The Gilhoolys
INTRODUCING: The Gilhoolys https://www.facebook.com/thegilhoolys/
The Gilhoolys are a cult Glasgow band who came together in the 90’s around the same time as Travis, Teenage Fanclub and Cosmic Rough Riders (James Clifford, formerly of Cosmic Rough Riders is now a full-time member of the band). They’ve recently had singles appear in the indie charts, toured Scotland, including support slots at Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow (the third busiest venue in the world) and sold out gigs in the likes of King Tuts Wah Wah Hut etc. They’ve enjoyed airplay on over 60 radio stations around the world, including as far afield as Australia and Brazil.
Live gigs in the calendar include headlining Glasgow’s ace Room 2 on 29 October and supporting the Holy Pistol Club on 29 December at Glasgow’s Junction 1.
They’ve also got an album launch party planned for early 2023. We had a cuppa and a blether with the band ⬇️
Facebook: @thegilhoolys | Instagram: @thegilhoolys | Twitter: @thegilhoolys | Spotify: HERE
Q> Tell us a bit about yourselves, you’ve been in bands previously, when did The Gilhooly’s come to be?
“The Gilhoolys, are a hard-hitting, energetic band bursting with indie rock tones!
A bit of a cult Glasgow band with a big fanbase, we came out of the same scene as the likes of Travis, Teenage Fanclub and Cosmic Rough Riders. Speaking of which, ex-Cosmic’s bass player, James Clifford is now fully entrenched in The Gilhooly’s line up and adding some power packed thumping bass lines and harmonies. Our old songs are getting airplay again, and spins via YouTube. We signed to Main St Records who released our single STAR (No 1. on the Indie chart) in June 2021. We followed this up with - WILL GOD FORGIVE - (No 2. on the Rock Chart) and released our new album G10 (No 6. on the Rock Chart ) and toured Scotland. It’s been an incredibly busy year for The Gs. The fans are back and talking and listening, while the band are back for some unfinished business.”
> Tell us about your single The Score, what’s it about and when is it released?
“This song is about overthinking adversity and never really giving up to the challenge life brings and the people who create it, release date is 28/10/22 it’s currently No 3. in the Indie chart.”
> When it comes to songwriting do you take inspiration from the world around you, from current affairs for example or are the songs based on personal experience?
“Yes to extent I do write songs based on views, experience, learning of life but would have to say they’re mostly based on real life observations. Lots of our songs are based on growing up, living and loving from a normal loving working class environment and viewpoint.”
> How does your recording / songwriting process work?
“Paul Devlin writes and arranges the material and the process is now we work of a demo version of these songs. Once we get into the studio it takes shape when guys like Cliffy ( Bass) get to give it the magic and dynamics. Once we are happy with the live version, we go to the record co and advise we are ready to record. We have went back to basics in terms of construction of the songs and took good advice from several producers etc to stop it becoming a showcase for certain instruments. We had a tendency to add lots of unnecessary intricacies that ruined the storyboard or listening practicalities of the songs.”
> What do your career highlights look like to date?
“I think our No 1 debut single after we got back together in 2020. We released STAR on 25 June 2021 and it went to no. 1 in the Indie chart overnight.
However some gigs from the SEC Glasgow as support to various acts and two sell out shows at King Tuts had great memories for us. Stereo Glasgow and Drummonds Aberdeen this time around were brilliant shows as well as our last Room 2 show in Glasgow. Great memories.”
> Do you have any live dates or festivals in the calendar?
“We play Room 2 again tonight 29th Oct and we are are part of a line up of support acts for the Holy Pistol Club on 29 December at Junction 1 in Glasgow. We do hope to confirm some festival dates and our album launch dates early in January so watch this space.”
> Any past radio support / or blogs / websites coverage large or small?
"We have been fortunate enough to have had around 5 or 6 full radio interviews as well as well over 150 plays of our singles and our latest single THE SCORE has had over 60 plays on various stations, even ahead of being released. The support has been immense. Stations I’m Australia and Brazil also aired it or have it on their schedules. It’s been truly great support.”
> We love hearing about non-musical things, hobbies, interests and passions - is there something you love doing outside of music / tell us something most people wouldn’t know about you?
“We are a diverse lot outside the band. From cycling, camping, travelling and partying hard, to doing loads of new musically attached projects. I guess something interesting is that after we split back in 1997, we had collectively never been in the same room together until august 2020. We also have a band member who is consistently mistaken for a world famous serial killer. No names given for the sake of his children. How’s that for a one off for a band?”