Biography
The Dirty 9s are (from left to right): Paul Rice (Drums), Fergal Moloney (Vocals & Guitar), Stephen Dunne (Bass Guitar), Keith Brett (Keyboards) and Cian McCarthy (Lead Guitar).
The Dirty 9s released their debut album “Stop Screaming, Start Dreaming”, produced by Greg Haver(Manic Street Preachers) in 2010 to critical acclaim. Described by RTE.ie as “Plenty of energy..nice hooks” and by State.ie as “a record of youthful endeavour..bags of promise”, this album has not only enabled The Dirty 9s to reach people worldwide with their music, but it has also helped them to become an established live act to be reckoned with.
Prior to the 2010 World Cup, The Dirty 9s were asked by Indiecater records to record a song for the Argentinian National Team, for a 32 song indie compilation that they were organising called “Fast Forward”. The band took on this challenge, and wrote the ‘Ballad of El Diego’, which was described by the Irish Independent as “appropriately, unhinged, OTT and rather magnificent”, and also prompting the Guardian to describe it as “ludicrously catchy, horn-soaked Argentine anthem Ballad of El Diego.”
The Dirty 9s formed in 2008 and haven’t wasted anytime in their mission to take their music to as many people as possible. Named after the less than flattering nickname given to their local bus service -the 39 the Dublin five piece first came to the public’s attention when they won the €10,000 grand prize on Irish TV Show Deis Roc. The show which aired on TG4 was a music competition for unsigned bands in which you had to write and perform your own music in Irish. Judges on the programme included Jim Lockhart from the legendary Horslips. The band put their winnings from the show to good use and enlisted Manic Street Preachers & Super Furry Animals Producer Greg Haver to record their debut album with. The album is called ‘Stop Screaming, Start Dreaming’. In the short time they’ve been together the band have also been selected for the 2009 IMRO Showcase Tour, performed on BBC Scotland Music Show Rapal, had their debut single ‘Lucy Opus’ picked as the download of the day on Today FM by Tony Fenton and they’ve had a track of theirs ‘Corridors’ chosen for the Hotpress/Oxfam compilation CD. They finished 2009 by signing a licensing deal with US based company Uncommontrax who provide music for Film & TV shows such as Entourage & Twilight. Since forming the band have clocked up gigs in top venues throughout the country including among others Whelans, Auntie Annies, The Academy, Cyprus Avenue, Spirit Store, The Stables, Electric Avenue & The Granary. They’ve also supported Republic of Loose, Delorentos, The Coronas, CODES, Director & The Stunning.
