By Michael Fitzpatrick

You know, we’ve really got to buy a much faster bicycle. These pop star types, sure they’re dreadfully difficult to pin down these days.

Take Dubliner Danny O’Donoghue, the lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter (told you he was busy) with The Script.

Having recently completed a stint supporting Paul McCartney in the US, and U2 in Dublin, the Irish three-piece have continued upon their energetic assault on the music world, with debut album ‘The Script’ hitting the top spot in Ireland and the UK, as well as climbing into the American charts.

Their first three singles; ‘We Cry’, ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’ and ‘Break Even’ all performed well in Europe, seemingly cementing the band’s place among the heavy-hitters in the current pop scene.

We caught up with the affable Dubliner prior to the band’s recent Citifield show with Sir Paul, where he was only too pleased to hang out ‘At The Mike Stand’.

Who would be in your fantasy supergroup?
The Edge on guitar, Stewart Copeland on drums, Flea on bass, and me on vocals!

When was the last time you laughed out loud?
Just now at the thoughts of me singing lead in that group.

What act would you like to have seen perform live?
Queen. I’ve seen footage of them from years ago and they were great

What period in history would you like to have hung out in?
The middle ages. Castles, dragons and of course, damsels in distress.

Who/what would make you want to leave a room?
Anybody happy to remain ignorant to others opinions.

What decade rules?
The 70s, because so much great music came out of that decade.

What cover version do you enjoy performing?
The only one we know, ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie.

What movie role would you like to have played?
Forrest Gump.

What’s the first album you remember buying?
The Monkees ‘Daydream Believer’, I think was the title.

Who’s your favorite Beatle?
Never had one. My favorite Monkee though, was Mickey Dolenz.

Who’s the most rock and roll person who ever lived?
Lemmy from Motorhead. I know his son and the stories are legendary.

What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?
I openly enjoy all types of music.

What’s your tipple?
Red Wine

What’s the greatest album ever recorded?
There are too many to mention.

What sitcom character can you most identify with?
I don’t watch sitcoms very much.

What movie can you watch again and again?
‘Star Wars’, only because its on every Christmas.

Who’s your favorite cartoon character?
Jessica Rabbit.

What’s the greatest place you’ve ever visited?
Potsdam in Germany.

What’s mankind’s most wonderful invention?
The Internet.

What’s mankind’s most irritating invention?
The Computer.

Who is/was the funniest person who ever lived?
Billy Connolly.

By Mike Fitzpatrick

Dave Barckow is without a doubt one of the hardest working guys in rock and roll. Having formed and fronted several of his own trad/rock bands (Trigger, Alternatrad, Smirk) as well as playing with Celtic Cross, Raglan Road and countless others over the years, the singer/songwriter/guitarist/drummer (what a show-off), known affectionately by his many friends and fans as ‘The Dude’, is one of the most well-known faces on the tri-state music scene.

Playing regular gigs every Monday at Sunnyside, Queens’s Bar 43, Sundays at The Courtyard (also in Sunnyside) and on Wednesdays at The Pig & Whistle on Second Avenue in Manhattan, his full schedule can be checked out at www.davebarckow.com.

Despite a hectic schedule, Mr. Barckow, perhaps the original chilled-out entertainer, put down his drumsticks, placed the guitar to one side for a moment, and joined us ‘At The Mike Stand’. Dave, welcome to the pages of The Irish Examiner.

What would you like your own tribute act to be called?
“Barfly – The Musical”.

When’s the last time you laughed out loud?
I just saw a photo of Sammy Sosa and his new milky white skin. That did the trick.

What act would you like to have seen perform live?
Might be a very standard answer but, The Beatles.

What team do you support?
Although it’s a hard life, I’m a lifelong, diehard Mets fan.

What period in history would you most like to have visited?
Any time period before DJs were considered musicians.

What song would you most like to have written?
‘Thunder Road’.

Who or what, would make you leave a room?
Karaoke contest winners who sing after the contest is well over and people who think watching ‘Law & Order’ and ‘Sex and the City’ makes them New Yorkers.

What decade rules (and why)?
The 80s, too many reasons (all X rated) to mention.

What cover version do you most enjoy performing?
Any song that someone requests and I happen to know, I’m a whore for people-pleasing.

What movie role would you like to have played?
Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?
Yes Steve Buscemi and Lars Ulrich (I don’t see it at all but that’s what I hear).

What’s the first album you remember buying?
Sadly it was ‘Fernando’ by Abba.

Who’s your favorite Beatle?
Paul.

