Photos and Review by Hannah Rohret.
The Mary Wallopers rocked Berkeley’s Cornerstone last Friday, delivering a raucous finale to their North American tour. Hailing from Dundalk, Ireland, this anti-imperialist band of ballad singers drew throngs of concert-goers, all eager to revel in the unapologetic, working-class glory of their music, deeply rooted in Irish resistance and folk tradition. With calls for a Free Palestine woven into their set from start to finish, they certainly did not disappoint. The Mary Wallopers embody a music of the people, by the people, reclaiming folk music’s radical heritage and fostering a profound sense of pride and solidarity among the masses
From their origins as a trio in a quarantine-era, makeshift pub, live streamed in their series Stay at Home With The Mary Wallopers, featuring multi-instrumentalist brothers Charles (guitar, bodhrán, vocals) and Andrew Hendy (banjo, guitar, vocals) alongside their good pal Seán McKenna (guitar, vocals), The Mary Wallopers have expanded into a dynamic six-piece ensemble. Róisín Barrett lays down a chilled vibe on the bass, the talented Finnian O’Connor on the cherished tin whistle and Uilleann pipes. And of course, there’s the commanding presence of Ken Mooney on the drums, delivering powerful beats that drive their sound forward.
The whole cast was present Friday night in Berkeley as they wrapped up their second North American tour this year, and the packed venue pulsated with mosh pits, crowd surfing and spirited banter as the band played songs from their new album, Irish Rock N Roll, including their humorous and light-hearted tune, “The Blarney Stone,” and the bodhrán-driven, working-class anthem “Rich Man and the Poor Man,” along with hits from their 2022 self-eponymous album, such as crowd favorites, “Eileen Óg” and “Cod Liver Oil and The Orange Juice.”
Charles set the tone for the evening with his characteristic air of mischief, dry humor and joy, opening the festivities with the familiar Irish greeting, “What’s the fuckin’ craic, Berkeley?” The audience immediately sensed they were in for a night to remember and, as the night unfolded, the atmosphere only heightened with the spirited performance of the song “Rothesay-O” and Charles’ infamous yet affectionate declaration that “Seán McKenna is a dirty lout,” prompting a moment of uproarious laughter and cheers from the crowd.
Midway through the show, each of the founding three members got their time to captivate the audience as they stood alone on stage, slowing things down. Charles Hendy performed Dominic Beham’s “Building Up and Tearing England Down,” a classic ballad that gives voice to the forgotten Irish immigrant laborers essential to building Britain’s infrastructure. His brother Andrew performed an unaccompanied rendition of “Do Me Justice,” which speaks to the historically unfair representation and anti-Irish sentiment in the media. The ballad, as noted by Hendy, seamlessly symbolizes the unfair treatment and villainization of all ethnic groups in the media today, notably that of the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, Seán McKenna shined bright with his vocals and guitar playing on “The Idler” and “Love Will Never Conquer Me,” and the group rounded out the show with their high-energy, debaucherous party anthem, “All For Me Grog,” after announcing they would be performing the next day at the UC Berkeley encampment in solidarity with the Palestinian people and Pro-Palestinian activists.
What draws people to The Mary Wallopers is not just their incredible musicianship and charisma, but their unwavering commitment to the anti-colonialist and anti-capitalist ideology that runs deep throughout Folk, Punk and Irish tradition. Their total rejection of any hierarchical barriers between them and their fans provides a sense of solidarity and accessibility to their music that many bands rarely achieve. The storytelling and themes woven throughout their music gives us something to celebrate and be proud of as working class people, and allows the listener to connect in a way that helps them cope with everyday life. As explained by Andrew Hendy in a 2022 interview with The Guardian, “People who need these songs the most should be able to connect to it easily. If people listen to us and feel like, ‘Oh, I could never do that,’ then there’s something wrong.”
