Dirty Epics
Encyclopedia
Dirty Epics are a four-piece Irish
New Wave
band formed in Greystones
, County Wicklow
, but now resided in Dublin. They are composed of vocalist Sarah Jane (SJ) Wai, bassist Richard Power, guitarist Darren McCoy and drummer Alan Delaney and are managed by Nadine O'Flynn. They have performed at numerous festivals and television shows. These include Oxegen 2007
Oxegen 2008
and Oxegen 2009
, Indie-pendence
, Solas Festival
, Hard Working Class Heroes
, Miss Ireland
, SXSW 2009, MUSEXPO Europe, The Craic Festival NY 2009, SXSW 2010 and on The Once a Week Show
, The Cafe
, The Raw Sessions
The Podge and Rodge Show
and, on radio, Alison Curtis
's 2008 Christmas Special. Chinese New Year in Dublin 2011.
Dirty Epics are known for songs such as "The Cure" and "White Out". Their debut album, Straight In No Kissing, was released in 2008 and the band signed a distribution deal with Universal Music Group
for it. In 2009, they competed in The Raw Sessions
, progressing to the final. In 2010, one of their songs featured in British teen drama Skins
and the band returned to SXSW.
, Joy Division
and the Pixies with Bob Dylan
". They are known for their "buzzing guitars, powerful vocals, and a driving drum and bass section". The Irish Independent
described the effect on the pulse of a combination of "urgent drums and guitars" alongside the "scattergun screech" of Sarah Jane Wai O'Flynn. SJ Wai counts her stylistic influences as including Debbie Harry
of Blondie
, describing her as "a true original who perfectly balanced a punkrock image with glamorous beauty".
Dirty Epics started writing and recording in 2005 where a demo of "The Cure" was reviewed in Hot Press by Jackie Hayden. They had their "Launch Gig" at Crawdaddy in April 2007. This was voted “Gig of the Week” by The Irish Times
s weekly music supplement The Ticket. They have also supported The Rapture
at Tripod
in Dublin and performed with Republic of Loose
in The Academy
, as well as The Coronas
at the same venue. In early 2009 the band embarked on a tour of the United States
, performing in destinations such as New York
, Texas
and Los Angeles
. The band have used several cost-saving initiatives, including buying less batteries for their drum pedals, less guitar strings and have also stated that they have restricted themselves to two strippers each per show.
. Dirty Epics performed at Indie-pendence in August 2008. On 16 August 2008, the band played the Solas Stage at Solas Festival in County Carlow
. They have also played Hard Working Class Heroes
and Miss Ireland
. They participated in the Arthur's Day
events in Dublin on 24 September 2009 and in 2011 they played an open venue concert in Dublin to celebrate Chinese Ney Year.
On 19 March 2010, Dirty Epics performed at the Irish Breakfast Showcase held at SXSW. It was around this time that the single "I Heart You" was released and new guitarist Vince Lim joined the band. They returned to Dublin to support One Republic.
Dirty Epics performed at Guinness Arthur's Day 2010 in Whelans with Brandon Flowers and in The George Pub with the Hoosiers.
, singer and Pamela Flood
, model and television presenter. They performed "The Cure". On 30 October 2008 the band appeared on The Cafe alongside guests George Lee
, economist and Lucy Kennedy
, television presenter. They performed the song "Way Too Pretty". On 17 December the band performed at Whelan's
as part of Alison Curtis's Christmas Special on Today FM
. On Monday 9 February 2009 they performed on thye podge and rodge show, taking part in their competition Rocin' Roulette. They also performed on UTV's Live at the Limelight on the 25th of February 2009. Dirty Epics also appeared on RTÉ Two's The Raw Sessions, progressing to the final with their song "All Time Favourite".
The song "We're Coming Up" featured in the final episode of the current series of British teen drama Skins
on E4 on 18 March 2010.
Darren McCoy - Guitar
Richard Power - Bass
Alan Delaney - Drums
) was released on 31 October 2008.
They contributed to the 2009 charity album, Sparks n' Mind, released in aid of Aware, performing a cover version of the Portishead song, "Glory Box
".
