Posted on November 3, 2009 - by Editor

Plastic Punches: Neck

Neck

Neck are a band that has steadily built a fine reputation based on hard work and hard touring. Escaping the copycat tags that so many bands suffer from in the Irish tinged punk rock genre, they blend their “plastic paddy”  punk with Trad Irish music to deliver a fine album in “Come Out Fighting”. ‘Dad to the band’ Leeson O’Keeffe is not one to hold back on detailing in his humorous and Celtic tinged tongue the backdrop to the the new record, stories from the yesteryear and all in all offering a entertaining and insightful read into the band and being London-Irish!

Hi Leeson, it’s been a while but how are things in the Neck camp?  Can you let our Distorted know who makes up the family?

Leeson: Well, there’s meself – the head gobeen, as me ‘ex’ from Limerick, used to call me: I write the songs, arrange the buggers, play guitar (&, occasionally, banjo) sing lead vocals &, basically, play ‘Dad’ to the gang.
Sara-Lou Bowrey – Tin-whistle & vocals
Liam Maher – Banjo & Crowd Invasion
Seamus Mulready – Fiddle & bare feet(!)
Wispy ‘Guido’ McCracken – bass, vocals & interjections.  (along with ‘Super-Sub’ Al Damage)
Joel Kurta – Drums, hips (or lack thereof) & hair…

Your new record, a debut on Golf is due for release shortly (2nd November). Why did things take so long as it’s been over three years since the last album?

Leeson: Well actually we’ve recorded a whole other album ‘Plastic ‘n’ Proud’ – off our own steam – in between – our European agent suggested we do an Irish covers album, & it’s always been a ‘dream project’ of mine to record an album of songs by other second & third  generation Irish artists (or ‘Plastic Paddy’s’ as we get called) to say ‘ this is who we are, & this is what we’ve done’,  which is contribute enormously to modern music. There are 15 tracks, from Johnny Cash to The Libertines & all points in between!

This was a fine idea as a third album (we’ve released two other albums in Europe previously),  but during the recording of ‘Plastic ‘n’ Proud’, other labels became interested in the band  including B-Unique! But we ended up going with a UK label (Golf) & it didn’t make sense to put it out a covers album as a first UK release! So we recorded what became ‘Come out Fighting!’ , far too aptly titled.  The idea  was to record an album quickly, based on our well-tested & well received 2007 (a highly busy year!) live set.

It became a story of surmounting obstacles, tragedy & misfortunes: the drummer left, but we replaced him; the bass-player had a conniption three days before recording, so I was thrown in the deep end & played bass on most of the album. Sara-Lou’s Daddy, tragically, died on the first day of recording. Apart from her own personal turmoil, she was, subsequently absent for the initial critical recording period which we had to re-jig. As a result, we ended-up re-recording some songs because once she came back, she noticed they were the wrong speed (it’s a ‘Diddly-aye’ thing). I lost my voice for a month; Pat (Collier – our Producer) was super-busy, so there were big gaps between sessions and then, after it was all finished last year,  we were presented with the artwork three days before it was meant to go off for manufacture & it wasn’t right!

Because we were on the eve of going off to the USA, there was no time to sort it, so it got shelved & since then, Wispy put some bass on it and at his suggestion, it got re-mastered at the proper volume and it got planned-out proper this time.

Wow I’m glad I didn’t ask the long story! What were the reasons you went with Golf on this record?

Leeson: They believed enough in the band to put-up an advance & pledged to get behind the album with a PR campaign – which they are doing. AND they genuinely like & believe in what we do & have been incredibly supportive. Also both the head guys are second-generation Irish too & one of the team isfrom Lisdoonvarna, so we like to think there’s ‘The Murphia’ connection too.

The record was produced by Pat Collier, why was he chosen and what did he bring to recording process?

Leeson: Dave Robinson (ex-Stiff Records Impresario) was involved with the band at the time & put us in touch with Dave’s. Apart from the obvious Pogues -& The Damned, etc. connection he was Jimi Hendrix’s tour manager & shared a flat with him! And he’s from Dublin!  Pat’s legendary & totally brilliant at what he does and he’s worked with everyone!

As for what he brought to the whole matúbagh? In the first instance, focus.  He was totally straight with us; his experience is invaluable and there’s no ego, attitude or side to him. He just wants it to be the best it possibly can be, so if he tells you something, you listen, and he weeded-out some chaff. He knows how to bring-out the best in us; if he tells you you’ve done a good job then you know you’ve really done a good job! And the end result is the most powerful, muscular, clearest sounding thing we’ve ever done! And we know we’ve done a good job – ‘Cos Pat told us & he wouldn’t be a gobshite.

