Hotly-tipped Dublin duo HAWKE THE BAND will release their brand new single “Limo” across all major digital platforms on 24th September 2021.
Formed by best friends Richie Power (vocals/keyboards) and Eoghan Mac Mahon (vocals/guitar) in the shadow of Dublin’s world-famous Guinness Brewery, “Limo” is a firecracker of a tune from start to finish and the latest in a run of great singles released by HAWKE THE BAND this year.
The follow-up to this year’s trio of ace singles, “Gonna Be Alright”, “Pinch Me (Am I Dreaming?)” and “Molly”, “Limo” was written in the back of a banged-up taxi and sees the now London-based pair reflect on their higher aspirations, not in the gutter but definitely looking at the stars. The track was recorded between London & Dublin and produced by Conor McLaughlin (of similarly-tipped new Irish act Sick Love), ably assisted by the highly-regarded D. Cullen (Boo Hewerdine, The Bible).
“Limo” is the first track issued by the band to plant their flag firmly in Alt-J territory, also drawing sonically on Richie & Eoghan’s love of rousing 90s indie-rock (especially The Verve, Oasis and Radiohead) as well as fellow countrymen U2. The song is inspired by a true tale of car trouble following an evening partying in London with legendary British actor Ray Winstone, as Eoghan explains;
“The first time we met Ray Winstone was also the first time we ever got near a limo – Ray was a true gent, a top lad. We had all attended an event at the London Hilton and, after a great night of partying we eventually left. Or at least we thought we were leaving, because we got stuck at the Hilton underground car park’s sole exit barrier in our €400 battered Irish Ford Focus. Six limos & their drivers stuck behind us were apoplectic and, after ten more minutes passed without us moving, they were going totally nuclear. STRESS. We didn’t have the money between us to pay the outrageous £50 parking fee as we were skint – it was a charity event so we hadn’t even charged a performance fee for our live set at the event. Next thing, some sheikh whose limo was right behind us jammed his head in our car window and screamed blue murder at us to pay up so he could leave. We told him we hadn’t a pot to pi*s in for the tenth time so he fired a £50 note at us and roared all the way back to his car. Thankfully our engine didn’t give out and we got on the A5 back to our ex-Travelodge in Dunstable for another night with five sleeping in a one-bedded room. A night to remember for sure, and I’ll never forgot my first up-close limo experience. We hope this song was worth it – perhaps if this single blows up big we might even be able to afford our very own limo (or even just some parking change).”
Once again, Richie & Eoghan’s new single is accompanied by a great video clip, filmed by Richie’s college friend & former housemate (“and cocktail dealer!”) Grace Philips. Talking about the video clip she directed, Grace says; “Having lived with the guys in the past, we all know each other so well. On set we’re comfortable straight away so we’re able to get the job done with really straightforward communication and lots of fun – we’re not living together anymore, so no more fights about dishes.”
“This video was recorded in precisely two hours on the sweatiest day of this year in a London warehouse,” adds Eoghan. “By the end I was absolutely drenched in sweat – nearly had to mop it off the floor, though that might also be my fault for not exercising in five years. “The warehouse where we filmed the video had CC-TV cameras that frightened the sh*te out of me when they swivelled towards me as I fiddled with the hi-fi system. The owners, lovely though they were, had said the hi-fi was loud enough for us to record drums along to – turns out it was nice gear, but clearly from the Stone Age and definitely nowhere near loud enough.”
HAWKE THE BAND are currently finalising a very special Dublin hometown gig (more details soon), but are very pleased to confirm a handful of new UK live dates for late 2021, including a new London show as special guests of Bedford born indie-rocker Elijah Miller – they play;
26 September Hull O’Riley’s (18+)
15 October Newcastle Surf Café (14+)
16 October Manchester Tribeca (14+)
21 October London Luna Lounge (18+)
10 December London – The Grace (with Elijah Miller)
Tickets on-sale now via https://www.hawketheband.com/tickets
After recording initial home demos in Richie’s bedroom, HAWKE THE BAND hit upon the idea of sending their demo-tape to a hit-list of the industry’s top producers. Within just days, the cunning plan paid off and Richie & Eoghan found themselves recording their newly-written songs during precious studio time at London’s legendary Abbey Road and Metropolis Studios.
One of the tracks from these initial London recording sessions (“What About Love”) was entered into a competition to win the chance to play as special guests of local heroes Aslan at Dublin’s 5,000 capacity Iveagh Gardens, a prize which Richie & Eoghan were astonished to win, despite there being 500+ entries from hopeful acts. Following in the footsteps of previous Aslan openers such as Gavin James and Damien Dempsey, playing to a packed hometown audience in late 2019, with Aslan frontman Christy Dignam even describing the boys in print as, “The next big thing.”
Richie & Eoghan followed that huge local show with a raft of UK summer festival slots, on bills alongside other young breakout acts such as Jake Bugg and Tom Grennan, before Covid-19 put an abrupt halt to live performances last year. But HAWKE THE BAND used their lockdown time wisely, spending much of 2020 furiously writing and recording songs which have now blossomed into the abundance of great singles already released by the fellas this year.
