~ ~ Chris Keys (Piano, Guitar, Backing Vocals) ~ ~
~ ~ Lara (Fiddle) ~ ~
影響
Street Buskers, Banjo on the Front Porch, Hobos, Pork and Beans, Hopping Freight Trains, Carnivals, Juke Joints, Dirt Farmers, Boxcars, Campfires, Washboards, Greasing the Track, Cow Crates, California Blankets,
"If I had to pick a new voice to trust in unreliable times it would be Ciaran Lavery. He's the compelling noise at the front of Captain Kennedy, a band from Lurgan that used to be rather good but are now dangerously close to greatness. He's got a deal of hurt and empathy in his singing. You feel like you know the source of his woe and that with a mutual twist, he can voice your own particular brand of pain.
He does this with hardly any fuss, so you find yourself listening ever harder, picking out the little gems of phrasing, the hesitations, and even the slivers of joy. And to their credit Captain Kennedy never crowd the tunes with their fiddles, their keyboards and the other voices. If you want to check out the online clips, you'll see a band on a series of tiny stages, locking into their roots-rock groove, clearly hip to the sources of Americana, but never forcing the connection.
There's a fine EP out there called 'Factory Whistle Call' that sums up the early potential. On the song 'Bring That Light' Ciaran is hailing an old girl friend who's got a baby and is seemingly at odds with the world. The song is a reassuring hug, a belief that chances will improve and that destiny is up for debate.
Ciaran and Chris played live on my Radio Ulster show a few weeks ago, and while I was expecting something sweet, they made things a little harder on themselves by playing a couple of new songs. I was properly moved.
The final request was that they should bring in a record that meant something to themselves. And so Ciaran fetched up 'It Makes No Difference' by The Band, a song that dips into the very essence of heartbreak. He spoke eloquently about the artists, and in particular the singing of Rick Danko and Richard Manuel, two lamented, lost souls who could make the walls cry. That's something to want to live up to."
Captain Kennedy, a 7-piece folk rock band from Northern Ireland, are earthy, their music visceral. The past couple of years have seen the band establish their position on the Irish music scene with gigs in high profile venues across the country, including a sold-out Mandela Hall, support slots for the likes of ‘The Broken Family Band’ and appearances at the Out To Lunch Arts Festival, The Botanic Arts Festival, The Bacchanal Festival, The Belfast Film Festival, The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Belfest, The Gasyard Feile, Vibefest 2008 and Gifted at The Empire have helped develop Captain Kennedy’s reputation as an unmissable live act.
The band have received regular airplay on local and national radio including BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Ulster and Cool FM and have become fan favourites on internet radio stations. They appeared on BBC 2’s Blas Ceoil programme in March 2009 and have also made a number of appearances on Irish TV station TG4.
With a number of high profile gigs coming up including two slots at the Open House Festival and slots at the Ards Guitar Festival and the North Coast Folk Festival, expect to see a lot more from Captain Kennedy in 2009.
The band released their second 4-track EP Factory Whistle Call through Vinnie Lovelace Records. “Factory Whistle Call”, recorded at the Start Together Studios at Belfast’s new Oh Yeah Centre, is not smooth, controlled, or delivered with the glossy perfection of much modern pop music. This is cracked, rootsy material. Their harmonies are sometimes crooked, and singer Ciaran Lavery’s voice can get gravelly to the point of death-rattle. The EP, which has already received airplay national and local radio, captures the true spirit of Captain Kennedy’s live sound.
What the Press have said…
Stuart Bailie (BBC & former co-editor of NME): "Captain Kennedy are well immersed in the "old weird America" that writer Greil Marcus covered in his book Invisible Republic. They take their name from a Neil Young song but they're also fit to sing old Dixie down. Excellent vocals. I likes 'em."
The Irish News: “Sweetest Friend walks a fine line between pop balladry and indie soul and would be playing on daytime radio stations right now if there was any justice in the world.”
BBC Across the Line: “When you’ve got the Americana sound as polished as these guys do, it’s no surprise it goes down as well as a Mississippi Mud Pie!”
NI Chart.com: "One of the must see live acts around the North today. "
Alternative Ulster: “This is preternaturally aged music, ready to caress your heart with its dusky fingers.”
Americana-UK: “There’s something instantly attractive about their obvious belief and capturing of the redemptive power and soul of music”
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For Booking Enquiries contact us at captainkennedyinfo@hotmail.co.uk
More Than Conquerors are playin at the Six Star Hotel album launch on the 4th of december (next friday) Doors half 8 or 9 o'clock not sure but get there early. £4 entry. Stage time 9:30 pm. 2 track cd on sale. It's gonna be sick. BE THERE. NO EXCUSES!! p.s comment us to tell us that you're going.
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Get on over to ..www.myspace.com/recycledrabbit.. Fill in your NAME and EMAIL plus the subject 'I WANT THE SINGLE' The single will follow on an e-mail! LOVE Kris, Danny, Jaime, Danny MTC
alright, so people always say happy hump day for Wednesdays. I think its just as strange to say happy Uphill on Tuesdays, or happy Downhill on Thursdays, but i've never ever seen or heard anyone wish that. -Brandon
Hi Captain Kennedy, so sorry we missed you up at the Festival in Portstewart, would have loved to hear you live. Ah well, next time eh?Have a good gig tonight, rock on
Fourth Album Arrives January 2010! American Dollar MP3 Discography Special, Only $20 For All Four Albums! Go To: www.theamericandollar.info/merchstore.html Thanks For Listening!
alright laaaaaaaaaddddssss. hows it goin? yes mate. no bother. every time i'm headin into lurgan i'm like 'right...i need to bring that banj-tar. Steve's gonna kill me' haha. i'll bring it to you this week.
