LEADING Armies is a new young Limerick band, engaged entirely in its own songwriting and music, that is flying high on the radar currently. On Thursday 26 it ws one of four competing bands in Dolan’s Support the Saw Doctors competition that the four play off live in front of judges and the jury of audience. [Up against Animal Beats, Black Road and Tractor Bomb, the final vote ultimately went to Animall Beats to support The Sawdoctor’s Riverfest gig in the Milk Market’s Big Top this Friday May 4].
Ents page with up with backing vocalist and keyboard player Conor Ryan for an insight into what else is hot to trot for the Leading Armies cavalry. First he insists in naming and crediting all band members;
“We have Glen Scully on vocals and guitar. He’s our front man and the songwriter. Glen’s way of writing is sitting on the can for as long as it takes until the melody and lyrics come out right. We only play our own works and have about 40 already – Glen wrote another two the other night and they are both bangers”.
Reader, ‘banger’ is good. ‘Dud’ is of course, bad but “we have not a dud song among our collection so far,” protests Conor. “We are getting terrific feedback on facebook Leading Armies and twitter”.
The line up is impressively musical and good with harmonies live, no slouching for this set of six completed by Cian Daly, bass; Mike Hogan, lead guitar and Noel Mooney on drums.
“See also website www.redbulldjamsessions.ie for our video which is rated No. 4 currently in a band competition. The winning band will get €10,000 worth of musical equipment and support, and a professionally produced music video will be shot of their performance. Also, there’s a chance to play live in the music festival in LIT this Thursday May 3 – Leading Armies are on at 4 in Millennium Theatre. There is music on all day and I know Animal Beats and Ergot Fire are scheduled too.”
Exhausting but fun. Parting company, Conor was off with the band to play support to the launch of Hip Neck Blues Collective EP at Bakers Place. Busy? Same man also has regular singing residencies with Jazzology in Cornstore on Friday nights, 10pm and on Sundays at 7.30pm in The Creamery Bunratty.
Back to the six-strong Leading Armies. Getting us in the mood for festivals on Friday May 4 for Riverfest, the band plays in The Big Top at Milk Market at 12.30pm and again on Sunday 6. Free gigs of original, mature harmonies and able musicians, so get there while it’s hot.
