Cronin see positives of midlife love

Stables launch party for new single, 'Mad For You'

Described as a "positive mid-life indie love song", ‘Mad For You’ by Cronin – brothers Johnny and Mick, and Mullingar’s Fiachra Milner and Brian Murphy – is being released this week.

The single features Steve Wickham of The Waterboys on fiddle; Carl Odlum from The Frames on soundscapes, organs and keyboards; and singer songwriter John Murray from Tupelo, Mississippi on backing vocals.

There is a launch party this Saturday, October, 15 in The Stables.

Not ones to rest on their laurels, the band released new tracks during lockdown, are preparating for a new album, and are involved in side projects, from Mick working with Biffy Clyro on tour, to Johnny working on a new record with Shane MacGowan and a music podcast called Teenage Wasteland.

They also have a series of gigs coming up this winter, headlining Whelan’s on November 10, and Dingwalls in Camden Town, London, with the Biblecode Sundays.

"We’re getting ready for a new record; our new album will be out next year. We put out three singles during lockdown, There’s A Darkness, Bank of Love, and a cover of The Cure’s A Forest," said frontman Johnny Cronin.

‘Mad For You’ has been described as a "positive mid-life love song" – tell us more about that.

"It was written, full of excitement, ahead of the birth of my son," Johnny said. "It’s influenced by ‘Close to You’ by The Cure, ‘Lust for Life’ by Iggy Pop, Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen, and by the old Yeats poem, ‘Why Should Not Old Men Be Mad’.

"There’s a lot of people mentioned in the lyrics, Cole Porter, Bob Dillon and Ballinalee in Longford, we were blown away by that. I’ve never written a song about having a baby boy before, but it’s not completely about that. It’s about love, a mad kind of love. It’s about mid-life love, it’s not like Buddy Holly ‘Peggy Sue’ – it’s an indie love song written in your 40s."

Do you think your music has become more positive as you’ve gotten older?

"No, we’re still singing from emotions. We’re still singing about love and death, and feelings, and the music is always positive even if you’re singing about death or love, that is positive because all art is positive.

"What comes from the heart goes to the heart. We can still sing songs from 15 years ago about love, and death and life, and it still makes sense. Those songs carry on."

Artwork

The single artwork features a picture of the Cronin’s grandparents, who married in the ‘50s.

They also have new promotional artwork shot on location in the midlands by Paul Gallagher, brother of Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame.

"Paul would be a good friend of ours. He came over and did some promo shoots around Lough Ennell and Multyfarnham, Longford, Drumlish (the Cronin’s homestead and Transmission Rooms studio base), and all across the midlands really.

"I find you have to smile in pictures as you get older, you can’t look as moody any more," he says.

You are working with Shane MacGowan on a much-anticipated new album. How is that coming along?

"We are, and things look like they are moving well," says Mick. "Shane’s in a great head space at the moment, very zen and mad to get stuff finished. We just had the amazing Camille O’Sullivan down with us in studio with us recording a duet with Shane.

"We’ve recorded 15 songs with Shane, a few new songs and some of his favourites," adds Johnny, who is also involved in Teenage Wasteland, The Who inspired podcast which celebrates the best music in the world – the music of our teenage years.

"We’ve had guests Matt McManamon from The Specials and The Dead Sixties; John Murray from Tupelo, Mississippi; Duncan Patterson from Anathema and Antimatter, who used to live in Mullingar; and the latest is Paul Gallagher – talking about his teenage influences, and the first records he ever bought, music, and life and experience."

You can hear Teenage Wasteland on Spotify.

Post lockdown, do you think the industry has recovered or is there a way to go yet?

"Music always gets hit in times like these, people are worried about their bills, and blackouts, and even blackouts in pubs," says Johnny. "But what did they do in the 17th Century – they still rocked, with candles. It carries on."

So, what can the audience expect on October 15 in The Stables?

"It will be great to come back to The Stables, it’s been a while since we played that venue, the last time was before lockdown, so we’re looking forward to rocking it. We’ll have some special guests on the night also."

Ahead of the gig, Cronin thank Westmeath County Council and the Live and Local Scheme.

"This is the second event we have been able to do with their help, they have been amazing to work with," says Mick.