Shoos go from bad covers to great originals

Fans of up-beat guitar music with a pop sensibility should check out The Shoos when they play Monroe’s Live this Saturday, January 28. The band is made up of lead singer Texas, lead guitarist Barry Plunkett, bassist Steve Maher and drummer Scott Maher.

“It started about four years ago now,” says Barry of the group’s birth. “Basically, everyone in the band has been mates for years. The funny thing is we all knew everyone sang a bit or played the guitar, or hacked around on the bass or drums. For some reason – don’t ask me why – we just never put it together.”

Barry began backing up Texas at the singer’s solo gigs, and the pair realised there was a chemistry they decided to build on.

“It started from there,” says Barry. “Steve said ‘I might jump in to one or two of those gigs’. Scott is his brother and he has this thing where he tries to learn a new instrument every year. At the time he wanted to sit down in front of a drum kit and see how he got on.

“We actually started out as probably the worst covers band in history,” Barry adds. “Ah, we were terrible, we were absolutely shocking! I think that’s what drove us to give it a bash at our own stuff.”

Although Barry admits it’s tough for a new act to break through, he believes it’s worth persevering with The Shoos.

“I think the music is the thing that encourages us to keep going,” he says. “Ireland – particularly at the moment – is a tough place for anyone to be. I think the great thing about being a musician is they’re constantly broke anyway!”

Last year saw The Shoos go to number one in the iTunes Alternative Charts with their EP, Rescue Room. The quartet also secured some high-profile support slots.

“Last year was brilliant for us,” Barry observes. “We put out an EP on the Universal label – we’d self-released stuff up until then. And we got a couple of big supports – we did the Maroon 5 show when they came to Ireland, and Lifehouse in the Olympia.

“Aside from those big gigs, what we found when we were gigging around the country, was the reaction was just so positive. It kind of blew us away a little bit. It was great to develop a bigger fan base. Hopefully that’s something we’ll keep on this year.”

The pop/rock genre is a crowded market. What does Barry feel that his band has to entice punters?

“I think first and foremost, Texas’ voice is very unique,” he says. “Lots of the time we try and make that the thing that binds the music together. Because he has that unique tone, I think that’s what we try and focus on. After that, it’s just about trying to make great songs.”

The Shoos have a rehearsal space set up in their native Dublin, which is also equipped with recording equipment. Each member throws his hat into the song-writing process.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.