Paul McCann

Paul McCann (born 19 January 1980) is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician from County Cavan, Ireland. McCann has played in many well known bands on the Irish music scene including Áine Cahill|Aine Cahill's backing band^[1]; power pop band The Plan^[2]; and Johnny Cash tribute band 'Get Rhythm'^[3]. In 2018, McCann released his debut solo album 'Here Comes the Rapture' to strong critical reviews^[4]. The album (which was co-produced with Martin Quinn of JAM Studios) was written and performed almost entirely by McCann.

Background and early bands[edit]

Paul McCann was born in Bawnboy, County Cavan in 1980. He became interested in music from an early age after being introduced to Michael Jackson's Thriller (album), and Prince (musician) Purple Rain (album). A self thought musician, McCann purchased his first guitar (a Japanese Fender Telecaster) in Paris at the age of 16. This was at the height of Britpop, when guitar music was prominent. McCann immersed himself in the Guitar, Bass guitar and Piano Keyboard instrument learning music by Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers, Prince (musician), Jeff Buckley, Strangelove (band), Supergrass, The Beatles, The Doors, Love (band), and many more. His first band was with some similarly minded friends who played a handful of gigs named SLUG. Following years of performing in cover bands, McCann relocated to Dublin in 2002 with originals band Dutch Uncle who experienced moderate success with residency gigs in Temple Bar's Eamonn Doran's; The Mezz; and Voodoo Lounge. Dutch Uncle released one EP called 'No Love EP' recorded at The Stables, Ashtown and Tones Studios, Belturbet.
In 2009 McCann returned back to County Cavan where he co-founded power pop band The Plan (originally called 'The Wags') with Brendan Scott. Over the following years The Plan would tour Ireland performing with the likes of Pugwash (band)|Pugwash, The Strypes, Slumberjet and Duncan Maitland. The band would also perform a number of times at International Pop Overthrow|The International Pop Overthrow Festival in Liverpool's Cavern club|Cavern Club. The Plan released their self titled album in 2012, followed by The Dyad EP in 2015. The Dyad EP was produced by Picturehouse_(band)|Duncan Maitland and features Beach Boy|Beach Boys percussionist Nelson Bragg^[5]. In 2013 McCann, a lifetime fan of Johnny Cash, took a group of 8 musicians on a tour of Irelands prisons, replicating the prison concerts carried out by Cash, The Carter Family and Carl Perkins in the late 60's. Following the prison tour, 'Get Rhythm' played a number of shows around Ireland the UK, including a headline slot at Electric Picnic's Trailer Park stage. Around this time McCann also performed a number of shows with Johnny Cash's friend and collaborator, Sandy Kelly^[6].

Solo career[edit]

McCann spent a lot of 2016 in his home studio developing a number of original compositions. In late 2016 McCann entered JAM Studios in Kells, County Meath, County Meath with these demos to record his debut EP 'The Magician'. A second EP 'Beginning to End: Home Recordings' followed in 2017. These two EPs were followed by a full length album 'Here Comes The Rapture' in 2018. The album was recorded over a number of months, with Andrew Quinn performing all of the albums drums and percussion, and McCann performing all other instrumentation, with help from JAM Studio's engineer and the albums co-producer, Martin Quinn.
'Here Comes The Rapture' was released to high acclaim globally with The Irish Times' Tony Clayton-Lea awarding the album 4/5, citing "it is with his debut offering that McCann comes into his own"^[7]. The album's singles 'Keep the Devil Within' and 'It's Only a Fantasy' received strong radio support in both Ireland and the UK. 'Here Comes The Rapture' also performed well in the USA due to radio support and a distribution deal with Kool Kat Musik. McCann performed a number of shows around Ireland and the UK in support of the albums release.
McCann continued composing and recording at his home studio and entered JAM Studios again in 2019. Unfortunately COVID interrupted this session causing a delay with the albums completion. Sessions for the album (tentatively titled 'Here Comes the Difficult Second Album) would take a different format, with McCann inviting many other collaborators and friends to take part (including Jason Falkner^[8], Gary Lucas, Roger Joseph Manning Jr.|Roger Joseph Manning Jr, Ken Stringfellow, Charlotte Hatherley, and Sylvie Lewis). The album was finally completed in September 2021 and is currently pending an official release.

References[edit]

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