W: Jonny Hayes I: Nicholas O’Donnell

The Love Buzz make punky indie pop with a big heart and heaps of personality. They are unapologetic about who they are and they want you to love yourself as well. Their infectious music is glammed up good fun and delivered with a wry smile. The boys are simply the Love Buzz and they can’t help themselves. The Love Buzz’s approach to life is feet first and cramming in as much good natured mischief as possible and at ASBO we’re all about that. The Love Buzz can’t be contained and the band are now making a name for themselves outside of their native Cork after thousands saw them at Glastonbury.

“That was the first time anyone took us seriously.” says bass player Aiden, “We’ve been equipping ourselves for a major record deal, it’s either that or we rob a bank. Our ransom note would be one million or a record deal!”

Thankfully the band hasn’t needed to turn to a life of crime just yet as fortunately a fan who’d caught the ‘Buzz had secretly sent them on the road to Glastonbury, sending their tunes to a ‘battle of the bands’ style competition. “The first we heard of it was when we received an email to say that we had been added to the long list.” before they knew it The Love Buzz were off to meet the bookers. The band were snapped up by five stages including The Woodsies stage and FKA John Peele stage. “People were following us from stage to stage…we kept seeing the same people, who have shown up to gigs since in the UK.”

My own infection with The Love Buzz began when I found Aiden outside the Lost Lane in Dublin though to be fair I could hardly miss him. I don’t know what he was smoking so maybe I just dreamt this in the haze of a contact high but before me stood: Aiden - six foot four in his goth boots rocking a ruby red sequinned dress that would have not looked out of place on Tina Turner. We got chatting and he told me a true rock and roll yarn. Parking up their tour van after a wild gig and seeking rest before the next adventure the van rolls to a stop in a multi storey car park. Getting out of the van and surveying his surroundings Aiden found a conveniently abandoned mattress and settled down for the night. Why he did not sleep in the van was never explained… however the next day upon waking as if the fairy Godmother had been by in the night there was now a mysterious box nearby and the sparkly garment was inside. True street glamour and dripping charisma I knew then that The Love Buzz were ASBO and not to be missed. I headed to The Working Men’s Club the following night to catch their set.

“We believe in our songs but we want to give more…we’re always trying to make something happen. We all listen to good music all day, but when we play we want you to be part of something.”

Rocking up at The Working Men’s Club as part of Ireland Music Week I’m expecting this will be good. It’s a showcase for Ireland’s brightest upcoming acts but I wasn’t quite prepared for what happened next – and neither were the jaded industry types stood shoulder to shoulder packing out the venue.

A thunderstorm. Of shoes. At a gig. I was there to witness it. The Love Buzz were doing their thing and the energy was where it needed to be and then some. The crowd were a bubbling soup and The Love Buzz were like some kind of magical musical microwave. Lead singer Kieran abruptly paused the heating cycle. He wanted everyone’s left shoe. No one knew why but at that point many were all too happy to oblige. The room seemed to darken as the air above my head filled with shoes. Kieran is visibly delighted and like a pirate on stage eyeing up recently acquired booty he selected a rather expensive looking cowboy boot and filled it with beer. He chugged it and before we can even process the sequence of events it seems they are launching in to their four to the floor banger Disco Junkie 1200.

“Can you believe what I just saw” said a man who’d earlier boasted he’d already seen everything.

After it all settled down and cooled off, ASBO caught up with The Love Buzz for an interview in the twee-ly named Primm’s Bookshop in Kinsale where it all started. “If Cork is the Texas of Ireland then Kinsale would be on the Mexican border.” says Aiden of the small town where The Love Buzz began almost as an instinctive reaction to their surroundings. Things are slow in Kinsale.

“Coming from a small town, if something’s not there then you have to create it. All the venues shut down while we were growing up so we played our first gig in the bookshop.”

Growing up together Kieran (vocals and guitar), Aiden (bass), Oisín (guitar) and Henry (drums) are fond of their hometown, Kinsale after all is where they developed their understanding of what’s truly important – fishing and friends. However in these less than diverse surroundings they needed an outlet for their energy and music allows them to express their true selves. The bands influences are broad from Grandaddy, Prefab Sprout and The Pixies to Elvis Costello and even ABBA. Where there’s a hook The Love Buzz are there for it and they want to bring the love and the buzz to anyone within earshot. “Sharing is the best thing about music – whenever you hear a song on the radio you can think of someone.” The Love Buzz love to share music. “Last year we ran a rock school in Kinsale every Monday to help young people explore music.” The Love Buzz’s mission is to spread the love around.

I ask how their name came to be and Aiden sums it up simply: “The name comes from the club scene…where everyone is in that same state. Where they can show appreciation for their neighbour…In some states you’re just not afraid to show it.” This is a statement about who The Love Buzz are. They live life with love, a good energy and they want to bring the buzz to you too.