Hermitage Green are one of Irelands most exciting new bands. Their debut album, which was recorded over two nights in Whelan’s, is available on the 22nd of November. Goldenplec caught up with the band ahead of its release.
Formed back in 2010 Darragh Griffin explains that the band began when he, Dan Murphy, Barry Murphy, Darragh Graham and Dermot Sheedy met in a pub one night. “We started as a spontaneous jam in the back room of a pub called The Curragower in Limerick,” he told Goldenplec. The band has been together since.
The band’s use of a bodhran, djembe and dobro is not something that people would be used to with contemporary music – in fact, many people may not even be unaware of what these instruments are. But the band has no intention of changing what they play. “It was another scenario that just happened because those instruments were there when we jammed for the first time. They work very well together so there was no question of dropping them.”
The band’s EP ‘The Gathering’ has been very well received. The writing process is explained by one of the bands vocalist’s Darragh. “I do most of the writing locked away in a room and have that interesting moment where I sit the lads down and sing them the song to them for the first time trying to gauge their reaction,” he said.
“The songs are transformed though when the individuals within the group add their own interpretations of the music. Some of the songs we now play are very different from how they were written and we each contribute to the arrangement and re-arrangement of the songs. I think this is a real feature of our sound that a song could be different in two shows a month apart because we’ve decided to try a different approach.”
The band have decided on a very brave idea for their debut album. They recorded two live shows in the famous Dublin venue Whelan’s and used those as the audio for their album. It’s a fresh approach to an album but the shows went well, according to Darragh. “The gigs were great! Two sell-out dates in Whelans is always great but we had the best audience we’ve had in Dublin so far so it was an extra bonus.
“The sound we create at a live gig with the interplay between bodhran and djembe, the vocal harmonies and the energy of a live show is the sound of Hermitage Green and we felt that capturing this in its most raw state was the best option for us,” he said. “Now that it’s all done and dusted and I’ve listened to the initial recordings from the gigs I know we took the right option.”
A live album is not something anyone could have expected from a band still in relative infancy. It wasn’t something that the band set out to create though as Darragh tells Goldenplec. “We have never really planned anything. We play as many gigs as we can because that’s what we love and then see what option stands out to us and do that. Obviously we plan to do a studio album in the future but the live album is the best option at the moment.”
Musically the sound of Hermitage Green seems to take its influences from a range of areas. The band doesn’t have a definitive line on who influences them but Darragh gives us his own personal favourites. “From a song writing perspective I love Nick Drake, John Martyn, Mick Flannery, Dick Gaughan, Josh Ritter, John Smith, Richard Thompson – so lads and a guitar basically,” he jokes.
“I love impressive guitar playing and hard-hitting songs so these really stand out to me. I also love to hear musicians who are simply so good they leave you in awe so from that department I’m a big fan of people like The Punch Brothers, The Olllam, Lau, Buile, Kan, The Teetotallers, Martin O’ Connor Band – the ones who make you feel an inch tall basically! Also should mention The Staves, Laura Mvula and Alabama Shakes: all superb. I could go on forever.”
The band have had a really successful few years. Extensive touring, a successful EP release, topping the iTunes charts and playing to a sold out Electric Picnic; all without a record label. At the moment the band seem quite content to work this way. “So far I don’t believe we needed a record label but they can provide support that wouldn’t come about otherwise and push a band massively in terms of PR and advertising so we don’t rule out ever having a record label behind us,” Darragh tells us.
“I think its very important for young up and coming bands to know that you do the work not the record company, so why not work for yourself until a stage that you really need them to work for you then worry about record labels.”
Over the years Hermitage Green have played some pretty unique countries. Gigs in South Africa, Australia and The Middle East aren’t too common for an Irish band. Playing to crowds that are unfamiliar with their music must have been daunting. Darragh didn’t see it this way.
“I loved the challenge of playing to audiences like that. Obviously there are plenty of Irish in Australia and Abu Dhabi so it was like being at home sometimes but much sunnier! Those experiences were great but playing in France or South Africa is a totally different experience where the audiences tend to sit and really listen to the music. I loved it personally but we get that here in certain venues also and it’s the most enjoyable experience in which we connect with the crowd more so than in other gigs.”
With all that travelling the band have some great Spinal Tap moments. Some that can’t make the light of day but Darragh is good enough to tell us one of the more politically correct tales. “We were in Florida on our first ever tour as a band and all got a tad over excited. Long story short all of our equipment, which we’d borrowed from a bluegrass band, was robbed from the van after one member who I’ll just call D. Graham left the van unlocked,” he laughs. “Subsequently I wrote a song about the experience and we are best of pals with The Uproot Hootenanny. Also Dan missed a flight from Sydney to Perth – that was hilarious for all except Dan.”
Before Hermitage Green, who provided the music for the hit RTÉ show Second Captains, started Barry Murphy played Rugby for Munster and the Irish team. One of the highlights of a career ended by injury was scoring a try against a strong All Blacks team in Thomand Park. Facing down the Haka and scoring against the worlds greatest side may seem impossible to top, but Barry seems delighted with his new career path. “Scoring a try against the All Blacks is a very nice thing to be remembered for although losing the game in the last minute makes it a bitter sweet memory,” he says.
“That game epitomised sport for me and epitomised why I love rugby and why I love Limerick and Ireland. I suppose music and sport are quite intertwined for me, music was always a nice thing for me to use to get away from training and playing, it has now become the obsession that rugby once was for me and also is now my career. In terms of performance they are very different obviously but the best part of both worlds are the people you experience it with and whom you meet along the way. Luckily for me I’ve been fortunate enough to do both with my best mates.”
Over the next 12 months the band intend to keep working hard. “We are hoping to gig lot more in the UK and the US. It’s going to be an exciting time for us.”
Hermitage Green – Live in Whelan’s is on sale on the 22nd of November.