"Belfast’s feisty popmeisters’ recent
shows have been amongst the band’s best ever, with a new strength
and solidity gelling the melody and frippery together."
HOLSTEINS BIOGRAPHY
Belfast 5-piece the holsteins were formed in March 1992.
The band are Niamh Rooney - vocals, Davy Burton - lead guitar, Pete
Major - rhythm guitar, Brian McNamara - drums (all original members)
plus Chris Birt on bass who joined the group in the summer of 1996.
Following the release of two very successful demos and many entertaining
gigs, the band were approached by German independent record company
Bullet! Records, a label set up in the spirit of the punk
era of the 70’s, and particularly inspired by Belfast’s
own Good Vibrations label.
They had heard a holsteins song from a compilation cassette of
Northern Irish bands, and were suitably impressed to offer a one
album deal. This resulted in the release of "Angel Train",
a 10-track vinyl only LP in October 1994.
In a never to be forgotten night, the LP was launched in the Limelight,
Belfast with Stefan Ehret of Bullet! flying over from Germany especially
for the gig, and albums selling by the boxload!
Early 1995 was spent gigging and promoting the record on various
radio shows. The LP was especially well received in Germany and
Europe. It was even voted no.2 best record in a Belgian Radio Station
poll, appearing alongside Pulp, Sleeper etc, aswell as being played
by John Peel on Radio 1.
Such was the reaction to the LP that Bullet! Records, who usually
specialise in one-offs, approached the band again, insisting on
putting out some more songs. The result was a 5-track CD "Pop-Gun
Riot", which although recorded in June of 1995, did not
get released until March the following year. Again the reaction
was very positive, with numerous good reviews (including an excellent
one in Hot Press) and extensive airplay.
The band also contributed a song, for a second time, to a compilation
CD by 25 Records in England with many reviews indicating
it to be the stand-out track.
In the summer of 1996 the holsteins appeared on the "Live
at the Empire" CD, billed as featuring the finest of Northern
Ireland’s unsigned acts. Soon after this bassist Chris joined
the ranks and many new songs were written and performed live to
very enthusiastic reactions!
Then came a trip to Einstein Studios, Antrim in February 1997,
where 8 new songs were recorded. These were then released as "SUB
ROSA", an album of carefully crafted melodies, stinging
jangly guitars and haunting ballads, all done with a genuinely fresh
feeling and passion. The title is latin for "to be done in
secret" which might sound a bit pretentious, but in truth it
was in the dictionary and sounded nice!
Many press articles, as well as praising the release, commented
on the candy alphabet sleeve….all there is to say is that after
the photos were taken the sweets were devoured by the band, proving
that not only does "SUB ROSA" sound great, it also tastes
delicious!
The album went straight to number one in the local product top
ten, famously knocking the Divine Comedy from the top spot, and
got the band appearances at Queen’s Fresher’s and Jordanstown’s
Hallowe’en Ball. The noisy, hard-edged "You Leave…I
Bleed" and "Medicine" were played often on night
time radio programmes, but it was the subtle ballad "Never
Again" that was playlisted on Cool FM, becoming the
most well known song at gigs. The German interest was also as strong
as ever. Kaktus Records arranged for 2 holstein tracks to
appear on a split 7" single with German band "die Blumen
des Bosen", and 2 tracks also appeared on a compilation by
Meller Welle Produkte.
Since the release of "Sub Rosa", the band have only ventured
into the studio once, to record 2 tracks for the Immortal Records
release "Covers and Others" which hit the shops
in June ’99. The cover was a version of Kirsty McCall’s
"They Don’t Know", and the original, "Done and
Dusted", was hailed as the stand-out track when reviewed by
the News Letter.
The band also clocked up their fifth appearance on the 25 Records
label with the same song.
The final word goes to a very enthusiastic reviewer :-
"How could you not love them? Belfast’s own feisty fivesome
are to the 3 minute pop song what extra thick chocolate milkshakes
are to a pint of semi-skimmed, only they don’t make you fat".
the holsteins
RECENT PRESS QUOTES
"Four men and a babe proving that the 3-minute pop song is
alive and well."
-Hot Press
"A handful of unforgettable tunes"
-Sunday Life
"Niamh Rooney delicate murmuring nestles comfortably with
either power chord or acoustic strum. "Sub Rosa" is eminently
likeable and displays the holsteins full range of understated emotions.
Check out the melancholic bliss of tracks like "Never Again"
and "the Wishing Stones"
-The Word
"Belfast’s feisty popmeisters’ recent shows have
been amongst the band’s best ever, with a new strength and
solidity gelling the melody and frippery together."
-News Letter
"Straight-forward uncomplicated cheerful songs throw some
bursts of colour across an often dark and dismal sky."
-Sunday World
"The holsteins produce smart power pop songs with plenty of
catchy hooks and stirring choruses."
-Herald and Post
"The holsteins are back, moving and grooving in their own
uniquely melodious manner, with the warm, dare I say "honeyed"
vocals of Niamh Rooney enough to melt your heart."