They also played at Presentation College
's Fashion Show and Design Competition in February 2009 for the Marie Keating Foundation for breast cancer
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band formed in Greystones
Greystones
Greystones is a coastal town and small seaside resort in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on Ireland’s east coast, south of Bray and south of Dublin , with a population in the region of 15,000....
, County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, but now resided in Dublin. They are composed of vocalist Sarah Jane (SJ) Wai, bassist Richard Power, guitarist Darren McCoy and drummer Alan Delaney and are managed by Nadine O'Flynn. They have performed at numerous festivals and television shows. These include Oxegen 2007
Oxegen 2007
Oxegen '07 was the fourth Oxegen festival to take place, following the dissolution of its predecessor Witnness in 2004. It took place on the weekend of Saturday, 7 July and Sunday, 8 July at Punchestown Racecourse near Naas in County Kildare, Ireland. The festival was headlined by Muse and Snow...
Oxegen 2008
Oxegen 2008
Oxegen '08 was the fifth Oxegen festival to take place, following the dissolution of its predecessor Witnness in 2004. It took place on the weekend of Friday 11 July, Saturday 12 July and Sunday 13 July at Punchestown Racecourse near Naas in County Kildare, Ireland. For the first time the festival...
and Oxegen 2009
Oxegen 2009
Oxegen 2009 was the sixth Oxegen festival to take place since 2004. It took place on the weekend of Friday 10 July, Saturday, 11 July and Sunday, 12 July at Punchestown Racecourse near Naas in County Kildare, Ireland...
, Indie-pendence
Indie-pendence
Indiependence is an annual Irish indie-rock music festival, that usually takes place at or near Mitchelstown in County Cork. Indiependence is one of the "little two" music festivals in Ireland, sharing many of its acts with Castlepalooza which is held on the same weekend in Tullamore, County Offaly...
, Solas Festival
Solas Festival
Solas Festival is the name used by a number of separate festivals. The Scottish Solas Festival takes place in Biggar, Scotland. This year it is on the weekend of the 24th-26th of June, 2011 - acts such as Iain Morrison Solas Festival is the name used by a number of separate festivals. The Scottish...
, Hard Working Class Heroes
Hard Working Class Heroes
Hard Working Class Heroes is an Irish music festival for emerging bands. It has taken place in Dublin on an annual basis in and around September of each year since 2003...
, Miss Ireland
Miss Ireland
Miss Ireland is a national beauty pageant held in the Republic of Ireland each year, to celebrate the country's most beautiful women. Winners of the contest represent Ireland at the Miss World pageant. Other winners, including Roberta Brown and Siobhan McClaffey have also been delegates at rival...
, SXSW 2009, MUSEXPO Europe, The Craic Festival NY 2009, SXSW 2010 and on The Once a Week Show
The Once a Week Show
The Once a Week Show with Dustin and Sinéad from Sinéad's House Where Dustin Likes to Hang is an Irish television chat/comedy show, broadcast on RTÉ Two. A successor to the more frequent Dustin's Daily News, the show is hosted by Dustin the Turkey of The Den, with his assistant Sinéad Ni Churnain...
, The Cafe
The Cafe (chat show)
The Cafe was an Irish chat programme aimed at youthful persons. It was broadcast on RTÉ Two as part of the TTV strand each Friday evening at 19:00, having switched from its previous location in the Thursday scheduling from 7 November 2008....
, The Raw Sessions
The Raw Sessions
The Raw Sessions is an Irish interactive music television programme broadcast on RTÉ Two in 2009. The country's first ever rockumentary series, it is presented by Dez Ryan and follows the attempts of eight musical acts to write and record an original composition in the space of twelve hours...
The Podge and Rodge Show
The Podge and Rodge Show
The Podge and Rodge Show is an Irish chat show, broadcast and produced by RTÉ, featuring the popular Podge and Rodge as hosts...
and, on radio, Alison Curtis
Alison Curtis
Alison "Ally" Curtis is a presenter of radio on Irish national radio station Today FM and a respected figure on the Irish music scene...
's 2008 Christmas Special. Chinese New Year in Dublin 2011.
