The Clatty Lads

March 19, 2012

The Sonicbids contest is over and the winners have been chosen. We’d like to thank all the runners-up for submitting their music and encourage them all to try again during the next Sonicbids contest.

The winners for this competition are:

Rosie and Me
The Clatty Lads
G2

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The Clatty Lads
The Clatty Lads are an American Rock band that formed in New York City, NY in 2008. Formed by Josh Patch (vocals, guitar, harmonica) and Adrian Sharkey (guitar, vocals), the band includes Christian Mintiens (drums, percussion), Justin Brewer (bass guitar, backing vocals), David Yesner (electric guitar), and Matt Knapp (Pedal Steel). Also has included Mary Knapp (backing vocals) and Mark Bernardi (vocals) amongst its membership.

Achieving an impressive mix of sounds and atmospheres ranging from breezy summer evening vibes to wistful, introspective hip-hop and moving, thoughtful country; The Clatty Lads' easy-going groove and effortlessly soulful vocals permeate the infectious, laid-back feel while an uncanny sense of emotion combines with a modern folk-rock sensibility to create a truly eloquent and enjoyable listening experience.
The Clatty Lads released their first demo album, "A Very Clatty Demo" (2011), made up of songs written, recorded, and mixed by Josh Patch and Adrian Sharkey under the production name J.O.Beats along with some current band tracks to gain recognition and build a budget to pay for future full band recordings. The group built its audience primarily by playing many shows throughout New York and New Jersey areas and major internet promotion through Facebook, Myspace, Youtube, Twitter, and more. The band also thanks exclusively many of their fans, coworkers, friends, and family for their help in promoting and supporting the band in gaining a larger audience through word of mouth, photography, film, live and studio recordings. In July of 2011 the band released the single "A Shade Further Grey" mixed and recorded by Ariel Borujow at Stadium Red Studios NYC in conjunction with a video shot and edited by Chris Cimino of CiminoTech Productions to gain recognition and find financial support amongst their fans to complete a future full-band album release. At the end of 2011, the band successfully raised funding through their Kickstarter campaign to complete their official 5 song EP titled "The Clatty Lads". The EP is to be self-released March 9th, 2012 (both digitally and physically distributed) with a goal to gain the attention of new fans, potential professional management and representation in ultimately recording a full-length album.

Currently The Clatty Lads are based out of New York City, continue to rehearse and perform around the North East at any venue that offers a stage. Writing and performing as a whole, the group is seeking representation to further their goals in today's music industry by taking advantage of any support or opportunities offered to them.

www.theclattylads.com - CollegeNews.com

By: Damian McCarney
March 2012

Ever been at a gig and thought I wish it was me on stage? That’s precisely what Virginia siger Adrian Sharkey thought watching talented Irish singer songwriter Foy Vance perform at Craic Fest in New York’s renowned Mercury Lounge two years ago. The only difference between the vast majority of us and Adrian is - last weekend his fantasy became reality.

Adrian fronts a Big Apple based folk rock band called The Clatty Lads, and with the launch of their eponymously titled first EP at the Craic Fest on Friday, the six piece notched up another landmark along their rapid ascent to success.

“Foy Vance was performing on it and I went to see him and I remember standing in the crowd going ‘Jesus this is something’, and now it’s me up there at this festival,” enthused Adrian in a Cavan accent untempered by four years of living State-side. “And it’s too much; mental. Mental!”
The three day Irish-drenched festival line-up also boasts the likes of The Rubberbandits and Duke Special.

“We’re just honoured to be playing along with Duke Special that night,” Adrian told the Celt in advance of the gig. “That’s special for me. I was a fan of that man years before I moved out here.”

It was only after moving to the States that Adrian found his musical feet:
“[In Ireland] I was writing songs all the time - just me and the guitar. I recorded some songs in Carnaross and got good feedback, but never knew the people to start a band with over there. When I met the lads over here, we all just clicked.”

Adrian, the only Irish man in the group, met fellow Clatty Lads Josh Patch, Christian Mintiens, Justin Brewer, David Yesner, and Matt Knapp through their interesting line of work.

