VIDEOS: Who are Cavan's greatest bands?

Crammed! County Cavan is absolutely crammed with great music acts - so many that some have had to go off and conquer the rest of the world to let new ones coming through have their chance in the (cloud covered) sun. In this listicle we've included some easily guessable acts, and a few lesser known gems, all in no particular order.

Of course we've bound to have left plenty of bands out - no offence is meant (I'm a blow-in) so please do let us know your favourite.

1. Travis Oaks: Last Love Song

Why not start with the latest in a long-long line of class Cavan bands? In Last Love Song Travis Oaks wear their Black Keys influence on their sleeves, whilst recreating a true life story where they were kidnapped for a sexy pagan concert. The fourpiece's new six track EP is coming out on June 10, and Seamus Enright has just filed a great interview with them for next week's Celt.

 

2. THE WOULD BE'S: I'm Hardly Ever Wrong

Book of Kells? Yawn. To my mind The Would Be's have created a true national treasure with I'm Hardly Ever Wrong. Admittedly I'm quite often wrong. The Kingscourt outift burst onto the indie scene when half of them were still in school, after BBC DJ John Peel played this single on his late night radio slot. Touring with Morrissey they were all the rage for a couple of years before enduring a messy collapse, but after 20-years of growing up, having families and getting sensible jobs, the Would Be's reflected on what could have been to become the Would Be's again in 2013. I'm Hardly Ever Wrong is not just the best Cavan indie pop song ever made, it's perfection.

 

3. LISA O'NEILL: Come Sit Sing

The Ballyhaise songwriter stirs something ancient into life through her magical folk. Here Lisa's at her raucous best with Come Sit Sing from her second album - Same Cloth or Not - and it's anthemic close. Lisa's latest spellbinding album Pothole in the Sky has just been released and sees her further develop her song-writing, while the production is stripped back, giving even more focus to her USP - that voice. 

 

4. DEAD CAN DANCE: The Host Of Seraphim

Many didn't realise it at the time, but in Brendan Perry, one of the main driving forces behind the other-worldy Dead Can Dance, we had a genius living amongst us for two decades, working from his Quivvy Church studio. Relax and absorb this ethereal masterpiece The Host Of Seraphim, and see why over four million others have also tuned in. Fortunately Brendan's multi-instrumentalist brother Robbie still resides in Cavan, playing, creating, educating and charming everyone he meets.

 

5. CIARAN O'NEILL: Look Da No Hands

Ciaran O'Neill has only released one album - Introducing Ciaran O'Neill & Co, but if you're only going to make one, you make it memorable. For this epic album closer the Redhills man combined with living legend Fearghal McKee of Whipping Boy fame, and came up with something truly special. A superb, at times cryptic, lyricist, he's also got an ear for a tune. Check out the heart-breaking country guitar playing... 

 

6. ÁINE CAHILL: Black Dahlia

Áine Cahill forward, she's been making a dent in the national consciousness, thanks in part to her jaw-dropping talent, and also to local impresario Paul Cox's string-pulling. Anyone who thought Áine was Cavan's answer to Adele, was asking the wrong question. In Black Dahlia the Castletara singer-songwriter shows that Cavan's got soul - kiler soul in fact.

 

7. THE SISTER LOVERS: Place Like This

Speaking of Fearghal McKee, he once described The Sister Lovers as a cross between Gram Parsons and Magazine. Slowey's vocals remind me more of Pavement, but what do I know? If you're not fussed by the start of Place Like This, skip on two minutes and five seconds for a blistering change of tempo where we're transported to a completely new place - and it's fantastic!  

 

8. THE STRYPES: What a Shame

We all know The Strypes are great live, but here they're positively incendiary. Josh, Ross, Pete and Evan did well to maintain their dignity when chatshow host David Letterman makes a lame joke about their age. Instead they explode on stage in a wondrous two-minutes of controlled anarchy - pulsing with punk attitude and new wave knowing. 

Letterman got it right at the end: 'Yeah! Yeah, how about that!? Fantastic!'

 

9. HEROES OF SOUTHERN ULSTER: The Pop Inn

Post-punk's alive and well with February's release of Heroes of Southern Ulster's debut album Foundry Folk Songs. Justinus Kelly and David Meagher seem obsessed with life growing up in rural towns, with their lyrics littered with recollections. Has there ever been a song to namecheck Moynalty before?

The lingering regret at the end of The Pop Inn distills much of what they're lyrics are about: 'Fresh faced and fifteen I hyperspaced and disappeared, only to reappear half way across the world. Middle aged and lined longing for all that used to bore me, embarassed by all I once held dear.' 

10. BOOMTOWN RATS: Banana Republic 

While Pete Briquette (Patrick Cusack) was just one sixth of the Boomtown Rats, the Ballyjamesduff man was a crucial part of the band’s charm. Check out the reggae flavour of his bass intro to Banana Republic this fantastic critique of modern Ireland. As memorable as his bassline, is the chorus:

Banana Republic, Septic Isle
Sufferin’ in the screamin’ sea, sounds like dyin’
Everywhere I go, yeah everywhere I see
The black and blue uniforms, Police and Priests 

11. HEROES IN HIDING: Hush

Fronted by Bailieborough's Liam McCabe, Heroes in Hiding were formed in 2014. With three polished EPs under their belts, they may well be about to emerge into the open - it'd be the least that Liam's vocal prowess deserves. We were tempted to include their wonderful cover of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing, but instead opted for this Villagers-eque beauty. I'll hush now...

 

12. SHOUTING AT PLANES: Surrender

Before there were Heroes in Hiding there were Shouting at Planes, and bands simply don't come tighter than this. They had a song included in the soundtrack of some big American teen drama and we all thought that they were poised to conquer the States, but have since gone below the radar. Hopefully the Planes refuel and get ready for take off again.