While there is nothing prepared or packaged about Patrick Kelleher and His Cold Dead Hands as a band, they come forward as a band with something genuinely different to offer, unique styles, the perspective that comes with experiencing an alternative to the accepted norms of society and culture in Ireland that is currently unmatched by any contemporary artists. This is certainly due in a large part to the Box Social community where a bevy of independent musicians collaborated and performed in the grounds of a modest house in Dublin’s South Circular Road. Now they have moved into the city’s central circuit, bringing that background with them to import the ethos or essence of the music into the scene to make it work for them alongside everyone else.
“I’d like to see that happening again, the Box Social. You see, you need to get lucky and have a place where you can put on gigs. You need to find a house that suits it or a studio space where the landlord doesn’t mind you putting on a gig occasionally. The Box Social wasn’t my creation, it was Ger’s, but I would encourage anyone who has a house where they could put on gigs to do so because it’s fun, it’s really good fun. A little bit of work organising bands and cleaning up after everybody but it feels great, having people come to your house and enjoy music.
“Lately there’ve been a lot of gigs where the bookers can’t really pay you any money so you have to be selective and play the ones you’re not going to lose money on. You lose money here and there just by getting taxis and stuff like that. Certain bookers are really good, like Leagues for example, even if he doesn’t make money on the gig he’ll pay you anyway. It’s good though, it’s a really good time to be making music. It’s difficult to make any money but that’s natural enough. It’s really easy to record music which is good. It’s good.”
Patrick Kelleher supports Tieranniesaur at Crawdaddy on 28 July and Dan Deacon at the Button Factory on 5 August. Golden Syrup is out now on Osaka Records.