“We all work for Fox News, but in different areas. I’m a lighting director, my guitarist is cameraman, the other guitarist is a stage manager, the other boys are audio types.”

Last summer their work connections opened a door which helped give the Clatty Lads the initial push they needed.

“How it all really started was Don Imus - a legendary radio DJ over here - and he has his own show on Fox News. He heard our music through a work colleague and asked ‘Who is it?’

“We got to meet him and he invited us on his show. So we got to play live on his TV show which was broadcast to millions, and then the radio as well, and drummed up an awful lot of interest.”

Their new found fans seem to be drawn to the Clatty Lads’ blend of musical styles.

“The feedback we’re getting off people is just amazing. It’s easy listening, it’s a whole mix you have a country vibe right through to a rock vibe depending on the tracks. So there’s something for everyone I guess. Old and young they all seem to enjoy it.”

The variety of styles comes through in their reviews. Many echo this sentiment:
“New York City’s The Clatty Lads achieve an impressive amalgamation of sounds and atmospheres ranging from breezy summer evening vibes to wistful, introspective hip-hop and moving, thoughtful country.”

With 2011’s demo album, ‘A Very Clatty Demo’, single ‘A Shade Further Grey’ and this latest EP they have a few recordings to their name, but they aim to release a studio album in the not so distant future.

“Definitely, that’s the next step,” said Adrian. “We’re going to use all these live gigs that we’ve been offered to test the water and see what the fans like - that will help whittle down the tracks for the full album.”

Friday’s slot at the Craic Fest marked the start of a busy run of gigs and promo events for the Lads - the highlights of which include another appearance on Don Imus’ TV show in April, and radio sessions, interviews and photo-shoots in Buffalo New York in May.

So do they aim to become full time musicians?

“That’s the absolute dream for all of us,” said Adrian. “We always planned to have fun, play local shows - we never thought it would take on this momentum.

“I’m beside myself to be honest - we all are. We’ve really stunned ourselves, we don’t know how it happened!”

To check out The Clatty Lads for yourself, log onto: www.theclattylads.com - The Anglo Celt/Celtic Media Group - Cavan, Ireland

Performed Nationally on the "Imus In The Morning Show" with the world famous Don Imus as part of a Battle of the Bands segment in which we received the following remarks and reviews:

"A Shade Further Grey" Performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QeaZTt5srb8

"Six Pack of Tears" Performace:
http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1069226623001/fbns-clatty-lads-rock-the-house-on-imus/

Don Imus on The Clatty Lads:
"They're great, and the songs are better!"
"I've listened to the demo, so I know you are pretty good, but you are actually better in person."
On playing "Six Pack Of Tears Live": "I may have to recuse myself from commenting on this next song cause I've already played it on the radio and I already like it."
"Put that on the radio today! Sent that over to Scott Shannon this morning. Are you kidding me! That is really terrific."
"We were talking about that 'Never Lonely', God, thats a great song."

Dagen McDowell on The Clatty Lads (Fox Business, Fox News):
"That should be a hit record and if people don't buy it, then they are stupid."
"Aces, A+, Great song, great song writing too."

Rob Bartlett (Comedian, Actor) on The Clatty Lads:
(As character Larry King)
"Today we move to round two of the 'Imus Battle of the Bands'. This morning as you said we'd be treated to the dulcent sounds of The Clatty Lads. Six guys in search of a river dance. They describe themselves as a folk-rock group, as in, 'Folk Rock, we're gonna play whatever the hell we want!'
Unfortunately, they are already at a disadvantage, they don't have Diane Macedo singing lead. Not that Adrian Sharkey and Josh Patch don't have good voices, I just don't want to have sex with either of them when they're singing.
They describe themselves as an impressive mix of sounds and atmospheres ranging from breezy-summer-evening vibes to wistful-introspective hip-hop and moving thoughtful country. Quick translation: 'We're eclectic to improve our chances of getting laid.'
One thing they won't be playing, Aretha Franklin's 'Respect'. That's one of the benefits of being a band that only does originals, there's no way for anybody to know whether or not they're F-ing up their songs.
Beaverlick, Kentucky: Do dolphins have nipples? Go."
- Fox Business Network, ABC Radio

Josh Patch will get national airtime with his band The Clatty Lads on Thursday, July 21.

