This month's OSLO event is a two-for-one night. Two of the most exciting Irish bands around at the moment are playing a free show at The Workmans Club tonight.
This month we did a quickfire Q&A with Skinner and Bob Skeleton. Skinner is the solo recording project of Aaron Corcoran playing live as a band with members Jack Tobin (drums) and Daniel Butler (bass) and Bob Skeleton are a 4-piece "Midnight-Pop" band from Galway.
So, what is your current opinion on the Irish music scene?
Skinner:I think that the scene has had a huge improvement recently with bands like Just Mustard and Silverbacks. There’s a lot to be said for the DIY scene in Ireland and I think it great to see so much art being produced without industry influence. However, people are pushing an agenda of an “emerging Irish music scene” so much that they will back any artist, regardless of whether the music is good or not.
Bob Skeleton, what're your thoughts on the current scene of music in general?
Eoin: pop isn’t as dirty a word as it used to be which is good.
Oisin: for some people it is, for us it’s not.
Who is your dream collaboration?
Skinner: James Chance and the Contortions. I think the New York no wave scene was one of the most innovative and expressive periods of music and those guys really did some weird stuff.
And what's your dream supergroup?
Dara Kiely (Girlband) - Vocals
Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) - Guitar
John Lourie (Lounge Lizards) - Alto Sax
Bill Evans - Keys
Mark Sandman (Morphine) - Bass
Stephen Morris (Joy Division) -Drums
Bob Skeleton, what's dream tour line up that you could be a part of?
Oisin: Arctic Monkeys, Fontaines DC
Eoin: Wolf Alice
Oisin: That’d be pretty rock and roll.
Skinner, what is one trend from the past you wish was still around?
Mullets
...and the worst trend that you have taken part in?
Heelys
Bob Skeleton, what is one trend from the past you wish was still around?
Eoin: Heelys.
Skinner, what's the best festival you’ve been to?
EP 2018. That was my dream line-up.
Job you wanted to have as a kid?
Skinner: Vet
Eoin, Bob Skeleton: Manchester United number 7.
Bob Skeleton, what're your top 3 essentials if you get stuck inside during another snowstorm?
Eoin: Bread.
Rory: laptop, speaker, coffee.
Oisin: buckfast, phone, speaker.
Skinner, what's the most embarrassing song on your phone?
A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More "Touch Me" - Fall Out Boy. Not even ashamed.
First and last albums you bought?
First: Bob Dylan- Bob Dylan (1962)
Last: John Coltrane
What was the first and last concert you went to, Bob Skeleton?
Jack: Bob Dylan, Blossoms.
Eoin: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gus Dapperton.
Rory: my first was Westlife, Busted and Girls Aloud, with my mother. Six pulled out. Last one was Jungle.
Oisin: Clapton. Although I remember seeing an ABBA tribute act when I was quite young at a fair and thinking I’d seen the real ABBA for years. Blossoms were my last one.
Favourite Irish venue?
Skinner: The Sugar Club
Eoin, Bob Skeleton: We love the Olympia.
Skinner, what's your most controversial opinion?
The Beatles weren't that great
What's your favourite film quote?
Skinner: “Rules? PISS ON YOUR FUCKING RULES!” – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Jack, Bob Skeleton: ‘I had to beat them to death with their own shoes’, Wayne’s World 2.
Lastly, what's coming up for the next few months for your band?
Skinner: Hopefully releasing new music and we’re playing a gig on the 25th of April in the Bello bar in association with Future Proof
Eoin, Bob Skeleton: We’ve got a new single ‘After You’ coming out on the 22nd of March and more releases planned for the summer as well as gigging as much as possible and hopefully playing a few festivals too.