Luggage was an indie rock-pop band based in Dublin, Ireland. Founded in the very early nineties the group featured Barry O'Mahony [Vocals], John Keely (bass) replaced by Rachel Tighe [Bass Guitar], Joe Fahey [Guitar], Cathal O'Reilly [Drums] James Eadie [Keyboards] contributed to the Comical Life E.P. produced by his bandmate in The Idiots Brian Mooney. Rachel and James had previously been members of acclaimed band, Into Paradise. James had also performed with Amusement.
The band released a pair of critically acclaimed EPs. Both collections were released in 1995 on Blunt Records.
The Meantime EP came first and featured ''Starsigns And Sportscars', ''Here Come The Leftover', 'Proud Owners' and 'Who's To Know'. The second Luggage EP, 'Comical Life' followed shortly afterwards. It too contained 4 tracks - 'Show Me Around', 'About Now', 'Comical Life' and 'Last Night'. There were to be no more Luggage releases after these two EPs until an archive release in 2019. However, in December 1995, the band recorded a session with renowned BBC DJ John Peel. The Session included 'Magic Bag', 'Space Of A Day', 'White Wheels' and 'Beauty Spot'.
In 1996 the band contributed the track 'Chicken Lightning' to the now legendary 'Zip Your Boots Up For The Showbands' compilation which also included material from the likes of Jubilee Allstars, Pet Lamb and Sack.
Interviews with The Irish Times and a support slot with Pulp seemed set to launch the band to the next level and an album was recorded but never saw the light of day.
The band continued into the 2000s but never regained the impetus and finally called it a day.
A number of tracks were recorded for a mooted album but it never saw the light of day and the band finally petered out in the early 2000's, playing a final gig in The Earl Grattan in 2008.
In 2012, Barry emerged as part of Saturday Captains along with Brendan Tallon from The Coletranes / Revelino.
In 2019 an E.P. of four songs recorded for their mooted album were released digitally by Blue Potato Records. The songs are Chicken Lightning; Everybody Back At Home Sends Their Love; Space of a Day and You Can Never Go Back Home. It is available on Bandcamp and streaming services.
Links to Peel[]
Peel first played Luggage on his radio programme in October 1995 via their debut single, 'Meantime EP'. A follow up single was also played during that year and a session recorded for his programme in December 1995, which got first broadcast in January 1996. After that, the band never gained further airplay on his shows.
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1995-12-10. First Broadcast: 13 January 1996
- Magic Bag / Space Of A Day / White Wheels / Beauty Spot
Other Shows Played[]
- 1995
- 14 October 1995: Leftovers (7" - Meantime EP) Blunt
- 20 October 1995: Proud Owners Of Pets (7 inch – Meantime EP) Blunt
- 22 October 1995 (BFBS): 'Here Come The Leftover (7"-Meantime)' (Blunt)
- 10 November 1995: Here Come The Leftover (EP - Meantime) Blunt
- 18 November 1995: Show Me Around (EP - Comical Life) Blunt
- 25 November 1995 (BFBS): 'Show Me Around (7"-Comical Life EP)' (Blunt)
- 01 December 1995: 'Last Light (EP-Comical Life)' (Blunt)
- 05 December 1995 (Radio Mafia): Last Light (7" - Comical Life), Blunt
- 09 December 1995 (BFBS): 'Last Light (CDS-Comical Life EP)' (Blunt)
- 18 December 1995 (BBC World Service): Last Light (7" - Comical Life EP) Blunt
- 1996
- 12 January 1996: 'Last Light (7"-Comical Life EP)' (Blunt)