Music
18 May 04

Room at the Top

...or, at least, very much on their way up. Fresh from their victory in a Today FM listeners’ poll, Cork’s The Waiting Room are on the move.

When interviewing new Irish bands, it’s not entirely uncommon to come across an outfit that are ever so slightly keen to get across some kind of mission statement. Feverish at the thought of finally getting their manifesto in print, they lean purposefully into your voice recorder as they impart their profound musical philosophies and wayward opinions, while trying to muster up as much mystique and bravado as they can.

The Waiting Room are definitely not one of those bands.
Frankly, it’s been a while since I’ve come across two such laid-back, straight-up characters; I could well be mistaken, but it sounds as though one of them is unloading bags of shopping as we speak on the telephone. They are refreshingly unpretentious and under-whelmed, even though the effusive reception for their Catering For Headphones album gives them license to be anything but.
In saying that, they are visibly chuffed at topping Today FM’s recent ‘Operation Green Day’ poll, with the song ‘Return My Rabbits’ ahead of Snow Patrol, Bell X1, Republic Of Loose and The Chalets.
The band themselves were perhaps the most startled at the outcome. “It was the first competition I ever won. I never won school raffles or anything,” muses bassist Dave Aherne. “It was definitely a nice first thing to win. I really love (Snow Patrol’s) ‘Run’ and I thought it would win without a doubt.”
“It was a listeners’ poll, it wasn’t just an industry panel, which makes it all the nicer,” he continues. “We love that regular people listen and like it as opposed to industry people that have been around for 20 years thinking it’s good.”
So listeners’ reaction would be more important than industry plaudits?
“Yeah, well that’s the point really, getting fans on board,” notes Dave. “We put the record out independently and we’re doing that whole DIY route thing.”
Fortunately for The Waiting Room, they needn’t bother choosing between fan and industry reaction. While the public have been drawn to their sound, press, radio and labels have been queuing up to heap praise on the album, the fruits of a melee of influences ranging from Low and Fugazi to Bright Eyes and Sebadoh. One person who has been particularly encouraging is Alison Curtis, who promptly snapped up the band to headline the Cork leg of Today FM’s Last Splash tour. “It was unexpected, but we’re really honoured that we were asked,” says Dave. “Since we did a session for her earlier in the year, Alison has been really good to us.”
The band also got a boost from touring with the Future Kings Of Spain.
“They were nice, at least we were guaranteed a good crowd…except in Waterford, where we played to about 15 people,” recalls vocalist/guitarist Nigel Farrelly.
“Touring is nicer with a good-sized band than when you’re doing your own DIY thing,” explains Dave. “You get a rider and somewhere nice to stay every night, as opposed to crashing on some stranger’s floor, which is what we normally would do.”
As it goes, stranger’s floors could well be a thing of the past if their recent sprint to London (where they took in shows at the legendary Dublin Castle, Barfly and Bush Hall) is anything to go by.
“Sanctuary Management invited us over, they heard the album and liked it, and wanted to see if we could play live,” explains Dave. “I guess you could say they’re representing us over there now. The guy that managed Iron Maiden started the company 20 years ago, and he’s also managed Page & Plant. Plus they’ve just signed Morrissey, so we’d be pretty comfortable there.”
All in all, the boys are on course for an extremely busy – and fruitful – summer.
“The plan is to do the ‘Out On A Limb’ tour, hopefully do the festivals, and spend more time in the UK, where we’d like to sort out a release,” explains Nigel.
Something tells me that The Waiting Room are not long for a world where they have to crash a stranger’s floorspace…