Hello dear readers! It’s that time of the month again where we choose an Artist to be our Spotlight Artist of the month. If August was one of Emma’s favourite Homegrown Heroes, September is all about one of mine! *Drum Roll Please* It’s Chasing Abbey time all! These lads and their gigs are the reason for many fun and unforgettable memories for myself and Emma! When I say I am hella excited to chat about my guys in detail… you guys have no idea how ready I am to dive into all the nitty gritty! And I know what you’re thinking… “Hang on Niamh I’ve seen your Instagram and Twitter; you can’t be unbiased!” That is very true to a certain extent but that is why I am gonna leave the new single “Lately” review to Em! (Hopefully no one saw that coming…) Get ready for some inside jokes, unforgettable memories and awkward dance moves that ALWAYS make appearances now! So, let’s get down to business and talk about these talented men from T-more!
So, who exactly is Chasing Abbey?
The lads. The boys. The bis. Niamh’s lads. Those fellas on that Eir ad. They have many names but Chasing Abbey is better known as Ro (Ronan Bell), Bee (Jonathan ‘Johnny’ Byrne) and Teddy C (Ted Conway) who all hail from Tullamore, Co. Offaly like me! (Hi, Emma here. In case you haven’t guessed.)
So firstly, let’s have a look at that name: “who’s Abbey and why chase her?” Well to be completely accurate ‘Abbey’ is actually a them and not a singular person. Abbey technically represents the audience and, as the guys sat down to write songs, that was their nickname for the audience. Their name comes from their goal to create what their audience would like and to connect with people. As the band have said themselves: “Chasing Abbey is another way of saying chasing the dream.”
Now on to where it all began: Chasing Abbey have been friends for years and even went to secondary school in Tullamore together. Back in 2015, Colaiste Choilm (Tullamore’s all boys secondary school) music teacher, Stacy Hogan, suggested that Leaving Cert students Jonathan and Ted should enter a radio talent competition. After recruiting Ronan, from a class three years below them, they began working on music. After some time, Chasing Abbey was the result of their teacher’s suggestion. Everyone say thank you to Ms. Hogan.
Fast forward 5 years, with a few setbacks and countless victories along the way, Chasing Abbey have won the Choice Music Prize Song of the Year in 2017, headlined two Irish tours, had a Number 1 EP in the Irish Charts and their new single “Lately” is out Friday, September 18th and, you know, if you felt inclined you could even check out their Spotify or even their Instagram for all the updates.
Other Music to date?
So, we’ll keep this brief since everything else about this post seems to be more wordy than expected. Chasing Abbey’s first release was ‘That Good Thing’ in December 2016. Following the unprecedented success of That Good Thing, ‘Talk to Me’ was released in December 2017. ‘Choices’ followed this in May 2018. Then in 2019 prior to the release of their EP, The Odyssey Project (April 2019), ‘Hold On’ was release in February and swiftly followed by ‘Dominos’ in August of the same year. And, of course, it would be rude of me to ignore that their newest single, ‘Lately’, is out Friday (September 18th).
Em’s single review.
So, have you heard from Chasing Abbey ‘Lately’? We heard a certain new single on Ed Smith’s show on Today FM today (Wednesday 16th) and I think we can do a mini review, don’t you? Please note, I’m basing all my thoughts on a single full playthrough of the track so bare with me. So, firstly, we’ve got that opening vocal (da duh du duh); it can and will get lodged in your brain. Trust me, I know. Taking the track as a whole, it will never be out of place in a nightclub setting and, personally, I think that’s a newer avenue Chasing Abbey has decided to explore. There’s less rap and a lot more hip hop this time around and I admit I approve of it. Now, in comparison to previous releases, production is crisper, cleaner and extremely well done. It sounds to me like there was a lot of time put into this track, to the point it seems meticulously done. Also can we send some props to Teddy C for some stellar enunciation. Such careful pronunciation really brings the lyrics to the forefront and draws significant focus. Of course, I’d need more than one listen to really get the message in the song (I’ll get it, just give me til Friday when I can listen to it as much as I want XD). From a first listen, I can confidently say this is a track that I will listen to on repeat….happily. Well done Chasing Abbey.
Tour and fun gig memories?
Gosh where to start with Chasing Abbey? It has been a rollercoaster of fun and interesting gigs with the lads but, I think I speak for us both when I say, we’ll sum up the good, the bad and the ugly bits… *grabs the popcorn*
E: Simply put: “I’m part of the wall.” I shall give no further explanation than I was at a gig I wasn’t meant to be at. Shhh don’t tell the other band that was performing the same night #IncognitoMode (N: I’m still dying laughing at this, shoving you out of the way so you wouldn’t be pictured at the gig. “Be apart of the wall!”)
N: That one time we legged it across Dublin to the 3 pop up gig.
(E: And I remain adamant that I’m never doing that again XD)
Home Gig 2018:
E: Me: *goes to a gig where I know none of the song lyrics*
Everyone else including Niamh: *singing very loudly to Talk to Me.*
Me: 0_o *concerned*
N: The gig that started the Choices Video tradition! We’ve never looked back! It was also the most intense and intimate Chasing Abbey gig to date. It will always be the gig that is most special for me.
