The Chapters are: Ross McNally, Simon Eustace, Turlough Gunawardhana, Michael Murphy and Ciaran Fortune.
The Chapters have been building to the release of their debut album for some time – since they formed in college. It is the culmination of years of passion and hard work.
It nearly didn’t happen.
In 2008 the band gigged to large crowds nationwide supporting Neil Young, Cathy Davey, Chuck Berry & The Coronas to name but a few. On the back of interest in Looking for Love (the single released in 2007) the band entered into negotiations with a promising new company. The promise was short lived. Demos were recorded, producers contacted and meetings were had. By summer a deal was on the cards. While waiting for things to be ironed out the band decamped to a disused factory, where they renovated a large bright rehearsal space. The core of the album was written, the songs were getting better and better. Confidence was high and everything was looking up. Then in September the bottom fell out.
The banking crisis hit and within a few weeks the label’s backers pulled out and it was dissolved. The band were heartbroken. A year’s planning, writing were dashed in a puff of smoke. Morale was low, coming into December doom and gloom was everywhere you looked. It would have been an easy time to throw in the towel. But, as fate or luck would have it, within a week the band were offered another deal, this time with 3u Records. They were passionate about the music and wanted to see it released. Within two months, a renewed determination and sense of hope, they were in the studio, putting down the album with up-and-coming Irish producer Ciaran Bradshaw.
The result is the debut album: Perfect Stranger. It is the sound of old friends at a celebration. Rumours era Fleetwood Mac singing at a party hosted by Talking Heads, gatecrashed by The Cars, throw in a bit of Phoenix and a wink to The Band and you have the idea. Perfect Stranger is out now!! on 3u Records. 'Videotapes', the first single from the album is getting great radio play from 98fm and is being Championed by Today FM's Tony Fenton
What the press say about 'Perfect Stranger' .....
"Irresistibly catchy"- Colm O'Hare - Hot Press Magazine
"Traversing timelines to be modern without trying to be hip, trendy or cool" - Jennie Mulligan - Entertainment.ie
"Impossibly catchy"- CD of The Week - Una Mullally - Sunday Tribune
"Enormously Ambitious" - The Metro
"A little ray of hope that there is a future for Irish music"" - The Galway Advertiser
"Seal of Approval"- Jim Jim Nugent 'Colm and Jim-Jim Breakfast Show' - RTE 2fm
"These Guys are gonna be big"- Tony Fenton - Today FM
Other nice things said about us in the past .....
"The Chapters find themselves nicely positioned somewhere between Smog and Talking Heads, a rug-cutting piece of funk-punk."- 4 out 5 Kevin Courtney The Irish Times Review For Looking For Love ' 07
"The next big thing in 2009" - Claire Connellan, Dublin’s 98
"SHIT HOT!"- Sinister Pete, Phantom FM
>"Something of a best kept secret. They could be your new favorite band, just give them a try." - Gareth Maher, Totally Dublin
" One of the best things to come out of Ireland in years "- Niall Stokes, Hot Press Magazine
Hey, We're having a launch party upstairs in whelans for our debut EP "Dead Man's Dream" on friday night!! please join us! Best wishes The Whiskey Limbs:>
Let Mike know that I did drop by and say hello - here is another example of my video art for True Delusion - I love the chapetrs too so would love to work for you someday on a piece !
Great set in Waterford the other night lads, we will continue to spread the good word as promised!If you get a chance take a listen to our toons. Cheers, PIO
Hey lads hows the tour goin. We are busy with pre production on the album but looking forward to gettin back on stage. Ye goin to Neil Young Sunday? See ye next week. F S & T W
Hey :-)
Thanks for the add!
Hope you are well,
We are looking forward to seeing you at Summersound Festival on 22nd August!
In the meantime, have a nice week!
The Team @ Summersound Festival
great gig tonight in Cork lads. Ross, you were on fire, and the word is spreading south. The Chapters are the ones!! ;-) magnificent musicianship, one and all. A pleasure to see and hear. x
The Chapters drop down to NODSIKO For a guest DJ Set Friday 12th June 09 Doors 11pm Adm €2.50 b4 12 €5 after! NODISKO the best indie/electro every Friday @The Academy €3.50 pints/bottles €3 vs ice/shots +more
Delighted to see you're on the up and up. Haven't heard it yet but no doubt Perfect Strangers is a masterpiece.
Our own 4th album "Time to burn" is just about finished. A new departure. Most of the songs are up on our myspace so if you have a spare minute have a listen.
