Stereo Six: The Halez Share Some of Their Favourite Songs & Albums

The Halez has one primary aim, and it’s one that we can all get onside with. It’s no secret that guitar-driven music is not as prevalent anymore. But fortunately, we have acts like The Halez that are still fighting the good fight, trying to restore the prominence of guitar rock. The band perceives that there is still a high demand for guitar music, and they are trying to lend a hand to ignite the passion of a new generation to pick up a guitar and form a rock band. They view music very traditionally, perceiving that there is strength in numbers. The more people contributing, the bigger and better they’re going to sound. There are enough gimmicky artists in the world. The band wants to sink their teeth into some traditional rock n’ roll.

A relatively new act, The Halez has released a series of successful singles, debuting last year with “Charlie.” The band recently released the single “Share Your World,” a song about the importance of openness and connection. Both values are really the fundamentals of rock n’ roll. The band aspires to promote the importance of being good to yourself and others. Rather than avoid the issue, they encourage you to seek support and not carry your burdens alone. The more we connect, the better off we will all be.

To get a better sense of where The Halez stand musically, the band joins us for a Stereo Six feature to share with us six tracks and albums that have been instrumental in their development as a unit.

The Halez “Share Your World” single artwork

1. ASH – 1977 (1996, Infectious, Home Grown)

Eamon O’Toole (drummer): “1977 was the debut studio album from the Downpatrick indie trio ASH. This album is particularly pertinent to me because it was released in 1996, which, give or take a year, was around the time I started playing the drums.

“I was instantly drawn to the raw energy of the group and Rick McMurray’s utilitarian yet powerhouse drumming on such tracks as ‘Lose Control’ and ‘Innocent Smile.’ His dynamic subtlety displayed on tracks such as ‘Oh Yeah’ and ‘Goldfinger’ was also very influential to a young drummer.

“Speaking of Goldfinger, there is a story that when the band was engaging with album producer Owen Morris (Oasis, The Verve), he asked them to play some of their demos. After playing what they thought would be their big hitters, Morris enquired, ‘Got anything else?’ Tim Wheeler, believing the song would be a B-side, reluctantly played ‘Goldfinger,’ to which Morris replied, ‘That’s a hit single!’ And indeed it was.

“Now, me being a drummer, I’d have to put that track’s success down to McMurray’s tasteful interpretation and use of the ‘flats in Dagenham’ drum fill on that track, which, coincidentally, I hasten to add, is used to launch the chorus of ‘Share Your World.’

“Jesting aside, if we were to get but a fraction of the success our fellow island men have enjoyed, I’d be very content indeed.”

2. Whipping Boy – Heartworm (1995, Columbia Records)

Cormac Sheerin (bassist): “A personal favourite of mine is Heartworm by Whipping Boy, the best of Irish indie in my opinion. Their influence can be heard nowadays in some of Fontaine’s DC stuff.

“I first saw the video for ‘We Don’t Need Nobody Else’ on the Irish TV show No Disco and instantly loved it. ‘When We Were Young’ was the big hit on the album, but it’s tunes like ‘Users,’ ‘Twinkle,’ and ‘The Honeymoon Is Over’ that keep me coming back to this indie gem.”

3. The Devlins – Waiting (1997, Universal Records)

Kieran Murphy (vocals): “My earliest influence would have to be the Waiting album by Irish band The Devlins. The title track in particular is the standout song for me. I love the minimalistic, raw sound and the poetic vocals of Colin Devlin. It was so good. It’s where I learned as a guitarist to play for what the song needs rather than wanting to play guitar solos all over the song for my own gratification. The Devlins’ latest album is an absolute masterclass. ‘All the Days’ is a track that everyone should check out.”

4. Oasis – Whatever (single) (1994, Creation Records)

Jerome Sheerin (guitar): “I’d have to pick ‘Whatever’ by Oasis as a comparative influence on ‘Share Your World’ due to the string arrangement, which gives it a similar sound. It was one of my earliest musical memories. The single also boasted ‘Half the World Away’ and ‘Slide Away’ as B-sides, which really shows the quality of Noel Gallagher’s musical prowess.”

5. Pixies – “Where Is My Mind?” (1988, 4AD)

“Last but definitely not least is ‘Where Is My Mind’ by the Pixies. It’s a cult classic. Joey Santiagos’ lazy arpeggio style guitar intro is instantly recognizable and has you hooked instantly. It still sounds as good today as the first time we heard it.”

6. [Curveball] The Saw Doctors – If This Is Rock and Roll I Want My Old Job Back (2009, Fueled by Ramen)

“Finally, our curveball would have to be If This Is Rock and Roll I Want My Old Job Back by The Saw Doctors. This would be the soundtrack to our lives as kids. I think every household in Ireland had a copy. It was their debut album. It had so many sing-along classics. Before the days of mobile phones and music streaming, I remember going for drives with my parents and listening to every song on the album over and over again. Reading and studying the inlay card to pass the journey. I think the saw doctors are a national institution and a definitive representation of Irishness. Personal photo below:”