What’s your favorite Christmas song?
Hands down “The Little Drummer Boy”.

Who’s the most rock and roll person who ever lived?
Ray Kelly from The Mickey Finns/Prodigals. That guy’s the real deal in every way.

What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?
I love Arena Rock, Styx, Journey, Foreigner etc I can’t get enough of it, the cheesier the better.

Who would you most like to meet/have met?
Keith Moon (He’s pretty Rock & Roll too).

What book can you read again and again?
The TV Guide.

What’s the greatest album ever recorded?
‘Beatles for Sale’ or Elvis Costello’s ‘Armed Forces’.

What artists would you most like to have played with in the band of your dreams (supergroup)?
Sir Paul himself, Randy Rhodes, Matt Mancuso, Sue Wendelken and myself (if they’ll let me). I guess I’m a pretty lucky guy to be 60% of my way there already.

What do few people know about you?
Not that much, I’m a yapper so most folks probably feel they know too much already.

What sitcom character can you most identify with?
Chachi Arcola from ‘Happy Days’ and ‘Joanie Loves Chachi’ (he’s a drummer too).

What movie can you watch over and over again?
Howard Stern’s ‘Private Parts’. The best movie ever.

Who’s your favorite cartoon character?
Brian Griffin from ‘Family Guy’. I’ve always admired and enjoyed his style.

What’s the greatest place you’ve visited?
Amsterdam.

What’s mankind’s most wonderful invention?
Music.

What’s mankind’s most irritating invention?
The Snuggie (Those blanket/jacket/robe lookin things WTF???)

Who’s the funniest person who ever lived?
George Carlin.

Who’s your favorite namesake?
David Hasselhoff (The man has a talking car).

Even were Mick Pyro, Benjamin Loose, Brez, Deco, Orla La and the rest of the Republic of Loose dove-like birds that raced, carried and cooed their way through life, it’d still be nigh on impossible to pigeonhole them into any exact musical species.

They’re too cool for country, too funky for folk and just a tad too ghetto for goth.

Like a raggle-taggle gang of close-knit funksters, the nine-piece (Nontet?) Dublin group has blazed a musical trail in Ireland as wide as it is bizarre, unique as it is fresh, and devastatingly stylish at the same time, all the while firing musical gems towards a bewildered yet enamored audience, clearly wanting more, though of what exactly, they’re not completely sure.

It just feels good to dig it, as if the ’70s swung by the ’80s on their way to the 21st century, and had a blast in a nine-seater Scooby Doo-type van with the seats down, the volume up and the spectators knocked sideways.

This is Republic of Loose, just finished a two-week set of dates in New York City, the band, fresh from several doses of praise from fans such as Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, best-selling author Irvine Welsh (‘Trainspotting’), who once described the band’s single ‘Comeback Girl’ as “the greatest song ever written” on his online blog, and some chap called Bono, who has waxed quite lyrical indeed about the wonders of Loose.

A dose of hip-hop blended with old-school Rhythm and Blues, lightly brushed with a gentle helping of rock and a splattering of funk, and you’re some way to describing the music of Republic of Loose, though then again, one more step, and you’ve gone too far.

With three albums to their name (‘This is the Tomb of the Juice’, ‘Aaagh!’ and their most recent effort, ‘Vol IV: Johnny Pyro and the Dance of Evil’), celebrity fans (Sinead O’Connor, Shane MacGowan and Damien Dempsey have all joined them on stage at different gigs) and already their own tribute act (the delightfully-named Republic of Luas), Republic of Loose are dangerously close to something big, what it is exactly, we can’t tell.

Perhaps that’s why we sat down with the band’s lead vocalist, Mick Pyro, in the midst of the group’s triumphant return to New York City.

Mike Fitzpatrick (MF): It’s not the band’s first venture to New York, but looking at your schedule, it could be the busiest. How has the tour been going so far?
Mick Pyro (MP): Yeah, it’s going great. I mean, the first gig, we were very nervous, at (downtown Manhattan venue) Le Royale just around the corner from tonight’s show (at S.O.B.’s). It just took that one gig to kinda settle down and get into it, but the one at Joe’s Pub the other night was great. We seem to be getting a pretty good response so far.

MF: You supported Snow Patrol during one of your previous trips?
MP: That’s right, we played with Snow Patrol at The Bowery Ballroom, and then we did another gig with them in Boston. Though we’ve gigged (in the US) a good few times.

MF: How have the crowds been responding?
MP: Great, yeah! I mean, last night’s show in Queens wasn’t as great as it could have been but the previous show was amazing. The crowd were all going nuts, singing along with us.

