The White Horse Guitar Club have announced their second album, Sos Beag, and will play a 16-date nationwide Irish tour. We asked Joe Philpott of the band the BIG questions . . .
The eleven-man band were formed after an open call by Joe Carey at The White Horse pub in Ballincollig, Cork and they play folk, Americana, and traditional Irish music.
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"The band is very much based around camaraderie, friendship, and joy - sometimes a missing facet in bands," says Joe. "All eleven of us sing in unison, harmony, and melody. The sound of eleven guitars adds a unique dimension, and on paper, it shouldn't work - but it does."
"Life’s full of noise – the kind that drowns out the quieter truths," says Joe Philpott. "Sos Beag is our attempt to make space for those truths again. Songs sung shoulder to shoulder. Melodies that rise and fall like tides. Music that reminds us we’re not alone.
"As someone once said, if you unplug something for ten minutes and plug it back in, it often works better. That goes for people, too."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I am a musician from Cork.
I like to BBQ.
I recorded a song called Punchdrunk with George Harrison of The Beatles with my original band Rubyhorse.
How would you describe your music?
I’ll leave that to Michael D Higgins: "There is an authenticity to The White Horse Guitar Club’s performance in which the musicians allow themselves to take all the risks while delivering a very professional concert. This has the great effect of making the experience a very personal one for everyone in attendance. Good for the heart and soul - the music knows no borders".
Who are your musical inspirations?
If I was to hitch a ride on a train, I’d hope Johnny Cash was sitting there with Willie Nelson. If I had a time machine, I’d go to the Cavern to see the Beatles and find a way to catch Elvis in his prime. If I wanted to sing around a campfire, it would have to be with Emmylou Harris. If I needed to drift away, I’d put on Brian Eno. If I wanted to jump up and down, it would be Britpop. If I was out walking, it would be to ambient guitar music. If I wanted honesty, it would be Townes Van Zandt. If I wanted gospel and soul, it would be Aretha Franklin. If I wanted nostalgia, it would be The Cure and R.E.M. And if I wanted to believe in the power of music itself, it would be Bruce Springsteen.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
U2, Croke Park, 1987.
What was the first record you ever bought?
It was Christmas, and I was five or six, completely caught up in the magic of The Muppet Show. I remember being at what must have been a record fair with my parents and spotting the cover with Kermit bursting through the middle. I was hooked before I even heard a note. I brought it home and played it until it was almost unplayable.
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Only years later did I begin to appreciate just how good that record was. The musicianship is remarkable, with Derek Scott’s arrangements, tight brass sections, and the unmistakable groove of the Electric Mayhem Band holding it all together. Songs like Tenderly, Sax and Violence, and I’m in Love with a Big Blue Frog still stand out for their mix of humour and quality playing. What felt like a children’s record at the time was, in fact, a masterclass in performance and production.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Anything by Adrianne Lenker.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Probably, "The boys of the NYPD choir were singing Galway Bay and the bells were ringing out for Christmas Day" - Fairytale of New York by The Pogues. Aside from the way it has been hijacked by Christmas, there is such sadness and celebration in that line. The characters in that song are heartbroken, yet set against Christmas, a time of enforced happiness, it hits even harder. When you sing it, there’s an ache that runs through it with lots of joy. Shane MacGowan carried every gamut of emotion in his words and his presence, a lyrical legacy. This line is one of those that never loses its power.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Moon River.
Where can people find your music/more information?
On YouTube (search White Horse Guitar Club), or at our website.
Alan Corr
