The struggle with addiction

Cavan's the Would Be's are back with a new single, 'That's How It Gets You', the third single off their soon to be released album 'HindZeitgeist', due out this summer.

“Funny enough we're all still alive,” says guitarist Paul Finnegan, his dry wit an obvious signpost to where the band's lyrics gets at least some of their rapier humour from.

The Would Be's, for anyone unfamiliar, are originally from around the Kingscourt area. Formed circa 1989 by three Finnegan brothers (Mattie, Paul, Eamonn) (guitars, drums, bass), Julie McDonnell (vocals), and Aideen O'Reilly (trombone, sax, violin), the indie-pop act exploded onto the scene with their epic debut 'I'm Hardly Ever Wrong', recorded for around the same price as a couple of bags of chips from the Kingfisher.

The fledgling band- average age 17 with Paul the youngest at 13- only had a few hundred copies pressed, one of which, with either exuberance or an abundance of youthful naïvity, was posted to long-serving Beeb disc jockey John Peel.

Queue an unmerciful clamour. Peel, Fanning, Lemacq and Clayton Lea instantly took the band to their bosoms. Follow up singles 'My Radio Sounds Different in The Dark' and 'Funny Ha Ha' were just as well received.

With some band members still in line to sit their Inter Cert, the Would Be's instead toured sold out shows across the UK and Ireland, supported Morrissey on his Kill Uncle tour, while muso-bible the NME described their sound as 'Idiosyncratic Indie Oom-Pah Pop' owing to the band's unique use of brass.

Early days

There was a frenzy of A&R interest too. Some desparately went so far as to contact the girl's school hoping to bend their ear and convince them to put pen to paper.

When the band played a packed Underground on Dublin's Dame Street, a famed and sweaty haunt run by Jeff Brennan and his dad Noel, the crowd consisted of a mix of industry heads and a coach full of teachers and school-friends who'd bussed it up to the city from East Cavan.

The venue has a powerful history for popularising new bands, especially in the 1980s and '90s. Whipping Boy, A House and others are among some of the names that stompied the plywood stage set on beer crates in their early days.

But Julie soon made a decision to go back to school. New singer Eileen Gogan joined (end of '91), and the Would Be's had acclaimed producer Stephen Street (the Smiths, the Cranberries and Blur) add gloss to their EP 'Silly Songs For Cynical People'.

But by early 1992 they'd collectively called it a day.

The original line-up, minus Pascal Smith on drums, quietly reunited in 2012, before releasing their first LP in 23 years, 'Beautiful Mess' (2013).

Julie now lives in Leitrim, while Aideen lives and works in Dublin.

She still travels home regularly to play with the St. Mary's Brass and Reed Band.

The brothers Finnegan continue to live and play locally.

“We never got sense obviously,” laughs Paul of still working with the band. “It's like a persistent cough I suppose, it never goes away.”

'Beautiful Mess' was rightfully celebrated. A heartfelt response to time lapsed. It was cathartic, relatable and filled with honest introspection.

Since then they released the Bittersweet EP (2015) and a handful of singles (Stay Tuned, Tempt Fate and Bittersweet). Their last was 'Two Wrongs (Made Me Feel Alright)', another off the soon-to-be-released new album 'HindZeitgeist'.

Blending catchy melodies with emotional depth, the Would Be's tread a line between existential questioning and expertly-crafted nuanced pop. That much hasn't changed, even if their approach has.

For the brilliantly named HindZeitgeist Paul says the Would Be's embarked on an “DIY” approach.

“It's expensive going to studios obviously. So this time round we built a little set up at home, and we've been chipping away at a few songs over the past two years now.”

‘Pessimistic pop’

The new songs are “fresh, hot off the press”. In the world of “pessimistic pop”, a term Paul coined himself, that's seen as a positive.

“All new songs. The energy is still there,” he assures, noting that the theme follows the old adage of 'Murphy's Law'.

'Catch 22', 'That's How It Gets You', their new single, and 'Two Wrongs (Made Me Feel Alright)', are evidence of that.

Music, and song-writing, Paul adds, is like any other art form.

“You get addicted to doing it, for the enjoyment factor, and to get it out of your system.”

Of playing with the band he adds: “It's great to still be doing it with your friends after all these years.”

Though they haven't been back gigging yet, the band do hope to hit the road in support HindZeitgeist's release.

“We're just trying to create a bit of momentum I suppose in an increasingly hard market to break,” states Paul of releasing 'That's How It Gets You'.

The industry- the one the Would Be's first started in- and even flirted with again a decade ago, has evolved beyond all recognition.

The only constant, if any, is that vinyl records are still “a thing”.

“Musicians really have to be content creators on top of everything else,” reflects Paul.

The Would Be's have a presence across most social media. But there’s a feeling of having to rather than wanting to.

“Years ago if you got even a little deal you would get some money to press singles or do a bit of promo. There doesn't seem to be any of that any more. It's an added strain.”

Paul is as clued into the local music scene as anyone.

He's delighted to see the Josh McClorey back with Soft Launch. “I like it. It reminds me a bit of the Arctic Monkeys,” suggests Paul.

The Would Be's supported Cavan's answer to the 'Fab Four' back in 2017, and he is just as happy to see fellow former Strypes' member Evan Walsh and The Savage Hearts making waves.

“Great energy,” states Paul.

“'Dirty Marmalade', have you heard of those?” he quickly moves on. “Really good.”

Therapy

Paul is enthused to see that the county is well represented in terms of exciting new music.

He still enjoys the process too. “It's a bit of therapy really. Even if just three people like it, or it says something to someone, makes them smile, at least you've made your mark.”

The Would Be's are as proud of the work put into HindZeitgeist as any of the band's past catalogue. Forty plus minutes of hook-laden timeless Irish indie pop. Brash, confident and utterly self-aware.

In terms of influence, Paul and his fellow members drift towards the “old reliables”.

In terms of newer stuff that caught his ear, Paul cites Chicago-based 'Brigitte Calls Me Baby', a crooner alt Duran Duran type band who'll support their old pal Morrissey at Dublin's 3Arena in May.

“We've stuck to our original sound, bittersweet lyrics, the indie pop thing with a bit of sixties jazz with the brass. We like a lot of (composer and conductor of film music) John Barry's stuff, so there's little bit of that. And stuff we've listened to for years. Obscure bands like Half Man Half Biscuit and The Wedding Present, John Cooper Clarke, Jonathon Richmond. There's a Smiths'y element to our music, there's no getting away from that. A bit of Johnny Marr guitar,” says Paul emphasising the aliteration. “We still get a buzz out of doing it.”