The album’s title “Come Out Fighting”, what are you referencing with that?

Leeson: As I was saying previously – we went through the mill in the build-up, during & after recording it (to be honest, we’re still not out of the woods yet) so it’s an extremely apt title. The title song’s about those times in life when you do feel like you’ve gone fifteen rounds with Mike Tyson emotionally & you’re ‘on the ropes’ & yer man’s there with the towel in his hand, ready to throw it in the ring, so to speak. You have to dig really deep & find that inner resolve, grit & determination to put your guard up, get your balance, set your brow, figuratively speaking & be downright pugnacious in the face of life’s adversities. Innit.

Looking at some of the tracks on the record, “Everybody Welcome to Hooley”- an anti racist song released in 2006, is included. Has the material for some of the songs been on the cutting board for awhile and what is the importance of this song?

Leeson: We re-recorded some stuff (‘Hooley’ included – which was recorded originally in a rush & on a shoe-string & most of us subsequently find unlistenable now) ‘cos we knew we could do a better job of ‘em with Pat, which we have.  Others are from the original Neck live set ‘back-in-the-day’ and are still Trad session faves (‘Barney Hare’, ‘Four Winds..’) so it’s quite fitting our original fiddler, Helen McGrath, played on the album. (I still play Trad sessions with her & her ‘worse-half’, original Neck bassist & co-singer, Pete Doherty – this one’s from County Tyrone).

‘Tink’s been played live on & off since 2005 & ‘Ourselves Alone’ even pre-dates Neck by a good few years. Even when I was playing in straight Punk bands there was a reference to Ireland: which is how I got noticed & asked to join Shane’s (McGowan’s) band.

Hooley’s important because it was inspired by, &,therefore,  is hot-wired directly into the ethos of The Clash & what they stood for: breaking-down barriers & ant-racism. Too many bands in this scene play lip-service to the fascism / racism of the minority of nutters  who turn-up to the gigs by not making a stand against it . Maybe it’s because most of ‘em are from outside the UK & Ireland? And we’re different precisely because we’re London-Irish; it’s alien to us.  I’m an old git and saw The Clash on the White Riot tour when I was a nipper and know that they really MEANT IT, MAN! They stood for something & politicised a generation; something people from outside the UK & Ireland don’t really seem to get. We want people to know we’re not just Southern Catholic stock, but Northern Protestant too – and we’ve got Black & Asian mates & our drummer’s Jewish and if people have a problem with that then maybe they’re at the wrong gig. Don’t get me wrong, they’re welcome too, but leave your prejudices at the door, have The Hooley & The Craic  & don’t pick ‘em back up on the way out!

Your first single “Tink” referring to Tinkerbell (she has recently been named UN “Honorary Ambassador of Green” to help promote environmental issues), tell us about the song?

Leeson: It’s about getting sprinkled with faery-dust, inner spirit & beguilement.  Pat Collier loves the harmonies & thinks it’s a great song, so I’m well chuffed. Golf were Adam Ant this was the single, ‘cos they said it leapt-out as being a radio-friendly single.

The record sways nicely between punk rock, ballads and drinking; great ingredients. Was there anything specific you wanted to achieve on the album?

Leeson: Apart from making the best album we could, just that it would be like Meself; well balanced (I’ve a chip on both shoulders). Oh and to help stop us being the best kept secret on the scene!

Are there any songs that stand above the rest in your opinion?

Leeson: Not really – they’re all me babbies, even the Trad. ones I didn’t write ‘cos I put a lot into ‘Necking- ‘em-up’. Altho’ I do feel very honoured that me ‘Irish Power Ballad’ ‘I’ll still be blue over you’ was played at Sara-Lou’s Daddy’s funeral. I did give it the large one when I sang it. I just about kept it together & you can hear it, which although maybe ‘unprofessional’ is better for the performance and the song. I’ve always worn me heart on me sleeve and sometimes it pays off. I’m very passionate about what I do and do get extremely emotional recording these songs. Even hearing them when we’re mixing them; it’s very raw, emotionally & I’m just a daft, sentimental ould Paddy.

“I turn my face to the four winds” is one of my favourite on the album, can you tell me a bit more about the song?

Leeson: Coola buaille – I’m chuffed! Again – it’s one of my (Dublin accent): “me hart is broaken…” songs (written from life, of course). It was originally inspired by an episode (but far from the final one) in my turbulent relationship with my son, Conor’s mam.  Unlike most of these, I have ‘extrapolated ‘ a wee bit. As the old Irish saying goes ‘never let the truth get in the way of a good story.’ (Right – so I need to end that Jim Sheridan story differently…)

Like ‘Tink’, Pat Collier loves the harmonies and thinks it’s a great song and I worked hard with Sara-Lou to get the tin-whistle part right and she’s done a grand job. She’s also singing stacked-up harmonies on this and ‘Tink’. Wait ’til you hear our duet on the Irish ballad version of The Libertines ‘Can’t stand me now’ on ‘Plastic ‘n’ Proud’, it’s a wee bit special. Golf thought ‘4 winds’ was too long for a single though, altho’ it was a close-run thing.

