Fresh off the release of driving, energetic new single from post punk act FIERCE SHOOK, we sat down with guitarist and vocalist Rob Moore to shed some more light on the song, and give you an interesting list of best independent artists from Ireland you should look out for.
Fierce Shook are a 3-piece band from Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland, comprising Rob Moore (Guitar, Vocals) and brothers Owen (Guitar, Bass, Vocals) and Ozzy Holmes (Drums, Vocals).
The band wrote and recorded the single during the (hopefully last!) lockdown at the end of 2021. Although the music came together through a mix of online collaboration and recording in separate home studios, it still manages to capture the sound and energy of the band’s live performances.
The song itself combines the melody of early REM and Pinback with the urgency and energy of noise rockers Lightning Bolt and Converge.
The lyrics are an exploration of a person’s relationship with their hometown, and how that changes over time. The accompanying video was shot by the band in various locations around Ireland over the summer of 2022.
“The song Luthite started life as an instrumental that Owen and Ozzy were working on and had been practicing for a long time. During the lockdown last winter, Owen recorded guitar tracks for it and sent it around to me and Oz, and they sounded fantastic.” – comments Rob.
“From listening to the isolated guitar tracks, I started getting a few ideas for lyrics which I recorded at home. The lyrics were about looking back on my hometown and how that relationship changed over time. It starts off with this desperate need to get away from the place when I was young. Then as I got older, I started wondering how my life would have gone if I’d stayed around. Then it ends with the realisation that most of the things I know from that place and the things that I think I’m going to be returning to aren’t really there anymore and the place has moved on a lot since I’ve lived there. In the video, I was trying to capture that sense of constantly moving through different places in life and trying to make sense of it all. And I was trying to capture it all in less than 2 and a half minutes.”
Continues Rob: “After me and Owen had done our bits, I was pretty much ready to release it as it was. I thought it sounded like a pretty cool standalone experimental piece. But luckily Owen found drum tracks that himself and Ozzy had recorded for it in our rehearsal room and they sounded fantastic.”
“The song was pieced together through home recording in different home studios in different counties but it still managed to end up being a real collaborative effort. You can really hear everyone’s contribution to it. Oddly enough, we still haven’t manage to play the song together as a group yet.”
Fierce Shook was initially started as a solo recording project by Rob Moore to help deal with the boredom of lockdown and the debut EP Fierce Shook Altogether was released back in March 2021.
The line-up expanded to a 3 piece in late 2021 following requests from to start playing gigs based on the strength of the music that had been released to date.
“Owen, Ozzy and myself had worked together for years writing and recording material before this but it fell by the way side when the pandemic hit. It’s great to be playing with them again. The quality of the material that we produce together is miles ahead of anything that I can do by myself.” says Moore.
Their last official single, the noisy surf rock instrumental Astro Turf War, received extensive play on mainstream stations such as SiriusXM, 2FM, 2XM and Shannonside FM as well as on specialist shows such as Little Plastic Radios, the Absolute Worst Show and Bobs Joint amongst others. Their previous releases have also received favourable reviews from online publications Indie For Bunnies, Zone Nights and Mango Wave Reviews amongst others.
“We would generally describe ourselves as a punk band in the sense that we’re working independently and within the constraints given, whether it’s time or money, to create music that we want to hear. It’s not about playing to the clichés of the genre. I also think working in a small town away from any major music scene has helped us to craft something different.” states Moore “It’s allowed us to create music that’s fun and interesting for us without worrying too much about the context for it.”
Their most recent release Astro Turf War helped the band to reach a larger audience and grow their following. Since the release of that single, the band have gone on to play several well received gigs around Ireland (including their first festival appearance), as well as recording a live acoustic session for Near FM. The band are hoping to build on that momentum with the release of Luthite.
Top Irish Independent Artists, by FIERCE SHOOK
Since our first release back in March last year, we’ve discovered and come in contact with a lot of great artists that we wouldn’t have heard about otherwise. We’ve picked a handful of these acts along with a track from each one.
Atomic Drag – The Return of the Atomic Undead
Atomic Drag is a one-man (Lee McDaid) Northern Irish based instrumental surf rock band. Lee combines elements from grungier bands like Big Black and Pixies along with traditional surf outfits like the Del-Tones to create excellent horror surf-rock. For fans of Man or Astroman and the Pixies.
