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To Hell and Back with Damo


Published Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 4:14 PM
Updated Thursday, July 23, 2009, 6:08 PM

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LAST week I reviewed To Hell and Barbados, the amazing new disc from Dubliner Damien Dempsey. I raved so much about the CD that I couldn't fit the interview piece in, so here is my chat with Damien. Your lyrics are just amazing. You almost come off more as a journalist reporting on the Celtic Tiger than a songwriter at times.

Thanks! I'm trying to paint a picture on the Ireland I saw. I wanted to do a modern picture in song so people in 50 years would get a sense of what it was like at this time, just like Behan and Joyce did during their time.

To Hell and Barbados refers to slave ships that sent the Irish to Barbados during Cromwell's rein. Why did you use this as the title of the CD?

I wanted to commemorate these people. I was never told about these atrocities in school. It is the 200th anniversary of the abolishment of slavery in Britain, but of course there are people still enslaved today. Children are sent to work in quarries in India that are four years of age, and then there's sexual slavery in the Philippines as well. I always like to encourage people to sponsor a child through the charitable outlets so we can do something about it.

I remember when we last chatted you told me that Shane inspired you to get a more rock sound after he bumped into you at the airport. I'm glad you took his advice.

He was right to request the change in direction. "Don't become the bland brigade, the sensitive fellas," he said. "Get a bit of balls." There are a lot of Irish guys walking around with guitars lately!

Paddy Casey, Damien Rice, and Glen Hansard all came up with you. Do you still keep in touch?

Yes. I still keep in touch with Paddy Casey. We started together in the International Bar. A lot of those guys were busking on the street. We all watched each other come up. A good learning curve and competition to get the biggest clap of the night was what we were all about. Now we all have records in the shops.

Are you glad to see the boy band heyday come and go? It seems there are more real musicians on the scene now.

The boy bands never sing live or play their instruments. They couldn't! There is so much dancing that they are just panting their way through the set. A lot of the singer songwriters take time to write the songs and they take time to learn and sing.

Your voice sounds great. There are notes you hit that Robert Plant hasn't touched in years. Have you been taking lessons or coaching?

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