MF: The audiences, have you found them to be different than Irish fans?
MP: Yeah, they seem a little more musically knowledgeable, and they tend to listen to the lyrics more. They’re definitely more of a listening audience, they’re quite polite, but also, pretty vociferous. So, a different audience yes. The Irish crowds just get locked and have a good time!

MF: What memories do you have, from previous trips to the city?
MP: Well, we love coming here. Every time we’ve come over, we’ve enjoyed it, you know? It tends to be a bit nuts, the last time was certainly a little crazy, but this time around we’re just taking things easy. We always have a great time though. We love the music (of New York), we’re hip-hop fans, and here’s where a lot of it comes from.

MF: Rapper Styles P is set to introduce the band tonight, he performed on your last album too, how did that come about?
MP: That’s right, basically, we’re all big fans of (Styles P’s group) D-Block, especially Styles P, and we’re all so into hip-hop, so, we found out that this girl who was going to work with us, Christine, she worked with Styles P’s management as it worked out, and (through her) we gave him a track. We thought he’d just be dismissive of it, or just do a token rap on it, but he did an amazing bit of rhyming on it, it was really moving.

MF: The Republic of Loose sound has proven to be difficult to categorize, how would you describe the band’s music?
MP: Well, it is very hard to describe I suppose. (Thinks) I suppose it’s R’n’B, but not in a contemporary R’n’B sense. Rhythm and blues, with a rock or soul dynamic, or maybe rock music with kind of a grimy soul element to it, that’s it! Kind of like Sly and the Family Stone with bits of The Rolling Stones added in.

MF: How does such a group fit in with the rest of the Irish music scene, an environment more used to producing singer/songwriters, rock acts and traditional groups?
MP: Well, we stick out, I suppose, like a sore thumb. There’s not that many bands, in Ireland, doing the kind of thing we’re doing. I think we’d stick out anywhere though really, I don’t think we’re like many other bands around, in terms of the different styles of music we tend to mix together. In Ireland especially though, but I think people like us there because we were maybe a breath of fresh air. But then again, we were controversial and because of that, people hate us in equal measures, or else they love us, it’s one or the other!

MF: According to Wikipedia, there’s a not so subtly-named tribute act out there called Republic of Luas, what do you make of that?
MP: We were so delighted when we heard that we had a tribute band, that we had to go see them right away! We’ve met them a few times, they do a lot of songs that we don’t do live. Songs that we could never play live, slower ones, because everyone falls asleep!

MF: You’ve been joined on stage before, by the likes of Shane MacGowan, Sinead O’Connor and Damien Dempsey, and been lauded by the likes of Bono, Snow Patrol and Irvine Welsh. That must feel pretty good?
MP: Yeah, it’s great to get praise from anybody. We’re honored any time someone praises us, particularly if they’re artists themselves. We’re lucky in the sense that we’ve gotten respect from people who have been successful themselves, and good at what they’re doing, so we respect that.

MF: What are the plans after the New York gigs, is there time for a break, or is it straight back to work?
MP: No, we’re going to do a few more gigs around Christmas, try to make a bit of money! We don’t know what’s happening in January yet. We’d love to come back here after Christmas. Though only if we can afford it!

To even the most casual observer of the New York music scene, the face, not to mention the voice, and my goodness what a voice (the thought of it even made me type ‘my goodness’) of this week’s ‘Standee’ is a familiar one. Sue Wendelken is currently the featured female vocalist for the Andy Cooney Band, as well being a regular vocalist on sessions with Irish acts such as Celtic Cross, Good Clean Fun and Billy Keenan’s Primetime Showband. A busy girl, she also finds the time to front Irish-rock project The Ride and the all-girl metal band, Dormitory Effect (when does she get to do the housework, one wonders?). Her music has appeared on The Howard Stern Show and ESPN’s ‘X Games’, and Sue herself’s been featured on the ‘Jim Breuer Unleashed’ show on Sirius Satellite Radio. A staple of the Irish rock and trad scene since the late ‘90s, when she teamed up with local legends such as Dave Barckow, Donie, Pio and Noreen Ryan and Kenny Mannion with Alternatrad, Sue’s gone on to perform at many festivals, opening for acts such as Shane MacGowan, Blink and The Revs, and singing with Paddy Noonan, The Whole Shebang, Cherish the Ladies and The Prodigals. She’ll be appearing this Saturday at the Mill Creek Tavern in Bayville, NY. Sue, welcome to ‘At The Mike Stand’

 

What would you like your own tribute act to be called?

