By Maddy Yen
After looking at the discography of music from my 2023 Spotify Wrapped — I began to see a pattern. A lot of the artists happened to be Irish. From solo artists to bands, there is a draw that Irish musicians have, many with their unique sound of Celtic Rock. This genre began in the 1970s, blending traditional Irish music and hard rock. According to Irish Rockers, Irish music emerged with Showbands, performers who played American and British hits at dance halls and clubs. Van Morrison got his start in a Showband in the ‘60s, reaching international success with the group “Them.” Subsequently, Morrison embarked on his solo career in New York with “Brown Eyed Girl” reaching the 10th spot on the charts for 16 weeks, still being his most well-known song. His ‘Celtic Soul’ songs were something people had never heard before, which magnified his solo career.
The Era of Bono’s Mullet: The ‘80s and ‘90s
When thinking of Irish Rock bands, most people think of the U2, arguably the most successful Irish rock band. Their debut album “Boy” was released in Europe, Australia, and Africa in 1980 and five months later released in North America, according to U2 Songs. In 1985 they had a notable, only 12-minute performance at Live Aid. During their song "Bad," frontman Bono jumped off the stage to join the crowd. According to Rolling Stone, many girls were being crushed in the crowd. One in particular, Bono tried to gesture for security, but he took it into his own hands to jump down and help her, and then they danced. Rolling Stone believes their performance was a career-making moment, establishing them in the USA. By the end of the ‘80s, U2 had international success being the most famous Irish band to this day.
The fusion of traditional Irish music and punk or classic rock continued in many other bands that grew to success in the ‘80s and ‘90s. The Pogues were notable for blending Irish and punk music, and the Cranberries were an alternative rock band. During this time, Slane Castle, an incredibly historic building, opened its doors in 1981 for big artists to play concerts at. Rock concerts in the great natural amphitheater have become internationally renowned with artists like U2, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Guns ‘N Roses, and more playing.
A New Millennium: The 2000s
With the evolution of Irish music into the 2000s, artists continued to mix traditional Irish music and new sounds. Current popular Irish artists began to emerge, with some of my favorites being Hozier, Inhaler, Two Door Cinema Club, Niall Horan, and Fontaines D.C.
Two Door Cinema Club: Founded in 2007, the Indie pop trio with electric polish became a popular Irish band. Their debut album, “Tourist History,” was released in 2010 and was selected as the Irish Album of the Year by the Choice Music Prize. My favorite tracks on their debut album are “What You Know,” “Cigarettes In the Theatre,” and “You’re Not Stubborn.” The band has released four more albums since and is going on a nearly sold-out North American tour this year.
Hozier: Singer and songwriter Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, professionally known as Hozier, is known for his blues, folk, and rock sound. His widely popular single, “Take Me to Church,” was the beginning of his success, released on his first EP, also titled “Take Me to Church.” Hozier has been nominated for a Grammy, Billboard Music Awards, BBC Music Awards, and more. Only releasing three albums in nine years, he has had a leisurely approach to making music but is known for his incredibly in-depth lyrics. His latest release, “Unreal, Unearth,” was inspired by Dante's Inferno, a journey through the nine circles of hell. Hozier is also notable for his activism, stating in Forbes, he writes from a “socially conscious” point of view. Where he also uses religious and literary themes to inspire his writing. My favorite Hozier tracks are “De Selby (Part 2),” “Someone New,” “Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene,” and “Would That I.”
Inhaler: My personal favorite Irish band, Inhaler, was formed in 2012 with vocalist and guitarist Elijah Hewson, Bono’s son. Only releasing singles in 2020, fans were anticipating their debut album, “It Won’t Always Be Like This,” which was released in 2021. The alternative and indie rock band has been an opening act for Kings of Leon, Pearl Jam, Arctic Monkeys, Sam Fender, and Harry Styles at Slane Castle. Their second album, “Cut and Bruises,” was my favorite release of 2023. In the NME review, “Inhaler – ‘Cuts & Bruises’ review: a bold step forward,” writer Thomas Smith says, “It’s sharp enough to entice the most cynical listener and approachable for casuals.”
My favorite songs are “Just to Keep You Satisfied,” “Totally,” and “My King Will Be Kind.” What I love about their songs is that they have a slow build-up with an instrumental interlude. I have seen Inhaler four times, in three different countries, and their shows are always electric. Seeing them in the U.K. was really special since the majority of their fanbase is from Europe. When I became a fan of this band, I did not know frontman Elijah Hewson was Bono’s son. But I guess this brings the 50-plus years of Irish rock music full circle.