Name: Going 90
Formed: Late 2012
Hometown: Limerick
Genre: Indie Rock
Line-up: Ollie Phillips, Martin Ryan, Andrew Franks, Niall Phillips
Similar to: Editors, Two Door Cinema Club
What They Say: A Limerick based band out to enjoy themselves!
What We Say: Tangy alt-rock with rollicking drives A Plastic Rose would be proud of.
◀ Q & A ▶
▶ Tell us about your band name?
We’re Going 90. Going 90 is just a phrase here in rural Limerick where we spend most of our time. It means “You’re going well!”. Regrettably there isn’t any funny story about how it came about as a band name but there isn’t another Going 90 out there so for searching it makes sense and people from big cities have never really heard of the expression so they’re a bit bemused by the whole thing which is always fun, feels like we’re getting one up on them city slickers!
▶ When did you start playing music and how long did it take to find your own sound?
We started playing together in late 2012. We locked ourselves into a garage until March 2013. We really wanted to sound tight and together from the off so we waited a while until the first gig. I felt we really hit our stride and began writing more cohesive and mature songs towards the end of Summer 2013 during the writing of our new EP which is out March 22nd . It was a really creative time and the songs were flowing out of us. They were sounding less like a bunch of parts thrown together and more a solid unit with a distinctive sound.
▶ What releases have you put out so far?
We put out a self recorded and self released EP in June 2013 called “Quick Sale”. Whilst those songs don’t really represent our sound any more, the EP served its purpose at the time to get people to take us a little more seriously.
We just put out a single and video called “Kings Among Men” last week which was recorded by Neal Calderwood in Manor Park Studios. It’s available for free download from going90.bandcamp.com and also available in all the usual on-line stores. That song is the title track off a 5 track EP that’s out March 22nd for free also.
▶ Is there a particular live show that stands out amongst all the rest?
Definitely the time we supported Fight Like Apes in Dolans Limerick last May bank holiday weekend for River Fest. I sold merch for FLAPES a couple of years ago so on a personal level it meant a lot to be playing with them. The place was packed and they were our perfect target audience. River Fest is Limericks only festival weekend so a lot of our friends who hadn’t seen us before were there. May Kay (singer of FLAPES) watched our whole set too which felt really encouraging! One of those nights that validate in your own mind what you’re doing and help you get through the tougher times.
▶ Can you talk about a Highlight of the journey so far?
Highlight would definitely be recording with Neal Calderwood back in January. He produced my favourite Irish album (Fighting with Wire , Man vs Monster) so to be able to work with someone like that was a dream come true. We were like giddy school kids when we first arrived, the best of gear and equipment to play with. He really put a lot of his own input into it too rather than just press record and leave us off which is always a worry. It was a long trip and a tough couple of days but it feels like a landmark point for us.”
▶You are in control of forming a 4 piece ‘super group’ – who is in it and what do they do?
Matthew Helders from Arctic Monkeys would be on drums, he’s the most entertaining drummer I’ve seen live. Jesse Hughes AKA Boots Electric from Eagles of Death Metal would be the singer/frontman just because he’s nuts, that guy was born to be a frontman and nothing else! Fat Mike from NOFX would play bass to just add a bit of debauchery to the whole thing and finish it off with Rory Friers from And So I watch You From Afar on guitar.
▶ If you and 3 bands of your choosing were to do a world tour, who would the other 3 bands be?
Foo Fighters because they’re MASSIVE, have still managed to remain relevant and make the best music. The Cure would have to be on the line up and I’ll throw in the XX to mix things up. I love tours where all the bands sound nothing like each other what so ever, just love each others music and don’t care after that, it is the way it should be rather than who has the same booking agent.
▶ What will be the 3 strangest things on your rider when you’re able to make any demand?
We pride ourselves on being genuine and hardworking, we’re also a pretty tame band to boot. At RockyMayhem fest there was a fridge full of beer there for us but we had more interest in the ham sandwiches so we wouldn’t go too Guns N Roses on it. Plenty of tea, a tonne of chocolate digestives and maybe a football for keepy uppys!
▶ Who has been your biggest inspiration as a musician?
Probably the guitarist from Interpol, Daniel Kessler. The way he uses delay to make his riffs sound super aggressive but subtle and beautiful at other times is something that has always amazed me. I’d also have to give a mention to a guy called Brendan Markham from an old band called “The Driven” from limerick that signed to Polydor in the early 90’s. They were huge for a brief period. He’s back in Limerick now plays in a local band. For someone who got everything I’ve ever dreamed and had it taken away, he’s just as happy to be rocking it out in the hometown. It’s refreshing to meet people that genuine and helpful who still have the love for the music and everyone else that surrounds them.
◀ LISTEN ▶
Facebook ▶ /Going90
Twitter ▶ @Going_90
