words Stephen McMullin
photo Laura Nolan

Common sense isn't common, and Evil Harrisons are not very evil. Not very evil people at least. Their tunes on the other hand could be interpreted as unpleasant by those who like to listen to shit music on a frequent basis. You don't? Well then, get yer winking gear around this smut:

Dundalk is famous for many things, IRA activities, Harp lager and, er… What was that band called? The one with the three birds and a turd? Ah, you know who I mean… It's against this kind of prejudice that the Evil Harrisons are forced to fight, day in, day out. It's not easy being from Louth.

This hasn't stopped them, however, as the four lads (Ronan – vocals; Nicolás – bass; Barry – guitar; and Paul – the absent drummer) have come blazing out of the Spirit Store with a collection of tunes that are remarkably different — from each other and everything else doing the rounds at the moment. It wasn't a surprise to learn that The Beatles are a major influence, particularly the White Album. It was a surprise to hear old school showtunes have more to do with the unique sound.

Ronan tells me, "I love those old 20s and 30s musicals, for the beautifully constructed songs — that sophistication and wit." He goes on to list Cole Porter, Rogers and Hart, Gershwin and a group of other Tin Pan Alley types who wouldn't turn up on the influences list of too many rock'n'rollers. But the most importat thing about them is their "Lovely, big, fat harmonies." Listening to the EP, In If It Is, these influences can be heard quite clearly in the, at times, almost melodramatic compositions (A Pickle Like You springs to mind).

These influences come together, but filtered through the Evil Harrisons Mojo Regenerator, in which genres, labels and styles are ignored equally. Barry tells me, "We're not deliberately trying to be really different, that's just how it comes out — we're just expressing ourselves. We try not to get too bogged down in labels and all that 'You've gotta sound like this and dress like this'. I mean, we're in a band, we're here to make fucking music, and if we can't express ourselves like that then we might as well be working in Bank of Ireland."

Passionate.

Nicolás adds, "I always try to look at it like, 'Would I be bored if I was listening to this myself?' You get the idea to try and pack as much stuff in as possible. We don't want to do the kind of verse, chorus, instrumental — now I'm gonna hear it again with some lyrics over the top. Why not just cut to the chase and move on with it? I think we can handle it."

Let's hope they can, and keep releasing that weirdy stuff of theirs.