Bandwidth

It was shortly after the filming of Pocket Promise’s poptastic video for Who burnt the roller disco that we met up again to conclude some unfinished business. See, we’d talked about filming an acoustic session for sometime. The band are about to release a new album and were keen to showcase some new material while revising some of the previous stuff. So, we at Bandwidth were happy to suggest the something old/something new/something borrowed formula that seemed to work so well with The Jane Bradfords in February last: a new track, a new version of an old track and a cover version. Except that it all panned out very differently..

Pocket Promise – Something Unreal

Download for iPod (39.7MB)

The band set up in the living room of their shared house on Stranmillis St. in Belfast. Lead guitarist Dominic Coyle provided tea and buns while drummer Joe Laverty set the mics in place. With the fire roaring, we nearly forgot we had a session to film, even as guest musicians Joanne Holland (Violin), Laura Henderson (Harp) and Alana Henderson (Cello) arrived. There was a magical feeling hanging in the air as the band played through one of their best known tracks ‘Something Unreal’, from the ‘Waving At Strangers’ EP, now complete with harp and miniature-string section. Perhaps it was the spirit of Jason, Robbie, Gary and Howard staring down from their mantlepiece vigil. Lead singer/Pianio maestro Cormac Fee plays a miniature harpsichord (there must be a ‘proper’ name for this instrument, and if there is, I’ve misplaced it) – which the band seem to be collecting from charity shops – this one had one cardboard key and there was another broken mini-piano behind the sofa.

Pocket Promise – If Not The Tide Will Change

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If Not The Tide.. is a track from the new (at the time of writing still unnamed) new album – but you won’t hear a version like this anywhere else. The lead single ‘I Burnt The Roller Disco’ is a taster of the sound you can expect, and guitars come heavy and fast throughout. But with tea, buns, a roaring fire and a string section, it found its own voice. Alana, Joanne and Laura packed up and the session was finished. But the band weren’t done yet. Be careful what you say around Bandwidth when the camera’s switched on – bass player Ciarán McKenna had previously let slip that ‘The You & Me Song’ was a favourite among the band. The backline had gone home, but we were in no mood to call it a night. We gathered up as many lamps, candles and torches as we could find and got to work..

Pocket Promise – The You & Me Song (The Wannadies)

Download for iPod (39.3MB)

Pocket Promise had one more trick up their sleeves. Apparently it was a favourite whenever Cormac and Dominic played open mic nights out in smokey bars in Boston, USA. It makes sense, a few more packets of camels and Cormac could be Joe Cocker here. This is a personal highlight for the Bandwidth team – those who regularly read the site might have noticed we have a sort of a thing for the Beatles here.

Here’s to many more nights in with tea, cake and Pocket Promise!

Pocket Promise – With A Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles)

Download for iPod (46.9MB)

Director/Camera: Will McConnell
2009 Bandwidth Films

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