Dirty Epics are known for songs such as "The Cure" and "White Out". Their debut album, Straight In No Kissing, was released in 2008 and the band signed a distribution deal with Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
for it. In 2009, they competed in The Raw Sessions
The Raw Sessions
The Raw Sessions is an Irish interactive music television programme broadcast on RTÉ Two in 2009. The country's first ever rockumentary series, it is presented by Dez Ryan and follows the attempts of eight musical acts to write and record an original composition in the space of twelve hours...
, progressing to the final. In 2010, one of their songs featured in British teen drama Skins
Skins (TV series)
Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
and the band returned to SXSW.
Musical style
The sound of Dirty Epics has been described as "a mix of the New York DollsNew York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
, Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
and the Pixies with Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
". They are known for their "buzzing guitars, powerful vocals, and a driving drum and bass section". The Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
described the effect on the pulse of a combination of "urgent drums and guitars" alongside the "scattergun screech" of Sarah Jane Wai O'Flynn. SJ Wai counts her stylistic influences as including Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
of Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
, describing her as "a true original who perfectly balanced a punkrock image with glamorous beauty".
Foundations
The band formed during their school days, when Wai, Farrell and Power first made collective use of their skills as musicians and songwriters. Delaney resided in a town "far far away" but met his three future bandmates and after which Dirty Epics were formed. New Yorker Vince Lim joined the band in late 2009 as guitarist. Darren McCoy joined then in late 2010 as guitarist. Darren, an old friend of the bands from Roundwood, Co. Wicklow.Dirty Epics started writing and recording in 2005 where a demo of "The Cure" was reviewed in Hot Press by Jackie Hayden. They had their "Launch Gig" at Crawdaddy in April 2007. This was voted “Gig of the Week” by The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
s weekly music supplement The Ticket. They have also supported The Rapture
The Rapture (band)
The Rapture is an Indie rock band based in New York City. The band mixes influences from many genres including post-punk, acid house, disco, electronica and rock, pioneering the post-punk revival genre...
at Tripod
Tripod
A tripod is a portable three-legged frame, used as a platform for supporting the weight and maintaining the stability of some other object. The word comes from the Greek tripous, meaning "three feet". A tripod provides stability against downward forces, horizontal forces and moments about the...
in Dublin and performed with Republic of Loose
Republic of Loose
Republic of Loose are an Irish funk rock band from Dublin. Formed in 2001, the band currently consists of lead vocalist Mick Pyro, bass guitarist and vocalist Benjamin Loose, keyboardist Darragh, guitarists and vocalists Dave Pyro and Darach O' Laoire and drummers and percussionists Andre Lopes...
in The Academy
The Academy (music venue)
The Academy is a music venue located in Dublin, Ireland. It consists of four floors, each for differing music tastes.The Academy was the venue where The Killers performed an intimate show in August 2008, one night before a performance in Marlay Park. Others to have played the venue in 2008 include...
, as well as The Coronas
The Coronas
The Coronas are an Irish rock and indie band. They have released three studio albums, Heroes or Ghosts , Tony Was An Ex-Con and "Closer to You"...
at the same venue. In early 2009 the band embarked on a tour of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, performing in destinations such as New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The band have used several cost-saving initiatives, including buying less batteries for their drum pedals, less guitar strings and have also stated that they have restricted themselves to two strippers each per show.
Festival appearances
Dirty Epics performed as the second act (between myokhotel and The Milk Teeth) on the New Bands Tent at Oxegen on 7 July 2007. They returned the following year where they opened the Green Room Stage at 17:00 on 11 July 2008 just before The KinetiksThe Kinetiks
The Kinetiks were a Meteor Award-nominated Irish rock, pop and indie musical ensemble from Dublin. They were vocalist and guitarist Gaz Harding, guitarist Sean Brennan, bassist Jim McGuire, and drummer Paul Donohoe...
. Dirty Epics performed at Indie-pendence in August 2008. On 16 August 2008, the band played the Solas Stage at Solas Festival in County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. They have also played Hard Working Class Heroes
Hard Working Class Heroes
Hard Working Class Heroes is an Irish music festival for emerging bands. It has taken place in Dublin on an annual basis in and around September of each year since 2003...
and Miss Ireland
Miss Ireland
Miss Ireland is a national beauty pageant held in the Republic of Ireland each year, to celebrate the country's most beautiful women. Winners of the contest represent Ireland at the Miss World pageant. Other winners, including Roberta Brown and Siobhan McClaffey have also been delegates at rival...