Carpark Sci-Fi – I Fell Down
Carpark Sci-Fi is the latest project from musician Gav Cowley. Gav’s live set up consists of him playing the songs he’s written while animation and images that he’s created are projected in the background. We’ve been lucky enough to play with him a few times and catch this fantastic show. I Fell Down is his latest release and one of our top songs of this year.
Chimers – Cracks
Chimers are husband and wife duo Padraic and Binx. Their self-titled album was one of the best releases of 2021 and their most recent release Cracks shows that there’s no sign of the quality dipping. Henry Rollins is a big fan, and you will be too after you hear them.
Chrononaut – Play Dead
Chrononaut are a grungy act from Dublin. Quite similar to Alice in Chains in parts but with some really great heavy stoner rock elements to it. They’re also a fantastic sounding live band who you should try and get to see at least once.
DJ M-1 – Tiger Claw Style feat Starvin B
DJ M-1 is known as Caleb Macken to his friends and family. He has been releasing great Wu-Tang influenced hip hop for a number of years now and has worked with a lot of top range MCs. Tiger Claw Style is from his 2022 released Super Science album.
Electricals – Echo Location
Echo Location may end up being the last release from Electricals but it’s a brilliant way to sign off. The single effortlessly combines a number of styles over the course of it’s 6 minutes run time. The members have gone on to start a number of other projects since this band ceased being active, most notably Bar Tape and Hubert Selby Junior Infants.
Guilty Optics – And So It Goes
Guilty Optics are a great melodic rock and roll band from Dublin. They released their Ben Moore (RFTC, Hot Snakes, Pinbac) produced debut album back in 2017. They’re currently working on their eagerly anticipated 2nd album.
M Stevens and the Ghasts – Purple Heather
M Stevens and the Ghasts first got together for a tribute night to Silver Jews frontman David Berman. They’ve been creating beautiful folk-influenced music ever since then. Their album is being released in November and we’re really looking forward to hearing it.
The Middle Ages – Important Information
The Middle Ages are a vehicle for Anthony Mackey’s brilliant rock tunes. Their latest single Important Information is one of the catchiest songs released this year.
No Bother – Meanwhile
No Bother is the recording project of Paddy Lynch. Writing catchy and melodic indie pop is no bother to him. Ha! See what we did there!
Organs – Zero Ready
Belfast Krautrock Improv collective. They have previously released collaborations with Mike Watt from Minutemen and firehose. Their latest release, Live from Downpatrick, is a recording from their debut gig this summer and is well worth a listen. Their drummer Andrew Bushe also hosts the excellent Little Plastic Radio show which you should go and check out on Mixcloud, it’s a great source for finding out about underground music.
Rí-Rá – One Ton Style
Rí-Rá (pronounced Ree Raw for the benefit of non-Irish speakers) is a Tullamore based hip-hop artist who would have released his first music with the highly influential Scary Éire. One Ton Style is taken from his brilliant 2022 released album The 13th Tide.
Soft On Crime – You’ve Already Made Up Your Mind
Short, sharp, melodic psyche-pop from Dublin. Their single ‘You’ve already made up your mind” is a classic in the making. If the Beatles and Swinging Utters had a baby together, it would probably sound like this. Their debut album is due out in early 2023.
Stoat – Why You Should Give up on Your Dreams
Stoat create really intelligent and catchy indie pop. Why You Should Give up on Your Dreams is one of the most weirdly inspiring songs we’ve heard in a long time.
Uly – keith I want to be everything
Uly is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Rafino Murphy. He’s an astrophysicist by day, and an excellent musician and songwriter who creates brilliant soul music the rest of the time. His latest release is the excellent ‘keith I want to be everything’
Vultures You Know – Hammers
Dublin noise rockers who have just released their excellent debut album. Hammers is the first single from it.
Walk Then Dance – Various Miracles (Aerbeatz Remix)
Walk Then Dance is Scottish based electronic musician Ian Goulding. He released his brilliant debut album in 2021 and has been following it up with a steady stream of excellent singles and EPs. This collaboration with Aerbeatz is probably one of the best dance tracks from this year.
Wild Rocket – Formless Abyss
Wild Rocket are very very heavy and loud stoner rock. They sound awesome. That’s all you need to know.
Yop – Beyond Being
Yop are a 2-piece Krautrock band from Ballina in Co. Mayo. Beyond Being is from their brilliant double A-side debut single.