I don’t know, but I hear those bands command top dollar, so I’d like to be IN my own tribute act.

 

When’s the last time you laughed out loud?

This weekend my 2 yr old niece Siobhan was telling my dog to sit, but it really sounds like she’s yelling “S*it!”

 

What act would you like to have seen perform live?

Triple Bill: Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy and The Beatles while all original members were still alive.

 

What team(s) do you support?

I have family from Mayo, Leitrim & Cork, so I’m happy when any of these counties win a match, and for baseball – LET’S GO METS!!!

 

What period in history would you most like to have visited?

Wish I could visit Haight-Ashbury (San Francisco) in the late 60’s.

 

What song would you most like to have written?

‘Jolene’ by Dolly Parton. That song breaks my heart over and over again.

 

Who or what, would make you leave a room?

Reality Television – AWFUL!

What decade rules (and why)?

That is hard! I’d say the 1960’s because most of my favorite music was born out of that era.

 

What cover version do you most enjoy performing?

‘As I Roved Out (Night Visit)’, because it’s just a little bit dirty.

 

What movie role would you like to have played?

I would LOVE to have played Janis Joplin in a movie about her life. Or the closest thing to a movie about her, which would be, “The Rose”.

 

Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?

Gillian Anderson (Scully from ‘The X Files’).

 

What’s the first album you remember buying?

I think it was an old Aerosmith ‘Greatest Hits’.

 

Who’s your favorite Beatle?

Aw come on, that’s like asking a mother to choose her favorite child (it’s not Ringo though).

 

What’s your favorite Christmas song?

‘Father Christmas’ by The Kinks.

 

Who’s the most rock and roll person who ever lived?

It’s gotta be either Ozzy Osbourne, Keith Richards or Peter Maguire. They’ll outlive us all.

 

What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?

Faith No More – one of the best bands of all time, very underrated, incredible vocalist (Mike Patton) and it’s hard to even put them in a genre; especially their last two albums.

 

Who would you most like to meet/have met?

You know I keep trying to meet Johnny Depp, but he won’t take my calls.

What book can you read again and again?

“Lamb” by Christopher Moore. Hysterical.

 

What’s the greatest album ever recorded?

You’re making me make some tough choices here! I really don’t think I could live without “Tom Waits – Nighthawks At The Diner”.

What artists would you most like to have played with in the band of your dreams?

I already play with my favorite musicians: Dave Barckow, Donie Ryan, Matt Mancuso, Kenny Mannion, Shane O’Sullivan, Mazz Swift, Vonnie Quinn, Pio Ryan, Dan Paccione, Oscar Bautista, Walter Ensor, Alan Camlet, and Noreen Ryan when she’s on this side of the ocean!

 

What do few people know about you?

That I’m working on my first solo album right now – hopefully it will be done before too long

 

What sitcom character can you most identify with?

Edina Monsoon, we both just want to be invited to Sting & Trudie’s for Christmas.

 

What movie can you watch over and over again?

‘The Departed’.

 

Who’s your favorite cartoon character?

Carl from ‘Aqua Teen’. I don’t know if it’s his hairy arms (and shoulders), or his green flip-flops, or the way he lovingly recalls a Foreigner concert from 1982, but I just can’t get enough!

What’s the greatest place you’ve visited?

I think Amsterdam, but it’s all a bit hazy.

 

What’s mankind’s most wonderful invention?

The Piano. No, wait. The Snuggie? No, it’s gotta be the piano

 

What’s mankind’s most irritating invention?

‘Auto-Tune’ – Single-handedly destroying modern music! If you don’t know what that is, it’s the thing that makes someone with a bad voice sing in-key and makes human voices sound computer-generated

 

Who’s the funniest person who ever lived?

That would either be Richard Pryor or George Carlin.

Who’s your favorite namesake?

Susan Sarandon – I think we’re the same bra size.

 

 

Having already recorded five full albums, Dublin-born singer/songwriter Mark Geary is no stranger to the streets of New York City (all available on iTunes or at www.markgeary.com). Mr. Geary’s name is often synonymous with that of the late Jeff Buckley, with whom he appeared on several occasions back in the 1990s in various Manhattan venues. Having made his own mark on the live circuit since, he’s developed a major following both in the US and in Europe, where he’s currently touring. Mark, welcome to At The Mike Stand.

 

By Mike Fitzpatrick

 

What would a Mark Geary tribute act be called?

It was never meant to be!

 

When’s the last time you laughed out loud?

I laugh all the time. It’s a prerequisite for a sad man, to laugh out loud!
What act would you like to have seen perform live?

