County: Dublin

About The Chapman Society

A newly emerged indie rock band hailing from Dublin city. Existing in various guises over the past decade on the Irish music scene and having collectively played live everywhere from bathrooms to Benicassim, they have sculpted an energetic live sound that has translated to their debut album due imminently.

Essentially made of a long-standing songwriting partnership between Sean Kavanagh and Russell Keogh, their songs have achieved critical success winning competitions in their rawest form. As far back as 2001 Jackie Hayden of Hotpress commented 'a great song, with lyrics that suggest its been written by reflective people who have observations to make about life as we know it.' The pair originally showcased songs acoustically around Dublin towering in competitions and supporting their much-loved Irish music scene.

Sean Kavanagh continued his support for the Irish music scene by becoming an co-ordinator in Dublin's music organisation Gigsmart Ireland. Here he spent his hours assisting unsigned bands with promotion and support for possibly every live venue Dublin has to offer, whilst being unable to resist the urge to play many of these venues himself he also acquired a cache of songs over the years of playing... and inevitable writing.

Russell Keogh meanwhile found himself on guitar duties for alternative Irish rockers JJ72 on the tail of their 'I to sky' album and whilst playing live and contributing to the bands final days in the studio he similarly acquired himself a fistful of songs ready for an attack.

In late 2006 the two decided to combine their ammunition and make a conscious effort to put on record what they couldn't find anywhere else, combining every instrument between them... vocals, guitars, bass, piano they enlisted the help of a heavy hitting drummer... again from Dublin.

Ross O'Connor spent his years much as the other lads, perfecting a craft and soaking in influences surrounding him. With previous support to Hawkwind at Dublin's Ambassador Theatre, he immediately brought a heavier rock edge to the duo's melodic indie tunes and tainted the 'sweet' pop edge to form what can be sampled in the bands debut September double A-side single release 'Blood red room/Days you disappear' put in a nutshell by Frequency Ireland in June 2007 'an emphatic indie rock song under shadowed by shimmering guitar feedback'

For now the Chapman Society have lit a fire, which they are speedily fanning into a blaze. They have launched an assault on a debut album with a ferocity only purely dedicated music addicts can do. It can be witnessed in live sets designed to act a sonic wake up call to every band that take to the studio or stage without heart.

[source: The Chapman Society's MySpace page]