Irish artist Eoin Shannon is back with something special. His new album Every Drunk’s Gotta Story dropped on February 27, and it’s a concept album that pulls you straight into the quiet, mysterious atmosphere of a late-night bar. Across twelve captivating tracks, Shannon tells different stories about the people sitting around, each one dealing with their own emotions, struggles, and hidden hopes.
The album beautifully blends blues, folk rock, and modern pop while weaving in touches of soul and jazz. Shannon writes every single lyric himself, giving each song its own distinct voice and personality. Tracks like “Bartender” and “Pull Up a Stool” explore those warm, honest moments between a bartender and customers seeking comfort. Meanwhile, “Last Call for the Brokenhearted” captures someone quietly holding onto hope that life might finally turn around.
A talented crew of musicians brings these stories to vibrant life, including Andy Warner, Matias Corti Mizrahi, Artem Litovchenko, Tom Savage, Craig John, Andrei Sorokin, Hugo Lee, and Sarah Edgecombe. Backing vocalists and producers add even more depth and texture to the sound.
With powerful storytelling and rich musical layers, Every Drunk’s Gotta Story feels like spending a night listening to genuine, heartfelt stories in your favorite neighborhood bar. It’s thoughtful, emotional, and completely engaging from start to finish.
Listen to Every Drunk’s Gotta Story below
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Eoin, Every Drunk’s Gotta Story dropped February 27th and it’s already pulling listeners into a smoky bar. What sparked this concept album set in a lounge bar at the dead of night?
My last album Highs and Lows was a powerful loud Blues,Gospel, Rock N Roll type album. I am a big fan of the Blues, Gospel, Rock N Roll, Soul and Jazz.
I wanted to focus more on Soul and Jazz for this album. It all just started coming together unknowingly to myself, until one day I listened back to certain songs and I could almost smell that dark, dim lit atmosphere. See the bartender in songs like Pull Up A Chair. It was then I realized I had a song called bartender but it was a folk song, I turned it into a soulful number thanks to “Craig John” Piano and Strings “Hugo Lee” on saxaphone and the backing vocals from “Connie Rout”
From Cork to the world – how do haunting vocals and storytelling shine through on tracks like “Bartender” and “Pull Up a Stool”?
Pull up a stool was meant to be a song inspired by Damien Rice, something like Blower’s Daughter, I just wanted to make it emotional and romantic. A nice Piano type romantic song.
Listening back I could see the bartender being the amazing empathetic host and I was blown away, This is the bartender’s song I thought to myself, it still has that romantic emotional feel to it that I love. And I wanted to sing it slow and give that emotional sound and Theia adds such emotional backing vocals that really make it haunting. Craig John is so very talented and a real genius the music is just perfect.
Bartender: with the help of Craig John again I was able to create such a wonderful piece and with the vocals of Connie Rout it was sounding so haunting and beautiful. There was a small part of the song where it goes quiet a bit for it to breath and I said what about a sax solo and when I heard it back for the first time it knocked me, I didn’t expect it to work that well. Hugo Lee just added that final piece and I really love it! As a Jazz fan I was stunned.
You drew from Tom Waits, Frank Sinatra, Mick Flannery, and Bing Crosby. Which legend’s vibe shows up strongest in this barroom tale?
I think I can hear the Tom Waits influence a lot , I listen to Tom now and again, I can hear his early stuff, and later songs in this Album. Like Puppetmaster is something he would have created I feel, but he would have made it more wonderful and Chaotic like God’s away on Business. Same with Game Night in Hell. Let’s get the Hell Outta Town could be a Tom influence, Jezebel and There’s A Storm Coming have a Virgina Avenue and Little Trip To Heaven vibe.
Standout “Bartender” feels like a cozy chat with your host. You say it’s about a customer feeling at home – what’s the story behind giving it such warmth?
I wanted it to feel like your at home, I always want to create a human connection with the music and the listener, I think this was the perfect opportunity.
We have all been there at the bar and it feels like you’re at home by the fire maybe it’s the hot whiskey or the Irish coffee that beautiful creamy pint. Knowing that if you want another it’s going to be just as good as before, as this person behind the bar knows what they are doing. They also don’t mind bending the ear. The best host of any establishment is the Bartender.
With the help of Craig John, Hugo Lee and Connie Rout, it gives that cozy vibe and I feel like this song raises a huge glass to the bartender.
Pull Up a Stool” started as a love song but became bartender empathy. That twist is gold – how did those characters reveal themselves while writing?
It didn’t happen during the process it happened after. The song was originally going to be called Sit Down Beside Me Now. I listened back a few times to know if it comes across the way I wanted it too.
Then one day I could imagine the bartender chatting warmly to a customer while drying a glass with a warm smile. I had to think long and hard of how I could make this come across more to the listener. Eventually I got it and changed the name to Pull Up A Stool.
Pour Me Some Unconditional Love” flips into addiction struggles. How tough was it turning what felt like romance into something so raw and real?
Not very tough at all, I prefer that raw and real feeling in the music, I have nice romantic songs I have written and it matters more for a song to fit the overall vibe that I wanted to betray. It’s one of my personal favourite songs, it reminds me of Leonard Cohen type poetry at times and I just love the wonderful work done by the musician Sarah Edgecombe and the amazing vocals by Gaby Duboisjoli.
Incredible lineup – Andy Warner, Matias Corti Mizrahi, Artem Litovchenko, and more, plus killer backing vocals. How did they breathe life into your lyrics?
I am a massive fan of everyone I work with, they really gave a wonderful life to each song and just such top talent. I was just a painter with ideas and a brush , they were the amazing bright soulful colours that helped such a wonderful creation come to life.
Vocals at home, but top session players worldwide. What made that unique process so special, and how did it elevate the end product?
It was such an easy process thanks to these wonderful talented people. I think my raw vocals made the process feel more real and human.
From affairs and gamblers to “Last Call for the Brokenhearted” prayers – if this album’s a movie, who’s your favorite bar character and why?
Maybe The Puppetmaster I love a good villain. He comes across as the Joker from the Batman with that Evil taunting laugh. Makes you think you just need that next pint, another cigarette, another roll of the dice or another dance with lust and your life will get better but it just gets worse and you found yourself in that vicious washing machine cycle stealing all your change as it spits you out.
You call it a massive achievement hearing it all gel together. What’s next – live shows bringing this lounge to life, or more storyteller magic?
I hope to create more storytelling magic, it might not be in the same lane as this album. Something maybe more folky and atmosphereic like the first album Hello Forever