Hmm, me being in the room watching it? There’s so many. For just sheer performance, and sheer unbelievable talent, off the top of my head, would be Otis Redding and Nina Simone.
What team do you support?
Manchester United.

What period in history would you most like to have visited?

I’m kind of a history guy. I’m reading ‘Rubicon’ by Tom Holland. It’s about the fall of the Roman Empire, and all the madness that went on there. It’s basically what we have now. It was the blueprint for all the skullduggery and dodgy deals, buying off, bribery and all that. I’d love to just throw on a toga for a week or two and go check it out!

 

Who or what, would make you leave a room?

A racist, a sexist and a man who’s formed his opinions without investigation. The ignorant man who has suddenly all the opinions in the world, but has tested them nowhere. He just has these assumptions, based on nothing, you know? I’d jump out the window, I wouldn’t just leave the room!
What decade rules?

There was a time when I’d have said the ‘60s, but that feels a little dated now. I suppose the present rules, whatever decade we’re in now, it rules.
What cover version do you most enjoy performing?

I do Dylan’s ‘Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues’ quite a bit. There’s a line at the end, ‘I’m going back to New York City, I do believe I’ve had enough’, and in certain places, it’s kind of like my ‘F*** You’ to the room, when the gig has been really hard. It’s a cover version where you can just spit those lyrics out. I do Radiohead’s ‘No Surprises’, from ‘OK Computer’ too, those two have been constants for a couple of years.

 

What movie role would you like to have played?

I adore Pacino in ‘The Godfather’, there‘s certainly that one. I’d also love to have a go at something like, ‘Streetcar Named Desire’, just shouting and roaring!

 

Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?

I used to be obsessed with Larry Mullen Jr! I thought he was the coolest dude. He, unlike me, had never had to say anything, he just was cool, and I was desperate to try to emulate that, and I could never do that, because I always spoke. Larry probably spoke four sentences in thirty years with U2.

 

What’s the first album you remember buying?

I come from a big family, so the music collection was pretty substantial. I had to get through the Dylans by way of Joni Mitchell and Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show and a lot of guilty pleasures, but the one that I actually went out and bought was probably something horrific like Cyndi Lauper!

 

Who’s your favorite Beatle?

I’m such a Beatles fan, that I defend Paul McCartney. He got such a bad rap for a lot of the things that Lennon got credit for. I mean, McCartney was the culture vulture, he was going to the operas and whatever with Jane Asher. Lennon was writing ‘I’m Only Sleeping’, he was an incredible writer, and he had this disdain for the Beatle myth, which is fantastic. There were some two-part harmonies, between Lennon and McCartney, when they sang together, it actually sounded like another voice, like another Beatle in there when you think about it. Then George Martin said that George Harrison was the most naturally gifted member, just the hooks and whatever. But then, I love Ringo too. So, I can’t answer that!

Who’s the most rock and roll person who ever lived?

Well there’s the Jim Morrisons and the Keith Richards, they certainly set a benchmark for rock and roll, but you can just as easily say that the old blues guys were so rock and roll before it even had a title. Dylan is rock and roll, I think whoever is non-rock and roll, is the most rock and roll.

What’s your guilty musical pleasure?

I was listening to it today, I was in a restaurant, and Cyndi Lauper came on, and, you know, I really had a moment. Prince wrote a lot of her songs, ‘Time After Time‘, ‘When You Were Mine‘ and so on. She did this record a while ago, all her hits, it was astonishing, I knew every one of those songs backwards!

What artists would you most like to have played with in the band of your dreams?

I would love to have been able to have had a band like ‘The Band’. To have Levon Helm, I met Levon once, he lives upstate, but just to have that thing, to have him, Robbie Robertson, those people, who just were the hardest working, no bullshit people. They had their madness, but that talent, to just have that gesture, you know, a wink, to Robbie, and off he goes. That communication, that comes from playing together in the grand ballrooms, and the s**tholes again and again and again, you know, I’d love that.

 

What’s the greatest place you’ve visited?

The Czech Republic.

Who’s the funniest person who ever lived?

I’m kind of a comedy geek. I adore Woody Allen, I adore that incredible Jewishness, and the whole New York thing. Charlie Chaplin had a huge affect on me growing up, he had such a sadness, and Billy Connolly had a great presence.

 

What book can you read again and again?

‘The English Patient’, by Michael Ondaatje.

