Peco’s party is something of a moveable musical feast!

The Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

Peco might be billed as a singer-songwriter – but his debut album The Middle Ages has all the roundness and bite of an indie-rock band. And, having expanded his solo project by assembling a high-quality group, the Kildare artist seems confident in his new release.

On Friday, April 26, Peco plays Monroe’s Live for the Galway leg of his spring tour.

He has spent much of the last couple of years playing solo, stripped back sets but audiences can now look forward to energetic guitar-music and catchy, pop choruses.

As an album, The Middle Ages is difficult to pin to one genre. The searing guitar solos on the record are something of a nod to 80s rock while the lyrics are thoughtful and introspective in the style of a folk singer.

At times, the instrumental dips into funk and yet Peco never shies away from major hooks. It certainly seems to stem from a multitude of influences.

“We had an EP out a couple of years ago before this that was probably more folky,” Peco admits.

“I suppose when I started writing that EP, I was writing it to perform on my own. Then I got some of my mates back in… I’ve always been in bands so I tend to try stuff on my own and then I go ‘Ah, let’s just get a few more lads in’.

“I’ve always liked the fuller sound and having a band for the comradery and stuff as well – that’s really important to me. They’re your mates.”

The impact of the band is evident in the structure of the songs. While he’s certainly capable of performing them acoustically, Peco is clear that the tracks for the album were written with a group in mind.

“On this album I was conscious of ‘right, I have the lads in situ and it’s more settled as a band’,” he recalls.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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