I’m looking for information about the Irish band The Panic Merchants. I want to listen to their music. How do they sound like? I only know the name as they were on a compilation I don’t own but I know of and that has many bands I like: “Comet LP Two”.
On that compilation released in 1987 the band contributed the song “Retro”. This compilation released by Comet Records (COME 2 TP) included great bands like Cypress, Mine!, Azure Days or The Practical Householders.
“Retro” was recorded at Slane Recording Studios in Navan with production and engineering by John Dee.
But that wasn’t the only release by the band. In 1990 they put out a tape with 3 songs. It was self-released and was titled “Firewalking EP” and included the same tracks on both sides. These were “Stop Loving You”, “Ghost Town” and “Honeymoon”.
But I am lucky. I was going to listen to some of their songs. Not from these releases but from a demo that the band recorded in 1986/87. There are three songs on that demo that we know, “Retro”, “Happy Home” and “Swamp”. These were uploaded by the always fantastic blog “Fanning Sessions“. What a great resource that is. I wish there was something like this for English bands, or Scottish bands, and so on.
Here I also learn some more information about the band. The band was based in Dublin but originally came from Cavan and Donegal. It also says that the band went thru two phases. The first one in the mid 80s and then in the early 90s. Did their sound change?
The band was formed by Justin Kelly on vocals, David Meagher on guitar, Paddy Glackin on bass and Noel Larkin on drums. Aidan McNamara would replace Glackin in 1989 and Stephen Farrell on keyboards would join in 1990.
It seems they were offered to do a Fanning Session but that never happened.
Other than that there is a cool flyer of a gig where they were going to play Grattan in Capel St on a Friday June 21st of who knows which year.
Interesting too is that the band used to have a Myspace. That of course doesn’t work and doesn’t have any info or music now.
According to IrishRock.org the band had more unreleased music, including a 7” that was slated to be released in 1991 including the songs “Swerve” and “Justice”.
Anyone has any more details about them?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