 

 

Belfast-born, London-based and New York, em, visiting, writer/director Des Kennedy, is a tad busy these days, you know. You see, he’s in New York directing the hit show, ‘The Prophet of Monto’, and sure, you know how that is, dealing with all those theatrical types on a daily basis. You don’t? Gosh and darn, see, I was hoping you’d tell me, sure they tell me nothing. Anyway, Des, a winner of the prestigious Bush Theater Award, is directing the John Paul Murphy play, which features previous ‘At The Mike Stand’ stars, Laoisa Sexton and Michael Mallomphy, at the Flea Theater (41 White Street, New York City). The show is playing until September 25^th, and tickets can be bought by calling (212) 352-3101. Go on call, you can tell your friends that you saw it performed back before they all became superstars. Des, welcome to ‘At The Mike Stand’.

What would you like your own tribute act to be called?

Irish Catholic Mama’s Boy.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

I’d like it to be like the movie ‘I’m Not There’ about Bob Dylan, where 6 different people play different aspects of his life. Mine would include; Leonardo DiCaprio, Jason Bateman, Phillip Seymor Hoffman, Lindsay Lohan, Justin Bieber and Joan Rivers.

When’s the last time you laughed out loud?

I have a really dumb sense of humor. Me and my friends from back home are always sending each other stupid YouTube clips that make us crack-up. The last one was based on an audition. It is extremely cringe-worthy, very shocking and scarily accurate about how horrible auditions are. I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe. It’s called ‘Fiery Hawk’.

What act would you like to have seen perform live?

Nina Simone. I am a huge fan. Sometimes you buy live recordings of music and they are never as good as the studio recorded stuff. Not with Nina Simone. She really seemed to blossom with a live audience / band. I would love to have been in the same room as that remarkable talent.

What team(s) do you support?

For football (soccer) it has to be Arsenal and for Gaelic Sports it would be Antrim (who’ve never won a thing).

What period in history would you most like to have visited?

The Weimar Republic. So many great works of art were created during that time.

What song would you most like to have written?

‘Happy Birthday’, and I’d like to have a royalty every time it was sang.

Who or what, would make you leave a room?

Snakes. I was once bitten in the chest by a friend’s pet python. The force of it was like getting punched in the chest. It took 2 friends to pull it off. I have a heart murmur which means I have an irregular heart-beat, so my friend’s theory was that it heard my heartbeat and thought I was a big Irish mouse. I’m now quite afraid of snakes. It makes travelling really difficult. I’m always afraid that there will be snakes on the plane.

What decade rules?

Got to be the 80’s. John Hughes movies, new wave and synthpop, ‘Saved by the Bell’, Super Mario Brothers, and the best sitcom of all time…’The Golden Girls’.

What do you sing at weddings?

Me and my granny do a great “You’re The One That I Want” routine from ‘Grease’ at family wedding discos. It’s somehow become a bit of a tradition.

What movie role would you like to have played/play?

It’s not a movie, but I’d love to be Don Draper (from ‘Mad Men’).

Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?

I once got told I looked like Ricky Gervais. I think the person thought they were complimenting me. I smiled graciously. Only dogs could hear the slow grinding of my teeth.

What’s the first album you remember buying?

‘Bad’ by Michael Jackson’.

Who’s your favorite Beatle?

George. I doubt anyone ever says Ringo. Poor Ringo.

What’s your favorite Christmas song?

‘The Power of Love’ by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. I don’t know if it’s really a Christmas song, but the video is based on the Nativity and it’s featured on lots of Christmas compilation albums. It’s beautiful and always reminds me of Christmas Eve.

Who’s the most rock and roll person who ever lived?

Brendan Behan.

What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?

Shamefully, I have quite a thing for ‘Party in the USA’ by that Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus girl.

Who would you most like to meet/have met?

Tallulah Bankhead. I’ve read every book written about her. She was beautiful, smart, funny, talented and lived the most interesting life. One of my favorite quotes of hers is; ‘It’s one of the tragic ironies of the theatre that only one man in it can count on steady work – the night watchman’.

What book can you read again and again?

Anything by Michael Cunningham. He has written about 5 novels and I’ve read them all many times. He has a new one out this year and I can barely contain my excitement.

What’s the greatest album ever recorded?

‘Is This It’ – The Strokes.

What artists would you most like to have played with in the band of your dreams ?

Jake Sears, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Flea, Fab Moretti (I’d be on triangle).

What do few people know about you?

I’m colorblind. Most lighting designers who I work with can tell.

What sitcom character can you most identify with?

Meredith Palmer from ‘The Office’.

What movie can you watch over and over again?

‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’. It’s not very well known because people think it’s just a silly teen flick. It’s actually a really smart and very dark “mockumentary” in the style of the Christopher Guest movies. I think I could probably recite the entire script.