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In Tune with Aidan Bissett [Interview]
Photos and interview by Izzy Hory
On April 19th, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Aidan Bissett before his performance at August Hall in San Francisco. Aidan Bissett is a 22-year-old singer-songwriter living in Los Angeles, California, on the brink of stardom. With a string of EPs under his belt and an ambitious vision, Bissett has established himself as a dedicated and talented artist consistently experimenting with new sounds, vocals, and visuals. Tracks like “More Than Friends” and “Tripping Over Air” have catapulted him into the spotlight, resonating deeply with a Gen Z audience. Bissett’s lyrics are relatable and introspective, drawing inspiration from his personal experiences and influences such as Wallows, Mac Demarco, and COIN. His latest project, Supernova, spans several genres from indie rock to alternative and pop, combining infectious melodies with vulnerable storytelling. With an unmistakably raw energy, Bissett’s music captures the essence of coming-of-age in the modern era.
Izzy: Congratulations on beginning your second headline tour! I know you’re only a couple of shows in, but how has it been so far?
Aidan Bissett: Great. It’s been really good; the energy has been awesome.
That’s great! I heard that you might be playing a new song. How has the live reaction been to it?
So far, it’s pretty good. I literally wrote it two weeks ago, so I don’t know when or how it’s coming out.
An in-the-moment, last-minute decision?
Yeah! I thought it would be cool because we skipped a lot of the cities we are going to this time around on the last tour, so I wanted to give them something special.
Super cool! I’d love to talk about your latest EP, Supernova. There is quite a range in emotions and vocals throughout, with tracks ranging from energetic rock anthems to heartfelt ballads and even a sassier tune like “Wish it Was Me.” How did you approach creating these different directions in the EP?
I think it’s just that I am a fan of a lot of different styles of music. Some days, I wake up, and I’m like, I want to make this, and other days, I want to make that. I also have severe ADHD, so it’s hard to nail down one thing. It’s a blessing and a curse because I love being diverse when making music, but I want this next project to be more cohesive and coherent, if that makes sense.
Yes, it does; thank you for sharing! I wanted to bring up your music videos because I think there is a really impressive range of visuals and concepts, from the recent release of “Planet” with 3D animation to lyric videos that include concert footage. How do these videos fit into your overall brand as a musician?
Music videos are really important to me, especially towards the end of the Supernova EP with “How’s it gonna end?” and “Planet.” Those two videos are where I want to be and start heading towards when it comes to putting out an album because they are shot on film. So everything is incredibly intentional, and on top of that, they kind of have parallels where they connect in a way. Videos help build the world, which is really important to me and I want fans to live in an experience.
Yeah, that’s super interesting because it is another way to tell a story. When you’re on stage, how do you balance storytelling, performing, and creating a sense of intimacy with your audience during live shows?
I think it comes down to the setlist and how the songs string together. It’s funny because I still don’t have a ton of music out. We have enough to play a full set now, which is nice, so playing it, you can hear the young me go into what [my music] is now, which is cool. It can be a little difficult because there are some very stark differences, for sure, and it’s kind of like me figuring it out along the way.
Has anyone you’ve seen live or watched videos of influenced your stage presence?
Oh yeah, 100%. The Rolling Stones is a huge one for me. Matty Healy from 1975 is incredible. I’ve also been watching a lot of Chappell Roan recently because I’ve been a big fan of her forever and watching her on stage is so great. First of all her vocals and second of all the way she just runs around and sounds incredible. Very inspiring.
I’m glad she’s getting attention, especially with her crowd work. It’s super impressive!
Dude, when “Pink Pony Club” came out two years ago, I couldn’t stop playing it. I’m such a fan.
It’s awesome that you’ve watched her grow! This is kind of a different type of question, but I noticed on tour that it seems like it’s a family event. With your brother at the merch booth and your dad around, how specifically has having your family involved supported you?
