From the heart of Cavan, a county more known for its lakes and rolling hills than for its sonic belligerence, comes a sound that is as raw and unforgiving as the Irish soil itself.
Mudd Shovel, a trio of seasoned musicians, has unleashed their debut album, “Little White Hair,” and it is a testament to the enduring power of unfiltered, unapologetic rock and roll.
The album, which drops on November 28th, is a nine-track collection of stories and sounds that are at once deeply personal and universally resonant.
The band, composed of Shawn Hicks on guitar and vocals, Garreth Tackney on bass and production, and David Mulligan on drums, has a chemistry that feels less like a collaboration and more like a combustion.
Hicks’ guitar work is a masterclass in controlled chaos, his riffs snarling and spitting with a life of their own. Tackney, a former member of Shouting at Planes, lays down a low-end foundation that is both a bedrock and a battering ram.
And Mulligan, with a background that straddles jazz and rock, provides a rhythmic heartbeat that is as intricate as it is intense.
“Little White Hair” is an album that wears its influences on its sleeve, but it is by no means a carbon copy of what has come before.
There are echoes of grunge’s glorious gloom, post-punk’s angular angst, and modern alt-rock’s melodic muscle. But what Mudd Shovel has created is something that is uniquely their own, a sound that is as fresh as it is familiar.
“Over the Line,” a riff-fuelled anthem that celebrates the sweet taste of victory. It’s a song that feels like a clenched fist in the air, a defiant roar against the odds.
From there, the album takes a turn into darker, more introspective territory. “Third Time Today” is a haunting track rooted in Irish folklore, a collision of ancient myths and modern anxieties.
“Deep Fried Soul” is a brutally honest look at addiction, a song that pulls no punches in its depiction of the absurd and the agonizing.
One of the album’s standout tracks is the title track, “Little White Hair.” It’s a song about the quiet horror of isolation, the slow unravelling of the self when the only person you have to talk to is the one staring back at you from the mirror.
It’s a song that is both beautiful and brutal, a perfect encapsulation of the album’s central themes.
But “Little White Hair” is not all doom and gloom. There are moments of levity and even playfulness. “Pity Party” is a sharp-tongued dismissal of emotional vampires, a song that will have you nodding in agreement and tapping your foot in time.
And “Cupid Sparrow” is a dance-rock number that captures the chaotic energy of falling back into old, bad habits.
The album closes with “No Further,” a song about the painful process of outgrowing people and places. It’s a song that is filled with a sense of melancholy, but also a sense of hope. It’s a recognition that sometimes, the only way to move forward is to leave something behind.
“Little White Hair” is an album that is as much a feeling as it is a collection of songs. It’s the feeling of the cold, damp air on your face on a winter’s night. It’s the feeling of the last swallow of whiskey burning its way down your throat. It’s the feeling of being alive, in all of its messy, complicated glory.
Mudd Shovel is a band that is not afraid to get its hands dirty. They are not afraid to dig deep into the muck and mire of the human experience and come up with something that is both beautiful and true.
“Little White Hair” is a stunning debut from a band that is sure to make a lot of noise in the years to come.
To celebrate the release of the album, Mudd Shovel will be playing a live launch show on December 27th at Benny’s Live Venue in Daly’s Bar, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan. If you’re a fan of honest, uncompromising rock and roll, this is a show you won’t want to miss.
The production on “Little White Hair,” handled in part by the band’s own Garreth Tackney and also by Martin Quinn at JAM Studios and Devilla Sounds, deserves special mention.
It strikes a delicate balance, capturing the raw, live energy of the band while still allowing each instrument to have its own space to breathe and be heard.
The result is a sound that is both polished and powerful, a testament to the band’s clear and uncompromising vision for their music.