-That’s Entertainment
"Of the album’s original offerings, the holsteins take
the honours with "Done and Dusted", an annoyingly chirpy
pop tune, stretched beyond the limits of commerciality and infected
with a beautiful twisted obsessionalism."
- Covers and Others CD review, News Letter
"Once again I’m in love with a band, hit by it’s
charms….lovely female vocal with menacing guitars….welcome
to the wonderful world of the holsteins"
-the Original Sin
BELFEST ’99 - 1 track, "Done and Dusted"
on compilation CD (1999)
Some bands do have such an element in their music that you can
claim there is love at first sight... The Holsteins are the perfect
example of this definition. Anyone who has a heart will easily fall
in love with the bittersweet vocals from Niamh Rooney; I love female
voices; they kill me!) The Holsteins sounds as good as Spacemaid,
Echobelly or Catatonia. The Holsteins have just released their album
`Sub Rosa` a mini album with 8 brilliant tracks and the Holsteins
aren't just a band with nice female vocals. The brilliant album
is available from 25 Records.
Taken from The Original Sin, issue 10.
Members and their parts to play: Niamh Rooney - vocals,
Davy Burton - lead guitar, Pete Major - rhythm guitar, Brian McNamara
- drums Chris Birt on bass
A little bit of history: The Holsteins were formed in March
1992 and released the album ‘Angel Train’ on the German
indie label Bullet Records! Then followed that with ‘Pop gun
riot’ CD also Bullet records!. The summer of 97 saw the release
of ‘Sub Rosa’, our best collection yet. We have had three
tracks out on 25 Records taken from three releases.
Members taking part in interview: Pete only, the others
are too shy [and modest!]
1. How did you all meet? I’ve known Davy since I was
10, met Brian doing a summer job and recruited Niamh by the dreaded
‘advert in a music shop’ some very weird people reply
to those ads, don’t they?!
2. How long have you been together? Chris joined in the
summer of 96 and is the baby in the band the rest of us have been
together since 1992.
3. Has it been a long hard road to fame? Yes, a long and
winding road, and we haven’t always kept to the path, which
on reflection is more fun. We don’t do things the easy way!
4. Who is the main song writer? Pete, although Niamh also
contributes occasionally, as does Chris and Davy once in a while.
5. Are there any band squabbles? Not really, Chris has an
annoying habit of wandering into the crowd when we play live, and
then instantly makes loads of mistakes but we have rectified this
by making sure he uses our specially made 3 foot guitar lead.
6. What is the ‘scene’ like in your area? It’s
often said that Belfast has more people in bands per head of population
than anywhere else in the world, over 170 bands played over 5 days
at the recent Belfast 97 event, including The Holsteins.
7. Who or what inspired you to become a musician? When I
realised I could easily play along to Billy Bragg’s first two
albums, God bless Sir William!
8. Who are your favourite bands of the moment? Radiohead,
Catatonia, Julian Cope, Jonathan Richmond, The Fall.
9. What are highs and lows of being in a band? The highs
are definatly getting your first record released . . . an ambition
fulfilled. Also hearing yourself on the radio. Lows are undoubtably
people who think you can only be a good band if you play Oasis,
Blur, Verve covers . . what’s the point?
10. Do you prefer recording in the studio or playing live shows?
Recording . . more chance of getting it right and playing in time!
11. Do you have any advice for bands just starting out?
Pester the hell out of venues, record companies, radio stations,
newspapers etc. but you must genuinely believe you are good enough.
12. Sum up your music in three words? Cow pop melodies
POP-GUN-RIOT
5 new songs by Belfast's fun feisty fivesome. Named after the breed
of cow (not the beer), they formed in the capitol of Northern Ireland
in 1992. Their influences are from the Undertones to Pixies, Julian
Cope to the Fall and back again. Singer Niamh Rooney gives her debut
as songwriter on "Sugar and Spice".
On October 6th 1994, the Holsteins released their debut album "Angel
Train" on German Independent label Bullet! Records.
....and this is what was said...
"The Holsteins - how could you not love them? Belfast's own
feisty fivesome are to the 3 minute pop song what extra thick chocolate
milkshakes are to a pint of semi-skimmed, only they don't make you
fat."
"Angel Train is one of the best debut albums you'll ever hear.
You want comparisons? Try blending the Cranberries with the Primitives,
add some real stinging guitar-oh, sod it, buy the bloody album for
yourself and make your own comparisons. The Holsteins don't compare
with anyone.
"The charming quintet take their listener by storm, with their
lovely harmonies and refrains. These songs make the sun shine on
a grey day. Call me anachronist, but isn't it just great that they
exist?"
"straight-forward, uncomplicated, cheerful songs throw
some bursts of colour across an often dark and dismal sky."
"Swoonsome indie-pop, the Holsteins craft songs that head
straight for the rarely visited realms of unrequited love and heartache.
And do so brilliantly."
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