Kilkenny Gigs 2018/2019:
Roll Out Tour, Set Theatre 2018:
E: The phone. Oh good god. The phone. Niamh will tell the story, she tells it better than I do, but the fear of God is not enough to describe the feeling XD
N: The Phone.. Okay so Kilkenny 2018 was my cousin Katie’s first Chasing Abbey gig. She got distracted cause we were living our best life and she put her new iPhone, only a few weeks old faced down on the stage… Queue Jonathan standing on it and me going into overprotective cousin mode.. Katie’s screaming “BEE, BEE, BEEEEEEE!” I decided to hit his leg to get him off the phone while repeating his name louder and louder until he finally got off the phone. The iPhone miraculously survived! Emma has never let me live it down!
My highlight from that gig is something I hold close to my heart. I still smile from ear to ear when I think about it! Sorry guys… (that would be a popcorn moment if you ever find out) [E: le eating popcorn]
2019 Ballykeefe, Co. Kilkenny:
E: Being so overtired I didn’t realise that I’d said the in my head thing out loud but only Niamh heard me so #safe (N: Let’s be real Em this one was one of your favourites!)
N: Traumatised before the gig even started while a lack of sleep did not help… O.O There is nothing like when my boys do a gig in my home county but Ballykeefe was unforgettable. My second favourite Chasing Abbey gig of all time but, the gig that had THE BEST SOUND! It was AMAZING! Can we just go back in time to that gig?
Wexford 2018:
E: After 3 cans of Monster energy drink and a full day at work, I don’t remember much of the gig. I am pretty sure I was on a new plane of existence where I could see sound but that was very shortly (literally a few days) after the start of a very, very rough patch in my life and so much music made so much of a difference for me.
N: The Yin and Yang moment of the dress code by myself and Em. This was also the gig where it hit me in the face that I shouldn’t miss out on gigs because the majority of my friends weren’t going! Major development gang and 2019 was gonna get insane due to that promise!
Culchie Kid Tour 2019:
E: I wasn’t at any of the culchie kid tour dates 0:) (N:Lies! One day the lads are gonna sell you out big time on that!)
N: Aka the tour I was so excited for, made all the reschedules and lived by best life with some pretty amazing people
Cyprus Avenue, Cork
N: Okay so story about this one we will have to go 1.0 and 2.0.
1.0 Highlight when the gig got cancelled. I ate the Chocolate Biscuit Cake that got made for the lads by a family member, The Odyssey Project EP getting to #1 needed to be celebrated and I did just that with the lovely friends I made in the hostel.
2.0 ‘Choices’ I think because I had that moment built up so much in my head. Anxiety is a thing and I thought it wouldn’t be as good of a tradition moment like on the Roll Out Tour!
Olympia Theatre, Dublin
N: First time round it got rescheduled so we spent the night with Chinese food before heading on for a night on the town in Tullamore!
2.0 was unforgettable! Being with Kate and Katie made it so much more special! Whoever thought up the standing arrangement was genius I love you for it! Highlights include ‘Choices’ in the frickin Olympia at their headline Sold Out Gig, singing along to a lot of the words of ‘Take It From Me’ with people around us being like okay O.o settle girl! Lastly “All of the Bis!” On video call!
Riverfest 2019:
E: Knee meet large metal stage support beam. Thanks to the psycho behind me who kicked the back of my knee in order to try get me out of the way; I stayed there to spite her. She made that meeting and the stellar bruise I had for about a week and a half afterwards happen. Love you xx
N: The most rollercoaster gig to date! *FRESH* Where the dance move was born… #IfYouKnowYouKnow. “Reel it in Niamh, reel it in!” Another highlight was my dance moment with Ro and the girl beside me asking “How many gigs have you been to that you both have done that dance move part at each other?” *Spoiler* It just happened, we really don’t plan these things…
Also being squished against the stage was an experience. For the record, Emma would like me to point out my fear of god moment when I was being squished and I had a O.O moment… *swerves*. It was a stage where you could see the understage and I was literally lying across the top of the stage with my rib cage getting the brunt of the force from people crushing forward. My rib cage was bruised for two weeks afterwards but, front row usually still because I am short.…
Indiependence 2019:
E: When Niamh became Captain America: “WALK IT OFF!!!” So the story goes like this: about half way through Chasing Abbey’s set at Indie a guy fell over and it was the kinda crowd where falling over could get you badly hurt. Cue Niamh turning around and offering this not very small guy her right hand (Niamh is left handed) and pulling him up like he was a sack of spuds. She made it look easy. She then asks the usual questions: “Are you alright?” – Yes. “Do you want to get out or are you staying in?” – stay in. She then proceeded to yell over the music “walk it off” in the most GAA manner possible. (It was only recently we made the connection to Captain America, the best avenger’s, line “if you get killed, walk it off.”) Also shout out to the two lads chatting to us before the set started, trying to impress us by being from Tullamore…..yeah, that’s not very impressive when one of the people you are talking to is from Tullamore – just saying.
