Pugwash, now theres a name that brings back memories. For all the wrong reasons, as the memory it brings back is one from several years ago, travelling home from a gig (where they shared billing with the Frames and some other band) at 3AM and writing off my mums Skoda in the process. Pugwash were a hell of a lot less spectacular than the car crash, just very unremarkable, samey sounding guitar pop. Definitely a shoulda stayed in and watched TV night. Anyway 6 (or 7, I think) years is a long time ago, one would like to hope they've probably got a bit better...

Hey Binokular, It's Nice to Be Nice, ya should remember that.

Any sensible posts would be appreciated. Looking around this cool site I see threads dedicated to bands you hate and love, maybe that's were those comments should be. Also Binokular, the band have gone UP in my estimation even more now, knowing that they took one more f**king Skoda off the road. SJ

Always had a soft spot for Pugwash - especially when they were hooking up with Jason Faulkner (who I also have a soft spot for!). Never quite got over missing them playing in the Sugar Club, still brings a tear to my eye to think about it :( Nice to see they're still unfaltering in taking the independent route with their activities on 1969 records. Would be good to see them get more exposure though.

Pugwash make gorgeous music & harmonies. OK, so they do follow the Beatles template a bit too formulaically, but what harm? It sounds great. What bugs me is that there seems almost to be a shyness in the Pugwash camp that stops them from ever putting themselves out there with energy and bravado. Or am I being unfair? Cos I really do admire yer man's voice & songwriting...

I don't think it's shyness Sniffee that stops every household from hearing and loving Pugwash. Mr.Walsh is about as far away from shy as is humanly possible. I just think they absolutely don't fit in with ANYTHING that is championed in the Irish music scene, and I think they know that and don't go banging their heads against the constant building of brickwalls that they come up against on a regular basis. I've talked with the band many times at gigs and socially and they'd love to be considered for things like SONGS FROM A ROOM or OXYGEN or CHARITY gigs ANYTHING pretty much, but a mixture of bad management and lethargy on behalf of others means they are constantlt overlooked which, I agree, can look like shyness or lazyness but it's not. This bands time will SO come because they have the songs and all the other fly by night wannabee bands that would have got preference to them over the last 5/6 years are all dead but they're still writing and recording their own music in their own style and I think it's about time this was recognised, hence this thread. Thank you for your interest. I never thought I'd champion a band from Ireland EVER but this stuff is TOO good. Let's see that it wins (except at the bloody Meteors, then again The conway sisters, hello) SJ

