Micheál Quinn is the man behind the intense drum battery of one of Ireland’s most creative acts Meltybrains? Famed for their unusual swathing rhythms, distinctive sonic palette, artistic live shows and their facemasks. They are so cool that they even have their own dance called The Vine. But when Quinn is not busy being one of Ireland’s best drummers his mind is predominantly fixed on one thing, his passion for puppies of the snarky persuasion. A passion so deep-seated that he’s travelled the world in order to quench his thirst. But don’t take our word for it. There’s only one man who can explain how much Micheál Quinn loves Snarky Puppy. Take it away Micheál.

I love Snarky Puppy. That’s it really. All that is written here is simply me figuring out how to say that in different ways.

I first came across Snarky Puppy in college in Boston, July 2011. My good friend, the infamous, ‘Jimmy From Boston’, was learning 'Skate U’ with his ensemble in college. He showed me the video. It was absolutely nuts. That was that, the beginning of a love affair. Instantly, I was hooked. We must have watched it about 10 more times on repeat. I was mesmerised. To this day, with all the incredible music they have released, Skate U is still my favourite song. It’s so laidback, effortless and oozing in cool. The rest of summer 2011 was spent listening to Snarky Puppy everyday; studying the songs, learning the drum parts; bothering everyone I met with the question ‘Have you ever heard of Snarky Puppy?!’. For the next few years, hardly a day went by that I didn’t listen to some Snarky Puppy. I find it impossible not to feel good listening to them.

All of their music is recorded live, and the recording is filmed. You can watch them playing their albums. That is a very special way to release music. How many contemporary bands do you get to watch play what you hear as the finished record? When I came home from Boston, I was on a mission. I wanted to tell every single person I met about Snarky Puppy. I was so passionate about them, it was bordering on overboard… in fact, it was well past reasonable behaviour. Every party, every car journey, every band rehearsal, I’d get control of the music and blare Snarky Puppy. Every day for a full year, I told a new person about Snarky Puppy.

The music has so much detail in it. The musicianship is out of this world. The music is often made up of layers of lines all culminating in a glorious riff of supreme proportions. The solos are mind-blowing. You can listen to a song 100 times, and every time, you can pick out something new that you had never heard before.

The following year, after wondering if I’d ever see them live, they announced shows in England. Two good friends and myself shipped off to see them. It was every bit as brilliant as I had expected one of those gigs where you are in a state of uncontrollable smiles & laughter the whole show. When they play live, no song is ever the same. They fly around the place, coming up with new ideas on the spot, entering into sections off the cuff. It's something special. The musicianship is beyond anything I had ever seen before. The show was awe-inspiring, from start to finish. Every time I have seen them, I’m left with two feelings: at a loss for words to describe how happy I am, and the most inspired I can be to go and play the drums.

After that particular London show, I met them for the first time. A funny encounter led to meeting them. Myself and two friends spotted an attractive girl waiting around after the show. I went over to her to say hello. We got talking, and she was delightful. Then she told me she was waiting for her boyfriend. Disaster! Or so I thought... Who walks over, but one of the band members. She said she had just met this Irish guy, who loved the band. I was speechless. She introduced me and my mates to the rest of the band. It was surreal. That was the first of many personal encounters with Snarky Puppy.

The next time I saw them was in Nashville. I was staying with a friend, and we went to see them. As always, they blew the roof off. I said hello again. This time they were a little confused as to why they were meeting the Irish guy from London in Nashville… Naturally, I played it off with the coolest ‘Oh, jeez… it’s not like I followed you from London…. ehhh…’ Totally normal.

When they record their albums, they do so in a live studio, with an audience present. In 2013, I was lucky enough to be at the recording of ‘We Like It Here’. Basically, you sit around the band; with headphones on, listening to them play the whole album through, while it’s being recorded. They also film the show. I was with two of the guys from Meltybrains?, Tadhg & Brian. We spent most of the show jumping out of our chairs shouting with excitement. Needless to say, we didn’t make it into any of the final DVD edits… I doubt they want three Irish lads losing their shit in every shot.

After the show, we got to chill with the band and be part of a jam session with them. Meltybrains? were planning an American tour at the time. We got talking to guitarist, Chris McQueen, about this. He suggested we come to Austin, TX, and he’d organise a show for us, AND play at it too. WHAT?!?! This was the most insane thing I could have imagined happening. Chris kept his word. In January 2014, we played in Austin with Chris opening the show for us, playing music from his other band Foe Destroyer, who are brilliant, although quite a different affair to Snarky Puppy. I would suggest listening to 'Forever', 'Best Friend' of 'Strut’.

Also, a special mention needs to go to Tadhg, from Meltybrains?, for realising how excited I was about being at the album recording, and didn’t want me to get too drunk and make a fool of myself. So he took it upon himself to drink my share of beer too, and ended up deep in conversation with Snarky Puppy mastermind, Michael League, about how the only reason to play music is to make fuck tonnes of money. It was beautiful. Tadhg & Michael having a shouting match about who would give who more money. Utter nonsense. Tadhg had a very wonderful train journey home after that...

Over the next few years, they played in England a number of times. Every London show, I was at. I couldn’t miss an opportunity to see them. Their first show in Ireland was at the Cork Jazz Festival. It was a stormer, but it wasn’t in Dublin. I had dreamed of having them play in Dublin.

Fast forward to November 2014, dreams come true. The Sugar Club was to host their first Dublin show. It sold out in minutes. And a second date was added. Needless to say, I had tickets for both nights. I booked the tickets in a haze after a night in London with Meltybrains?. I ended up booking six tickets for each night, just in case any friends needed tickets. The shows were out of this world. The band posted on Facebook afterwards about how it was the best crowd they had ever played to. I felt so proud. After 3 years of wishing and waiting, and telling them every time I met them, that Dublin would be a show they’d never forget, it didn’t disappoint. I had never felt happier to be from Dublin. It was beautiful. We went out with them afterwards. We made it our business to show Chris a good time. We met him the next day 20 minutes before the show. He had gotten out of bed an hour earlier, and had thrown up. When I introduced him to my Dad, he told him I was dangerous; a moment I will never forget.

Then in 2015, Chris & Michael were in Whelan’s playing with Forq. After the show, I went to give Chris a pint, as was now our tradition, regardless of what he says on the subject. Another unforgettable moment occurred. Michael League turned and exclaimed, in the most bizarre tones of voice, ‘Meltybrains?? MELTYBRAINS??’ emphasising the ‘?’ for days. I’m not sure I could have been happier. The love affair with Snarky Puppy continues.

Listening to Snarky Puppy has certainly shaped the way I play drums, and the way I want to make music. There is an uncertainty to watching them play, that at any moment things could go in a wildly different direction to the path the music was on. I love this. The excitement levels are bursting.

To date, I have seen them eight times. And I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. If I could stress one thing, it’s this: Do yourself a favour, just go and see them live. Even if you think you don’t like the music, just go. What they do on stage is incomparable to anything you’ll ever see anywhere else. If you like music, just go. Do it. Do it. Do it.

I love Snarky Puppy.