By Mike Fitzpatrick

You know, it’s not easy attempting to describe this week’s ‘Standee’.

You see, Hazel Larkin, the Irish writer, and proud mom of two, has been a tad busy of late. She’s currently lauded in Ireland, the UK and beyond for her association with ‘The Big Book of Hope’, a wonderful project that she and Vanessa O’Loughlin worked on.

‘The Big Book of Hope’ contains over forty stories (fact and fiction) written by Myles Dungan, Maeve Binchy, Denis O’Brien, Joe O’Connor, Brian Crowley (MEP), Brian Keenan and a host of other influential individuals, with all proceeds going towards the HOPE Foundation, and its efforts at providing shelter, education, food, healthcare, love and moral support for children born on the troubled streets of Kolkata, India.

Having lived in Asia for ten years, where she wrote for stage, screen and various publications, Hazel witnessed much of the poverty that HOPE strives towards combating.

In the coming year, she’s looking forward to the publication of the first volume of her memoirs, before relocating back to Asia at the end of 2011.

‘The Big Book of Hope’ is available for purchase at Amazon.com, the publishers’ official website, Poolbeg.com, and many bookstores.

What would you like your own tribute act to be called?
Hmmm, I don’t know. ‘May Contain Nuts’ maybe?

When’s the last time you laughed out loud?
I’m always laughing out loud. I think the last time was about half an hour ago when my daughter, in her sleep, said ‘Mind the kangaroo!’

What act would you like to have seen perform live?
Marlene Dietrich.

What team(s) do you support?
I cannot abide any sport so the only team that I support is the team of chefs at my local pizza place.

What period in history would you most like to have visited?
I think I already have visited most periods of history. I think any period was fascinating and wonderful as long as one had money. If I had to choose one era to revisit, I think it would be the 1900s-1930s in India. As a Rani, (Queen) of course.

What song would you most like to have written?
‘Happy Birthday’ – think of the royalties!!

Who or what, would make you leave a room?
Bigotry. You can’t argue with a bigot because they refuse to accept that there is any side other than their own. And hitting them gets you into trouble.

What decade rules (and why)?
The 1920s. So much was possible in so many places – Africa, India, Europe and the US. I’m afraid I haven’t the foggiest what they were up to in the Antipodes at the time.

What song do you most enjoy singing?
“Love is Teasin'” A wonderful song about how love doesn’t last.

What movie role would you like to have played?
Ilsa in ‘Casablanca’. Clichéd, I know, but there you go.

Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?
In India, I am often told I look like Sonia Ghandi, but I think that’s just because I’m a white woman in a sari.

What’s the first album you remember buying?
I honestly can’t remember the first album I bought.

Who’s your favorite Beatle?
Paul McCartney.

What’s your favorite Christmas song?
I hate Christmas. I hate Christmas songs. ‘Band Aid’, however, still brings a lump to my throat.

Who’s the most rock and roll person who ever lived?
It has to be Mick Jagger. Whether you like him or his music or not – he is Mr. Rock ‘n’ Roll.

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

Who would you most like to meet/have met?
The children I’m yet to have.

What book can you read again and again?
‘The Big Book of Hope’.

What’s the greatest album ever recorded?
I haven’t a clue.

What artists would you most like to have played with in the band of your dreams (supergroup)?
Johnny Marr (Guitar), Larry Mullen (Drums), Flea (Bass), Rick Wakeman (Keyboard) and Yo Yo Ma (Cello)

What do few people know about you?
There’s not much that people don’t know about me. Or that I have an honors degree in psychology.

What sitcom character can you most identify with?
Fr. Dougal in ‘Father Ted’.

What movie can you watch over and over again?
In English – ‘Monsoon Wedding’. In Hindi – ‘Salaam -e-Ishq’.

Who’s your favorite cartoon character?
I hate cartoons. I always have. But if I had to choose, I’d say Bugs Bunny. He’s nobody’s fool.

