pipes and various whistles. I can't say much about his instruments other than he plays them well, and some of them are really ancient.
He has some squeeze boxes that are literally not A440, there some degree to the left or right of that. Essentially, he has a museums collection of instruments (even ones he really doesn't play).
Bruce Stevenson does steel string, dobro and harmonicas. His steel string he's had for a number of years, I think it's a Taylor. The Dobro was a random buy and it's turned out to be quite nice. I think his only requirement on the harmonicas is that they sound nice, and the reeds don't blow out too easily.
Isaac: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Irish Wolfhounds: Tir Na Nog and Pipers Tavern in Raleigh. We have done private parties and occasions (The Second Annual Carolina Curling Classic for instance). Did I mention campfires?
Seriously, we are just getting going really. In the next couple months, we will be at Tir Na Nog, Pipers Tavern, Ruckus Pizza, the Wake Forest Irish Festival...oh yeah, and somewhere among the tents at Shakori Hills in October; Allen and I will be playing around a campfire...all are welcome.
Isaac: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
Irish Wolfhounds: We have two sets lists at present. We are working on the 3rd and 4th sets.
We certainly do play covers...most of our material are covers authored by unknown folks. Some of the songs in ours sets are covers in the normal since. For instance, we do some Pogues and Silly Wizard songs.
Isaac: Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Irish Wolfhounds: We do write songs, but honestly we are more interested in finding those rare gems of songs that have already been written and play them well. We are folk/traditional musicians and there is a lot of respect among us for some the outstanding songs of the past. Our goal though is to breathe our life into these tunes; to make them our own as it where, while still showing respect for the original tune.
In Irish music, there is the concept of the "lift". When you hear someone do a tune, it either has the "lift" or it doesn't. The test is does it make you want to move. Does it enthrall you and draw you in.
You are sometimes playing a tune that is 100's of years old, and every body knows it, but how are you going to play it. You are not just digging up a corpse; you are bringing forth the loving memory of times gone by and then putting your soul into it. You have joined the great dance that spans generations.
Concerning themes and topics, traditional music stays alive because it continues to touch people and continues to relate to their lives.
That is because the music evokes emotions of strength, love and hope, while being tinged with sadness and sometimes despair. It's a very human music, frankly wholesome music, but in a way that is real and approachable.
Isaac: Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Irish Wolfhounds: One of us hears a tune he really likes. He learns it, and then presents it to the band; we then work together to figure out appropriate instrumentation and arrangement. Also, we never really play a song exactly the same way, but we do have frameworks with which we work.
Isaac: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Irish Wolfhounds: Fairly efficient. We work on material that we are having trouble with or new material. No set time, but as the need or opportunity arises we get together and practice.
Isaac: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Irish Wolfhounds: We are tighter and slowly we are beginning to introduce more improvisation. Traditional music can be tricky, in that you never want to loose sight of the original tune, so when we do improvisational lines they need stand with the tune, not detract from it, and in some ways really be it. Even still, you are always going to offend someone, but at least you can do your due diligence and spend time with the tune, getting to really know it before you try any sort of improvisation.
Isaac: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Irish Wolfhounds: Just getting our foot in the door to play gigs. Being a Celtic band, there are many places we just would not be appropriate for. Also, it's very challenging figuring out who you need to contact in order to get a gig. If you go to most festival web sites, they have all kinds of information for the consumer, but precious little for the aspiring band. To overcome this, we just keep plugging away with emails pointing folks to our MySpace page. Many of them never get replied too. I am used to it now, but strangely, a polite professional no is so much better than no response at all.
Isaac: This is SO true!
Isaac: What's your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
Irish Wolfhounds: Really just to continue the good work that those have come before us have done. So many bands have come along that have really influenced us, and moved our hearts. We really just want to do the same. To do that, we have a lot of work ahead of us.
Isaac: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Irish Wolfhounds: Become a great listener, both musically and communicatively. Learn to seek what you can do to help the group and do it. That applies to the music and other things. Don't try to impress anybody, just be yourself. Always keep an attitude of respect towards your band members and your audience.
Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Irish Wolfhounds: Just go to our MySpace page. The songs on our demo CD are there:
Isaac: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Irish Wolfhounds: My wife Katherine who has to put up with the late nights and really does support me greatly. Annie Nice of Tir Na Nog, who played a great part of instigating us to form a band. The owners of Big Boss Brewery, who opened the doors for the Horniblows Open Jam, along with Benton Weese and other bartenders at Horniblows. The same would be true of the owner and staff of Tir Na Nog. So many friends along the way have encouraged and helped us, with special thanks to the members of the The Ghosts of Erin (http://www.ghostsoferin.com/) for many encouragements and being great examples.
Isaac: Any last words?
Irish Wolfhounds: Thanks for the opportunity to share with you readership. I hope some more folks will get to experience the magic and beauty of Celtic music.
