Pugwash (band)
| Pugwash | |
|---|---|
Pugwash in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Power pop, Psychedelic pop, Chamber pop, Alternative rock |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels |
Omnivore Recordings EMI Ape House 1969 Records Karmic Hit Vélo Records Lojinx |
| Associated acts |
The Duckworth Lewis Method The Divine Comedy |
| Website | Official site |
| Members | Thomas Walsh Tosh Flood Shaun McGee Joe Fitzgerald |
| Past members | Keith Farrell Johnny Boyle |
Pugwash is an Irish pop band fronted by Drimnagh-born musician Thomas Walsh. Pugwash has released four albums since its debut LP Almond Tea in 1999. The band signed a five-year deal with XTC founding member Andy Partridge's label Ape House in 2009 and is currently signed to Omnivore Recordings. Influences on the band's sound are regularly cited as including XTC, Electric Light Orchestra and Jeff Lynne, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, Honeybus and The Beatles, though Walsh dismisses the Beatles comparisons as "lazy".
Using the money from a compensation award following a childhood accident, Walsh set up a recording facility in a shed in his parents' garden. He later claimed he was inspired to do so after hearing that musical hero Andy Partridge of English new wave group XTC had retired from touring and recorded his music at home in a shed. In the early 1990s, Walsh adopted Pugwash as a stage name and began recording some 150 demos to 4-track and, in 1995, one of those was named Demo of the Year by Irish music magazine Hot Press. The recognition led to an introduction to US producer and musician Kim Fowley, who asked Walsh to play guitar for him live and in studio. Fowley then introduced Walsh to Irish singer-songwriter Andy White, with whom Walsh would go on to tour.
Using these as learning experiences, Walsh turned his full attention to writing and recording as Pugwash and in 1997 he signed a record deal with the now defunct Vélo Records. In 1999, Pugwash released debut album Almond Tea, which was co-produced by Walsh and Keith Farrell. Within four weeks of its release it had been placed at No 23 in a list of the top albums of the millennium in Hot Press. Following positive reviews for Almond Tea, Pugwash embarked on a lengthy tour of Ireland, supporting numerous visiting artists including Television and Grant-Lee Phillips.
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