Picture 2 lads living together in college, playing music rather than what they’re supposed to be doing (which was music based college projects) and you have the beginnings of Leevy.
Johno Kool plays guitar while frontman Amhlaoibh McSweeney sings songs that he has been writing since he was a kid. It sounds good so they decide to ask their friend Darren Faul in on bass. Darren says he wants to play drums instead. With a kit made of household objects (picture a battered old suitcase as the kick drum and you’ve got the idea), one stick and a wooden spoon, they had begun. It wasn’t long before Bobby Wolfe joined on banjo and whistle, with Diarmuid Wolfe (yes, himself and Bobby are brothers) on bass completing the line up they have today.
The 5 of them have been friends for a while, Amhlaoibh and Darren actually had the same guitar teacher growing up. “the teacher actually had the foresight to teach us both the same songs” Darren explains. Amhlaoibh has been playing music since he was about 8 or 9, and was brought along with his older brother to trad sessions in Spailpín Fánach from when he was 12.
Their native Baile Bhuirne (Ballyvourney as Béarla) is steeped in music “Even if you were into music or not, if you’re a young person in Baile Bhuirne, you learn to play a trad instrument.” Located in the Muscraí gealtacht, Baile Bhuirne has the feeling that the people living there now are just borrowing the land for a while. This place is so old it belongs to itself.
Mam, I’m on the telly
Earlier during the year, Leevy featured on an episode of RTÉ’s ‘An Ghig Mhór‘ where they were guided by Rónán Ó Snodaigh to put on a gig in their hometown. The lads admit they are blessed with support from the local community and the night of the gig it was “like 100 friends in the audience“. The spirit of friendship comes through really strong in the show, with constant laughter, jumping in the local river for a swim and giggling over ice cream cones.
Expanding beyond their hometown, Leevy have played at both All Together Now and Electric Picnic this summer. As well as a visit to Belfast for the Duncairn Takeover. “It’s been a great year, we’ve met musicians from all over the country“
Culchie Teenage Dirtbag
A large portion of the year was taken up with filming the video for their latest single ‘Burn the Casket‘. Directed by the Desmond Bros, the video follows the protagonist explaining the (fictional) story of him being a 14 year old eejit who did something insane for the chance of getting the shift (lol). “It’s a culchie ‘Teenage Dirtbag’“ explains Darren. There is one shot of the “priest” jumping over the burning coffin, that he is particularly proud of. “I got 2 feet in the air!” (The rest of the lads told him not to do it)
With Diarmuid working in film, he built the coffin himself in Wicklow. Strapped safely under a blanket onto the roof of his car, he set off for Baile Bhuirne. “I pulled over at one stage and realised the blanket was gone”
Amazing. Just picture that, there you are minding your own business, driving along the motorway when to your right, looking like he’s saving money on a hearse, emerges Diarmuid Wolfe.
The Paps of Anu
Debut album ‘Baile Mhúirne, the Soldier’s March to the Paps of Anú‘ features 12 tracks and 3 half-tracks. The Paps of Anu are 2 breast-shaped mountains in Kerry that can be seen from Baile Bhuirne. They are named for the mother goddess Anu, thought to be the mother of the Tuatha Dé Danann, represents fertility in soil and agriculture.
The album explores the Interplay between modern life and old world of folklore. “What I love about albums is that it can be like a novel or a film” explains Amhlaoibh.
“You have modern life and modern malaise tied into the old world of folklore. Baile Bhuirne feels like where the veil between the 2 worlds is at its thinnest.
The album kind of pulls you along, this magical image of any Irish town where you have economic instability and all the catholic stuff. It’s an examination of modern community vs isolation and what that means to the Irish psyche.”
The next single from the album ‘True Friends Come Again’, is being released on 10th October, you can pre-save it here!
Image: voicesfromthedawn.com
Recording in the front room
They’ve been recording together for years with laptops, built in mics and audacity, but has evolved into recording in Amhlaoibh’s house. “we don’t bog ourselves down, we’ve developed a process that works for us.” Darren explains “You’d only end up going into a studio and saying “how do we make this sound like we’re in a room together?” Though recording the single in the house took a few times they eventually just hit record and forgot about it, which lends itself to how they play together naturally.
As Amhlaoibh says, “I’m really not into the idea that a song has to be a certain way, if the sound is there and it sounds correct, great.”
When asked about their influences, Diarmuid eloquently explains “A lot of it comes from everyones influences. Like hot soup.” Ingredients for hot soup include;
- The Pogues
- Leonard Cohen
- Tom Waits
- The Police
- Neil Young
- Pinegrove
- The Clash
Tasty.
The interview got sidetracked then by Amhlaoibh’s dog, Nell (who can do tricks as Gaeilge.) While he and Darren laid down on the floor with her, Diarmuid and Johno worked out details on art for the upcoming album and pricing models for merch. Something that Amhlaoibh said earlier comes to mind;
“Thank god, we didn’t get to the level were at now a few years ago, we are old enough and mature enough now to realise it’s not a big deal.
If you’re not in it for the fun and the idea of meeting up and playing music, you’re in it for the wrong reasons”
Fast Al’s Orders
- Hawaiian x2
- 2 slice deal (never a one slicer)
- Pepperoni, mushroom & ham
- Veggie slice
