Discography - Stuff recorded be me
OK, here's a list of all the stuff I have recorded in the greatest rock and roll town on planet earth, Limerick. From right now, back through my time at college, and back to the 4 track recording cherry losing days.
Because Balls of Iron is a mobile studio, notice how many different places it has been to record bands.
NO OTHER STUDIO CAN DO THIS SHIT!!!
Mark O'Connor - "Actions", my Debut Album - Recorded from 1994 ish till 2002 at balls of irons studios in Annacotty and Highfield Limerick, S120 studio (o2r + adats) UL Limerick, Veneerland (tascam cassette, 4-track) Limerick, 3's bar (tape recorder) Newport Rhode Island USA, High Stool (2 ADATS, recorded by Seanie Sean Harrold) Limerick.
Atrophy - 4 track EP. Recorded September 2002, with balls of Iron studios, somewhere in Clare near Parteen, and Annacotty Limerick. Mixed by me and Atrophy. Mastered by me. A bit like QOTSA meets Helmet at a Creed tupperware party...
Giveamanakick - "Is it OK to be loud, Jesus?", 11 track Album. Recorded June to October 2002 (in about 5 or 6 days), with balls of Iron studios, somewhere at the flat of death, O'Connell St. Limerick, and Annacotty Limerick. Mixed be me and the Man. Mastered by someone else. A bit like The White Stripes meets Helmet at an Offspring tupperware party...
The Kyboshi - Recorded and Mixed (with Kyboshi) new 9 track album, yet to be titled with Balls of Iron studios, at Lorcan's dad's gaff in Shannon, at the flat of death O'Connell St. Limerick, and at Annacotty Limerick. Mastered by me. Also mixed 5-track EP, "Through the motions of a fist" at Topol (or something like that) studios, Coonagh, County Clare (or is it Limerick) on St. Patrick's day 2001. A bit like Tooth in a hot tub party with Chino Deftones' ex-girlfriends...
Niall Quinn (of Niall Quinn and the Pennywhores) - 17 songs, drum tracks. Recorded and mixed by me and he at balls of Iron Studios, Annacotty Limerick, June 2002. Niall is finishing his recordings on his own PC. An exellent idea, decently record your albums drum tracks in a studio, and finish it yourself on your own PC at home, in your own sweet time. A bit like the great Niall Quinn or The Hitchers...
Calzino Fiasco - 9 songs. I suggest the title "finish me off baby", as this recording is not yet finished, because a week into the recording, certain band members moved to a different town, making recording that little bit harder to organise. And I only heard from them when playing with them in Cork or when they come back to Limerick to support Fugazi, or what have you... Anyway we'll finish it soon, and the world better be fuckin ready. A bit like Jeff Buckley meets Sepultura in a vodka damp cave...
Fun Bobby - 2 demo CDs, "Boozin Dictators"(2 songs) summer 2002 and "Candy Floss Pubes" (4 songs) summer 2001. My first recording efforts with my new gear (so don't blame me if there's no bass drum). Recorded with Balls of Iron Studios at Annacotty Limerick. A bit like Green Day getting Capdown's autograph at Fidel Castro's house...
Before Balls of Iron...
THESE RECORDINGS were made at UL's S120 studios, where I studied from Sept 1997 to Sept 1998, and lectured in studio recording from Sept 1998 to summer 1999.
18 of the recordings I made in this period with 6 of these bands (Triskil, Ember, Barberskum, Medic, Tooth and Moonboot) came together on a compilation CD which I gave birth to called (it being a compilation of Limerick bands) "Nobody gives a fuck so why should we?"... Proceeds from sales and launch gig went to the Limerick branch of the Samaritans. Yeah...
Triskil - 5 song demo. Recorded at S120 studio UL, with 8 track ADAT, Yamaha O2R, and mixed onto DAT. April, 1999. Like Pearl Jam meets RATM in the sky with solos.
