BACK in the
’90s, The Would Be’s famously turned down 14 major labels to follow up their John Peel and Morrissey acclaimed debut single
‘I’m Hardly Ever Wrong’.
The band eventually chose the most obscure label they were courted by, but the decision would ultimately cost, as Decoy Records couldn’t bring the band to the next level.
After just 18 months, The Would Be’s acrimoniously parted ways with Decoy with a large sense of unfinished business. But that was then and this is now.
Encouraged to pick up their instruments again last year, The Would Be’s dipped their toes back into the water by releasing two warmly received singles on FIFA Records and finally released an album of Irish indie that timelessly fits into 2013.
‘Beautiful Mess’ will be launched at the Academy on Friday October 11, and by all accounts, it’s worth the wait. To coincide with the gig Dublin People Newspapers asked band member, Aidine O’Reilly, a few questions about our capital city.
1. Best gig you’ve been to in Dublin
In recent times, it would have to be a toss-up between The Happy Mondays at Leopardstown Racecourse or Ennio Morricone at IMMA, Kilmainham. The full orchestral treatment in control of a master was just magical – but I think the Happy Monday’s pipped it at the post because it was one of the gigs I organised. Nothing could beat the sheer joy of watching 8,000 people moving in unison in the rain to Step On
?¦.Also a chance meeting with Bez in a hallway resulted in my getting a direction for life from him
?¦
“Don’t take anything for granted, Carpe Diem
?
2. Most Memorable moment in Dublin
Growing up in Cavan, it was busking on Grafton Street every Saturday. Getting the bus to Dublin and making enough throughout the day to have a pizza and read the NME in The Bad Ass in Temple Bar was the highlight of my teenage years. It all had to come to an end sometime
?¦ and my end came when someone ran off with the end of my trombone and I had to replace it at great expense with a proper Saturday job.
3. Most ‘Want to forget’ moment in Dublin
Too many to mention, especially when I first moved to Dublin in the early 1990s. Sensibly I have acquired a
“selective memory
? that enables me to enjoy my adulthood, despite the many misadventures of youth.
4. First and last album you bought
I’m pretty sure the first album I ever bought was with my busking money and was Talking Heads’
‘Little Creatures’ from Rhythm Records in Temple Bar. And the most recent album was Alt J
‘An Awesome Wave’, which I got on iTunes.
5. You play the trombone and the saxophone. What inspired you to take up these instruments?
My dad was a great influence – he was a trumpet player in a Showband for a time in the
’60s. I joined the local Brass and Reed Band when I was 10 and was promptly lined up and given the trombone because I was the biggest child with the longest arms! (I’m much more in proportion now!). Because the trombone wasn’t my first choice, I rebelled against it for years and used to sneak in to the band room to teach myself the saxophone. When I met the lads in the band, they convinced me the trombone could be cool and now I prefer it. I appreciate a trombone is a pretty unusual choice for a girl in an indie band.
6. When you’re not playing music, what do you do?
I live and work in Dublin 8. I have a company called Real Nation, and we run specialised educational projects for young people and events, gigs and festivals for over 18s. It keeps me pretty busy, but because I’ve been growing it for 13 years, I’m at a stage now where I’ve brilliant people in charge of every area, so it means I can be freed up to get more involved with the band.
7. If you weren’t playing with your fellow band mates, who would make up your ideal band?
In a world where everyone stays 25, it would probably be a combination of Dave Grohl (back on drums), Jonny Marr on guitar, Debbie Harry on vocals and Kim Deal on Bass. I’d still do what I do!
8. Any tips on life
Don’t take things for granted. Carpe Diem (although it sounded better when Bez said it in a Manc accent)
9. First person you’d invite to your party?
John Cooper Clarke, I could listen to his Mancunian punk poetry all day
10. Last person you’d invite to your party?
Anyone who has made their mark in life by appearing on a reality TV show