What’s the greatest place you’ve visited?
I’ve been very lucky to visit a number of wonderful places. If I had to choose one, though, it would probably be Kasauli in the foothills of the Himalayas.

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

What’s mankind’s most irritating invention?
The house alarm.

Who’s the funniest person who ever lived?
Tommy Tiernan.

Who’s your favorite namesake ?
Some nut or other (Took a while, but now we get it! – Editor).

Who’s your favorite character from literature?
Scheherazade. Beautiful, intelligent and a great spinner of yarns.

Following in the footsteps of Paul McCartney, Sting and, ahem, Kajagoogoo’s Nick Beggs, this week’s ‘At The Mike Stand’ subject is one of those rare species of artistes, the bass-playing lead vocalist.

Dublin-born and reared Neil Eurelle has been singing and playing with renowned four-piece rock act Stand, since the mid ’90s.

A major draw in their native Ireland, the band relocated to New York in the early 2000s, where they’ve proved to be a big hit on the college circuit, also playing scores of sold-out shows throughout the US.

With four studio albums already under their belts, the guys are currently preparing for the release of their fifth effort, with a major show scheduled for Tuesday, October 20th, at New York’s Bowery Ballroom venue.

What would you like your own tribute act to be called?
“SIT”. We’ve been pushed a million times to change our name. B******s to that.

When’s the last time you laughed out loud?
Yesterday. A friend played me a Kajagoogoo Record!! (Look them up. You’ll see what I mean)

What act would you like to have seen perform live?
Led Zeppelin

What team do you support?
Man U. Doesn’t everyone?

What period in history would you most like to have visited?
My surname is Eurelle. It’s French. Apparently the Eurelles arrived in Ireland when the Normans invaded in the 11th Century. I’d like to go back to just before they set sail and tell them to stay put! Did they not realize the weather in Ireland is what it is??!

What song would you most like to have written?
“Billie Jean” – everyone knows that tune from the first drum beat. Amazing!!

Who or what, would make you leave a room?
When politics and drink are mixed, it’s time to leave.

What decade rules?
2000 – 2009. I’ve seriously had the best years of my life so far during this decade.

What cover version do you most enjoy performing?
‘Under Pressure’ – great musicianship and great vocals.

What movie role would you like to have played?
Col. Slade (Al Pacino) in ‘Scent of a Woman’ – WHOOOO AHHH!!!

Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?
No, but Chris Martin gets told all the time if he shaved his head he would look just like me!

What’s the first album you remember buying?
“Hunting High & Low” – A-HA. Still a great pop record.

Who’s your favorite Beatle?
Paul – What a bass player.

What’s your favorite Christmas song?
“White Christmas”.

Who’s the most rock and roll person who ever lived?
Bill Graham – to a manager at the Fillmore door: “If you ain’t playin’, you are payin’.”

What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?
Still a big A-HA fan. Sad I know.

Who would you most like to meet/have met?
Ahmet Etegun (founder of Atlantic Records and former president of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) in 1978. We’d be famous.

What book can you read again and again?
‘The Shadow of the Wind” – Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

What”s the greatest album ever recorded?
‘What’s Going On?’ – Marvin Gaye. He made a whole record with 4 chords and 1 groove!

What artists would you most like to have played with in the band of your dreams?
Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr – It does not get any better!

What do few people know about you?
I was the guy singing on those Milli Vanilli records.

What sitcom character can you most identify with?
Felix from ‘The Odd Couple’.

What movie can you watch over and over again?
Any of the ‘Bourne’ movies. Very cool.

Who’s your favorite cartoon character?
Tom – I hate cats, but that guy got a raw deal.

What’s the greatest place you’ve visited?
NYC. Rocks like no other.

What’s mankind’s most wonderful invention?
The audio speaker.

What’s mankind’s most irritating invention?
Appears that retrospectively it’s the gasoline powered engine.

