Introducing:

JAMES KEARNEY

Recently we sat down with the members of Frantic Jack to get to know their thoughts on the band and whats ahead. This week we look at keys and persussion player James....enjoy

• Age: 28

• Instrument: Keyboards/Percussion

• Tell us about Frantic Jack: Frantic Jack came about as an idea one night when myself and daragh got talking about how neither of us wanted to just keep going playing cover songs in a pub. We wanted to try and take things a step further.  Not to get me wrong, every musician in Ireland I think learns how to play live in these situations and is almost like your learning your trade as a musician in a live atmosphere                                                          .

• How long have you been with the band: Day 1 since it was just an initial idea and so glad we followed through with what has turned in to be a very successful act to date.

• What was your favourite gig so far: One of my favourites would have to have been Halloween fancy dress in the 4 Sons in Edenderry. It’s not often you have a Jester, and army man, a Monk and Yoda from Star Wars playing in a band together. Also the night we played Whelans, Dublin. We had a full house in front of us and the atmosphere in there was electric that night.

• What are your ambitions for the “Independence” album release: I guess that someone recognizes the hard work that we’ve put into it. So many bands come and go within their first year of playing and I’d like to think that as we’ve stuck out all the initial teething problems that the only direction now is up with the band

• Where are you looking forward to playing (town/city) during the Irish Tour: I always look forward to getting out to new towns and cities so I guess with the likes of including Clare, Cork, Galway and Waterford just to name a few will make it an interesting tour. Also going back to Whelans in Dublin is always a good gig and of course the album launch party in the GAA in Edenderry shall be one of the highs of the tour. The people of Edenderry have really supported us over the last year

• Tell us about the Recording of the new album “Independence”: What can be said, we’ve put a lot of hard work into it and are really happy with how things are shaping up. It’s been a long few months so far but in the end we hope it’s all well worth it. The songs are almost finished and the bones of the album are there and to say happy with it would be an understatement. We’ve gone back to Martin Quinn(Jam studios) who has done the previous two singles and the EP and has proven to work well with Frantic Jack so you know what they say “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

• Describe the first year of the band, the high’s and lows:  Luckily enough there hasn’t been too many lows, I guess trying to get a line up that suited each other and a band that gelled well together was one of the hardest parts but have found a good combination and can only go from strength to strength now. Getting to support the Saw Doctors has to be one of the highs of the last year, big fan of theirs and was a privilege to be asked. Also having the first two singles “Firefly” and “Free” make the official Irish charts was something we are very proud of and hopefully lot’s more to come in the next year. Another thing was the level of support we received from friends, family and people who took an interest in our music, we could never do enough to repay them all.

• What’s your favourite track from what you’ve released or what is coming on the album: Probably would have to say “Hold On” which is the next single release. Just really think it’s a very radio friendly song and hope the dj’s in the country find this on their desk very soon and are willing to play it.

• Tell us about some of your influences: Where can I end this list, I’ve always had a fairly broad taste in music and would listen to anything from Nirvana to Slipknot  and Jason Mraz to Greenday.

• The number one rule for an original band trying to breakthrough: Persistance, you obviously need the drive and the songs to get peoples attention but if you keep plugging and plugging your band, eventually people will take notice.

• What are your long term ambitions for the band: To make it a success. Never was one to look too much into the future but rather try and deal with situations we are in now and make them as much as a success at the present time. So the album is the priority at the moment and then the tour of the country. Once we’ve these parts under our belt we’ll look even further and see where we can develop Frantic Jack to a bigger market. I think once we have the album done then at least we have a product or a representation of ourselves in our hands to give to people and let them be the judges. Hopefully they will all approve.