News

The catch-up #78

9th Dec 2008

For our latest catch-up chat, we called up Ciaran to talk about Paul's wedding, the new Christmas song, plans for The Feeling's third album and a cat with a top hat. Thanks to Ciaran for the pics. Send your questions for Paul next time to feedback@thefeeling.com. 

Hi Ciaran. What are you up to?
I'm at home. We've got a couple of days off, which is great.

So you've just got home from Paul's wedding. How was it?
It was great - really, really good. It was all brilliantly orgainised by the two best men. We flew into Belfast on Friday then we all got a coach to the venue. We all went out that evening to this bar that's run by Sinead's sister and brother-in-law, for some drinks and some food. There were these guys who did this routine thing - an act that incorporates a lot of Irish dancing and singing and also acting out stories in masks. That was a brilliant start to proceedings. The next day was the wedding itself at the local church and that was great as well.

Dan in Castlebar during the Irish tour

Did you have a role at the ceremony?
Yes. Myself and my girlfriend played a song - O Holy Night - which is a classic Christmas number. It was very nerve-wracking actually. Far more nerve-wracking than doing a normal gig. My girlfriend was singing and I was playing the church organ, which is not something I've done a hell of a lot before. I used to play a bit in church when I was growing up but I never mastered the thing.

Did it go OK?
It was a bit terrifying but, yeah, I think it went well. The ceremony was great too. After that we all got back on the bus and went down to the village we were staying at that evening. The reception took place there in this great big castle, which was supposedly haunted. That was great and the meal was great and there was a brilliant band that performed. I can't remember the name of them, but they did this country-rock stuff in the style of Little Feat. And Paul and Sinead got up and did a song, with Paul singing.

How were his vocals?
Very good! He sounded like Johnny Cash to me. Then later we did a few songs with the band. And Sophie sang a song as well. So yeah, it was lovely.

Were there lots of hangovers the morning after the wedding?
Indeed there were. And the bus journey back to the airport took almost four hours as well. It was quite a silent bus on the way back.

Paul's drums, during the Irish tour, before he became a married man

Oh, and how was Paul's stag do?
Brilliant. And again, very well organised by the best men. We went on a bar crawl of Edinburgh and had a nice meal as well. Nothing seedy happened, no tying of naked people to lamp posts or anything like that, but it was great fun.

So, what are the band up to for the next few weeks?
We're sort of winding down for Christmas, but we've got a few things lined up. We're doing Chris Evans' show on Radio 2 and we've got a couple of recording things to do.

And obviously you're got the new Christmas song.
Yes!

How did that come about?
It's a song Dan had written two or three years ago. He'd just done a vocal/piano version and decided to pull it out and finish it off. Various things were added to it and Richard Niles, who did the string arrangements for the Join With Us album, did another great arrangement.

Are you pleased with it?
Yes, it sounds really good.

And it's on the Radio Two A-list already.
I didn't know that! A-list, eh? That's good.

And from Monday it will be available for people to buy.
Yes indeed! We weren't sure whether to release it or not, but we decided some people might like to own it, so we'd put it out in a low-key sort of way.

Obviously you've finished the UK tour since we last spoke. How did that go?
Great! We finished off in Ireland with four gigs there which were all really good. But we were suffering a bit - in particular Paul and Dan who'd caught the flu. Paul was feeling better by the end of the first gig, but Dan developed it about mid-way through that trip. There was one gig where he found it very hard to sing.

Presumably then it's a case of carry on and do your best or cancel the gig and disappoint people.
That's the thing. Everyone was plying him with as many cold remedies as they could just to get him through it, but it did mean we couldn't do all the songs we normally do and we had to do quite a few covers. It felt a bit weird but as least we did the gig. I ended up doing lead vocals for one or two songs, to which I didn't really know the words. But the show had to go on!

Well it certainly sounds like a unique show!
This is very true, for better or for worse.

"A strange castle was next to the big Gleneagle Hotel complex in Killarney, Co. Kerry," says Ciaran

What's the plan for the start of next year?
We'll be moving onto a new album really. That's pretty much it for this one.

Are you pleased with how the whole Join With Us album went?
Yes, we were. It was nice to spend some more time at home which we didn't do a lot with the first album - were based much more in the UK with this album. It's been nice. And it was good to finish off in Ireland, because we've all got lots of family there.

And, of course, you did your Fairytale of New York special in Belfast.
Indeed! Sinead did that with us. I think that was probably the best gig on that stint - the fans seemed to be very appreciative of us being there. It was a really good crowd. Actually, I met Gerry Conlon of the Guildford Four who I'd never have expected to meet at a gig. He was saying how much he enjoyed it and appreciated it.

How did you know it was him?
He just said, 'Hi, I'm Gerry from the Guildford Four".

An Irish sign, quite near Westport, but a long way from Dublin...