Who’s the funniest person who ever lived?
Billy Connolly – I can safely say he is the person I have laughed most at.

Who’s your favorite namesake?
Neil Young.

By Mike Fitzpatrick

Armagh-born,and reared Dominic Cromie, is no stranger to the music scene. The singer, songwriter and guitarist first picked up a guitar at the age of ten, and within months had written his first song.

Just a few years later, he was performing live in concert with his sister Aine, who has since become a well-respected singer/songwriter herself.

Having relocated to the United States from Ireland in the early 1990s, Dominic went on to form Raglan Road, a Celtic rock band, with whom he went on to successfully tour the US, Europe, Ireland and the UK to much acclaim.

A regular on the live music circuit in the tri-state area, Dominic’s latest venture is an act he formed with Donie Ryan, Peter Rufli, Alicia Rau and George Rigney, called Clear The Battle Field, a band which regularly performs in the New York area, and whom you just might be hearing of in future issues of The Irish Examiner.

In between gigs, Dominic was good enough to sit down and answer a few exceedingly relevant questions for us. Mr. Cromie, welcome to ‘At The Mike Stand’.

What would you like your own tribute act to be called?
The Battle Field Has Been Cleared.

When’s the last time you laughed out loud?
I laugh out loud almost every day.

What act would you like to have seen perform live?
The Beatles or Led Zeppelin

What team do you support?
Armagh of course.

What period in history would you most like to have visited?
Cowboy days, although sometimes I think we’re still in them.

What song would you most like to have written?
“Happy Birthday”.

Who or what, would make you leave a room?
The sound of the ice cream van coming.

What decade rules?
The 2000s have been pretty good, I finally got an interview!

What cover version do you most enjoy performing?
“59th Street Bridge Song” by Simon and Garfunkel.

What movie role would you like to have played?
Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz”, Just kidding I’d have to say Mel Gibson’s role in “Lethal Weapon”.

Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?
I’ve been told I looked like a real w***er the first time I wore a pink shirt. The cowardly lion from “The Wizard of Oz” and Shane MacGowan when I’m slightly under the weather.

What’s the first album you remember buying?
I don’t think I have ever bought an album. I got all hand me downs (mum and dad’s Beatles and Elvis, brothers Madness, Thin Lizzy, U2, Big Country and my sister’s Fleetwood Mac, Steve Earle etc.

Who’s your favorite Beatle?
The long horn Beatle… just kidding! John Lennon.

What’s your favorite Christmas song?
“White Christmas”

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

What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?
No secrets here, I have to say Hindu music.

Who would you most like to meet/have met?
The Bo***cks who wrote all these questions. For a drink that is Mike!

What book can you read again and again?
Three little pigs because I have to and The Bible of course.

What’s the greatest album ever recorded?
The one I just completed!

What artists would you most like to have played with in the band of your dreams (supergroup)?
The members of Led Zeppelin.

What sitcom character can you most identify with?
Bart Simpson.

What movie can you watch over and over again?
Braveheart.

Who’s your favorite cartoon character?
Tom or Jerry.

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

Who’s the funniest person who ever lived?
My brother Damian.

Who’s your favorite namesake
Dominic the Donkey. Happy New Year everyone!

With four singles having reached the top twenty in the UK and Ireland, and an album that hit the top of the charts twice in Britain (showoffs) you’d think that Glen Power and his mates in The Script, Danny O’Donoghue and Mark Sheehan, would be a little too busy to be dealing with the likes of us at the Mike Stand. Not at all, sure between touring the United States with Adele as well as arranging their own first headlining string of dates for North America, being announced as the support act for U2’s third homecoming show at Croke Park on July 27th, Paul McCartney’s openers at Citifield next month (that’s July ’09 for those of you reading an old issue in the dentist‘s waiting room), a major feature article in rock bible Q Magazine devoted to the band and performing with Take That in Dublin later this month (June, no seriously), the trio have little to be doing to fill the time. We recently caught up with multi-instrumentalist Glen, one of the funkiest Dubliners around, and he was kind enough to put down the drumsticks, and join us ‘At The Mike Stand’.

