August 5, 2012
(Shite’n’Onions) So who are Dublin Public (when formed, band members, where are you from)?
(Shea – Dublin Public) I started Dublin Public in March of 2011 a few months after my previous project broke up. I have always had a love of Irish songs and I have booked many a St. Patrick’s Day party over the years, but the real reason I started this project was to expand my skill set as a musician and venture into a genre I had no experience with. The first year was pretty much shite, as I tried out many, many musicians, but no one quite fit the group. In November of 2011 I met our current upright bass player Nate Morefield and lead multi-instrumentalist Steve Lorentzen in the same week! I was almost floored by what I had found, and as we came together as a group over the next few months we played our first show on February 2nd, 2012 in Long Beach where we are all from.
Drummers had been an issue as our previous guy also played in another Irish band so we went on the hunt, while still playing shows, for a few months until we came across Smilin’ Jack DeBaun who has a great feel for the music and brings his unique “cocktail-style” drum kit to the group. At the same time we happened upon our fiddle player, Carrie Mock, who runs a talented string quartet as well and things finally felt complete after over a year! It was rough wading through tons and tons of Craigslist postings but every member was found there and drunken good times have been had ever since!
(Shite’n’Onions) What inspired the formation of the band?
(Shea – Dublin Public) I have been pretty inspired by both the legends [Dubliners, Clancy Brothers, Pogues] as well as local bands like The Leperkhanz, The Mighty Regis, The Mahones, Shillaly Brothers, etc]. It was the local bands that really got me into the music as I do booking in my city for various venues. I saw how much fun everyone was having, drinking and singing along and that really pushed me to start a project of my own.
(Shite’n’Onions) Describe your sound (and influences)?
(Shea – Dublin Public) We are very Folk/Traditional rooted but add a tinge of rock to our arrangements. We try to make the songs feel modern while keeping all the traditional stuff in. The Clancy’s Brothers are one of my favorites, but I we draw influence from other great bands like the Dubliners, The Irish Rovers, Pogues, Wolfe Tones, Great Big Sea, and more.
(Shite’n’Onions) What going on with the band right now (recording, touring etc)?
(Shea – Dublin Public) We just finished our debut album of Irish drinking standards that you can pick up online for just $7! That’s 14 tracks of some of your favorite songs like The Wild Rover, Fields of Athenry, and Finnegan’s Wake to name a few. Besides that we are just starting to work on originals and get our name out there in the local scene!
(Shite’n’Onions) What song in you catalog best defines your sound (and why)?
(Shea – Dublin Public) I think our song “Beer, Beer, Beer” really reflects what we are going for. We love to drink and get the party going and this song exemplifies that pretty well!
(Shite’n’Onions) Soapbox – anything you’d like to say?
(Shea – Dublin Public) I love stout!
Shite'n'Onions 