Neck

You also spoke previously about writing “instinctively Irish music & you can lash it out with the whole band, or bash it out on an acoustic guitar sitting around a table in a noisey pub”. That seems to sum the record up pretty well really?

Leeson: I’m really glad you think so. Thinking about it, quite a high percentage of the tracks do get played regularly at Trad. Irish sessions I play! As well as The Molly’s ‘The worst day since yesterday’ – which Dave (King) was delighted about when we played it with him & Bob backstage at a festival in Belgium The Murphys were headlining. We’d just toured Germany with ‘em and as one of ‘em pointed out, it was the first time all three bands had been together, which was way cool. So yeh – I suppose it does sum the album up.

What are Neck planning to do to support the new record? You have a fierce reputation for hitting the road with over 1000 festivals attended!

Leeson: We’ve already got an initial UK tour booked in November / December and then we’re in the process of getting a European tour booked for next year, with the possibility of a further UK one. As the album’s going to be released in the USA the week before St. Patrick’s Day, we’re gonna try our level best to get our arses back over there again for that! And that’ll all probably take us into the start of the festival season.  There’s no room to list the gigs here, but full details are listed & updated on our sites:
http//:www.myspace.com/neckireland
http//:www.neck.ie

Bands do stamp their identity within their sound. You mentioned last time “bands like The Murphys, The Mollies, The Tossers, Blood or Whiskey, The Mahones, The Skels & yourselves have been playing this kind of music for quite a while now – …. 10 years now & this is, pretty-much, what we do: I am defined as an Irish musician – “Is ceoltóir Éireannach mé” Can you expand on that?

Leeson: I don’t know if I can – being an Irish musician defines me. I’ve found my niche in life; I’m proud to travel the world with a Harp on me passport playing Irish music. Although I would make the distinction that we’re very much a London-Irish band and are extremely proud of that, it informs our outlook completely – both culturally & musically and sets us apart from other bands.  It’s a good place to come from.  In a similar way to The Murphys being proud of beingand are very much a Boston band, we just don’t vocalise it as much in song, it’s more an attitude.

You are a man full of tales and stories from the musical road. Do you ever consider where alternative paths may have taken you or was/is music always the obvious route?

Leeson: Acting , possibly. I got into acting at school and even auditioned for the National Youth Theatre. Then there was seeing a girl in Dublin once that worked in Lillie’s Bordello (it’s a Night Club where all the Celebs go – when I was in The Popes with Shane, in Ireland, we were drinking with Jerry Lee Lewis (still speeding his nut off!) , Ron Wood (lovely fella – he asked what day it was and on being told Thursday said “Shit – I was meant to go home last Friday! My missis’ll kill me!”) . Van Morrison (humpy wee fecker!) and his missis, Keiffer Sutherland, Sinéad O’Connor, half the Irish football team (Roy Keane’s autograph’s just a line he was so langered!), Lisa Stansfield (who broke Shane’s nose – another story).

After she finished work,  we were having ’supper’ at about 3 or 4 a.m. in ‘Mister Pussy’s’ (named after the Drag Queen host/proprieter, who has a vicious tongue & fists to match: drag queen or not, being Irish, he famously bettered / battered a sports journo who was getting ‘out of his box’) . Yer wan pointed out that Jim Sheridan (the famous Irish director) kept looking over at me and as she was a  drama student, suggested that I should go over & introduce meself , ‘cos he was well known for casting people that ‘caught his eye’, but I was entirely mangled & more interested in the contents of yer wan’s scanties by that point, so I just flicked him the vees instead. Brains in me bollix.

Any final words?

Leeson: I should really try and be brief for once!  Gabh mo leithscéal – so far the response to the album’s been brilliant! It’s a real affirmation / vindication when people like yerself and the people at the gigs get what we do. And it proves that if you follow the ‘pugnacious’ ethos of ‘Come out Fighting!’  then perhaps you can rise above adversity;  we did. Whatever happens, the fact that, despite the odds stacked against us, we’ve made such a great album is surely a triumph in itself.  Heart, passion, spirit, determination & sheer bloody-mindedness! (and admittedly, some damn fine playing) – Fighting Irish!
(so much for being brief…)

“Come Out Fighting” is available from the 2nd November via Golf Records.

Neck