. They participated in the Arthur's Day
Arthur's Day
Arthur's Day refers to a series of music events which were first organised in 2009 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Guinness brewing company by its owner Diageo plc....
events in Dublin on 24 September 2009 and in 2011 they played an open venue concert in Dublin to celebrate Chinese Ney Year.
On 19 March 2010, Dirty Epics performed at the Irish Breakfast Showcase held at SXSW. It was around this time that the single "I Heart You" was released and new guitarist Vince Lim joined the band. They returned to Dublin to support One Republic.
Dirty Epics performed at Guinness Arthur's Day 2010 in Whelans with Brandon Flowers and in The George Pub with the Hoosiers.
Media appearances
On 29 March 2008, Dirty Epics appeared on The Once a Week Show alongside guests Leanne MooreLeanne Moore
Leanne Moore is the winner of the 2008 series of RTÉ's You're A Star. Born and raised in Limerick, Moore made it to the final along with fellow contestants Robyn Kavanagh and Deirdre Archibald. For the final, Moore sang 'Piece of My Heart', 'Run' and 'Let's Stay Together'...
, singer and Pamela Flood
Pamela Flood
Pamela Ann Mary Flood is an Irish television presenter and former model from Tallaght, South Dublin. She received the Miss Ireland crown in 1993....
, model and television presenter. They performed "The Cure". On 30 October 2008 the band appeared on The Cafe alongside guests George Lee
George Lee
George Lee may refer to:* Sir George Lee , English politician* George Lee , Yorkshire cricketer* George B...
, economist and Lucy Kennedy
Lucy Kennedy
Lucy Kennedy is an award-winning Irish presenter of radio and television. Along with Bazil Ashmawy she currently co-presents the radio show Weekend Breakfast with Baz & Lucy on RTÉ 2fm. She has been described as "one of Ireland's most familiar faces"....
, television presenter. They performed the song "Way Too Pretty". On 17 December the band performed at Whelan's
Whelan's (music venue)
Whelan's is a small music venue in Dublin, Ireland, located on Wexford Street.The venue and pub was initially started by Gary Whelan and Ian Keith in 1989 and ten years later was bought by Frank Gleeson. Local musicians and actors frequent it...
as part of Alison Curtis's Christmas Special on Today FM
Today FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
. On Monday 9 February 2009 they performed on thye podge and rodge show, taking part in their competition Rocin' Roulette. They also performed on UTV's Live at the Limelight on the 25th of February 2009. Dirty Epics also appeared on RTÉ Two's The Raw Sessions, progressing to the final with their song "All Time Favourite".
The song "We're Coming Up" featured in the final episode of the current series of British teen drama Skins
Skins (TV series)
Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
on E4 on 18 March 2010.
Members
SJ Wai - VocalsDarren McCoy - Guitar
Richard Power - Bass
Alan Delaney - Drums
Discography
Dirty Epics have definitely released the singles "The Cure" (released 7 March 2008) and "Way Too Pretty" (released 3 October 2008) and also possess the songs "Overrated" and "Pony". Their debut album, Straight In No Kissing (produced by Dave Morgan and Gareth MannixGareth Mannix
Gareth Mannix is an Irish record producer. He has worked on platinum albums by Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club, Damien Dempsey, Jack L and Juliet Turner. For six years consecutively a number of acts who have worked with Mannix have won Meteor Music Awards.His live recording credits include the...
) was released on 31 October 2008.
They contributed to the 2009 charity album, Sparks n' Mind, released in aid of Aware, performing a cover version of the Portishead song, "Glory Box
Glory Box
"Glory Box" is a single by Portishead, released in 1995. The title song samples "Ike's Rap II" by Isaac Hayes. The music video features lead singer Beth Gibbons dressed as a man....
".
They also played at Presentation College
Presentation College
Presentation College is a selective, government-assisted Roman Catholic secondary school located in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. It claims to be the first Catholic secondary school in South Trinidad, having been established circa 1930 in the basement of San Fernando Presbytery. It relocated...
's Fashion Show and Design Competition in February 2009 for the Marie Keating Foundation for breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
.
Albums
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 31 October 2008 | Straight In No Kissing |