Galway three-piece refine on all fronts through pandemic

Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

In refining their sound, line-up and moniker, post-punk three-piece Punching Peaches have, in the last twelve months, made as many changes to their act as a band can feasibly get away with. Formerly operating as Fro, the Galway outfit took time over multiple lockdowns to reflect on every aspect of their work. Now whittled down to frontman Conor King, bassist Jack Sinnott and drummer Naoise Jordan Cavanagh, they have emerged with a debut single that offers an invigorated style and identity.

Wristwitch – released last Friday – incorporates a pulsing, rhythmic instrumental and droning, swaying vocals. It is a more considered, melodic approach from a group that seems assured.

The single has been accompanied by a flurry of activity on social media including the announcement of an online gig in the Button Factory on April 29.

Naoise explains that the shift in songwriting and attitude was gradual.

“I don’t think it was a conscious thing,” he notes. “We were a completely different band a few years ago. It was kind of a side thing but we decided to take it seriously about two years ago.

“We started rehearsing a lot in Dublin and we realised that we could write much better songs. In the last year and a half, we’ve just been writing a brand new set-list and we got rid of all of the old songs. That was how the change in sound came about – just taking it more seriously and maturing as musicians.

“Then with the name change, we realised that Fro wasn’t a great name… It was very centred around Conor’s hairstyle from a few years ago.”

One of the changes to occur over the last year was the loss of bassist Aran Casey who remains a close friend of the band.

With Jack subsequently taking over bass duties, frontman Conor has had to adapt to the role of singer/guitarist. It’s a change he is embracing but the dynamic is undeniably different.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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