The Zen Arcade sign major booking deal with ATC Live

Emerging Cavan rock band The Zen Arcade has signed a booking deal with the hugely respected ATC Live, joining a stable of world-renowned acts such as Dublin’s Fontaines DC and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

The Cavan band, comprised of former members of The Strypes, recently released their debut single ‘Don’t Say A Word’. The flagship release was launched on the band’s own ‘Dental Records’ music label and went straight to the top of the iTunes Singles Chart, as well as entering the national singles chart at No 12.

To date the track has received significant airplay on Irish radio, as well as stations broadcasting in the UK and America.

You can listen to it here:

Based in London, ATC Live represents more than 250 acts; while The Zen Arcade members have also aligned themselves with promotion company CWB which already works with some of Ireland’s best talent, from Bitch Falcon to Le Galaxie, Jerry Fish and many more. CWB previously represented The Strypes.

“It's been a busy few weeks, a lot of things going on in the background,” explains band guitarist Pete O’Hanlon. “It's a weird thing playing a gig to an empty floor. The gig starts at 5:30pm and you’re trying not to make too much eye contact with the guy holding the camera and still give as much to it as you would playing a normal show. It’s definitely different.”

Along with putting pen to paper as a progression, The Zen Arcade have been busy playing and preparing for several socially distanced gigs, recorded and then live streamed to audiences around the world. They’ve recorded three in total - at Dundalk’s Spirit Store, Dublin’s Grand Social, and Cork’s Cyprus Avenue. For a band accustomed to raucous crowds baying for their even beat, the shocking scene of silent void in front of the stage is not lost of them.

The Cyprus Avenue show is due to be broadcast this month.

“It's very strange. It's a whole new experience. Prior to that, we were all quarantined to Bedrock Studios (Evan Walsh’s former bedroom now studio), did our rehearsing there during the day and watched Twin Peaks at night. The nice thing about playing these gigs is they’re at venues we played when we were 'The Strypes'. There are around 23 of those around the country who have now set-up an independent venue support network, because a lot of the time these places get overlooked compared to the bigger places.”

Pete says such venues play an important part of the social and creative fabric of towns across Ireland.

“When The Strypes went on tour in Ireland we always had 26 shows, so we’ve always had a fondness for small venues. We see how important they are, and it’s nice that they have us back.”

The Zen Arcade includes drummer Evan Walsh’s sister, Becky, standing in on bass. She previously appeared live on stage with The Strypes and is a familiar face/voice to fans of the band who have boosted their profile through a popular podcast and DIY online fanzine, copies of which have been downloaded worldwide.

“It definitely changes up the dynamic of the band, and she’s an incredible bassist as well,” says Pete.

The Zen Arcade is already working on a follow up to ‘Don’t Say Anything’, with an expected release sometime in the first quarter of 2021.

The timeline is uncertain, however, after both Covid and lockdown thrown respective spanners in the works.

“We had a video in the works as well but obviously that’s been put back. The plan is to put the next single out but we don’t know when that might be right now. It’s something we’re working on. February or March was the plan but Covid seems to have kicked that in the arse. But there’s no pressure. If it gets pushed back, we’re not going to freak out.

"The first single came and that was our big thing, so now we’re working away and doing things at a pace that suits us as a band. There is no demand to fast track this into a campaign for an EP or album, but all these things come in time. The signings were a big step forward for us, and we’re all looking forward, once things loosen up, to hopefully getting on the road and playing a few gigs.”