By Mike Fitzpatrick.

Who would be in the band of your dreams?
I’d have Phil Collins on drums, The Edge on guitar, Freddie Mercury up front singing, and Sting on bass and backing vocals.
When was the last time you laughed out loud?
Two minutes ago with our tour manager.
What act would you like to have seen perform live?
Queen.
What period in history would you like to have hung out in?
The 50’s.
Who/what would make you want to leave a room?
Someone being rude, loud or insulting to people around them.
What decade rules (and why)?
This one, cos I’m in it!
What cover version do you enjoy performing?
‘Heroes’ by David Bowie.
What movie role would you like to have played?
Sylvester Stallone’s role in ‘Rocky‘.
What’s the first album you remember buying?
‘The Final Countdown’ by Europe.
Who’s your favorite Beatle?
John Lennon.
Who’s the most rock and roll person who ever lived?
Jim Morrison.
What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?
K.D. Lang.
What’s your tipple (favorite drink)?
Guinness.
What book can you read again and again?
The Bible.
What’s the greatest album ever recorded?
The Joshua Tree.

What sitcom character can you most identify with?
Doug from ‘The King Of Queens‘.

What movie have you seen most times?
‘The Matrix’.

Who’s your favorite cartoon character?
Bugs Bunny.

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

What’s mankind’s most irritating invention?
Cellphones.

Who’s the funniest person who ever lived?
Richard Pryor

By Michael Fitzpatrick

It’s not easy to describe Edward Fitzgerald Burns without overdoing it with the forward slashes. For not only is the Woodside-born, Long Island-raised, Manhattan-residing quintessential New Yorker/Irish-American a renowned screenplay writer, but he’s starred in over a dozen movies, and directed nine of his own pictures.

The latest film he wrote/directed/starred in (see what we mean about those forward slashes?), ‘Nice Guy Johnny’, will be available everywhere (including iTunes, Netflix and Video on Demand) from October 26th.

It’s the (New York, naturally) story of a young man who decides to go against his dreams and take a dull job to satisfy his parents and girlfriend.

Before he does however, he meets up with his Uncle Terry (played by Burns), an ageing Lothario out for a good time, every time, and fully intent of bringing his cautious nephew along for the ride.

It’s a role seemingly far removed from the lifestyle of the man who plays him. The prolific Burns, a doting father to Grace and Finn, and husband of almost seven years to Christy Turlington, is a man very much focused on his family and his film career.

Having first arrived on the scene back in 1996 with the low-budget indie hit ‘The Brothers McMullen’, followed soon after by ‘She’s The One’ and ‘No Looking Back’, 42-year-old Burns the director has gone on to follow in the footsteps of his fellow Big Apple devotee, Woody Allen, by making other movies featuring the city, such as ‘Sidewalks of New York’, ‘Looking for Kitty’, ‘Ash Wednesday’, ‘Purple Violets’ and ‘The Groomsmen’.

In front of the camera he’s appeared in productions as diverse as ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘The Holiday’, ‘Entourage’, ’27 Dresses’ and ‘Will & Grace’. The Irish Examiner caught up with Edward prior to the release of ‘Nice Guy Eddie’.

Mike Fitzpatrick (MF): ‘Nice Guy Johnny’ was screened at the Tribeca and Boston film festivals this year, were you satisfied with the response there?
Ed Burns (EB): Yeah, I mean, Tribeca has always been a great home for my films. Being a New York filmmaker, living in Tribeca, being involved with the festival for ten years, they always take very good care of me, and my films, but I think more so, as a New York filmmaker, and you premiere your film in your home town, a lot of enthusiastic fans show up, so it’s a fun way to screen your films. Boston has always been another great city for showing my films, so, we played great up there, they gave the film a Best Director award, so it’s always nice to get a little praise.

