Echoes of Ireland: Music, Memories, and Mixtapes

Music, Memories, and Mixtapes - by Thea Newcomb @ Totally Content UKWhere did my fascination with the Emerald Isle even come from? I can’t quite pinpoint it. It could be from the framed print of a remote Irish cottage that hung on the wall of my small Californian bedroom...Calling to me like some kind of mystical beacon. Or maybe it’s the supposed 31% of Irishness that the Ancestry DNA test says I possess. Perhaps it’s from the first time I heard the new single from the Boomtown Rats' "I Don’t Like Mondays," on the local radio station.Whatever the case may be, U2 quickly became my favourite band in high school, and I was obsessed. I had a weakness for boys with typically Irish names. You know Desmond, Brendan, Seamus, that sort of thing.But while U2 kick-started my obsession, they weren’t the only Irish band to steal my heart. Hothouse Flowers, Something Happens, and most of all, A House, became my late teens soundtrack. And yes, I once showed up on frontman Dave Couse’s doorstep in 1989. (But to be fair, he did give me his address, so…)A House and the Blue LightI’d seen A House play with The Go-Betweens (RIP Grant McLennan) in Santa Clara or was it Palo Alto, I can’t quite remember, but the guys were kind enough to put me on the guest list for the next night’s gig in San Francisco. That show was a chance to hang out with the lads again, but the real highlight was my later trip to Dublin.I got to spend time with them on a few occasions during that visit. Once, Dave and Feargal took me to a local church and then high up into the Wicklow Mountains to the 300-year-old Blue Light Pub. A pub that would be name-checked in the Black Velvet Band’s cover of “Werewolves of London” a year later.On the drive down the hill from the pub, I remember spotting someone walking up the hill in a Bauhaus shirt and remarking, “Ohhh, Bauhaus.” Dave’s was impressed and a little shocked that I even knew who they were. His impression was that the average American had no musical taste or knowledge. He’s probably not altogether wrong but I’ve always loved music from the UK and Ireland.That comment has always stuck with me. The other thing he said that’s seared into my memory was that I could “talk the hind legs off a donkey,” which, though probably also true, stung and stunned me to silence—at least momentarily.I spent a fair amount of time with bassist Martin during that trip. Of all the band members, he was the one I knew best, thanks to several painfully expensive transatlantic phone calls. When we met up again in person, he gifted me a few of his own Irish mixtapes. They’re treasured by me to this day. Thanks, Martin.I suspect that visit to Dublin may have pushed me into the “uberfan” category. It seemed to put me on some kind of band blacklist because, after that, the communication grew colder. But despite that, I kept listening to A House for years. And even now, if I hear an A House song, I can sing every word. It always sparks beautiful memories of that joyful journey.Sadly, some of my most cherished A House singles were among the 150 records stolen from me during the pandemic. Including my prized “Heart Happy” 12" that was autographed by the band and something I’ll never be able to replace.Setanta Records and College RadioMy 1989 trip also introduced me to the brilliance of Setanta Records. I remember picking up my first Setanta single, Power of Dreams’ “A Little Piece of God” in London. Thankfully, that one wasn’t stolen. But if it had been, I just checked Discogs and it’s there for 95p plus a fiver for shipping, so there’s that. My copy of the 12" single is priceless.That discovery led me to start corresponding with the guys at Setanta and they ended up sending me records by acts like Into Paradise, The Divine Comedy, and The Frank and Walters. I began my stint in college radio, those acts became part of my regular playlist.The name of my radio show? “Britain and Beyond,” naturally. It was a show I’d later reprise at Q96, my first job in commercial radio, at Q96, when I moved to Scotland in 1992.Still Chasing the Irish Soundtrack More than three decades later, my love for Irish music hasn’t faded. I’ve done radio shows dedicated to Irish bands, interviewed many, and even made new Mixcloud mixes celebrating Ireland.Speaking of which, in honour of St. Patrick’s Day, I compiled a one-hour mix called Irish Heartbeats yesterday. It’s a “heart on my sleeve” set of love songs, capturing a whirlwind of emotions ranging from unconditional love to unrequited love, lost love, and even a glimmer of optimism for the future.Listen to this Irish Mix for FREE on Mixcloud NowAt some point this year, I hope to get back to Dublin and beyond—not just passing through the airport on my way to California like I’ll be doing soon. There are so many places I’d like to explore and people I’d love to connect or reconnect with.And you…?What about you? What are your thoughts about Ireland? Who are some of your favourite Irish singers, songwriters, and bands? Let’s see if I know them or if they’re someone I’ve yet to discover. To be fair, my knowledge of Irish acts from the 2000s onward is pretty patchy. But I did just see Snow Patrol a few weeks ago, and that was pretty ace! Gosh, I love that Lightbody!Well, that’s all for now. Until next time, I’m Thea, saying “See Ya.” Get full access to Totally Content UK at totallycontentuk.substack.com/subscribe