So, what when will you start work on the new album?
I think we have some time booked out and it will involve just playing stuff as a band and rehearsing, instead of just going straight in and recording. As to when we'll actually lay down some songs, I don't really know. I think we're going to take our time with it. Although we're happy with the second album, there is a slight sense of having had to get it out quickly, which is probably the case for a lot of second albums. But I think this time we want to be able to work on it a bit more.

Right, readers' questions. Sandra asks what you miss most when on the road?
It's probably the same for all of us: the buildings we live in and our partners. Other than that you can get a cup of tea in most places.

Laura wonders if you sustained any injuries during the tour from being knocked to the floor at the end of the encore so many times.
Once, yes, I fell on my in-ear monitoring device and that hurt my ear a bit. But that's it really. It looks like Dan lands on me with all his weight but he doesn't. He's very good at it - it's almost like a wrestling move.

Finally, Geoff has noticed you always wear a hat and asks if you have one special hat or a collection?
I have got a few hats, I bought two new ones recently, which I'm very happy with, from a shop called Bates. It's on Jermyn Street just off Piccadilly in London. It's a great hat shop, but it might soon be closing down after being there for a hundred years or so, which would be a real shame. They've got a petition going because they want to keep the shop open.

The cat in the hat

So everyone needs to go and buy hats for Christmas from Bates?
Yes! They're reasonably expensive, but that is because they are very good. And they have a great stuffed cat there. It used to live in the shop itself, but now it's stuffed, wearing a top hat and holding a cigarette.

Ah, so smoking killed the cat, rather than curiosity?
Exactly!

Comments

Showing 1 to 20 of 23 (next 20)

From	Comment
feelingfan14 22/12/09	Great catch up Ciaran. I love the picture of that cat lol.
pippin 18/12/08	Great catch up, as always!! Love the slightly creepy cat, and i really like Ciaran's hats!! Congratulations to Paul and Sinead!
xfh 17/12/08	ive got the dvd! ive lost count how many times ive watched it haha :] their cover of 'take on me' and ciaran rapping to eminem is brilliant
dan1 15/12/08	great catch up, Congratulations to Paul and Sinead. I cant wait till I get your new DVD for Christmas. I love your new Christmas song. Love you Guys alot. Happy Christmas to you all. Claire xxxx
craziimii 14/12/08	awwwwwwwww thats a weird but cute cat MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE AND IM GETTING THE DVD FOR CHRISTMAS YAY good to hear the wedding went well Connie XxXx
mbrycka 13/12/08	Thanks for great catch-up and the pics. Once more congratulations to Paul and Sinead! Maybe Paul should sing on the next album and the concerts? We all like Ciaran's hat. Thank you for the music and Merry Christmas everyone!
charley 12/12/08	thanks for the catch up, im glad the wedding went well and that cat is so cute but wierd.lol.
georgiatfx 10/12/08	Great catch up (: I ordered your DVD twice. first time they cancelled the order. so ive ordered it again and hopefully it should be coming soon (: cant wait to watch it. xxx
xxbooxx 10/12/08	yay great catch ciaran, scary cat tho!
nicole 10/12/08	Great Catch up I'm glad the wedding went well =)
pteranodon 10/12/08	Awesome guys so sorry for not commenting on this yesterday, I was too busy watching your awesome DVD
leaceypie 10/12/08	cool catchup..glad the wedding went well & everything. Arghh it says Sligo on that Irish signpost...I miss that place, I've visited there many times before and I'm in love with the place xx
lilitu 09/12/08	I love Ciaran's hats! Hope to hear some of Paul's voice on the third album. Congrats to him and Sinead. :)
cambridgeblu 09/12/08	Thanks Ciaran for answering my Question, im off to buy a Hat now! Geoff
cambridgeblu 09/12/08	Thanks Ciaran for answering my Question, im off to buy a Hat now! Geoff
theoldjoanna 09/12/08	wow! i wish i could hear ciaran doing more lead vocals! glad the wedding went well, all the best for married life...and merry christmas everyone! xxx
crazy 09/12/08	Great catch-up! Gald to here the wedding want ok. Work it Ciaran! LOL! x x x x
lizc 09/12/08	Well I cannot but agree that Belfast was brilliant.. we all had a great time and were left wanting more but also appreciating the guys need a break.. but dont be gone too long as we miss you heaps already.. have a great Xmas with your families and heres to great things in 2009 liz x
offy 09/12/08	I think the gig Ciaran is talking about may have been Killarney as my mum went and said that Ciaran did loads of songs brilliantly as Dan was apologising for his voice. Glad the wedding went well! Hope they enjoy their well deserved rest.
dani 09/12/08	Glad to hear the wedding went well, hopefully we will get to hear Paul's singing voice at some point. :) Have a great Christmas guys and Good Luck with the new album! Dani xxxx

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