N: Oh my gosh I’m now scarlet on the memories Emma just said. The important comment on that is I am from a GAA family and I wasn’t going to let the poor dear get crushed! Also those two lads, god love them…”Yeah well Em is from Tmore”… Followed quickly by “What like it’s hard knowing them?” Sorry but it doesn’t sit well with me when people try to pick up other people by using their “friends”.
The most emotional moment ever with Chasing Abbey happened at Indie19. Teddy decided it was a great idea to point at me during an emotional part for me during “I Remember”. I know tears swelled up in my eyes, I was not warned. Emma was cackling, Teddy was like “no no no ” and I was “awwing” like there was no tomorrow. I was fairly tipsy guys not gonna lie, to make sure I did front row that day and that moment just added to my emotional state! (Yes I am aware how fangirly that sounds and I wouldn’t change it. It was an interesting moment).
Having said all that, my favourite memory of Indie is how proud I was of the lads on stage and that got captured on camera! Shout out to Kymann for getting some epic footage of the performance and making the epic screenshot material showing me in my happy place!
FM104’s The Gig
E: This was one of those rare times I saw Chasing Abbey without Niamh and, yes, I rang her for Where You’re From but that’s not what I remember about that set. (N: I was at Mary Black with my family. At the interval I got the phone call!) Honestly, for that whole set, I was watching and hoping Ro would crack open a bottle of water and go crazy like he does sometimes throwing water around…he didn’t. I was very disappointed. I had my reasons and they’ll stay mine 😛
2FM Rising
N: The first Chasing Abbey gig I travelled to alone and by gosh was it worth it! I had the best time and enjoyed every minute of when the lads were performing. Highlight was being Right Side for the first time and the awkward lighting!
Chasing Abbey Xmas Party 2019:
E: I have three favourite things about this gig and I can’t talk about one so I’ll pick the other two: the fact that I was slap bang in the middle of the front row and was neither left side (ay) or right side (oh) so I did neither and the fact that there was a question as to whether Niamh was taking home the only intact set list so I went full klepto and took it on her behalf. (N: That other fan deserved it more…[Lies! Filthy slanderous lies! XD] I still get embarrassed that you shoved it in my bag and told me I was taking it!)
N: “That’s a really nice T-Shirt!” . Apart from that the new songs are pretty special! First night “Lately” was preformed… We’ve been waiting months! Thank gosh it is finally out in the world!
So what we can conclude from this is that a majority of my memories surrounding Chasing Abbey involve injuries. I (Emma) get injured a lot at Chasing Abbey gigs (fangirls be cray and hella inappropriate sometimes). To date, I’ve been elbowed in the face (Kilkenny 2018), gotten my fabulous knee injury as described above (Riverfest) and bruised ribs after being crushed against a metal barrier (Indie) so, yeah, next time I’ll wear bubble wrap too.
Next time, Niamh is gonna stand behind Emma and protect her… Em’s done that for me for like ten gigs and I’ve only been able to return the favour twice but, after she got injured. 😦 Also that first gig back with the lads is going to hit different!
How long have you been a fan (supporter) of Chasing Abbey?
E: Weeeeeeelll, as the section title suggests, I’m not a fan. I respect the guys, their work ethic, dedication and I am constantly delighted for their success but I wouldn’t call myself a fan of their music. I know the words simply because it’s easier than having to deal with crazy fangirls trying to murder me for my spot. I know that seems harsh but it’s the truth. I go to support them even though their music isn’t quite my style because we all come from the same place and if you can’t support your own who can you support?
N: January 2017, cheers Louise Duffy for the introduction! Not as OG as some like to pin me as but, I’ve been supporting them for a while. 2018 as seen above saw me remerge from my shell and get back to gigs; including making an effort to get to Chasing Abbey’s gigs.
Top 5 favourite Chasing Abbey songs:
E: 1. I Remember 2. 6 O’clock 3. Where You’re From 4. Dominos 5. Choices
N: 1. Lately. 2. Choices 3.When You Met Me. 4. Take It From Me. 5. Hold On.
Most underrated Chasing Abbey song?
E: “That Good Thing” – because I keep forgetting it when I refer to pre-EP singles. Sorry (^^);
N: “Where You’re From” – I am still in awe at how fast Jonathan (Bee) can rap this song with Emma always standing beside me keeping up with every word! I adore bopping around to this one doing the little dance moves and repeating back the answers! It’s the most underrated song by the lads because, unless you have been to a Chasing Abbey gig, you have missed out on hearing something truly amazing.
What is your favourite song?
E: Simple: I Remember. Niamh calls it my song.
N: Tradition is a big thing when it comes to Chasing Abbey. As seen above Lately has taken the top spot but, Choices. comes down to the tradition and is on par with it.
Favourite lyrics?
E: “This loyalty is homegrown” – I’d quote Ro’s whole verse in 6 O’clock but out of the whole verse this line is the one I appreciate and understand most.
N: “Don’t you got problems yeah, don’t you got family? Never ceases to amaze me how f*** up human nature can be!”
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