Giveamanakick
Giveamanakick | |
---|---|
Origin | Out On A Limb Records / Monkeyheart Recordings[4] |
Members | Stephen Ryan (Steveamanakick) Keith Lawler (Giveamanakeith) |
Giveamanakick—typeset as giveamanakick[7][8] and abbreviated as GAMAK—[2][9][10][11] were an Irish rock music duo from Limerick. The two band members were Stephen Ryan (Steveamanakick),[9] the vocalist and guitarist, and Keith Lawler (Giveamanakeith),[9] the drummer.
Giveamanakick performed regularly in Ireland, toured the
Remaining in Limerick throughout the existence of Giveamanakick, the duo were declared "the best hard-rock band in the country" by rock critic Eamon Sweeney and received the approval of Hot Press, No Disco's Leagues O'Toole and Fight Like Apes.[12][13][14][15][16]
History
Giveamanakick formed in 2001 following the demise of Tooth.
A second album, We Are the Way Forward, was recorded over an eight-day period and released by Out On a Limb in 2005.[4][8] It received three from five stars in a review by RTÉ's Harry Guerin who said: "you'll get what you paid for from their stomp and swing".[8] Phil Udell's Hot Press review gave the album 4.5 out of five stars, saying it "gives you that much sought after visceral thrill" and that the duo "wrote it, recorded it, fucked off. A classic".[18] Their live performances also came in for increasing critical acclaim. When Eamon Sweeney of the Irish Independent attended a show by The Presidents of the United States of America in May 2006, his review stated that they "were well and truly blown off the stage by the support band" who were Giveamanakick.[13] Stephen Ryan has said in several interviews that their early Sunday morning performance at Electric Picnic in 2006 was "one to remember" with so many festival-goers coming to view them.[9][19] He described the performance as a" bit of a blur" as they "pretty dumbfounded by the reaction" and the idea of "playing with some of our musical heroes such as Dinosaur Jr. and Deftones was a dream come through [sic]".[9][19]
In 2007, Giveamanakick toured Germany before beginning to record their follow-up album.
Giveamanakick were described as a "promising act" for 2008 by Eamon Sweeney of the Irish Independent in January of that year.[25] They performed several Irish dates in January that year.[26] Their third album, Welcome to the Cusp, was recorded over a ten-day period in Letterkenny, County Donegal and released on 2 May 2008 on the duo's own label, Monkeyheart Recordings.[1][4][9][20][27] It received three from five stars in a review by RTÉ's Harry Guerin who described the music as "immediate and memorable".[1] Other publications called it "the best Irish record of 2008".[2] The track "Brittle Bones", released as the second single from the album,[28] marked the first use of an acoustic guitar by the duo.[4] Ryan claimed that Welcome to the Cusp was the album which "most accurately represents what the Giveamanakick sound actually is" and described the songs as "possibly the most structurally challenging ones so far".[9]
Giveamanakick performed a nationwide tour following the release of Welcome to the Cusp,
In September 2008, Giveamanakick played
Style
The duo were described as "noise rock's version of The Odd Couple" by RTÉ.[1] Ryan once described himself as a "Beastie Boys fanatic" and the duo were compared to acts such as Pixies.[9][10] His lyrics regularly featured references to popular culture.[9] However, the opening track on their debut album, titled "Ger Canning", was not a reference to the broadcaster of the same name.[17][39] They wrote self-described pop songs, where "Keith hits his drums really hard and I [Steve Ryan] like my guitars turned up very loud but we do this with a pop sensibility",[2] and employed techniques such as using gas masks to distort their vocals when playing live, performing with streamers and encouraging their audience to disorientate themselves by clapping their own ears.[11][40] They lived in Limerick throughout their existence, citing a positive music scene, the humour and the hurling as being some of their reasons for liking their home city.[2]
Members
Stephen Ryan was the guitarist and vocalist. He is originally from
Keith Lawler was the drummer. He is from Parteen, County Clare.[2] He liked Nirvana when he was fourteen years of age,[19] and learned how to play the guitar when he was a teenager but began to learn the drums at the age of sixteen when he realised that there was a surplus of guitarists in his area.[2] Tooth used to rehearse near his house and he often listened to them from outside.[19] Two of his cousins were already drummers, having performed with The Charming and The Cranberries.[2]
Discography
Giveamanakick released three albums.
- Is it ok to be loud, Jesus? (2003)
- We Are the Way Forward (2005)
- Welcome to the Cusp (2008)
References
- ^ a b c d Harry Guerin (5 June 2008). "Giveamanakick - Welcome to the Cusp". RTÉ. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Staff Reporter (11 June 2008). "'Giveamanakick': Limerick rock duo on the cusp of success". Limerick Independent. Retrieved 2009-08-19.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Is It Ok To Be Loud, Jesus?". Hot Press. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
Listening to this Limerick duo's debut album is something akin to being battered round the head with a plank of wood for half an hour. It is, though, bloody fantastic. [...] Quibbles are few though and this is easily up there with Berkley as one of the Irish punk rock releases of the year.
- ^ a b c d "More kicks than pricks". Hot Press. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
The Limerick band's recently-released third album Welcome To The Cusp is made of similar mettle as their previous efforts, 2002's Is It OK To Be Loud, Jesus, and 2005's We Are The Way Forward – a potent force of heavy guitar and drums that incorporates elements of metal, rock, and, for the first time, the use of an acoustic guitar on the track 'Brittle Bones'.
