We all know perfectly well who Fergal is, but Jen and Kieran are unknown to many... I did know about these bands in which Kieran played before being a member of The Low Network... but how could I imagine that Stephen Street (an old friend of us) produced one ofthem? So I made a little investigation.... and here are the results!
ABOUT LUDLOWludlow
LimerickGenre: Alternative
Influences: Don't know, but we've been told..... Wilco, Sparklehorse, Smog, Mercurary Rev, Red House Painters, Sebadoh, Roger Waters, early Pink Floyd, PavementNeil Young, Mark Linkous, Hank Williams, Johnny Marr, Paul Westerberg
Band members: Kieran Calvert - Guitars. Ronan Considine - Bass, Backing Vocals. Doug Murray - Drums, Piano. Barra O'Toole - Vocals, Guitars.
"ludlow are an Irish quartet who play slow tempo Roots music. Their vision of Emo-Americana is blessed with otherworldly noise loops, rustic instrumentation, innovative arrangements, and a singer who's soulful, whispered vocals add a heavenly layer of atmosphere to the band's already gossamer sound." - Listen.com (December 1999)
"Combines traditional influences with a flair for experimentation. Very moody and emotive." - AudioGalaxy.com
http://www.mp3.com.au/artist.asp?id=2022ABOUT WOODSTARWOODSTAR - Every now and then, you find yourself playing a particular band or musician more often than you realised; they sort of creep quietly on to your regular play list. One such band is Woodstar, from Limerick. Their music is heavily influenced by people like Mercury Rev and Sparklehorse, but they put their own strong melodic stamp on the genre. Their album Life Sparks is a real grower, full of shimmering harmonies and lush bittersweet beauty.
http://www.williedillon.com/musiclinks.htmMAEVE QUIGLEY: THE LATEST FROM THE CLUB AND ROCK SCENES
Sunday Mirror, Apr 15, 2001 by Maeve Quigley
AND the hits just keep on coming.....
It appears that the recent Bacardi/Hot Press Band Of The Year competition has had Irish A&R men reaching for their cheque books.
This year the standard of the entries was higher than ever but after a hard-fought fight Limerick band Woodstar finally ran off with the prize.
So congratulations to Limerick lads Fin Chambers, Al Sheahan, Kieran Calvert, Doug Murray and Ronan Considine for a battle well- won.
Sources say they've run off with the prize package of recording and video time amongst other things to create the most sublime alternative country release that Ireland has ever seen. (...)
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20010415/ai_n14526173A ‘Sad Verse’ from Woodstar
The lead track on Woodstar’s new EP “The Last Sad Verse Of A Dumb Punk Song” was recorded with acclaimed producer, Stephen Street, in Windmill Lane, Dublin.
The band came to the attention of Stephen when he heard their debut E.P. “Time To Bleed” and expressed an interest in working with them. The union was a success with Stephen managing to capture the harder edge of the Woodstar sound familiar to fans of their live set.
Woodstar were formed in the summer of 2000, the collective union of mind and sound. A five-piece band whose influences are wide and varied from Dylan & Bowie to Smog & Red House Painters.
Fin, Doug & Al built a studio in a field in Mungret, Limerick, with their bare hands in July of 2000. Enter Kieran and Ronan, and they immediately began recording three songs “These Scars”, “Sorry Skin”, and “She Catches”, on an eight-track machine in the freshly built studio. The results were a revelation to the band, without even trying, they had found a sound of their own.
With that they were finally ready to move. The first gig was in November, 2000, in the Limerick heats of the Bacardi Hotpress Plugged Band of the Year. They subsequently won the competition outright in April of 2001.
“These Scars” was also shortlisted for the Hot Press Song of the Year.
In the summer of 2001, the band were contacted by Matt Edwards of Hero Music, who came to see them in McGregors of Limerick. The following day he joined them for an afternoon in Mungret Studios. From there Dan Keeling of Parlophone got on board and suggested they release a five track E.P on the Regal Label – Woodstar agreed.
A month later they found themselves in Parr Street, Liverpool, with Ben Hillier. To support the EP, Woodstar went on tour with label mates Alfie, which took them the length and breadth of the UK earning many new fans along the way. The “Time To Bleed” EP itself was well received, earning the band a glowing review in NME, and single of the week in both Hot Press and the UK Independent. It also entered the Irish singles chart. A month later the band were back in the UK on their own headline tour.
The band played support to a number of bands in Dublin in 2002 including Mansun, Soundtrack Of Our Lives, and a triumphant support to Supergrass at the Trinity Ball.
A successful support tour with Gemma Hayes followed, which kept the band active on the live front through June between recording and writing new material.
July saw the band playing an acoustic set to a capacity audience in St Nicholas Church, Galway, as part of the Arts Festival.
Currently Woodstar are playing a number of live dates in support of the new E.P.
http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2002/10/24/story5646.aspI believe that Ludlow changed their name into Woodstar by the end of 1999... the first time I heard about Woodstar was in 2003 when Fergal used to go to their live shows and also he collaborated with them from time to time