Who’s your favorite cartoon character?

Yosemite Sam, and Elmer Fudd. I always found Bugs Bunny really annoying so I used to really root for those guys. I was an odd child.

What’s the greatest place you’ve visited?

New York City.

What’s mankind’s most wonderful invention?

The ‘snooze’ button.

What’s mankind’s most irritating invention?

Computer viruses.

Who’s the funniest person who ever lived?

Joan Rivers. She’s so funny and her humor is so dark and close to the bone. I love that kind of humor. That’s why I love working on ‘The Prophet of Monto’ which is opening at the Flea on September 8th starring Laoisa Sexton and Michael Mellamphy. (I was wondering how I could crowbar a plug into this interview).

Who’s your favorite namesake?

There aren’t a lot of famous ‘Desmonds’, so I’ll have to say Norma Desmond as played by Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard.

There’s not a lot that can be said about Nicole DeCario that hasn’t been said before, well, at least by us, see, being in the newspaper business, we do enjoy the occasional morsel of backtalk, chitchat and, well, idle gossip (that’s gossip which doesn’t carry out its chores in case you were wondering). The award-winning singer tells us that she’s been harmonizing, vocalizing and, em, doing other things that are fancy words for singing, almost since before she could talk. Having appeared in several Off Broadway productions and performed at various venues around Manhattan, the University of Miami graduate is currently working on producing her debut CD, and preparing for a major show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre this coming January. While you’re waiting, check out some of Nicole’s performances for the ‘Tunes for Tatas’ breast cancer fundraiser, on YouTube. Despite all this going on however, the lovely Nicole was good enough to sit down for a few minutes and answer a couple of breathtakingly silly questions for us. Ms. DeCario, welcome to ‘At The Mike Stand’.

What would you like your own tribute act to be called?

I don’t know the name just yet, but I sure do hope it’s a Drag Queen!

When’s the last time you laughed out loud?

I do that every day!

What act would you like to have seen perform live?

The Beatles.

What team(s) do you support?

Any team that’s winning!

What period in history would you most like to have visited?

I would like to have witnessed Jesus’ miracles. I’m a skeptic.

What song would you most like to have written?

“Happy Birthday”- it will be around forever!

Who or what, would make you leave a room?

Any insect.

What decade rules (and why)?

The 80’s…I was born!!

What do you sing at weddings?

I love singing “At Last”- it is perfect for the occasion and you really get to belt it out!

What movie role would you like to have played?

Not a movie role, but I totally should have been Meadow Soprano!

Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?

Not very often, but I’ve gotten Megan Mullaly (Karen from ‘Will & Grace) a few times.

What’s the first album you remember buying?

I remember buying (well I remember my Mom buying) Whitney Houston’s first album. I was 5 and I would sing “The Greatest Love of All” non-stop. I knew every word to every song on that cassette tape!!

Who’s your favorite Beatle?

Hmmmm… tough one…as individuals they’re all kind of weird!

What’s your favorite Christmas song?

Way too many to pick! Though, I do have a Christmas playlist that I listen to all year round and I think Mariah Carey has the best Christmas album EVER!

Who’s the most rock and roll person who ever lived?

Elvis.

What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?

I love listening to spa music- that ridiculous elevator-like music is so calming.

Who would you most like to meet/have met?

I would love to sit President Obama down for a chat.

What book can you read again and again?

“Oh the Places You’ll Go” (Dr. Seuss)

What’s the greatest album ever recorded?

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.

What artists would you most like to have played with in the band of your dreams?

Jimi Hendrix on guitar, Carter Beauford (Dave Matthew Band) on drums and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) on bass.

What do few people know about you?

I was a spelling bee champion in 4th grade.

What TV character can you most identify with?

Currently…I don’t necessarily identify with her, but I so want to be Olivia Benson (Law & Order SVU)!

What movie can you watch over and over again?

‘Home Alone’.

Who’s your favorite cartoon character?

Wilma Flintstone.

What’s the greatest place you’ve visited?

The Cliffs of Moher- stunning, serene, scary. Amazing place!

What’s mankind’s most wonderful invention?

The internet.

What’s mankind’s most irritating invention?

The internet.

Who’s the funniest person who ever lived?

That’s a pretty big title to have… I think Jon Stewart is pretty awesome and Rodney Dangerfield was hysterical!

Who’s your favorite namesake?

Honestly cannot think of one!

Who’s your favorite character from literature?

Scout Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird).

