If pressed, Steven Lydon would say that Hooray for Humans are a musical ball of happiness
If pressed, Steven Lydon would say that Hooray for Humans are a musical ball of happiness
Cork-based Hooray for Humans are similar to Guns and Roses in many ways. Their vocalist is an Axl Rose of sorts, in that he is the only remaining member of the original line-up formed two years ago. Having taken over the band’s name, braided his hair, and recruited a guitarist who wears a bucket of deep-fried chicken on his head, the band are now ready to take over the world one album at a time. I am, of course, joking. There are in fact very few similarities, because Hooray for Humans are deadly and Axl Rose is clearly an imbecile. I spoke to the band after their recent gig in the Lower Deck.
“We play pop music, and we don’t see ourselves as having a genre. The main aim is just to write catchy tunes that people can sing or dance along too. Nothing more complicated than that,” says frontman Alan Healy. Such directness of intent certainly comes across in the vitality and freshness of the band’s output. Although sharing the energetic indie-punk vibe of bands like Los Campesinos!, these guys have a more focused and tighter sound which lends a bit of weight to the songs and cuts down on the needless irreverence. Their music is a ball of happiness compressed into musical form, which explodes all over the stage leaving smiles all over audience members’ faces.
This is clearly what the Choice Music Prize panel were thinking when they nominated the band last year. Sadly, they didn’t win, but the band don’t seem to be bitter about this in the least and seem content with the level of success they’ve achieved so far. “Not winning wasn’t a surprise at all, to be honest. There were bands nominated that have been around a lot longer than us and put more work in over the time. It was more surprising just being on a list with some of those guys.” It’s always a pleasure to come across bands who are confident without having huge egos.
“Our lowest point as a band was probably when our original singer left on the eve of a tour with TV and radio appearances. We got over that, though, because to me the friendship was more important than forcing someone to be in a band.” Such difficulties don’t seem to have broken the band as of yet; if anything, they seem to be going from strength to strength: “I’m definitely happiest when we’re on tour. I can’t imagine anything I’d like to do more, though sometimes it can be a tough slog.” The band try to tour as much as they can, having returned from a UK jaunt last week.
They plan to release a new record in May of next year. Keep yizzer eyes on these boyos.