just to start with, i am involved with 1969 Records, the label that released 'Jollity' in September of this year. clearly we think that the record is great and without exception every proper review has been not only positive but practically gushing.so the kind words about the music here are much appreciated. you could get into a discussion about problems with the music business/industry generally and a general dumbing down/ blandsville/lowest common denominater approach applied or whatever, but i reckon its been done to death here already. what i will say is that people more often than not get what they deserve, reality tv may be crap, but its on because it is watched. music is the same. the music is there if you want to go and find it. i would love to have €1,000,000 to plaster Pugwash on the side of buses, posters and all over town, do the best marketing available and buy their way onto whatever is perceived as the best bill or show to be on but, i don't. if westlife's backers can afford that and people see it and buy it good look to them. the point is its difficult to build up to any critical mass without money, and unfortunately quality isn't always enough to get you there. maybe that goes some way to rationalising a perceived lack of visibility, but its not as easy as ringing up a tv show and demanding a slot without having a little weight behind you. its a catch 22 in many ways. no exposure till you are selling, no sales till you are seen. its hard getting on tv here because there are very few outlets for music generally. that said, Pugwash have been covered in the Irish Times , The Indo, The HP, Herald and others, if anyone wants an interview, cool, get in touch. They arent shy and are in fact quite outspoken. they have been on the last broadcast , the cafe etc. gigging is the same. its not easy. i don't want to speak for Pugwash, but there is as far as we at 1969 are concerned there is no lack of ambition or desire on their part. Thomas Walsh is generally regarded by his peers of one of this country's finest songwriters. the Jollity launch in Crawdaddy was stuffed with bands mentioned here all the time who were gobsmacked after hearing his new songs for the first time. there is a reason for that. these guys are musicians and know a great one when they see/hear one. for example "Almanac", the last Pugwash album was in the HP top 100 all time Irish albums as voted by the "musos". how many people here own it. you wouldnt believe how little it sold.Jollity outsold it in one week, and Jollity didnt trouble the charts (yet) either. what we at our little label are doing is trying to push back the apathy and laziness that people have towards exploring music, not just Pugwash, but good quality music. its f**king there, go find it. don't take whats thrown at you just cos its easy to do so.not everyone is going to like it, and that is fine, but don't complain about the music scene being rubbish, when there is great stuff there, just because smaller/lesser known bands can't afford to spoonfeed it to you...just in case this is misinterpreted, this is a general comment, not related to anything on the thread. on the subjet of ambition, Pugwash have released Jollity in Australia and the single "its nice to be nice" is getting great airplay on JJJ down under. The video for the same song is being played regularly on "The Rage" on aussie tv. there is probably no real tradition of the Pugs type of music here, and in ireland of late we seem have gone down the singer songwriter road, and fair play to any successful acts, so it may well be that Pugwash will have their day further afield, as someone above has suggested. we certainly hope so, but it would be great for the band to be appreciated here too. speaking of singer songwriters, Thomas will be opening for Martin Stephenson, a great singer-songwriter, in Whelans on Dec 7, so catch Pugwash stripped down, "unpugged" if you will, on that night and tell me that this guy is shy/self-conscious or lacks ambition, and thats before the music. sorry for being so longwinded, but it is frustrating seeing talent generally not getting the opportunities that it deserves, but we (and they) are trying and will keep fighting the fight for great music. check out www1969records.com love.

If my comment about shyness/ lack of self-confidence is wide of the mark, I take it back with apologies. He makes excellent music - and you make some excellent points.

Good stuff Sid....best of luck with 1969 records and hope you have a cracking 2006 with the label!!

Everytime I see the name I think http://tinyurl.com/ceokv

While I'm obviously no fan of Pugwash (personal preference - sorry!), anyone who sets up a halfway decent independent record label (which at least at first glance 1969 appears to be) deserves some kinda medal. p.s. I don't hold Pugwash personally responsible for that Skoda, Myself and a friend have killed three of them between us, very safe little cars I must say.... :D

It's typical, but sadly reminiscent of what's already been said here that there is NO SIGN of PUGWASH on the "Other Voices" line-up that's been announced. Who the f**k organises these events?? SJ

hey steeplejack - are you a) in pugwash b) dave couse c) all of the above? thanks, thomas walsh.

f**king typical. This band have NO publicity, little or NO backing on a big scale and can write the next single for everyone of the so-called new bands here and it would be a hit. To think that one of the first threads I've ever seen on them has 15 replies and people think enough already is a f**king sad indictment of the Irish scene. Sorry I don't have the urge to post in threads as exciting as "Musicians and Food"?? Apologies everyone, I may have come to the "Den-TV" of Irish musical forums to discuss a brilliant and vital new band, sorry. SJ

Steeplejack, you can't expect people just to like a band or expect them get a break simply for being Irish and independent. Sure some of us have given Pugwash a little flak, but theres been positive comments too, which is exactly what you get on a messageboard, differing opinions. Posting frequently mainly on one topic alone in fairness does make people question how genuine you are too. Not saying that you're simply someone in/close to the band in question, just how people perceive things.

Jesus... what's with the lectures whenever someone gets a bit huffy?? Steeplejack has a right to get in a snot with some of the responses he's had... surely we all have a right to our own opinion? Nobody should question his, or for that matter anyones motives in posting anything.. the man has passion for something he loves. Enough said.