Festival: Something Happened

Something Happens came out of a golden era of Irish bands in the late 1980s. Along with The Frank & Walters, Sultans of Ping, A House, An Emotional Fish and The Golden Hoard, Tom Dunne’s four piece band blazed a trail across the country. They had strong singles, a ferocious and loud live show and it really felt like these bands were world class and ready to jump into the global slipstream created by U2.

Early singles from Something Happens were a infectious mix of surf rock and jangle pop. ‘Burn Clear’ and ‘Forget Georgia’ wore their Ramones / REM influences proudly. Virgin Records saw the potential and signed the band and the debut album came out in 1988.

The band’s college rock leanings made them student gig favourites. Across the country and here in Limerick at The Two Mile Inn and The Parkway, Something Happens would play loud and sweaty sold-out shows, kicking beach balls into the manic crowd as they launched into the set – opening with ‘Beach’, obviously. Only Tom’s paisley shirts were louder.

The second album ‘Stuck Together with God’s Glue’ (1990) made them popstars with classic killer singles ‘Hello’ and ‘Parachute’. As the band was making the best music of their career, the search for a bigger fanbase beyond Ireland proved elusive despite the long gruelling tours of USA.
By 1995, it was all but over for Something Happens. Never losing their sense of humour though: their greatest hits offering was titled ‘The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves.’

The band remained close friends since then and played a few reunions every year.

Sign up for the weekly Limerick Post newsletter

Tom Dunne now DJs on Newstalk on weeknights from 10pm, introducing new music and looking back at classic artists and concerts with the same informed and easy, chilled manner that he has brought to his music career.
Today guitarist Ray Harman works in television. Drummer Eamonn Ryan promotes shows with MCD. Bass player Alan Byrne is director of ‘The Late Late Show’ on RTÉ One.

Tom is enjoying the last day of his summer holiday in Connemara when he kindly agrees to sit down and have a chat. The band has been playing a lot of shows in 2019. They played high up on the bill at Indiependence in Cork (The Undertones played before them).
And next up is The Mungret Music Festival, and later in September Something Happens will return to Thurles for Féile ’19 with a host of legendary acts.
Did the huge success of Féile Classical festival in 2018 lead to the rise in the Dublin band’s fortunes this year?
“One of the big things it did was, people were talking about all those bands again. We all got loads of gigs afterwards.”

How was the Cork Indiependence show?
“Nerve wracking! Laughs.
“It was great to have the Undertones at side of stage watching us while we are on stage.”
(They had already played and feature Today FM DJ Paul McAloon on vocals. His alternative show airs at the same time as Tom Dunne’s Newstalk show.)
Well, you would never want to give McLoon one over on you ?
“Absolutely no way – you don’t give him AN INCH!!” laughs.

A Something Happens gig still has all the fun and intensity that they always brought to the stage. It is clear that the whole band still love playing together and revisiting those great songs again. And press reviews of their Féile Classical and subsequent shows have praised a band that has lost none of its edge and on-stage energy. Tom’s voice is immaculate, sounding better than ever.
“It’s very important to us. We are very intense and very committed to it. We all think what we do is very good.”
The band always mustered a ferocious live gig, from the very early days non-stop touring the debut album.
“Touring like that honed the guitar sound and the energy and dynamics in the songs.”

And like every band, or any family, they have had the downs along with the ups.
“We have seen highs and lows together like a family. We have been through hell and high water.
“We have experienced sold out shows, a number one album – playing to empty rooms – and real long tours in America.”
“We have a very strong bond. A gig is like a visit to your therapist. You are grounded again. It’s a really nice place to go!”

With a successful careering in national broadcasting since the ’90s, Tom Dunne has been a radio DJ for a lot longer than he was ever in a rock ’n’ roll band – but it does seem that his experience in Something Happens remains intertwined in everything he has done since.
“When I started on radio I had just spent about 12 years constantly trying to find a good song, trying to write a good song and constantly see what was good in a song.”
“So when I started to listen to other music, I wanted to play that to other people.
“Being a frontman in a band is very good experience for being on the radio. You were talking to an audience. You had your head in that space. I’ll do whatever I can to help bands get heard. To put their talent in front of people. I’m a servant to their needs.”

The love of music, the desire to promote new artists, seems to drive Tom. If the secret to music success is two important things happening in sync with each other – namely talent and opportunity – Tom wants to be there and provide the opportunity.

“My job is to give the talent as much opportunity as possible.”
Check out the immense talent that is Something Happens this Saturday at Mungret Festival. They play in a formidable line up with The Four Of Us, Brian Deady, Paddy Casey and Tiny Giants.www.mungretmusicfestival.com

Advertisement