The guitarist, harmonica player and singer is a 2001 graduate of Paul V. Moore High School in Central Square. After that, he graduated with a degree in Recording Arts from Full Sail Real World Education in Florida, then moved back to Central Square to work with master engineer Sal Chesari at Red Brick Records Studio.

Which brings this tale to New York City, where Josh Patch lives with his cousin, Justin Patch, who's also a graduate of P.V.M., and works as an audio engineer for Fox New Channel, in Manhattan.

At the cable network, Josh Patch plays drums in The Little Rockers, the house band for the show hosted by Mike Huckabee. He also joined up with other Fox News Channel workers in the band The Clatty Lads. Veteran host Don Imus, whose morning show now airs on the Fox Business Channel, downloaded The Clatty Lads music on iTunes, He liked it so much, he decided to put together a battle of the bands.
Patch and The Clatty Lads perform live on "Imus in the Morning" on Thursday, July 21, around 8 am. Patch, on guitar, harmonica and vocals, will be joined by guitarist and singer Adrian Sharkey, drummer Christian Mintiens, electric guitarist Dave Yesner, bassist Justin Brewer and pedal steel guitarist Matt Knapp in a mix of pop, rock and folk.

Voting will be online. - Syracuse.com - The Post-Standard

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IN THE STUDIO
I was scheduled to record The Clatty Lads, a NYC-based folk/rock/pop/country band and felt it was the perfect application to put the Blue Spark to the test. The decision was to use it on a pedal steel guitar played by the very talented Matt Knapp. Matt brought in a Peavey Nashville 400 amp to record the song at Stadium Red in Studio A, here in NYC.

In an effort to get the sound I was looking for I decided to record in their live room. This was the first time I had ever recorded a pedal steel and I decided to put the Blue up against the old trustworthy Shure SM 57. I also employed two sets of room mics to capture some ambiance for this recording: a pair of Audio Technica 4040’s playing as overheads, and two AKG 414’s in an MS configuration. Both the Spark and the Shure mics were put up against the amp’s grill right off center. I ran them both through the Grace 801r pre’s, which are very transparent, then straight into Pro Tools, with no compression in the recording, as I tend to lay off compression on instruments when I track.

Once I had the chance to listen, the first thing that was apparent was how much fuller the Spark was compared to the 57. The Spark was a bit duller above 10K — which was perfect for what I was looking to achieve, while the low end was very silky and smooth. I started mixing the song and — believe it or not — with the blend of the various microphones, there was no need for EQ. I have provided an audio example of what I recorded.

***************************** - SonicScoop.com

"In the world of music a band runs the risk of going to one of two extremes. The first, in an attempt to be artistically diverse they can encompass so many different styles that it leaves your head spinning and you don’t know what genre to classify them in. Or the second extreme, they can pigeonhole themselves so that nothing they do surprises you.

The Clatty Lads have struck a perfect balance between the two. They have managed to find a path where it’s easy to see the pop/rock vibe they are going for, yet at the same time they will throw you a curveball with a rap song or a tune with a country or folk tinge. The result definitely leaves you wanting more.

They have taken everything that was timeless about acts from the 90s such as Sublime or Everlast and paired it with trends that are popular in music today with acts like Matt Nathanson or Guster to name a couple. In short, it’s hard not to bob your head when you’re listening to their music. They are a band worth continually checking in on to see what they are up to." - J. Berray

"Unwilling to be restricted by the all too rigid confines of genre, New York City’s The Clatty Lads achieve an impressive amalgamation of sounds and atmospheres ranging from breezy summer evening vibes to wistful, introspective hip-hop and moving, thoughtful country. Easy-going groove and effortlessly soulful vocals permeate the infectious, laid-back feel while an uncanny sense of emotion combines with a modern folk-rock sensibility to create a truly eloquent and enjoyable listening experience." - J.A. Burt - J.A. Burt, Web