"Pay*Ola have an untamed affection for the spirit of Rock 'n' Roll." - Stuart Bailie (Hot Press, NME)
STICK 2 FINGERS UP E.P IS OUT NOW! AVAILABLE AT VIRGIN MEGASTORE, HMV, OUR PRICE, GOOD VIBRATIONS AND ALL GOOD RECORD STORES!
Pic. copyright © PAY*OLA 1999
YOU CAN ALSO BUY OUR E.P ONLINE. SIMPLY CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO TAKE YOU TO BURBS SITE.
BURBs - The only alternative is the mainstream!
WHAT'S NEW IN PAY*OLA? Alright brothers and sisters! Thanks for joining us again. Do you want the
good news or the bad news first? O.K then, the bad news ('cause it ain't THAT
bad). Nicky - our darling bass player - broke his arm. Yes - the same Nicky who
last year smashed his wrist up, and put us out of gigging action for 3 months.
This time it was a freak football accident, and not as bad a break - but it
explains why the gig guide has been a little bare these last 2 months. Anyway -
starting with a show in Newry on the 18th May we're back in action.
All proceeds from future shows will go towards buying "the fragile
boy" a cotton wool box. (and Philip will never invite him to play 5-a-side
again). Don't worry folks, we've still been keeping busy…. We've been recording in Manor Park Studios - Magherafelt with producer
Neal Calderwood (ex- Scheer, currenly with Lima) - the tracks in question being
: What Drives You? , How D'You Get So Low, When You Leave, Let It Flow, Through
Innocent Eyes and Glory on My Mind. The first E.P - which should appear late
June or August (July being a "slow" month in these parts) - is most
likely to feature Through Innocent Eyes, What Drives You?, When You Leave and
Glory On My Mind (Though the order hasn't been decided yet). We'll make sure to
give it the biggest launch possible - most likely in the Empire Music Hall,
Belfast - believe us, it will be a night out to remember! We will then tour as
extensively as possible - and hopefully get to turn YOUR home town into the
Rock'n'Roll capital of the universe for the evening. (Let us know of any good
venues) We
Love You all
Philip,
Nicky, James, Nick
PAY*OLA REVIEW
Phil, Nick, James and Nicky tore into their blistering set with the crowd pleasing
"GLORY ON MY MIND" and instantly the entire audience was enthralled, and Belfast’s
Empire Music Hall was caught up in the throe’s of another spectacular curtsey of PAY*OLA.
This was raw, it was low down and dirty, but most importantly it was terrifically and electrifyingly real. Thank God for PAY*OLA who fly their flag for everyone who is within earshot.
As the show progressed it was clear for all to see that this was no ordinary run-of-the-mill band. Phil – who writes songs with the poignancy that equals Shane McGowan and performs them with the ferocity of Ozzy Osbourne and presence of Mick Jagger - is a truly great front man. Nick, the lead guitarist, and pianist has mastered his part too and plays every chord and key with a quality not seen since Brian May’s hey-day with Queen. Nicky plays his bass guitar with such calm and skill that I reckon he could easily do it in his sleep. I am an absolute atheist but I believe in re-incarnation when I look at James on the drums because it makes me think that Keith Moon (of ‘The Who’) is amongst us once again.
These guys are the most complete rock’n’roll band I’ve ever seen; and why look elsewhere when the sheer quality is right here for all to see?
While manufactured groups pollute the charts and radio stations with insipid, over-produced cover versions for the pre-pubescent market, PAY*OLA stand firm performing real songs with real instruments for a real audience shouting from the rooftops that they are here to stay.
I have enjoyed being all over Britian and Ireland with them and they never sell an audience short. You can take my word for it here because in one stretch I went to 18 gigs here in a row and in one particular week saw them bring the house down in Belfast, London and Dublin where at each venue the people present were left breathless and begging for more every time.
My favourite PAY*OLA songs are….well all of them really but I can’t get enough of "KEEP YOUR HEAD UP". As far as I’m concerned it hits the spot every time and with other songs such as "TO BRING YOU DOWN", "THIS IS NOT A DRILL", "WHAT DRIVES YOU" and the notorious "STICK 2 FINGERS UP" AND "HOW D’YOU GET SO LOW" on their set list, a night out to see these guys is never a wasted journey.
Just recently PHIL asked me what my all time favourite bands and songs were and no fore-thought was this:
Oasis’ "Champagne Supernova", David Bowie’s "Heroes", The Sex Pistols "Pretty Vacant", Slade’s "Cum on fell the noize" The Manic Street Preachers "Motorcycle Emptiness" and BuckCherry's "Lit Up" as well as his very own "KEEP YOUR HEAD UP". He seemed flattered that I mentioned him in such esteemed company and I shall say to you now – in all honesty – that given the choice of seeing all of those groups performing live or going to see a PAY*OLA gig then I’d go and see PAY*OLA. You might ask why and it’s simply because they fucking rock.
Now do yourself a favour and click on the gig list and get yourself along to their next show and shake their hands afterwards!!
(Written by Conor Stanage)
PAY*OLA PROFILE
If you thought that rock was dead then think again - Pay*ola may well force you to change your opinion!
Taking the best of the Manics, Reef and Guns n' Roses and mixing them together to create a dynamic pure
rock sound, Pay*ola are definitely the future of Irish rock....
 Pay*ola on yet another 'quiet' night out on the town. Pic. copyright © PAY*OLA 1999 |
Led by one of the best frontmen around Phil McCarroll (vocals, guitar), the band is made up of James Nicholl (drums), Nick Joseph (guitar, keyboards and backing vocals) and Nicky Conway (bass). |
Payola are widely regarded as one of the most exciting live acts in Northern Ireland, whether they're playing to a packed out crowd or to a handful of pissed students, Pay*Ola always rock the joint.
Citing influences as legendary as Thin lizzy, Queen and Led Zeppelin, it's no surprise that Pay*Ola look, and behave, like rock stars: "Since I was nine years old, I wanted to be a rock star," Phillip says "I never have wanted to be anything else. I just love those words - 'Rock Star'. It's the best thing in the world - and I know i'd make a good one. " And there aren't many people who've experienced Pay*Ola live who are gonna argue with that one...
(Written by Kirsten McAlpine)
Rock'n'Roll!