Inside the Hot Press Chatroom

The Pale discuss their new album which has been in the making for over 4 years. They also discuss their project: 'Dublin Heroes' with Dublin city council, one of which being  Sister Bernadette Sweeney and Paddy Finley aka Paddy Drac. They also revealed exclusively to Hot Press the name of their upcoming album: Merciful Hour. They finished the interview by treating the audience to the award winning tune, 'Butterfly.'

Next up was Delorentos, who open the interview by performing 'In Darkness We Feel Our Way from new album True surrender. The band used a vineyard just outside Madrid to record new album, while in the middle of touring for first album, they disclosed the good and the bad. "Vineyards stink, they smell weird... It's the wine equivalent of a slaughterhouse." They also hinted at a midnight performance at the Salty dog.

King Kong Company made a rare unmasked appearance to discuss their first time at Electric Picnic, "that's where things kicked off for us." "You're shitting yourself when you go in there... It's an empty tent...there's always a fear that no one will show up. They also discussed unfortunate moment when they had a gig same day that Waterford were in all Ireland final and the "band almost broke up." They discussed the death of the concept album and how "the way that people listen to music now is completely different to 10 years ago." They also talked about their upcoming Olympia gig, being thrown out of a hotel in cork and seeing out the Cork Opera House a few years later.

Three eighths of Booka Brass Band discussed their New Orleans influences, "the energy they have life, it's infectious," and how they got their career started. "It was the festival's that got us going." They also discussed trying to sell the concept of a brass band. "We're different! We're good on stage, we're great craic!" The lads are just off of a writing session at the start if the summer for new material, no date yet.

Bitch Falcon talked about how Electric Picnic marks the year anniversary of when Barry joined the band after the original bass player Naomi had left. "We had to keep going, there was a fear of losing momentum." When asked to describe their sound to someone who has never heard them, they replied: "it's heavy but very melodic... its changed to now a bit more spacey." The band will play a fifteen date tour in the UK in November. They explain that touring is the best way to get their music out there, "Ireland is very insular" and being starstruck by Cillian Murphy. "I buckled at the knees when he came in, those blue eyes... These Cork lads are unreal."

Ash gave standout moments of their 26 year career. "Our third album coming back after our second album, and we got another rise, not many bands get that" and appearing on Top of the Pops. They reminisce about an early tour where they got to see bowie every day. "He was very charming, acted very town to earth, talked about the word of recording an album when everyone wanted to see your old stuff."

Finally, Versatile, namely Evan, explained: "for some reason there was a massive hump to get over when it comes to the Irish accent." Evan, on behalf of the band, think back on their performance in the Olympia with Reggie Snow. "It was great to see the crowds reaction to that, it was crazy." On the 'Ketamine' video, he explained: "so many inspirations went into that," and hinted that "we've got some lovely tunes coming your way"