No Such Thing as Irish Nachos

Way back in 2001, the family took a trip to Ireland and while we were staying in Dublin, I went off in search of new Irish rock music. The Temple Bar area, kind of Dublin's Tribeca, had a music center offering club shows every night, and I saw Bell X-1, knowing nothing about them but liking their logo. And I though they were great! These concert photos were taken back then and until this past Friday night, I didn't even know the names of the guys pictured.

That's the night that Yep Roc records hosted a meet and greet - and eat and drink - at D.C.'s Four Fields pub, with the band. The guy bathed in blue is bassist Dominic Philips (I dubbed him 'the kid") who has grown up muchly.

and the one brushing back his hair is Paul Noonan, who was originally the drummer and (shades of Phil Collins!) became lead singer when Damien Rice left the band (which was previously named Jupiter). Paul, who has less hair now, is very tall and quite charming in that great way that talkative Irish men have.












I didn't get to chat with Dominic, but guitarist/keyboard player Brian Crosby sat across from me, and we got to chatting, too. Though I don't have a picture of him from the show way back, he looks good now in his groovy "Mr. Bump" T-shirt.


Bell X-1 is finally about to release an album in America, "Flock," which is coming on February 19th, and the band will be touring in March. The drinks and dinner were an excuse for local press to get to know the band better, and maybe goose some coverage. I feel sorry for musicians at events like this - having to shmooze people who are generally jaded (some so much so that they don't honor their RSVPs, though I won't name names) at a "themed" place that, in this case, must have felt like the Epcot Center version of the Old Sod, especially when my friend (and plus-one) Sally offered to share her "Irish Nachos" - waffle fries with melted cheese, plus some black olives and other stuff. Being starved after a long day of radio visits, the guys tried them, but informed us quite firmly that there is no such thing as Irish Nachos.

We trusted their judgment on such matters, and had a fun time nonetheless. Blame it on the beer or the fact that Sally and I had many fond memories to share of trips to Ireland with our families, but the night moved happily on with discussions of the dangers inherent in Irish roadways and American politics and ended with a promise to (on my part) pitch stories and (everyone's) see the band again when the tour comes through (DC place and date to be announced).