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Biography
After 13 years of being the favorite unreleased album here at What
Are Records?, the new digital release from our beloved, sorely missed
Irish friends, Lir, "06/93 Acoustic Sessions," is finally
available for everyone to enjoy.
W.A.R.? signed this exciting young band back in 1994, and released
their two critically acclaimed rock albums, "Magico Magico,"
and "Nest." Meanwhile, the band toured the USA repeatedly,
and quickly built a strong live following....
"an imaginative new band...if you still believe in bands with
melody and heart, whatever you do, try to catch Lir..."
- Boston Globe, 6/30/94
"Magico Magico!....this album lives up to it's title. Pleasant
songs, strong melodies, thoughtful lyrics, and a charming voice
to tie it all together. How can it go wrong?"
- Alternative Press, 8/94
...Unfortunately, just as they were reaching that famous "tipping
point," outside factors brought an end to their time together.
(They all remain friends, and involved in other musical endeavors,
and the lucky people of Ireland still get a nearly annual Lir re-union
show)
Luckily, they left us a box full of tapes, including one very special
session - where the usually plugged-in band spent an afternoon or
two recording acoustic versions of some beautiful new songs.
The childhood friends' shared love of folk music - they were the
ones to turn us onto Nick Drake, way before that car commercial
- is on display throughout, particularly on dual centerpieces, "From
A Life" and "In Your Place."
The acoustic setting of this recording proves especially suited
to lead singer David McGuiness, whose voice reminds one of both
Mr. Drake and Ben Gibbard, and the Joni Mitchell and John McLaughlin
loving lead guitarist, Ronan Byrne.
"06/93 Acoustic Sessions" is available at all digital
retailers, including What Are Records' own brand new on-line store.
1995
"Nest" Bio
(from
1995) Nest is the first recorded showcase for Lir's new twin-guitar
lineup. The resulting sonic shift is put to excellent use on each
of the eleven original songs on this album. Here's the whole story:
part one:
America meets Lir:
The members of Lir have been performing together in Ireland since
their teens. Just now in their early twenties, the band is already
reaping the benefits of years of hard work and experimentation.
In their home country, Lir are as popular as a band can get without
being mobbed on the streets.
Last year, the
band turned their attention to our shores. America's quite a bit
bigger than Ireland, where a national tour takes about two weeks.
Undaunted by this task, Lir spent ten months of 1994 touring on
behalf of their first stateside CD, Magico Magico!. Response
to the record and the band's live shows were positive:
"an imaginative new band...if you still believe in bands
with melody and heart, whatever you do, try to catch Lir..."
- Boston Globe, 6/30/94
"Magico
Magico!....this album lives up to it's title. Pleasant songs, strong
melodies, thoughtful lyrics, and a charming voice to tie it all
together. How can it go wrong?"
- Alternative Press, 8/94
part two:
building a Nest
During this tour, Lir sent back to Ireland for more musical firepower
in the form of their friend Colm Quearney. Colm quickly added new
textures to the band's songwriting with his backing harmonies and
blues drenched guitar style. The quintet quickly tightened up on
the road and decided to record their second album in America before
returning home.
Sick of nondescript
hotel rooms, Lir took over the house of W.A.R.? label boss Rob Gordon
for three weeks to record Nest . The album features songs written
while the band was touring as well as previously unreleased concert
favorites. New or old, all of Nest's songs are doubly blessed; well
tested on the road and freshly charged with the spark of a new band.
part three:
back to the road
After a well deserved but short spring break and a series of sold
out shows in their home country, Lir hit the European summer festival
circuit for the first time, wowing crowds and raising the stakes
for the established headliners each night.
This fall Lir
returns to America, still young and eager, but now also more focused
and experienced, ready to add to the hard earned gains they made
for themselves last year.
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