Priests go Underground

Date Published: 06-Aug-2010

SOME bands bemoan the fact that they can’t get gig; others make their own fun. The Hardcore Priests Of Yemen definitely fall into the latter category.

This young bunch of Galway musicians are helping to organise the Galway Underground Festival (GUF), which runs over two days this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday.

So, how did this raggle-taggle bunch come up with their name?

“We’re not actually sure,” says lead singer Felim. “I think it might have been Ben that came up with it.”

“I thought it was all of you?” suggests Jen, the band’s djembe player.

“We were called Balls for Cheese,” recalls Ben, who drums with the priests. “So we had a gig one day and we said ‘we need a new name to put on the poster’ and – “Hardcore Priests of Yemen just came out,” says Felim.

The band has been playing together for quite a long time, as Felim explains. “Our first gig was probably in the

(Youth Cafe) GAF – seven years ago.Wie started to become a band to pick up chicks. Ben was a temporary drummer until we got chicks to come into the band!”

“I’m going to be kicked out some day!” Ben laments.

“We were all in school, all mates and we started a band,” adds Felim. “Initally we were a punk band, then we drifted into reggae and ska, then our own style.”

The Hardcore Priests of Yemen fleshed out their sound when they were joined by flute-playing Gwen four years ago. Jen has learned to play violin and, most recently, they were joined by Sean on mandolin.

“So now it’s punk-funk-trad-ska!” laughs Felim.

This year the hardcore priests started the Craic & Raimeas gigs in Arus na nGael in Dominick Street. The night is run in conjunction with Bitwise and Madec, a Galway based electronic outfit.

“We said we needed to get some sort of gig started,” says Jen. We tried to make props for those; my shed out in the house basically became a whole prop making machine!”

“We had a cheese-themed gig. A Circus in Space one. The guys had a sea-shanty one. We get as many artists as we can, all the people we know.”

“With each gig we try to get an artist to exhibit as well,” adds Felim. “Then we have a mix of bands and Djs, so it’s a multi-format gig.”

For more of this interview see page 26 of this week’s City Tribune.

Tje Galway Underground Festival takes place this weekend. For details see www.sinisterpigeon.com