David Anthony McGeown and James Lonergan first met in 2016 in Hangar on St Andrew’s Lane, D2 – a venue that closed last year to make room for another hotel in the capital.

The two realised that they were on the same billing the following night at The Mezz with their respective bands, BODIES and Synk, and hit it off straight away. That gig in The Mezz marked the beginning of a friendship and a mutual respect of each other’s music.

“Dave and I have been friends since shortly after I moved to Dublin. He’d come hang out with me when I worked in Musicmaker, I’ve always enjoyed arguing with him. He’s the only person I’ve ever met who acts defensive if you compliment him,” says James.

Since then, the two bands have crossed paths many times. James has filled in for BODIES guitarist Nathan Maher, who lives in the UK, when he hasn’t been able to make it over for an Irish show; the two recorded a cover of Nelly Furtado’s Say It Right for BODIES current mixtape album, Glue; and tonight the two bands play a double headline show in the main room at The Workman’s Club in Dublin.

“It’s not necessarily a case of our bands sounding the same,” says David. “But we have a similar approach to making music and a respect for songwriting. I think both bands are very open to experimentation.” 

James agrees. “I think music should always be in some way progressive. A song can obviously still make someone feel something if the right words are placed over a simple chord structure but I think as musicians, part of our vocation should be to take things further.”

Synk are a prog band from Dublin. Made up of six multi-instrumentalists, Synk’s dynamic, deeply textured sound combines contemporary and vintage elements of rock and electronic music. Synk portray an epic, emotive voice of musical progression that pulls the listener to many extremities.

BODIES are an experimental indie-rock band based in Dublin, made up of members from France, London and Ireland. Combining elements of ’90s guitar-rock, alternative-folk, industrial and ambient electronica grounded by emotionally frank songwriting.

Multi Instrumentalist electronic musician EAFA will be opens for BODIES and Synk at The Workman’s Club tonight. Tickets €5 available from Eventbrite or on the door.