THE CALVINISTS Tipped as "The Next U2"

I was always a firm believer in fate or destiny or whatever you choose to call it. When things happen in my life, or my friends' lives, I often remark, "what's meant to be will be" or "what's for you won't pass you". I also maintain that there is something to be said for being in the right place at the right time, something the following four lads will probably agree with me on...

The Calvinist

Bantry-band The Calvinists, who I first blogged about back in May of this year (read my posts here), have been tipped by Matt Gross, travel journalist with The New York Times, as "the next U2". Gross, who was touring the country in order to write a piece about Ireland's landscape, happened to stumble across a poster advertising a local band's gig in The Schooner Bar on Saturday 16th October. Impressed with the band's name (chosen because of Reformist pastor John Calvin's opposition to music), and longing for a pint of Murphy's, Gross ventured inside, pulled up a stool and took in the band's sound. And, boy, was he impressed:

"...the Calvinists were awesome: straight-up rock with a country accent, courtesy of the banjoist Taidhg Burke*, and the range to cover both Johnny Cash and Gorillaz, thanks to Noel Maguire’s effortless voice.“They’re the next U2!” shouted the older gent next to me...And I believed him; the whole room hummed with enthusiasm and pride. I was part of something. Maybe this was a moment that, years from now, I’d remember as a big one...

The article concluded with Gross' recommendation that anyone visiting Bantry should pop into The Schooner Bar, "particularly if the Calvinists are playing". You can read the article in its entirety here.

What happened on that once expected-to-be-ordinary-Saturday night, and what has happened since, is beyond the Calvinists' wildest dreams. The New York Times draws an average of one million readers a day, making for unbelievable coverage for the band, the kind most already-established bands can only dream about. The Calvinists' guitarist and banjoist Frank Weiler spoke to The Daily Edge in an article published yesterday: "Recognition from America is something most bands dream for years about...so we are very lucky, we're hoping this is the start of bigger and better things." (Read the full article here).

Since Gross' article was published in The New York Times, on 22nd October, the band have been inundated with emails, calls, requests for interviews and messages to their band's MySpace page. The Irish Daily Mail today included not one, but two pieces on them (pages 8 and 14), stating that  "their collective prayers have been answered" following Gross' "epiphany" to visit The Schooner Bar on the night that he did. Not surprisingly, everyone wants a piece of the talented foursome, signalling that they won't stay unsigned for long. Not bad for a band that only began playing together a year ago, eh?

The Calvinists came about when a group of individual musicians/songwriters, each of them having played with various different line-ups, decided to combine their talents in search of a fresh and unique sound. In the last year, the dedicated band, made up of Noel Maguire (lead vocals/acoustic guitar) (pictured left), Taidhg Burke (bass/acoustic guitar/lyrics), Frank Wieler (lead guitar/banjo/harmonica/vocals) and Darragh Coakley (drums/percussion) have put all of their attention and effort into their music- rehearsing, recording and gigging extensively. And the results of all of their hard work are clear for anyone to see.

When I last blogged about the Calvinists on Rarities, they were busy recording their debut EP, which people all over the U.S. and Ireland now await with baited breath. Their original songs are already firm favourites among anyone who has seen the band perform live around Cork, while the lads' choice of covers are famous among locals and visitors to Bantry for their unique twists. With a U.S. tour already in the pipeline, a lot is expected from this fine band, and I can say from a personal stance they certainly will not disappoint.

The Calvinists are all set to appear this Saturday morning on Nadine O'Regan's "Kiosk" on Phantom 105.2FM. The band will perform a taster of their music live and will be speaking with Nadine about the exciting events that have taken place over the past week. The show kicks off a 11am so make sure to listen in to hear more about this great band.

I leave you with some music. Remember their name folks; the Calvinists are going to be huge!

You can read my earlier post on Calvinists' frontman Noel Maguire here. More info on the band is available on MySpace and Facebook.

*The Calvinists' banjoist is actually Frank Weiler, but who are we to argue with The New York Times, right?