MF: You’ve become renowned for your use of New York as a setting for your pictures, how important is the city to your movies?
EB: You know, I’ve been living in Manhattan for over twenty years now, I grew up on the Island, so the two places have always been important. I love my home town, like most New Yorkers do. The city continually inspires me, whether it’s the architecture, or the atmosphere of the neighborhoods, but mostly, it’s the characters I meet and the friends that I have.

MF: You’re quite a fan of fellow actor/director-types, John Cassavettes and Woody Allen, both New York filmmakers, is that coincidental?
EB: Well you know, Cassavettes I came to later, when in film school, but Woody Allen has really been the primary influence in my career as far as, you know, not only the types of stories that he tells, but the smaller character-driven films, he really is the master of the smart comedy with drama, which is something I’ve always desired to try and do.
Then obviously, he’s a writer/director/actor, he makes a film a year, I haven’t been able to pull that off, but I’ve tried like hell! So, he’s a real filmmaker, or auteur, or as a friend of mine calls, a ‘proper’ filmmaker, that I was introduced to early, and that’s because my mom was such a huge Woody Allen fan. So, she turned me on to him when I was in high school.

MF: ‘Nice Guy Johnny’ tells the story of a young man forced to abandon his dreams in order to please others, was the plot influenced by personal events?
EB: Oh yeah, a major part of the influence was, who I was when I was twenty-four-years old, and I was trying to get ‘The Brothers McMullen’ made, and I was lucky in that my parents (and friends) supported me, and I assumed they knew that a number of naysayers thought I was crazy to try to attempt such a thing. You know, who did I think I was, trying to be a filmmaker?
The other influence was an experience I had a few years ago, where my agents came up with an opportunity for me to direct a studio romantic comedy.
It was something I’d resisted for years, but I walked up to the line and almost said yes, but in the end I realized, that to me that looked more like a job, whereas what I would do with my own writing and directing, was my dream. So, it was from that experience that the subject matter (for the movie) was born.

MF: Growing up as a lover of film, were you more influenced by directors or actors or was it a little of both?
EB: Probably a little of both, you know, I’ve mentioned Woody Allen, he would have been a primary influence, then at film school, Billy Wilder, and Francoise Truffaut became a big influence. But then before film school, I’d all these influences from my mom, Paul Newman definitely became a hero of mine and Robert De Niro became a hero of mine.

MF: When you’re writing, do you have actors in mind for the roles you’re creating?
EB: Sometimes yes, certainly when I was writing ‘She’s The One’, I was writing the part for Mike McGlone, whom I’d just worked with, and funnily enough I’m writing another part for him right now. Then, for ‘Nice Guy Johnny’, the three unknown kids in the film, Matt Bush, Kerry Bishe and Anne Wood are such terrific young actors, I’d such a great time working with them, that I’m actually writing parts for them in the new film as well.

MF: ‘Nice Guy Johnny’ is your ninth outing as a director, how do you think you’ve evolved since the days of ‘The Brother McMullen’?
EB: Well, I now know what the hell I’m doing, so that’s quite an evolution! As a filmmaker, maybe I tell a story much more cinematically than I did with ‘Brothers’ or ‘She’s The One’, you know, back then, I didn’t really know what I was doing with a camera, but, we’ve come full circle with ‘Nice Guy Johnny’ with our approach to production. Because you know, we made ‘McMullen’ for $25,000 in twelve days with a three-man crew, it gave ourselves an interesting challenge, and with ‘Nice Guy Johnny’ we tried to shoot the film the same way as an exercise to see if we could recapture some ‘McMullen’ magic.
We ended up making the film for $25,000, we’d a three-man crew, we shot for ten days, all the actors did their own hair and make-up and wore their own clothes, and it’s a different kind of experience when you make a film that way and I must admit, it’s a lot more fun than having the bigger budgets.

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.