“No one wants to be in a band and share success these days,” Liam Gallagher grumped recently. “It’s all ‘me me me’ solo stars.” Yet despite the financial cost and social media individualism, the rock band isn’t dead yet. Particularly in Ireland: Sprints, the Murder Capital, Fontaines DC and Just Mustard have all released strong albums recently. Galway alt-rockers NewDad are the latest in that lineup.
Now in their early 20s, the foursome got together at school when singer-guitarist Julie Dawson didn’t fancy performing solo in music class. After self-releasing a string of singles, they have now made their major-label debut album – in the studio where Oasis recorded Morning Glory. Madra (Irish for “dog”) doesn’t include the early flashes of brilliance of shimmeringly beautiful 2020 single Blue, but the band’s music is more potent now – a tide rather than a wash of sound.
