by Eric FitzGerald
David Geraghty is best known as a founding member of Bell X1 but in recent years he has been exploring a new solo direction under the moniker Join Me in the Pines.
JMITP released their second album ‘Monomania’ with a gig at Electric Picnic. The album is a kaleidoscope of colourful funky uplifting music, sometimes in contrast with the song’s subject matter. Rock ’n’ roll angst never sounded so funky and dance-able.
Sonically this record is far away from Geraghty’s early solo albums. There are still “reasonably heavy personal things, thoughts and obsessions being sung about,” says the songwriter.
JMITP has ventured headlong into edgy 80s synth-pop world with hints of funk conjuring shades of Prince, Bowie, Anderson Paak, Grace Jones and Donna Summer.
And it works on record – and it works brilliantly live!
The band opened for Hall & Oates at Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens and Cork’s Live at the Marquee, and impressed audiences at Vantastival, Forbidden Fruit and Kaleidoscope, steadily growing their fanbase. Their Electric Picnic set gave these new songs a raucous funky edge, and the audience were soon on their feet.
“Previously I would have had the music reflected by the lyrics.”
“I wanted to take a more light hearted approach and write about things that were going on in my head but I wanted to dress them up in colourful, funky clothes.”
New tracks ‘She Steps into the Night’ and ‘Bad Blood’ are a revelation. David’s distinctive vocal style references Prince and Beck convincingly and the tight band give ‘Monomania’ its heartbeat.
JMITP is Marc Aubele (Bell X1, The Walls), Mick Major (Bon Ton Rouler) and Tim O’Donovan (Neosupervital, Bell X1).
David Geraghty credits good friend Mick Major on bass with being the perfect foil for experimenting and bouncing ideas.
“Thankfully I had Mick Major as be my right hand man. He was on a learning curve too.
“It was really cool. I gradually fell back in love with music and became very enthused by the sense of discovery the new territory that I was exploring with Mick.”
And it shows on this album, all killer, no filler, dirty indie-funk tunes with lyrics that take “a screwed look at parenthood” on the album opener ‘They Must Never Know’.
“They are our little overlords [kids]. The last thing you can do is let them know that.” laughs.
One of the better known tracks is ‘Two Fall in Love’, a tribute to the passing of the Same Sex Marriage referendum.
“It is a commentary, brimming with pride, with a swelling of Irish pride that we did this, voting for same sex marriage.”
The album title ‘Monomania’ refers to the long questioning struggle to complete a project as epic as a full album in a new musical direction.
“It refers to a maniacal obsession with one thing or one idea that can very often take you to the edge of insanity when you are working on something for over two years.”
Taking this album on the road has developed the music in a new and raw direction and it works.
“When we play this stuff live the music takes on a new energy and is more of a raucous funk sound. The songs grow teeth. You go up a couple of gears.”
Special guests is Limerick band Mizdrea. Join Me in the Pines are live at The Record Room, The Commercial Bar on Friday October 11.