- ^ a b c d "The Inside Kick". Hot Press. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
As with most stories, the tale of Giveamanakick begins with the end of another. In this case it was the demise of well respected Limerick band Tooth, the breakup of which left main songwriter Steve kicking his musical heels. "I started playing these solo gigs with these songs that I had," he explains, "just me, an electric guitar and a few noisy peddles. Keith saw me one night and I mentioned that I was looking for a drummer. He was playing guitar in another Limerick band but he started playing drums with me as well."
- ^ a b "And they said never in a month of Sundays". The Sligo Champion. 25 October 2006. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ a b Tom Grealis (4 January 2004). "giveamanakick - Is It OK To Be Loud, Jesus?". RTÉ. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ a b c Harry Guerin (20 December 2005). "giveamanakick - We Are the Way Forward". RTÉ. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Staff Reporter (17 April 2008). "Giveamanakick". Cork Independent. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ a b c Ciaran Ryan (2003). "Review of their album 'Is it ok to be loud, Jesus?'". CLUAS. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ a b Eamon Sweeney (21 April 2008). "Original rock is still alive and kicking". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ a b c "Giveamanakick The Bucket". Hot Press. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ a b Eamon Sweeney (23 May 2006). "Presidents not in the same state as they used to be". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ a b Eamon Sweeney (19 October 2007). "Loaded: Gossip and news from rock critic Eamon Sweeney". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- ^ "Local band Giveamanakick start out on new label in bid for rock stardom". The Corkman. 11 July 2003. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ Eamon Sweeney (2 November 2007). "monkey business". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f Ciaran Ryan (June 2003). "Limerick's latest giveamananinterview..." CLUAS. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ Phil Udell. "We Are The Way Forward". Hot Press. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
Music is not an exact science. It's a living, breathing thing and that's why we remember great gigs probably more than great records. It's also why Giveamanakick's second album bucks the trend and gives you that much sought after visceral thrill. [...] The lyrics are spot on, taking a swipe at a range of subjects with a vicious eye for detail, especially the music scene itself: "Hey rock 'n' rollers, get up early, have a good breakfast…preach to the jaded, the twice converted". The influences are obviously American ("you're Thurston for Moore") but the duo put enough of themselves into the music to sound almost unique. Giveamanakick then – wrote it, recorded it, fucked off. A classic.
- ^ a b c d e Eamon Sweeney (11 January 2008). "Q&A: Giveamanakick". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ a b c "Giveamanakick announce forthcoming plans". Hot Press. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
In between Kilkenny and Sligo, the Limerickians will be heading to Letterkenny where they'll be assembling the follow-up to We Are The Way Forward in Attica Audio Studios with Tommy from Berkeley. They've also been confirmed for the next 2fm 2moro 2our, which kicks off on May 16 and also features the very diverse talents of Messiah J & The Expert and The Flaws.
- ^ "Step into the 'Shade'". The Sligo Champion. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- ^ "Burning Shades turn up the heat in Sligo". The Sligo Champion. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- ^ "Radio roadshow coming to Carlow". Carlow People. 12 April 2007. Archived from the original on 20 November 2007. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ "Clear the airwaves-Sligo band sought". The Sligo Champion. 11 April 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- ^ Eamon Sweeney (11 January 2008). "Bright lights: The Irish music scene in 2008". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ "Giveamanakick announce new dates". Hot Press. 16 January 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
The Galway show should be an absolute cracker, given that none other than Fight Like Apes will be heading the support bill, while equally promising Dubliners Grand Pocket Orchestra will open in Whelan's.
- ^ a b "Giveamanakick to play Whelan's". Hot Press. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ "Giveamanakick calm down..." Hot Press. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ "Giveamanakick add new shows". Hot Press. 12 March 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ "Candides launch debut album in Spirit Store". Irish Independent. 21 August 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ Eamon Sweeney (2 May 2008). "Loaded: 2nd May". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ John Meagher (18 April 2008). "The week in... 18th - 25th April". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ "Gemma Hayes, Giveamanakick for Indie-Pendence '08". Hot Press. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ Tony Clayton-Lea (22 August 2008). "A guide to Friday at the Electric Picnic". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
Not that most people in Ireland would know, but Limerick duo Stephen Ryan and Keith Lawler are on their third album (Welcome to the Cusp). Despite keeping a profile lower than a Dachshund's belly, Giveamanakick have managed to keep things grooving along by virtue of their innate boisterousness and musical flash-bang-wallop.
- ^ Eamon Sweeney (2 September 2008). "Sex Pistols misfire but our friends electric dish up a feast". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ Grainne Faller (1 November 2008). "MACNAMARAS' BAND". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
They are juggling college and music at the moment and were in New York last week at the prestigious CMJ Festival in New York. That invitation came about in September when they played at the Hard Working Class Heroes festival in Dublin. The organisers of that event were quick to notice Heathers and invited them to be a part of an Irish showcase they were sending to the festival, along with bands such as The Blizzards and Giveamanakick. "Yeah, that's a weird one," says Ellie. "The Blizzards are playing all the freshers' events in college and stuff."
- ^ "Cobain remembered". The Irish Times. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
Phantom FM's Front Row hosts a Kurt Cobain Special today, from 1-3pm, for the 15th anniversary of Cobain's death. Giveamanakick and Royseven will be in the studio to perform Nirvana covers.
- ^ a b Phil Udell (17 August 2009). "Giveamanakick split". State. Archived from the original on 2013-02-18. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ Ewan MacKenna and Enda McEvoy (8 April 2007). "SIDELINE CUTS". Sunday Tribune. Retrieved 2009-08-21.[dead link]
- ^ Eamon Sweeney (22 January 2008). "Hardcore band that knows how to have fun". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
External links
- Official site
- Video of performance on The Once a Week Show (October 2007)
- Video announcing the split, and final tour