Where words fail, music speaks

Farewell concert planned September 21

News beloved local music shop Multisound in Cavan Town is closing arrived on an otherwise uneventful Tuesday evening after trading hours ended early last month with the abruptness of a needle screeching across a spinning vinyl record.

Within minutes, hours, days and for weeks after, owner Noel Tierney’s neatly written post on the business’ Facebook page attracted an outpouring of sadness and nostalgia.

Asked if he was aware of just how influential his store had been, a vibrant hub for generations of music enthusiasts, the Ballyhaise native humbly admits he wasn’t.

“I am now. I was really overwhelmed by the reaction it got,” he chuckles, before explaining: “I’d been putting off that post for the best part of two years. After Covid I was uncertain about which way to go, but I thought now the time was finally right.”

Factors

A myriad of factors prompted Noel’s decision - chief among them changing retail habits and how people consume music today. Aside from a revival in record sales, Ticketmaster’s decision to withdraw support since Covid had a “detrimental” impact on footfall to independent music stores.

“There is very little product that is unique to a retail store any more,” Noel muses on trying to survive as a business in the digital age.

His thoughts on Ticketmaster come days after the competition watchdog announced it has opened an investigation into the platform’s sale of Oasis reunion concert tickets recently. At least, says Noel, people standing outside his door in all sorts of weather “knew where they stood” in a queue waiting for tickets.

“There was no such thing as dynamic pricing either, that’s for sure,” he says wryly. “Not all were successful but a lot of people have great memories of queuing, getting the ticket and going to the gig. It brings people back to a feel good time in their lives.”

For many Multisound closing is an end of an era of sorts, another disappearing piece of high street history, one that played a formative role in their own personal listening journey.

The response has been to close Cavan’s Main Street on Saturday, September 21, a feat not granted since the last All Ireland Fleadh, to facilitate a ‘Farewell to Multisound’ concert.

On par with the closing sequence to ‘90s teen classic Empire Records, a plethora of local artists have already been booked as thanks to Noel and his shop, and the support they’ve shown over 36 years trading. The line-up includes The Savage Hearts, The Jobseekerz, Janice Igoe, The Thin Thieves, The Highstool Prophets, NoVendors, Martin Donohoe, The Dukes, Marcus Magee and The Hollaw Men, and Kevin Logue.

“That I was not expecting. Kevin Meehan and Pauric McIntyre called in one day and told me it was happening. I probably wasn’t so aware of how people will miss a music store in Cavan Town as I am now. It really has been highlighted over the last few weeks. I might’ve thought we were just another retail outlet, but there’s more to it, definitely.”

Noel never intended for Multisound to become to synonymous as a cornerstone of the local music scene.

Idolising

He always had an interest from a young age, idolising bands like Queen, Fleetwood Mac and others.

Straight out of school he went to work in Athlone. He remained there for 10 years before returning to Cavan when his brother Brian and Owen McConnon opened their own music shop in 1988.

They secured a small premises across from the old Surgical in Cavan Town, later moving in with Andy Slowey at the corner of Bridge Street (now Hallmark) in December 1992.

After Slowey’s Multisound changed to across the road, and finally relocated to where shop resides now.

“The Fireflys were very prominent at the time. There were a lot of Irish bands around,” Noel remembers back to when Multisound first opened its doors. “The music scene was really good, especially in Ireland. Something Happens, The Stunning, and An Emotional Fish, all those bands were really good and the scene was really hopping.

“I was delighted to be part of it, to be involved. It was an exciting time in music. From day one I really enjoyed it, and still do.”

Noel became well known as much for this musical knowledge and infectious enthusiasm as his rare ability to connect with customers, whether seasoned audiophiles or teenagers just discovering classic rock, punk, or jazz for the first time.

He’s asked what his favourite album is? Off the bat Noel references Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumors’ but considers that answer “maybe too bland”. He shuffles out from behind the counter, chin resting on one hand as he skirts around the centre aisle before plucking a CD from the shelf- ‘Higher’ by Chris Stapleton. “This right now. But it could change from month to month to be honest with you.”

Enjoyed

Favourite gig? “There’s been so many,” says Noel before recalling Chris Issac at Dublin’s Olympia “a long, long time ago”.

“They’re all good, but I just remember that one I really enjoyed. An unusual artist and very talented.”

Noel’s comfort with his decision to close is tinged with sadness. He’ll miss being part of the Main Street furniture, and the people who’d pop their head in the door to say ‘hello’, to chat about “anything and everything” from music to sport and politics, or even “a bit of slagging. I’ll miss that greatly.”

Noel thanks his “friend and colleague” Anna-Marie Galligan for her time with the business over 20 years; and the support shown by so many others, not least his wife Julie, son Cathal, and her father, 91-year-old Eugene Lynch.

He also thanks the gardaí for their help and understanding as dozens lined up along footpaths in preparation for ticket sales, the Elliott Family and the late David Mackey, among a great many others. “Too many to mention. People have been wonderful, they really have. A lot of people have been very kind to me over the years.”

Multisound will open for the final time on Saturday, September 28.

“It’s very surreal, hard to process with so many people coming in all the time. It’s sort of like a bereavements. There are various people I’ll miss seeing come in, like Chris Murray and Carlotta Hester from Washington, local artists, the likes of Séamus Fay, Lord have mercy on him, or Áine Cahill, a very talented lady.”

The Strypes cut their teeth at Multisound long before headlining worldwide tours, and if nothing else Noel is proud his shop played even a small part in helping raise the profile of local bands.

“Ciaran O’Neill, he released a great album a few years ago, or Paul McCann. Different characters, brilliant people, seriously talented, I’ll miss all that most of all.”