Rockin' the gaff
Bell X1 paid a house call to superfan Sinéad Loughman in order to find out what the hell that cryptic cabbage business was all about. Read on...
Celina Murphy, 16 May 2011
Just last month, Bell X1 sold out two dates in Dublin’s 1,600-capacity Vicar St. venue, but only 22 punters have been allowed entry to Annette Geraghty’s front-room in Maynooth for what is bound to be the sweetest show of the trio’s career.
It was always going to be awkward landing on someone’s doorstep and setting up shop for the night. Even team Hot Press (who’ve been party to many a madcap scheme over the years) is feeling a bit giddy as we buzz around the Geraghty residence, chatting to guests and pilfering their wine.
The joyful strumming coming from the back garden turns out to be the neighbour’s son and his band (later identified as alt. rock five piece Saul), who are passing the time by knocking out a couple of tunes. But competition winner Sinéad Loughman is undeniably the lady of the moment, even if she’s been forced to host the show in her sister’s house due to the, eh, cosy nature of her own Dublin
city apartment.
I grab a few words with the starry-eyed Galway lass as she flits between answering the doorbell and refilling the crisp bowls.
“I’ve loved Bell X1 since early 2003,” she says. “I went to see them in the Olympia with my friend Anna, who’s here tonight, and I’ve really loved them since then. I’ve been to I don’t know how many gigs!”
But let’s not forget why we’re swapping stories in this particular kitchen tonight; Sinéad’s entry caught Hot Press’ eye simply because it was so damn strange. It read, “I want Bell X1 to play a gig in my gaff because the last time I met Paul I was holding a cabbage, and I’d like the chance to explain why.”
“It was for a treasure hunt for work,” she laughs, “and I had to pick something green and Irish. Me and Anna are on George’s St., I’ve got my cabbage, and we run into Bell X1! We couldn’t talk, so we just stood there like idiots.”
Sinéad finishes her story just as Paul Noonan, Dave Geraghty and Dominic Philips rock up to the front-door. A couple of spirited hellos later, and they’re setting up around an upright piano, upon which Sinéad has thoughtfully placed three Easter eggs, a few packets of biscuits and, obviously, a cabbage. Now might be a good time to explain, I point out.
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Celina Murphy
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