Boss Volenti
Bossa beat: When bands audition drummers, they usually just need to know a) can he change a light bulb, b) does he know when to come in, and c) can he keep the beat without having it punched into him more than once? When the members of Boss Volenti recruited drummer Graham Hopkins into their ranks, however, they didn't need to see his CV. As a former member of Northern Irish trio Therapy? and a past member of Kilkenny metalheads My Little Funhouse, Hopkins has enough experience for ten drummers, and enough skill to drive the heaviest of musical vehicles. Luckily, though, the other three - Dan O'Connor, Laura Mackey and Rob Daly - are confident and capable enough to hold their own in front of their celebrity sticksman.
Volenteer: Boss Volenti got together in 2003 when guitarist Dan met bassist Rob and the pair decided to put together a straight-up, no messin', kick-ass, funked-up rock 'n' roll band, driven by such influences as The Clash, Thin Lizzy. Prince and Marvin Gaye. Dan had studied in guitar school with Laura, so he asked her to join up. All they needed was a drummer, but somehow they couldn't locate the right one for them. What they didn't know was that their ideal drummer had found them, and was ready to join up in a heartbeat.
In therapy: Dublin-born Graham Hopkins was brought up in Clane, Co Kildare, and started playing drums at seven, encouraged by his dad Des, who was also a drummer. In 1993, when he was barely out of school, Graham joined Kilkenny band My Little Funhouse, who had just been signed to Geffen Records and were being touted as a perfect blend of Nirvana and Guns N' Roses. They released their debut album, Standunder, moved to LA, and supported their heroes G N'R on tour. The rock 'n' rollercoaster quickly ground to a halt, however, and MLF were consigned to a footnote in Irish rock history. Meanwhile, NI rockers Therapy? needed a new drummer, and so Graham found himself powering the punk-metal barrage of such tunes as Screamager, Teethgrinder and Going Nowhere.
Boss peddle: Graham quit Therapy? in 2002 and gave his bleeding ears a break by joining up with Tipperary indie-folk chanteuse Gemma Hayes. He toured with Gemma for more than a year, playing on her Mercury Music Prize-nominated debut, Night on my Side, then formed his own band, Halite, before getting wind of Boss Volenti and dropping by their reheasal studio. The band released their debut single, Deeper than Deep, in February; their new single, Ain't No Use, is out next Friday, and the debut album is due out in September. Boss Volenti are currently on the road supporting Republic of Loose and headlining such venues as Dolan's in Limerick and Crawdaddy in Dublin (see rock/pop listings).
