This Certain Kind The band that got away . . . until now
By Hayden Moore
Last year a story was published about a band which had some of their music published on vinyl after a German record label had reached out to them, 20 years after they had split up.
Now, a year since the German record label, Firestation, published its compilation album of unsigned bands called ‘The Sound of Leamington Spa Volume 9’, This Certain Kind have released a full studio album.
This Certain Kind: John Shortt, Des Connaughton, Mark Sherlock and Anthony Cully
The band was originally assembled in Old Bawn, Tallaght back in 1987 with Anthony Cully on lead vocals, John Lowery and Mark Comerford on guitar, Lee Gartland on bass, Alan Kiloran on keys and Keith Gantley on drums.
Within a year the indie group – which has been compared to that of The Smiths, The Jam and The Stone Roses – had recorded a demo entitled ‘Inspire’. By 1991 some of the original members had left.
Mark Sherlock became the bassist, while Des Connaughton and John Shortt came in on guitar and drum duties – which is the arrangement they find themselves in today.
They frequented places such as Bridget Burke’s (now called The Old Mill), The Belgard Inn and Molly’s, before making their way into the city to places such as The Dublin Underground and Whelan’s.
But after the turn of the century, the lads decided to call it a day when as they described to The Echo last year “life got in the way of our dreams”.
This Certain Kind performing on stage some years ago
That was until out of the blue, a German record company expressed interest in two songs in particular called ‘Unfortunate’ and ‘Make Your Heart Bleed’ they found on YouTube eight years after they were uploaded by band member Mark.
In October of this year, the band had their first full 10-track studio album aptly titled ‘Inspire’ released on all digital download platforms, and from November 1 it was released on Vinyl LP in Golden Discs and Tower Records.
“We are over the moon to have our own album produced and released – it’s a real dream come true,” said drummer John as Mark explained how they “were lucky that we also had that many studio recordings”.
“It was expensive enough to do that back then as we were all on pretty low wages, being so young, I suppose.”
The retrospective collection of music from their first 10 years together is currently available to buy on LP for €20, while a new single is expected to be released early in 2020, with the lads busy in the studio.
