Identity Parade

IDENTITY PARADE'S KEVIN HOMAN
According to lead vocalist Kevin Homan and with the impending release of their forthcoming debut album, it’s all go for the Dublin five-piece.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Kevin yesterday, in Dublin’s famous Windmill Lane recording studio where the band are recording the video for their new single, 'Collette Collar. ' Kevin happily exclaimed with awe-inspiring passion, “It’s all snowballing for us at the moment.”

‘Collette Collar’ the second release from the yet untitled album is also due for release very soon on August 14. The 1st single 'Ooh Ooh' ,which was released on May 22, reached number one on the download charts and number 33 in the IRMA charts.


How did you come up with the name 'Identity Parade'? Have you changed the band’s name before?
We all have slightly differing musical tastes, and an 'Identity Parade' was a great way to describe the infusion of our collective tastes. It's like a gang mentality being brought together.
We've always had the same name.

Has it anything to do with Never Mind The Buzzcocks?
No...Ha ha...we've never been asked that, but that's an interesting question.

Can you tell me about what part all the band members play in the line-up?
Well, I'm on lead vocals and rythm guitar, Paul Gilligan plays bass guitar & Backing Vox. John Kennedy is in charge of Keyboards/organ & backing vox, Conor Nolan plays lead guitar and Daniel O Sullivan is on drums/percussion.



How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
Paul and myself have known each other for about 10 years, and Paul works with Danny. Myself and Paul used to record music in my front room together. We needed a drummer, so Paul asked Danny. We've known each other collectively as a band, since I'd say 2006, when Conner and John joined the band.

What inspired you to make music together?
It wasn't really that tough, we all have a strong passion for music...we're all very creative, and I have always know that I wanted to write. You pick up the guitar and you learn other people's songs...but as soon as I could play a few chords, I was writing songs.

I see you have just signed with promoters audio networks? Do you have a record label? Do you think it’s important nowadays?
We're independent at the moment, but I don't think that's a bad thing.

Do you think Arctic Monkeys, with their atomic rise to stardom, thanks to my space, may have paved the way for unknown bands' to showcase their talents?
Yes, in a way... I'm a big fan of The Arctic Monkeys, but you can never be sure if that was a record company's way to swoop in and state their claim. This tends to happen a lot, just as a band starts to hit the big time.

Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
We've done all the usual places; Whelans, The Village, The Academy. We've also done a few gigs abroad, The Cavern in Liverpool was probably our favourite, as all the greats, including 'The Beatles' have played there. We've also done quite a lot of festivals, including Tuam in Galway which was great craic. I wouldn't like to mention the worst ones!

We have a lot happening throughout August and September...Up next we have The Summer Sounds Festival in Clontarf, The Jervis Shopping Centre gigs and a charity gig in 'Twisted Pepper.' Check out our my space page for regular updates.

Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
No chance...we have a wealth of songs, we are pushing the album at the moment, which has 10 songs. We play 10 to 12 songs at the live shows. We are receiving great feedback from our live shows. That's what we're all about, our live shows.

Who writes your songs?
All of us... we work as a collective.

How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
We have a better bond now and our musical influences are blending better. We also have a very good producer, called John.

What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
I think we all face everyday challenges..it's not always all 'up.' There has, in the past been times when we had frustrating times of waiting around for things to happen.
It's all different now, our August diary is almost full with festivals!

Defining moment as a band?
Definitely when we met our producer, John Turps.

What five album’s would you bring on a desert island with you?
Oh thats a tough one...although, I can't speak for the rest of the lads. Stone Roses by The Stone Roses, Expecting to Fly by The Bluetones, Telling Stories by The Charlatans (I was playing songs form this at a family wedding at the weekend), Sergeant Pepper by The Beatles and any album by the Coral...

What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Make sure your working with the right people and are comfortable with them. Get out there and don't be afraid to go for it!

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
My space. Click here for the link

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Financially we do everything ourselves. I would though like to thank
John Turps, our producer and Cashmere Media for the great video's.

Any last words?
Everything is snowballing at the moment and hopefully the single and album might hit number one. We have been receiving great feedback from our live gigs and my space page.


‘Collette Collar’ the second release from the yet untitled album, is also due for release very soon, on August 14.




by Audrey Mulholland

2009-08-05 - Heineken Music

By Eamon Carr
Thursday August 27 2009

Inspired by the Fab Four, Identity Parade's range of musical sounds is winning fans.

When Kevin Homan and Paul Gilligan first sat in the kitchen with acoustic guitars, the shadow of The Beatles loomed large. "We're massive Beatles fans," reveals Kevin. "That's how Identity Parade started. We were sitting there writing songs and thinking, 'We like this. We have to get a band together.' We asked a mate, Dan [O'Sullivan, drummer], to join and he had a friend, Conor [Nolan, guitar], who knew John [Kennedy, keyboards]. It's a really friendly environment. We're close. We all pitch in with ideas and, although our tastes vary, a sound evolved that is Identity Parade."

Kevin agrees that The Beatles' early albums illustrate how the band blended a range of musical styles that mixed country, soul, rock'n'roll and folk. "There were a lot of genres. And I wouldn't like this band to become pigeonholed. We have a huge melting pot of musical influences."

Over the last three years, the Dublin band has been going about their business with quiet assurance. Their songwriting provided the sonic raw material that began to catch people's attention. Soon, Identity Parade were playing alongside The Blizzards, The Coronas and The Republic of Loose.

One of those impressed by the band was John 'Turps' Burke, one-time mandolin player with The Saw Doctors.

"He liked what we were doing," says Kevin. "And we liked where he was coming from so we got together and we went in to work on an album. We took a mobile studio into Bermingham House in Galway and recorded six songs. Then we recorded four more in Dublin. It all came together. It feels like we're progressing nicely as a band."

Ooh Ooh, the first single from those sessions, went to No 33 in May. "We released it just to test the water," says Kevin. "We found it difficult to get radio play at first but it changed things for us. We've since been on tour around the country with Aslan, which has been great. They've been in the business for 25 years and to see them in action really opens your eyes."

The recent exposure the band has been getting helped propel their new single, Collette Collar, to 15 in the Irish charts. This week the song is No 1 on the download charts. A remarkable achievement.

"It's a tough industry to crack. But we're going to keep on pushing. We've taken a gradual approach. We got a couple of videos on YouTube, which have been getting great reactions," says Kevin.

"We love playing live and getting a reaction from people," he says. And wouldn't you just guess which gig he's most enjoyed so far. "The reaction we got when we played in The Cavern in Liverpool was breathtaking," enthuses Kevin. "People were really into the music. The crowd was jumping up and down. It was really good. That gave us a huge lift." -- EC

Identity Parade play the Jervis Street Music Festival on Saturday

- Eamon Carr - Eveneing Herald