Moonboot - 9 songs. I played guitar, keyboard, piano, piano accordian, (and bass for 1 song) and sang in this band for these recordings. Recorded at night (while by day I did the ULSU unplugged album) at S120 studio UL, with 8 track ADAT O2R, and mixed onto DAT. January 1999. Songs recorded; Sogeyes, Bus Pass, Hour Till June, Blowbird, The Holy Hijacker, Swing Low (judas iscariot), The Drinkin song, Forcefeed. Like Alabama 3 meets Tom Waits getting kicked out of Andy Warhol's birthday party...
Tooth - 4 song demo (2 tracks ended up on Sunday songs), December 1998. Songs recorded; Thursday, First, Mud Song, Luciffer Gluesniffer. Cian O'Siochain played bass with tooth at this time. He left in May 1999. I joined in June 1999. Like Helmet in a fight with the Deftones, judged by UNKLE...
Barberskum - 3 track demo. I played bass and Finbarr Ryan (of Medic) played drums and helped Frank Ryan record 3 songs. Recorded at S120, UL. Songs recorded; Time on you, Biggest whore, Payback. Like NoFX and Blink 182 in a bingo marathon...
The 'Skum went onto record their debut album "Here's one we made earlier" at 'Rock On' studios with Sean Harrold. October 1998.
Ember - 4 song demo October 1998. Songs recorded; Serial Killer, Scream overdose, Mumble. A bit like The Stereophonics getting killed by Bob Tilton in Dublin...
Medic - 4 song demo, "All the sins of the Angels poured down my throat tonight." September 1998. Songs recorded; American Mustard, Machinist, Requiem For, Hemlock. A bit like Therapy and Dinosaur Jr getting biggy with it...
Reason for living thing was said to me after this demo. John from the band said to me "man, I can't believe the recordings, they sound fucking brilliant! You've made me so happy." It reads cornier than it was said. He should be happy. It was great.
To Medic and every great band I've ever recorded, I tell you solemnly, it was an honour to be mid-wife at the birth of your babies, helping to bring them into the world, and a privilege seeing each band do their thing. Fascinating little micricosms are bands. Whirlwinds of creativity, chance, beauty, sweat, influences, cultura, genius and a little bit of bullshit to cement it all together.
Tooth - Frowno demo. Songs recorded; Corona, Perfect Teeth, Last Time, Cyanide Sweetener. September 1998.
Trivia bit. The tape machine nearly ate the end of the tape, where the song Cyanide Sweetener was located. Listening back, the bass bit had disappeared, and digital scrapey bits. The machine had eaten the tape, all crinkled up and what have you. We cried for a while. Even thought about trying to mix it with Cian playing bass bit live or some shit. Anyway after a few decades of the rosary, the tape and ADAT player behaved itself. We mixed the fucker in record time, and got the fuck out of there. Phew.
Moonboot - "Forever Now" demo, August 1998. Songs recorded; Forever now, I see you, Spagetti western, Too late. Like James Taylor Quartet vs the band in the bar in 'from dusk till dawn'.
My first effort at recording a band. A real band. Moonboot were a band of amazingly gifted musicians, playing slightly snazzy music really well. They were a good band to start my recording mojo with. I fucked up a bit and only used 3 mics on the drums. Subsequently, the drummer says to me these days "that was a shit drum sound", to which I reply, "well that's what you get for playing them so well! They sounded fine at the time." Graham Conway, played keyboard with Moonboot at that stage. He went on to form Sub-Zero (previously Radars (or rythm for the radars)), and the other 3 members of Moonboot are now in The Jekyll Brothers.
OTHERWISE
Tooth - "That Corporate Emotion" EP, 8 songs. Recorded on 8 track ADAT + Yamaha O3D(i.e. 8 mics on drumkit, bounced to 2 track, and 6 tracks for everything else). Recorded by Seanie Sean Harrold. Mixed by Tooth (with the amazing Mark O'Connor at the knobs!). Mastered by no-one. Maxed and spliced in Cool Edit. Recorded astride 2000 at 'Rock on' Studios, plus 1 live track recorded by Sean at The Warehouse, Limerick.
Tooth trivia bit - Read on only if you're really interested.
