Ulster band tipped for stardom
A COUNTY Down rock band are on a list of acts tipped to break through big in 2009 by music retail giant HMV.
The Answer, a four piece from the Downpatrick area, have supported AC/DC on tour and were already well on their way to widespread recognition.
But after HMV tipped the band in its New Year's top 10 compilation list of "unknowns" predicted to make the big time this year, the odds seem to be stacking in their favour; the HMV list having in the past predicted the success of bands like Franz Ferdinand, The Arctic Monkeys and Duffy.
HMV music buyer Rob Watson emphasised "the sheer number and quality" of the new acts in his list, adding: "There's a bumper crop of fresh faces out there, and 2009 promises to be a vintage year for new music."
The HMV list describes the Answer as a blues/rock band from County Down
who have been supporting AC/DC in North America and on the UK leg of their tour.
News Letter Arts Correspondent Phil Crossey is already a big fan of the band and applauded Downpatrick for its musical output. "First the town gave us Ash and now The Answer, not to mention numerous other indie acts," he said. "It has got to be one of Northern Ireland's foremost musical hotbeds.
"The Answer should have been tipped for a while," he added. "They have been getting big for four or five years. They were on tour with AC/DC last year in the states, which is huge.
"And while there they were on the David Letterman show, which is quite a landmark. They have also been supporting groups like Aerosmith and huge bands like that, apparently Jimmy Paige is quite a fan."
But their taste of early fame has not gone to their heads, says Philip, who notes they are very down to earth when he meets them.
According to him they are carving out a niche for themselves with "good old-fashioned rock and roll school, guitar-driven music".
"They are following in the tradition of great bands of the 60s and 70s like Deep Purple and Aerosmith," he said. "The bands they are like have sold tens of millions of records, so they have a huge potential fan base which they are slowly building on through supporting roles and their own headline events."
He sees that they appeal to mature fans of earlier rock bands but are also winning a new younger audience, the band members themselves being in their late 20s and early 30s.
"There are not many bands playing good old fashioned rock and roll now," he said. "The Answer always seemed to have a spark about them that sets them apart.
"Despite the fact that they play to hundreds of thousands across the world they have not forgotten their Northern Ireland roots. And because of that lots of people here are egging them on."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
