Following the split of much loved West Corkian band Mannikin (634 MySpace friends isn't bad going), guitarist Brian Casey suddenly found he had a lot of time on his hands. He disappeared from the music scene for a while, writing songs in Spring 2008 to release "for the laugh".
The end result is his new musical project, Stone Throwing Youths. Maybe 'youth', the singular, would be more apt however as, so far, the Cork born, Dublin based student is alone in this venture.
He is, however, looking for other musicians to play gigs with (as well as gigs to play!), so any musicians interested in playing some alternative/indie/rock music should contact Casey, as this project has the potential to be massive.
As it is, not content to simply just write the songs and leave it at that, Casey decided to use his multi-instrumental talents to record the two demos on the band's MySpace page alone.
Casey’s two demos are different to the pop/indie songs produced by former band Mannikin. Drawing on influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Bright Eyes, Casey’s solo efforts are rhythmic, thought-provoking and, most notably, loud. Also, this project gives Casey the opportunity to be a lead vocalist, something not afforded to him in Mannikin.
He certainly has the voice for it anyway. His deep tones subtlety shaping lyrics suits the music being played perfectly, while the backing vocals (which he did himself) harmonise exquisitely with the main vocals.
The quality of the two recordings is impressive, especially considering the fact Casey recorded them entirely on his own. He played every instrument used in the songs.
Downside Down starts with a drum beat reminiscent of the beat which starts The Strokes song Razorblade and drags the listener in. This is then followed by a catchy guitar riff. This riff, along with the re-introduction of the drums, explodes into the lyrics and everything else falls into place.
Of the two songs, this is the catchier and, perhaps, ‘poppier’. I run the risk of Casey’s wrath here, as I don’t think ‘pop’ is a label he wishes to be tarnished with. Therefore, I must emphasise that the music in general isn’t pop, but that Downside Down is a catchy tune that could be a pop hit . It’s a song you can’t help bopping your head to.
Wasting Time displays a slower side to Casey’s music, yet also displays just how loud he can be too. Again, the lyrics are thought-provoking, with many references to Jesus (don’t worry, it’s not religious rock) that humanise him in a way the Catholic Church would never allow. The final line “I want to see the world but I’m wasting time” strikes a particular chord as Casey himself is blind.
The songs are tight and demonstrate Casey’s ability to play various instruments to perfection. He really is a one man band, and this alternative/indie/rock outfit are definitely worth checking out. Keep an eye out for the release of the Stone Throwing Youths' five track EP and for any upcoming gigs that may (hopefully) happen in the near future.
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