Formed from the remnants of a indie/goth/metal outfit on one side and folk/ irish duo on the other (with a touch of punk circa '78), the Giants Causeway sound is a blend (mess?!) of all of these. Usually to be found gigging (staggering) on the West Yorkshire UK pub scene, the band's first CD, Hoarse, is available now and another is planned for recording this year; Keep in touch through our mailing list to receive details of new recordings and gigs.
The band is comprised of:
- Graeme (Bass): Lager please - probably a shandy
- Neil (Guitar): Your best fruity bitter
- Nick (Drums, Vocals): Guinness, whatever
- Joe (Vocals, Mandolin): Guinness, just the one
- Finbarr (Vocals, Guitar(ish)): Guinness, cold, by the bucket
For the truly bored / looking for web to browse, our complete history is as follows:
Primordial Slime:
(how it all began)
Hailing from illustrious Irish stock (Cos. Longford, Galway, Cork & Kerry), Joe & Finbarr share a history dating back over 20 years (old gits). They first 'teamed up' as fellow combatants for Siddal Amateur Rugby League ( .. strangely, now nationally successful since our retirement) ..
..after too many years ending up hospitalised or unconscious on a Saturday evening, they discovered a far less painful route to nightly oblivion in the form of music - the craic (getting pissed to you and me). Of course their ''teen years'' feats in this arena need no introduction and the now legendary outfits 'Meat and 2 Veg' and 'Big City Cheer' are well established in the rock and roll hall of tragedy (take a left from the hall of fame).
Unfortunately, the world was robbed of this early talent when the duo split. Citing Musical Differences (both wanted to try something musical, for a difference), Finbarr wandered off into the Goth/ Metal wilderness (where he remains still? lastly with 'the drop' - see below) and Joe took his part as founder member of the peerless Belt of the Celts. There was a brief re-union during this period when Finbarr was asked to step into Gerry's boots for a night (his boots having turned up without him); the occasion offered an early promise of future collaboration when Finbarr almost managed to keep pace... but that level of drinking really should be left to the professionals and he bowed out (dis) gracefully.. falling over / through the stage/ drum kit/ window in the process.
Joe, meanwhile, went from strength to strength as 'the Celts' embarked on world domination; surprisingly, his talents for guitar, mandolin, penny whistle, bodhran and banjo didn't handicap him at all and he still found himself making the starting line up. Finally, however, he realized that you have but one liver in this life and decided to call it a day.
At about this time Finbarr was on his way back from the wilderness (just up from the George) and they bumped into each other (Finbarr wasn't wearing his glasses). There and then a musical pact was established that bears fruit today ...
Chapter 2: the Triumph of the Dinosaurs
With the passing of time what was once two is now five (eh?) - Joe and
Finbarr
having recognised that they couldn't possibly sustain the scam for much
longer without the addition of some musicianship
- original fans
shouldn't despair though (both of you); the line up has maintained the
same levels of talent as always (?!) and is now complemented by:
Graeme
(Bass):
a real musician with genuine talent who also plays in proper bands (
they charge a fortune though, so you
wouldn't be interested mr landlord).. but he has few friends so
likes to hang around with us. He boasts a substantial pedigree (yes,
also an old git) and can trace his musical roots back to those fine old
days of
NWOBHM (
there are rumours of a mini Halifax
revival - did it ever go away? -watch out for the reappearance of furry
boots and spandex in the George). A member of the trio of
collaborators that includes Finbarr and Nick (see below), lastly
gigging together as 'the drop', Graeme has fond memories of
that period - waking up in warehouses in sheffield after a night of
concentrated
butane inhalation (long story).
Neil (Guitar)
another muso threatening to skew the dynamic of our honourable amateur
status, Neil is the one on the far right of the 'photo with the captive
hostage stare; we would like to assure his family that we are treating
him according to the Geneva conventions and he will be returned safely
once our demands have been met. Neil and Joe work together in the
Department
of Records. When not footling with us he also
contributes to the Chalky Love Dart post-punk combo; Neil lives in
Royston Vasey
Nick (Drums, vocals)
And finally, confidently redressing the balance lest we get
too musical, Nick adds a new dimension to the art of the drummer; not
content with audio artistry, he also constructs fascinating visual
and tactile installations, painstakingly sculpted from wood splinters,
chipboard,
cling film, beer mats and gaffer tape, that take on a different form at
each event. Of his previous collaborations with Graeme and Finbarr he
offers the following fond recollection: " .
.it wasn't me officer.. I wasn't even in
Sheffield that night..." When not tub-thumping Nick likes
to spend his time as a
colossal
death robot.
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