Funzo refers to anyone who’s helped make this music over the years, whether in the studio or on stage.
Liam McDermott writes the songs, sings them, and plays piano and drums.
Past producers have included Andreas Nolan and Will O’ Donovan.
These days, Mark Woods produces the CDs and plays a load of instruments on the tracks, including guitars, bass, clarinet, keyboard, harmonica and sax.
When performing live, band members include/have included: Liam McD, Jonathan, Stigmund, Gav, Pinky, Big Mark, Little Mark, Brian, Jean, Sallay, Eddie, James, Andreas, Alan, Steve Kelly, Ronan, Danny Groenland, Damian Hillan, Kevin McNamara - that’s 18 members altogether by the way.
Influences
The Beatles -Stevie Wonder -Dexy’s Midnight Runners -Madness -The Beach Boys -The Streets -Abba -Oasis - The Turtles -Outkast -Lily Allen - The Kinks -Simon and Garfunkel -Queen - the Lovin’ Spoonful -Burt Bacharach & Hal David -Elvis
Winners of the Trinity College Battle of the Bands!
Winner of the An Tostal National Songwriting Contest!
Winner of the 'Demo to Breakthrough' National Songwriting Contest!
"McDermott has the rare ability to make songs sound as if they don't quite belong to any genre, yet show touches of several working together for the greater good" Hot Press
"McD's talent and versatility belie his twenty-two years....Vintage pop music with originality and substance" Ronan Dempsey - UCD Tribune
"In a perfect world all pop records would sound like McDermott's."
Caomhan Keane (www.oxygen.ie)
"Need to get away is one of the loveliest songs I've heard in a very long time."
Fionn Davenport - Newstalk
"Unique song-writing and composition, originality, musicianship and
professional potential are the hallmarks of Liam's music with homage to The
Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, This EP is
beautifully composed combining sweet, sorrowful lyrics with a quirky edge
and classic melodic harmonies." Mark Feiritear - The Axis Arts Centre
"Thankfully Liam McDermott is doing something quite different from his
rivals."
Jackie Hayden (Hotpress)
"A dream collision between The Beatles, Madness and the Beach Boys" Whelan's, Dublin
"McDermott is a rare gem" Deirdre Maguire - UCD Tribune
"Liam's music stood out from over 200 bands and artists because of both the
high quality and the complexity of his song-writing."
Colm Downes (Federation of Music Collectives)
"Funzo was created to destroy any other leading competitors"
Urban Dictionary
"Irish thug meets The Beatles" Shannon
"Liam McD freaks me out" Will O'Donovan - Sony Producer
We sent a CD out to RTE a while back and TG4 rang us up and asked us to play two songs on their chatshow Ardan.
We opened the mainstage at the Trinity Ball '07 to at least nine security guards.
We got to the last 10 in Ireland in the Jacob's 2fm Songwriting Contest in Vicar Street.
We got to the last 12 in the National Student Music Awards
LIFE'S ALRIGHT AGAIN, SO IT IS - EP LAUNCH @ THE SUGAR CLUB
MUST BE MY EGO - WHELANS
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL YOU - EP LAUNCH @ THE SUGAR CLUB
WE'RE FREE NOW (YEEEEW!)
STILL A FLIPPIN' BOY
NEED TO GET AWAY - BALCONY TV
WHERE THE HELL IS SHE
THE MANGO TURNAROUND
NEED TO GET AWAY - WINNING THE TRINITY COLLEGE BATTLE OF THE BANDS
There's nothing random about it.. it's just fate..!!do remind me of future gigs: i'd only love to go along for a hop skip and jump dance, front row style.. !! Stupid exams are ruining my fun.. A bientot
Well would you look at that: in the top friends. it only took a bit of fiddlin as well to do so! :) wink wink nudge nudge cough cough high five ...!! Merci beacoup! Vous etes trop gentil.
Afraid there isn't .. but not worry, i've had plenty of years of hearing it and all the jokes that go along with it.. i'm quite fond of the phrase now!! See you over the summer, when i have reclaimed my freedom once exams are over! Sarah x
Hey dudes, thanks for the request again, thats so wierd, i feel like ive accepted ye loads of times, are see stil havin that friends deleting problem? Any chance yer playin dub before July?
I'd never heard of this guy before your bulletins, but now I'm hooked... he's so ignorant, so infuriating..but...can't...look...away... Damn you Funzo!
Love you (: Songs with personality and wit! Smart lyrics, clever melodies, and inventive chord changes. In particular, I enjoyed the modulation on the chorus of, “Life Is Easy”, and your clever way back into the verse. Also, liked the melody/chords/walking bass/jaunty feel of, “I Need To Get Away”. Excellent writing my friend! Pleased to meet another Kinks fan (: I’m posting a “Sunny Afternoon” era original later this month. I’d be honored if you stopped by for a listen!
Village Green Preservation Society FOREVER!!! ~phyllis
