Limerick band The Flag Listeners play Dolan’s Upstairs on December 30th. In advance of this gig we chatted to band member Eamon Hehir about what the guys have been up to and what to expect from them over the coming months.
Over recent years The Flag Listeners have developed a reputation for delivering a dynamic, high-energy live set with sounds ranging from melodic pop-rock, ambient atmospherics to full-on rock’n’roll.
Photo: Munster Images
The band comprises Eamonn Hehir (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar), John Steele (vocals, electric guitar), Sean Fox (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Tony Brennan (drums, backing vocals).
The band’s name references a scene in Limerick author Kevin Barry’s novel, “City of Bohane”. After forming in 2015, The Flag Listeners released their first single “Birds Fly”/”Well Played Mr. Lemmon” in 2016. In 2017 they released their long-awaited debut album, and other short stories, to a packed house in Dolan’s Warehouse.
Hot Press magazine’s Stuart Clark gave the album a glowing review, calling it a “songwriting masterclass from Limerick’s finest”. It has since received extensive airplay from Tom Dunne, Paul McLoone and many others.
“I had initially released two solo albums: “Blood Mill Road” (2000) and “The Flag Listeners” (2012)”, Eamon Hehir says.
“The Flag Listeners were formed to play music from these solo albums, but rapidly outgrew that brief. We worked to develop a distinct band sound that reflects the various members’ individual and shared influences”, he adds.
Hehir says his song writing influences would include David Byrne,Lennon/McCartney, John Martyn and Paddy McAloon.
“Band member John Steele is contributing more and more songs to the set and he would cite Bowie as one of his primary influences. Regarding the style and sound of the band, fans have mentioned artists as diverse as Elbow, Smashing Pumpkins, Bowie, Psychedelic Furs and Pink Floyd”, Hehir notes.
Eamonn says that his inspiration for new songs often arrive unannounced as a melody line or turn of phrase.
“After that it’s a case of crafting the song and demoing it in my home studio (or John’s in his case). If it comes alive, the band will play around with it and come up with an arrangement. Next step is to try it live. We introduced a number of new songs at our Dolan’s gig in June and were very pleased with the reaction, in particular to one called “The Laughing Trees”, which we are currently recording for release in 2020”, Hehir says.
Releasing the album “and other short stories”, launching it to a packed Warehouse and receiving a glowing review from Hot Press is what Hehir sees as the proudest moment for the band to date.
The band is currently demoing tracks for the follow-up record. The Upstairs gig will feature some of these new songs plus familiar songs from the album and other favourites from the live set.
Hehir is particularly inspired by the renaissance that has been witnessed on the live music scene in Limerick over recent years.
“Limerick musicians and music fans owe a huge debt to Mick and Valerie Dolan. They consistently put on great gigs by local, national and international artists. On a personal level, they have always supported me, solo and with my various bands over the years”, Hehir says.
“Another new venue well worth checking out Is The Record Room, downstairs in the Commercial Bar. I think the current local music scene is very healthy with excellent bands like Parliament Square, Windings and Foxjaw, to name a few. Not to forget The Flag Listeners, of course!”
The band has spent 2019 writing, demoing and refining songs for release in 2020. Many of these new songs will feature in the December 30th gig.
The Flag Listeners play Upstairs in Dolans on December 30th. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.