MacD on Music: Rise of the Machine

One of the (many) benefits of living in this fine town of ours is the abundance of music guaranteed every weekend.

Venues such as Sandino’s and Bennigan’s have long since made a name for themselves as the go-to spots for brilliant gigs over the years. Recently, though, another long-standing bar has begun to make a name for itself on the live gig circuit.

The 7Twenty, located at the bottom of Chamberlain Street, has, in recent times, played host to such acts as Clodagh May and Selador. 

This Saturday, it plays host to another excellent group, the brilliant Lunch Machine. The Donegal-based group are launching their new single, ‘Pipedream Graveyard’ on Saturday the 25th, featuring support from Arn. and Fierce Pit Bosses.

As regular readers may remember, Lunch Machine were a part of the incredible Rock For Choice gig last year (along with Cherym, Tramp, Sister Ghost and Dose) and, if that was anything to go by, Saturday is sure to be a brilliant night.

I spoke with the group this week about the single, as well as some of the highlights of their career to date and what they’ve got coming up.

Tell me a bit about your new single, ‘Pipedream Graveyard’.

The song is about environmental collapse and how making plans in such a world amounts to nothing more than a pipedream, hence the name!

I guess it’s just sad that we are all focusing on our own interpersonal goals because its our only option,societally forced into keeping busy to feed the very machine that is taking our future away.

But instead of it being a heavy metal song its uplifting instead.

How did Lunch Machine first come into being?

Lunch Machine started in 2017 by myself (Jude Barriscale) Robert Mulhern and Peadar Coll.

 I used to play acoustic songs at house parties and Rob told me "Let’s jam and flesh them out" "I'll play drums". Peadar was really encouraging and joined on bass. 

We recorded our first EP Alt Facts in 2018 and since then Peadar left for his other projects.

After that, Pearse Owens and Kieran Devlin joined on Second guitar and Drums respectively, Rob switched to bass and the newer, Lunchier version was formed.

Who would you say are the group’s main musical influences? 

Too many to count, Courtney Barnett, Alvvays, The Beatles, Crumb, Donny Benét, King Gizzard, Primus, Meshuggah.

What have been some of the highlights of your career to date?

Going to a cottage in the middle of nowhere to work on some songs and having a magical weekend fleshing out our tunes. Stendhal was ok as well.

Are there any other acts you think we should be keeping an eye on?

Adore, Arn., Julia Louise KnifeFist, Pretty Happy.

Are you looking forward to the single launch in 7Twenty Bar?

Absolutely, It's our first launch in years and so much has changed since then!

It seems they are the new venue on the block too.

Have you got anything else coming up you want to talk about?

Were playing with Cork's Pretty Happy and Gaoth Dobhair's Tuath over the summer in a TBA venue , aside from that follow us on IG at lunch.machine for more!

Lunch Machine launch their new single, ‘Pipedream Graveyard’, this Saturday in the 7Twenty. As mentioned above, can be found on Instagram @lunch.machine.

Now, onto other business. The next few months look to be good for quite a few of the town’s best and brightest. Tramp have got gigs coming up on the 23rd February in the Ulster Sports Club in Belfast, the 25th at No. 58 in Letterkenny and the 10th March in Sandino’s (as part of Femme Sesh, a fundraiser for International Woman’s Day). 

Parker will be on tour around Ireland with the Disorderlies and Kids on Fire on the 25th March in Fred Zeppelin’s in Cork, the 26th in Pharmacia in Limerick, the 27th in Joe Lee’s in Tullamore and the 29th in Union Bar at Queens, Belfast.

Finally, Cherym are on tour in April, playing the Lanes in Bristol on the 7th April, Signature Brew Hagerston in London on the 8th, Lavery’s in Belfast on the 21st and the Loft in Galway on the 22nd.

For more information, find them on Instagram at @thisistramp, @bandcalledparker and @cherymofficial.