The Goo 1
MAY-JUNE 23 MOVING HOME TO MY FAMILY HOME ALSO GA
VE ME A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND SPACE TO EXPERIMENT WITH MUSIC AND EXPLORE THINGS I MIGHT NOT HAVE OTHERWISE You've music released by labels based in the States, Belgium, Ireland and the UK. How come there's such a spread? I think when I began making music the internet was starting to allow for a lot of possibilities for connection and I have been fortunate to make connections and friends through music and travel quite a bit. There's a global network of music that is filled with a lot of great people. Over the years I've encountered lots of people who forged paths through the undergrowth that have helped pave the way for future explorers. I once heard that the underground touring circuit developed by the Grateful Dead is what allowed Black Flag to do DIY touring later, Greg Ginn was known to wear a Grateful Dead t-shirt back in the day. The album launches on May 25th in the Workmans Club in collaboration with uMack. What's the link there? Yes it should be a good show, I'm putting together a great band for it and it'll be a joy to get to play with them. Timo Umack has been a long time supporter of my musical ventures and gave me great gigs when I was starting as a youngster and I am very grateful to him for it. Years ago he had me and my band open for The Magic Band, I still remember the thrill of Rockette Morton sitting down next to us and saying "My name is Rockette" and asking us where he could buy a Shillelagh. He also once had me open up for one of my favourite musicians, Terry Reid, whom I got to tell I loved. You've had a few collaborations over the years, do you spend your days thinking who can I work with next, how do these ideas germinate? I don't tend to ponder over it too much. Most of the collaborations I've done have come about quite naturally through friends. I love playing music with people and there's nothing like the fire you can get going when it works. “Return To The Land Of The Living” is a wonderful turn of phrase from your mam. I have personal experience of this caring situation and know how much it consumes your world. Did your caring responsibilities impact how you created this music? Yeah my mum had a stroke a few years ago and I ended up being her carer as she has had some issues with communication and mobility since then. When she was relearning how to speak after this stroke she began saying "she brings me back to the land of the living" and curiously she didn't seem to know where it came from, so it ended up seemingly like a suitable title for the album. I did have to take time away from travelling with music and touring to be here to help with rehabilitating and overcoming the challenges this presented but I was grateful to be able to help and I have enjoyed the sense of purpose it has given me. I have also found her determination and perseverance in the face of difficulties inspiring and it has helped guide me with music in a way. Moving home to my family home also gave me a different perspective and space to experiment with music and explore things I might not have otherwise so it has been a mixed blessing. So, No Quarter says “Cian we are curating this festival for you. You have to go on last but we have magically got people back from the dead and bands back together again to open up. Who do you want on the line up?” That's a wild question, I don't think I'd like to have to play last but I suppose it would be worth it to get to see a lineup of Terry Riley, Robert Wyatt, Robert Johnson, The John Coltrane quartet, The 1966 Bob Dylan band, Irma Thomas, The Velvet Underground and Lucinda Williams. Can we bend the rules and I go on first? She Brings Me Back To The Land Of The Living is out now on Now on Quarter Records. Cian launches the album in The Workmans Cellar on May 25th. TIMO UMACK HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SUPPORTER.. PAGE 9