clippings

A Ghost of a Chance

Mark Geary was nearly the singer/songwriter that got away, following a long stint out of Dublin and in New York. But, he's back with a new album, 'Ghosts', and chatted to Una Mullally ahead of his nationwide tour.

Now that 'Ghosts' is all done and dusted, how do you feel about it?
It's a funny one, because you've no control over what happens. You were asking me what I was doing at the weekend, and the answer was nothing, because I have to remove myself from the debate. It's almost like giving an essay into a teacher. I did get sent the finished product and there's something beautiful about being handed your finished work - your piece of art or whatever you want to call it. It's like walking around an art gallery and going, 'whaddya reckon?'. Personally, and it's a trite thing to say, but it's the best thing I've ever done. I'm mandated to say that. I got a sense recording 'Ghosts' that excited me. Sometimes I've found myself in studios with my songs being trampled on, and me trampling on them myself, but the way they are on the record is exactly how I heard them in my head.
It was recorded in various locations - how did you find the whole process?
Black Box (in France) was crazy. It's in the middle of nowhere - all you see are chickens. We had outrageous fun. Having your breakfast in the evening and watching bad French TV. The difficult thing was being dragged away from that and back to reality. Recording in New York was a wild one because I broke my ankle and went up to Bear Mountain out of my mind on morphine, which is no bad thing. It was up in the woods and a bit Blair Witchy. I loved it.
After the first album did so well, were you nervous about a follow-up?
Well, adoration is OK as long as you don't inhale. But there was no pressure. If this was the difficult second record, then I'm in for a whale of a time on the next one.
Lots of known names collaborated with you, but are you aware of the bitchiness that surrounds people in the so-called 'Dublin gigging scene'?
On one hand, I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't. But why wouldn't I get Glen Hansard and Josh Ritter and Gemma Hayes on the record? They're great singers. I understand people saying 'it's alright for him, he can grab Glen Hansard', so I'm kind of guilty by association. I'm aware of the bitchiness and it's pretty petty, but I understand it. I lived in New York for so long, I was never in Whelan's after hours. I don't drink, so I can only sit around with a cup of tea and bullshit for so long. Scene or no scene, at the end of the night, it's just two tossers sitting there drunk, talking shite. People give out about The Thrills, but what are you meant to do? Be so indie that three people turn up at your gig in the Sugar Club, or just get out there? There's a nastiness there.
How did you find your last tour Stateside?
The tour in the States was fun and hell. I called it the toenail tour because you stick your feet between the sheets in some motel and you never know what you're going to find. It was a gruesome task, but I've always wanted to be getting up on stage every night.
Why should someone listen to your records over the next person's?
Ha, ha, ha. Em, well, some records are blockbusters, big, Hollywood. If you want something a little bit more European, I'm your man.
An Amelie?
Yeah! I like that!
So far, what has been the most enjoyable moment for you as a musician.
When I ran away from here to New York and ended up in Sin É, with Jeff Buckley and Shane Doyle. You'd have to remove the grin surgically from my face from that time because I really enjoyed it. None of us had a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. We'd sit in the café and wait until the people behind the counter went out and we'd sneak in and help ourselves to cappuccinos and sit around drinking them all day. Jeff was making Sin É and it was a good time. Before the Big Bang.

Mark Geary plays Whelan's, on Dublin's Wexford Street, at 8pm on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th August, and at 'O2 In The Park', in Dublin's Phoenix Park, on Saturday 4th September. Tickets for the Whelan's shows are €17.50. www.markgeary.com / www.whelanslive.com / www.ticketmaster.ie