HAVE you played in Dublin much before, Andy?
We have played there quite a few times but we leave it too long between shows, we’re hoping to remedy that in 2017.
It's weird, we’ve got a bigger fanbase in London or Edinburgh than we do in Dublin, its one of those things when you’re just an independent band – you can’t be everywhere.
You signed to US label Alive Naturalsound last year and went 'full-time' with the band in 2016. How's it been going?
Just being on Alive is the biggest thrill. We always had Alive in our sights but never really thought we'd get there: I mean, it's the legendary Alive.
We played a few shows with Left Lane Cruiser and James Leg and they recommended us to Patrick Boisel at Alive and the rest was pretty straight forward.
Going full-time is a dream-come-true, of course – hard work but no complaints.
Did you enjoy your first US tour last year?
Playing in Mississippi still feels like a fantasy. We signed our record deal on Robert Johnson's crossroad in Clarksdale and we’re still in touch with the good folks we played for in Tupelo.
Just being considered good enough to play in those places is an honour, the talent pool is very deep. Seeing the town names and being in the places that those great artists lived, well, I have no words to describe the feeling.
How important has touring in general been to The Bonnevilles?
Oh, it's been absolutely essential. We decided at inception that we weren’t going to just hang around the usual spots hoping for a break. We always wanted to be a touring band, we always wanted the work, we resent the 'local band' label.
We love touring and pretty much everything has always taken a back seat to the band. We did our first foreign gigs in Belgium something like three months after we formed – it was a sign of intent.
What makes yourself and Chris (McMullan, drums) work so well together?
We both do our jobs as well as we can, both as a collective and as individuals within that. We both are obsessed with the band and love what we have created.
We do genuinely respect each other. We have the same goals and we do love each other. We must do, we spend a lot of time with just each other for company.
If you’re going to do that, you need to figure it out – otherwise you’re doomed.
People have really responded to your current LP, Arrow Pierce My Heart. How do you approach the recording process?
Yeah its been very, very well received. We’re stunned to be honest.
Regarding recording, we really still have a very simple approach to the process, we try to do as much as possible live with few overdubs and not much in the way of production. Now that we're into our third record we have a bit more confidence in our process, I guess. When we started, it was the vogue to over-produce and make a processed sound: we never bought into that.
Now, I think people are going back to a more organic sound, just a little. We like to think our reputation is built on the quality of our songs and our live show, having some processed nonsense spewed over your record isn’t going to make your album better. Basically, it's all about the song.
Erotica Laguna Lurgana: it's hard to make Lurgan sound sexy, but congratulations. You've also got Hardtale Lurgan Blues and No Law In Lurgan in the bag. Do you still have a love/hate relationship with your home town?
Ha-ha, yeah thanks. Yes, I have a love/hate relationship with Lurgan, I actually really like it now, but I did used to loathe the place.
Erotica Laguna Lurgana was my attempt to apologise for the bad stuff I’d said in those other tracks.
I think Lurgan's reputation isn’t a good one so a wee sprinkle of sexiness was due, inspired by Jackie Treehorn from The Big Lebowski.
Lurgan needs its own music festival: Who's playing at Bonnevillesfest?
Yes, I agree – but I also know organising a festival is a job from hell, so someone else will have to take it on.
Well, all the Lurgan bands that are doing it right now are in; Ciaran Lavery, Malojian, Trucker Diablo, Barry Kerr, Chris Molloy, Sinnosence.
We’ll have to let some outsiders in, so Petty Youth for sure, No Oil Paintings, Mike Mormecha, Cursed Sun, Triggerman, Robyn G Sheils, The Wood Burning Savages, Waldorf & Cannon.
I literally have to stop myself – this festival is starting to look awesome.
:: The Bonnevilles, Saturday December 3, Thomas House, Dublin. Tickets, music and more info via thebonnevilles.co.uk.