I love having my parents around, especially my brother. They help keep me grounded. It also makes it feel like a very safe environment. My brother and I have gotten super close being on the road because we have to be together all the time. It’s cool because it’s like having a built-in best friend on the road. And I can tell that he really loves it, although maybe he doesn’t show it all the time.
I could see that, but it’s probably fun to travel together.
For sure!
With the music you grew up with and your parents listened to, if you could collaborate with any of those musicians (dead or alive) who would that be?
Oo wow. Freddy Mercury. I’ve been a huge Queen fan for as long as I can remember. Also, Gracie Abrams would be up there because she’s incredible. The Strokes and Chris Martin from Coldplay, too!
Great energy from all those artists! When creating new music, do you typically start with the lyrics or sound, and how do they influence one another?
I’m sonically driven, so usually it’s music first, whether it’s guitar, drums, bass, synth, etc. I think that’s because I started playing guitar in second grade, but I didn’t start singing until I was seventeen, and I was a horrible singer. But, having that piece of me that has always been rooted in an instrument feels like a safe place when I start creating. Music first, then melody and lyrics follow.
Yeah, that makes sense! And in this process, what is your favorite part? Is it the outcome, collaboration, or anything else?
It’s changed a lot, but recently, it’s been the creation of it. I’ve really fallen in love with figuring out who I am through music and what I want to say. It’s a frustrating process for sure, but at the same time, once you figure it out, which is what I’m starting to do, it finally starts to make sense, which is really cool. It’s an incredible feeling!
That’s awesome. It must be nice when things connect and you feel more in control. As someone into music, I’m sure you’ve been to your fair share of concerts. Can you talk about the differences in what you expect from an artist when you see them live versus what your focus is when you are on stage?
As a fan, I want to be able to detach for that hour or two from the world to sit with this music and laugh. That’s what I’m looking for. I want to be able to engulf myself in the world that the artist is presenting, and that’s what I stress in our performance. We don’t have a big budget, and there are only three of us on stage, but what we can … control … is our energy and our emotions. So bringing that into the performance is hopefully enough for fans to feel a part of the experience and pull themselves out of their lives for an hour or so.
Yeah, that is special. When you think about who inspires you musically, is there someone who might surprise your fans?
Haha, damn, that’s putting me on the spot. I’m blanking so hard right now, but I will think of at least one… I would say… Woah, this is so random, but Drake. I love Drake. I have a guilty pleasure for Drake — Early Drake, like his first three or four albums. Man, anytime I go out, I turn it up. Now I’m blanking on the song names. This makes me look like an amateur Drake fan, but every time I go out, I want to sing like, “Baby, you’re my everything; you’re all I ever wanted.” So good.
Omg yes, so nostalgic! As an artist whose recent EP is titled ‘Supernova,’ it’s evident that you’ve experienced significant growth and achievement in your career over the past few years. Within this journey, could you share a ‘Supernova moment’ you’ve had?
Wow, that’s a great question. There’s a handful, to be honest with you — anything from building relationships with my family and learning how to communicate with friends to even losing friends. I recently lost one of my best friends (they’re still alive), but it sucked. It almost feels like they died in a way. I’m learning how to get through that. Then also finding myself through music and finding love through that again, which is also powerful.
Thank you for sharing; with so much going on, I bet it is a unique process. If you could transport your audience to any location or atmosphere through your music, where would it be, and what would it feel like?
Hmm, a sweaty garage.
Ooo yeah, just like all jamming out and having a good time?
Yeah, I want to do that, man. I want to play sweaty garage shows just for fun. I think there’s just something so special about it. The sound isn’t great, but it’s so much fun, you know? There’s no stage, and you’re just all on the same level.
That would be sick. As we wrap it up here, could you tell us about anything in the works or something exciting you’d like to share with the audience back at Berkeley?
I’m writing my debut album right now, so be on the lookout for that!
Listen to Aidan Bissett: Spotify Apple Music SoundCloud
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This Saturday on KALX Live! join Excuse My French as he hosts Oakland-based band Dedications.