Goes the credit in the sleeve "Recorded by Seanie Sean Harrold, Mark O'Connor, and ourselves." I got into lots of trouble with the lads for putting that on the sleeve. This recording was stressful cos it dragged on too long. At the end of the project, while we were rushing to get if off to the CD pressing plant in time for an Irish tour we had coming up, with a stressed head on me after mixing and listening and relistening and put in a lot of work etc. I somehow came up with "Recorded by Seanie Sean Harrold, Mark O'Connor, and ourselves," which doesn't accurately tell the story. It looks like I was hogging some of the creative credits than the other lads. Which is bullshit. Of the 8 songs on the record, I only was around for the writing of 3 of them (arbogast, obscene groove machine and nonsense). Tooth was always a 4 way street, equality in tha shed at all times.
I just felt I deserved credit for doing so much work on the mixes.
Ah but sure we all look back on it now and laugh, don't we lads? Lads?...
Other recording experiences
Veneer - Played Organ, guitar, backing vocals. Recorded with this band in the following studios
Following winning 3rd prize in nationwide green energy festival in Dublin, got 4 days recording time in this pricey studio. Summer of 1997 at Temple Bar Music Centre studios (i.e. the top floor top notch place where Van the Man records etc). A gazzilion tracks, mics, knobs, separation booths, leds, and ways of getting distracted. Still the most expensive studio I've ever recorded in. Not all they're cracked up to be.
Spring '97 - Curragh Chase Studios with Fergal (something). Demoed lots of stuff on nice 8 track analog machine.
Winter '96 - Some dude in Galway. Recorded 4 songs on a 16 track analog thing.
Autumn '97 - Dennis Allen Studios Limerick. Recorded 'Popular One' single. First experience of a real studio.
Veneer, a bit like The Bad Seeds in Kate Bush's dungeon...
Throughout Veneertime - Recorded a week's worth of demos, covers, ideas, etc... on tascam 4 track. Have umpteen tapes of diary music (like every recording dude in the world I'd say).
Fingal's Cave - 5 song demo. First ever experience of recording, THEN Mixing! Played keyboard, guitar, bass, sang on this recording, so knew my way around the music from early on... A bit like The Levellers meeting Radical Dance Faction at the Oscars...
Other non/semi-rock and roll projects I've done...
Maria Kinsella - Irish Songs CD. recorded, mixed by me and her with Balls of Iron studios, Annacotty Limerick. Summer 2001.
JFK Schoolboy Choir - "A song for JFK" fund raiser CD. Recorded at The Holy Rosary Church and JFK Memorial School, Ennis Road, Limerick, with Balls of Iron Studios. Mixed and mastered by me. May 2002.
Scoil Mhuire, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick trad kids - Competition entry demo CD. Recorded at their school and mixed at Annacotty. Spring, 2002.
Students of Masters in String Performance, UL - Recorded at the Performing Arts Centre, UL on 8 track ADAT, edited with Protools. 4 students individual projects, accompianied by piano, or solo. Playing violin, viola, and cello. Executive producer, Ferenc Szucs (the guy who's cello is older than Beethoven)...
ULSU Unplugged - A charity CD, consisting of 30 (ish) bands from UL. Most stressful recording experience of all time. Finished it in about 5 days. Each band had 3 hours to record, mix 1 song each. Perfectionists dragged out longer. After each day of recording this CD, I sneaked my band 'Moonboot' into the studio to record 9 songs by night. I got about 3 or 4 hours sleep each night.
I now subsequently wish to publicly disassociated myself from this recording as the credits are wrong. It says "produced, mixed and mastered by" me, when in fact it should have said (as I requested) "engineered, recorded and mixed by" me. I had nothing to do with the fact that it was 'mastered' onto a minidisc (i.e. a process which narrowed the stereo bandwith something terrible, and fucked up (i.e. down) the levels and undid a lot of my hard work). Not only that, but the Moonboot song on the record was chopped after the 2nd verse "the song is just too long man". Recording lots of new bands new shit was as joyous as usual, but there were a few monsters I brought into this world onto that CD, that I still have trouble looking myself in the mirror about...
Never again.
And That's that.
More to be added as soon as I deliver more beautiful recording babies.