So there we were just hanging around minding our own (and most other peoples’) business, when whom should we happen upon, but local musician Allen Gogarty. Not that we’d be happening upon that many people, sure we’re not completely positive what that phrase even means, but, well, you know what we’re getting at. Allen, the singer-songwriter-guitarist (and utilizer of most of our hyphens, we’ve only four left now, thanks to this particular show-off and his multi-talented ways) is a busy man these days. The affable County Meath native’s been gigging around the Tri-State area for some time now, occasionally alone, often with a full band, and penning the occasional album when not belting out his live performances. Despite his rather hectic schedule of writing, recording, gigging and causing the occasional bit of mayhem, Allen was more than happy to sit down with us and answer the occasional incredibly nosey question for us. So, without further ado, and even less adon’t, Allen Gogarty, welcome to ‘At The Mike Stand’.

 

What would you like your own tribute act to be called?

Gugathon.

When’s the last time you laughed out loud?

Tonight, when a waitress at The Irish Cottage showed me her ass tattoo.

 

What act would you like to have seen perform live?

Jimi Hendrix.

What team(s) do you support?

Meath, Mets, Jets.

 

What period in history would you most like to have visited?

I’ve got to say now, that’s quite interesting. The ‘60s in the US had to be completely nuts, you know, turn on, tune in, drop out and all that stuff.

What song would you most like to have written?
‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’, U2’s classic. It’s simple, heartfelt and poignant.

 

Who or what, would make you leave a room?

A very big bouncer or a very pretty girl! However, it’s normally my wife that tells me when I’m leaving the room.

 

What decade rules (and why)?

The ‘70s rule, it got the hangover from the ‘60s! There was punk, southern rock, metal, progressive Irish trad, and my generation was born and we’re not too shabby.

 

What cover version do you most enjoy performing?

‘A Beautiful Affair’ by Stockton’s Wing.

 

What movie role would you like to have played?

Coco in ‘The Run of The Country’

Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?
Yes, Mick from Simply Red, the guy who played the guitar in ‘The Commitments’ who turned out to be Glen Hansard, and Robert Plant. After that, I get a lot of people telling me that I look like Allen Gogarty, and gosh, how I giggle.

What’s the first album you remember buying?

Ah don’t laugh, Abba, The Hits.

 

Who’s your favorite Beatle?

John.

 

What’s your favorite Christmas song?

‘White Christmas’, the Stiff Little Fingers version.

 

Who’s the most rock and roll person who ever lived?

It depends on what you mean by Rock ‘n’ Roll, if you mean the music, the lifestyle, the refusal to give up, the acceptance of the unacceptable, bodily abuse, addiction, defeat of addiction, madness, mayhem and a good story to tell, then Iggy Pop’s your man.

 

What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?

I don’t secretly enjoy any, it’s all out in the open here! But I suppose, I don’t really scream from the top of my lungs that…ah feck off I’m not answering that!

 

Who would you most like to meet/have met?

I’d really have liked to have met Jesus. I get the strangest feeling that he might be a little bit misrepresented at the moment. The dude turned barrels of water into wine for Christ’s sake, at a party just after last call. Yeah, meeting him that night would have been a laugh and a half.
What book can you read again and again?
I’ve got a few, ‘Porno’ by Irvine Welsh, ‘The Dark Stuff’ by Nick Kent and ‘The Sex Lives of Cannibals’ by J. Maarten Troost. All very entertaining books.

 

What’s the greatest album ever recorded?
‘Appetite For Destruction’, by Guns ‘N’ Roses. At least it’s the best hard rock album recorded, the sound to date is unsurpassed.

What artists would you most like to have played with in the band of your dreams?

On drums Phil Rudd, bass Phil Lynott. On guitars I’d have Clapton, Hendrix and the bastard child of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Rory Gallagher, Mozart on piano, and for the craic, we’d need O’Carolan writing the tunes. I’m singing.

 

What do few people know about you?

I’m naturally shy.

 

What sitcom character can you most identify with?

Basil Fawlty, what can go wrong does go wrong. I can relate.

 

What movie can you watch over and over again?

Kirk Douglas in ‘Spartacus’, fantastic movie.

 

Who’s your favorite cartoon character?

Cartman from ‘South Park’, he’s a right little p**ck, excellent.

 

What’s the greatest place you’ve visited?

Even though I now live here, I still have to say New York. What a town!

What’s mankind’s most wonderful invention?

The airplane, it takes weeks off your journey.

What’s mankind’s most irritating invention?

Cell-phones, nobody has a damn second for themselves anymore.

Who’s the funniest person who ever lived?
Henry Rollins.