WATERFORD’S finest live band King Kong Company put on a huge performance at Electric Picnic in September, fastening their grip on being the biggest and best dance party band in the country. They are veterans in the game of headlining and block-rockin’ at festivals.
For some, their show at EP was the highlight of the festival. It certainly was right up there, along with Dublin dance act Le Boom. King Kong Company played a show full of heart and pride in being an Irish band playing to 10,000 in Stradbally.
They were simply in a different class, giving it their all for the “home crowd.”
Haven’t heard King Kong Company yet? Then mix a little breakbeat and raggae, a bit of Prodigy and Groove Armada and a generous swig of Buckfast and that dry Waterford sense of humour with huge sound and visuals and you get the best dance party around.
No surprise that they were voted Best Irish Act award at the Pure M Awards in 2018 and put in an explosive performance at a sold out Olympia last October.
Chatting to Mark Graham from KKC, he says that all their time and energy is put into their show.
“We want the live gig to be as much of an experience as possible.
“People at festivals expect you to do something spectacular.
“It is not just about the music. It is a full on show and we have been conscious of this since we started seven years ago.”
Their sold-out show last year in the Olympia Theatre in Dublin is a measure of the King Kong Company commitment to their audience. Even with sold out signs on the door, it is shocking to hear that the band lost money on the venture.
“We sat down before the Olympia show and we looked at our costs of doing what we wanted to do and we knew we wouldn’t cover the costs, but it was the best show we could play.
“One of the reasons we do this thing is that we love doing it. And we knew we wouldn’t cover the costs but it was the best show we could play. We are all committed – we are all working in other jobs. There is not a lot of people making their living from just music.”
Mark Graham is an educator in his day job. He teaches Music Technology at Waterford Institute of Technology. He also produces and presents The Irish Music Industry Podcast. It is an essential and revealing listen for anybody with an interest in the music business.
Mark Graham chats to and questions professionals from a multitude of disciplines, Jenny Wren (Booker for Body & Soul), Jerry Fish (independent artist and label owner) and Dan Hegarty (2FM) featured in the series. It is a fascinating and honest account of stories, advice, wisdom and occasional tales of woe.
“I felt I wasn’t preparing students for what was going to face them when they went out to try and make a living in music. I didn’t think they were getting an honest and reasonable picture of what was actually happening in the music industry and how people were getting by and what you could do in order to try and enhance the tools that you have when you go out into the music industry.
“That was what it was for. As I got into it, I realised I should have been doing it for myself first I learned so much from it.”
One episode of the podcast called ‘A Few Sandwiches Short of a Picnic’ is essential listening. The podcast looks at 2FM’s Play The Picnic competition from 2018 where 10 acts (out of hundreds) who got the largest public vote won a chance to play at Electric Picnic. Some of these acts were never given airplay on 2fm and according to the podcast makers, two acts didn’t receive the studio sessions set out in the terms and conditions of the competition.
Guests on that podcast were Alan Swan, 2fm’s Head of Music Content and members of competition finalists Exiles and Electric Shore.
Mark examined the value of these popularity contests for emerging acts and the possible consequences of speaking up or complaining in the industry.
“I will always hope that the podcast will be open and honest.”
“The really rewarding part about that podcast was that something really changed there. 2fm’s Alan Swan stated that he wasn’t aware of the problem and he was going to look into it.
“You have somebody like the Head of Music at 2FM and the band don’t really feel like they can speak out if they feel they have been aggrieved by somebody like that. It might be someone they want to call on in the future.”
“So to be able to provide a sounding board for people who have difficulties and then to be able to go off and look at those difficulties, I bring it to that person and there will be some acceptance of responsibility, that was a really good thing to happen.”
The Play the Picnic Competition and stage has now been abandoned and was not a part of Electric Picnic 2019. There will be a second season of the podcast in the near future
From the interviews Mark is doing with the music industry, he sees that while making a living just by playing music is very difficult, it is a great time to be an emerging act in Ireland.
“If they want to make a living from music they will want to do more than just play music. You have to have more tools in your toolbox than just gigging.
“But if you are doing it because you love it and you want to express something and express something to an audience of people I don’t think there has ever been a better time.
“The venues in Ireland are fantastic, the sound equipment , the platforms you have for sharing and selling your music (ie bandcamp and Spotify) has never been as accessible as they are now.”
With a nationwide tour coming up, King Kong Company are gearing up the live show for indoor venues after a summer of touring the festival circuit.
“We are conscious of people paying hard earned money – and we want to give them the best.”
“What’s music for? – I think when it is at its best – it is a communal thing it is something that you share with other people. And it moves them in some way. When you get to do that on a large scale it is amazing.”
King Kong Company plays Dolan’s on Friday October 25
