| Billy Mahonie
is a four piece instrumental band formed at the end of 1997. This
was not, however, the beginning. Gavin and Howard rehearsed as Billy
Mahonie Mark One in 1994. They were joined by bass player Crawford
(from Rothko) and a succession of singers; this was where they followed
a fool's path. They meandered for a long while, not getting anywhere,
until Howard sold his soul to the charts and joined a designer pop
band. Naturally, Gavin did the same. For nearly two years, they didn't
play a note together. However, they began to hear new music from Chicago
played by people with passion and real instruments and no singers.
This gave them renewed inspiration to play. Collaborations were made
on four track tape players: often Howard would record some drums and
go home leaving Gavin to turn them into music. In the autumn of 1997,
Howard pushed forward, organising a gig before they had a band. This
was the start.Kevin Penney was enlisted, along with Hywell Dinsdale.
Both were to play bass, with Hywell occasionally playing guitar. Hywell
responded to an ad in a record store, and Kev knew Howard anyhow.
Rehearsals got under way, the songs took shape and the arrangements
became more refined. Above all, the band became a band, playing not
as four individuals but as one small fictional boy.In 1998, Mahonie
released two records both "7" singles: Hoon and Whistling
Sam/On The Brinck. A lot of gigs were played, mainly in London but
this will change. Mahonie supported Arab Strapat the Queen Elizabeth
Hall and Ganger in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Then Billy went on a short
Fierce Panda tour of the UK with Seafood and Tiny Too in November.
In 1999, Mahonie released a debut album "The Big Dig" through
Too Pure records. This drew on a myriad of influences and people sat
up and took notice. These are the same people that had become stupified
by homegrown rock music that was becoming generic and unimaginative.
With strong support from press, radio and the ever increasing fanbase
(presumably for the same reason), Mahonie became a strong young man
who was ready to take on whatever came his way. He also coverted his
neighbour's mandolin. So what did? Well in 1999, a Peel Session and
a Student Broadcast Network were recorded as well as a live session
for Sean Hughes' show. A UK tour, with Hefner, was embarked upon,
as was a Euro tour with Bows and Laika later that same year. There
was also time to release an EP and a couple of singles. Things were
moving along into 2000 and another more embracing European tour ensued.
People laughed, people cried and people argued all in the name of
rock n' roll. It was around this time that True Poo decided that,
perhaps Billy was a bad influence and insisted that they parted company
"musical differences: they were musically diffident" said
a source close to Billy. One man's poison is another's medicine, as
Southern Records found out. With many songs already written for the
next album and brimming over with more ideas. These had been tried
out at various low key shows, towards the end of 2000, well they started
off as low key, some didn't stay that way, as people who tried to
get Upstairs at the Garage in London found out. Sorry about that.
BM are joined by the trumpeteer Ian Watson on some songs. |
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