Danny O'Reilly From The Coronas Under The Spot Light

1.How old were you when you started playing the guitar?

I started playing guitar when I was about 12 or 13, I remember getting lessons with my older brother and my cousin and being frustrated because they were so much better than me. I wanted to give up but my mother made me keep it up. I thanked her 6 years later in our song “Temporary Release”. My life would have been so different if she had have let me give it up

2. Did you teach yourself?  Do you play any other instruments?

No I was lucky enough to get lessons with one of Ireland’s greatest guitarists, Bill Shanley. He’s now playing with Ray Davies of the Kinks! I play a bit of piano as well, not very well, just the basics but it’s nice to have the option for a change.

2. Did you always want to be a musician?

I think deep down I knew that I always did but I never admitted it to anyone or even myself until we started taking it a bit more seriously and started releasing stuff.

3. Who are your main influences?

The Beatles, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, The Frames, Fleetwood Mac and hundreds more

4. Was there ever a time when you thought this is not going to work?

There was many times when we were younger when we played gigs to less than 5 people in the middle of nowhere and it was costing us money but we’ve been lucky enough since we started releasing music that things have steadily progressed for us. Even when things haven’t gone according to plan we always try to see the positives, however small they may be!

5. How hard is it to record and release a first album?

Very hard, the important thing is to believe in your songs and your abilities. And hopefully have people around you (managers, producers, record companies, friends) who believe in you too.

6. Is it then even harder to go back and do it all over again for the second album or did you have songs ready and waiting for that?

We were lucky enough that we recorded Heroes or Ghosts early in our careers so we had the guts of two years to write and work on new material. We really were ready to hit the studio and record the album that we knew we had in us.

7. Is there anyone musician or other that you aspire to be like?

I really admire how Radiohead have progressed over the years and they’ve done everything on their own terms. I also admire how, even though they’re one of the biggest bands in the world, the always manage to keep their private lives private and never buy in to the whole celebrity thing.

8. What is life like on the road?  Is it really all fun and games?

We’re lucky that we all get on really well, the band and our little crew of manager, engineer and techie so that makes it so much easier. It is an amazing buzz to be able to gig in different cities every night and have people sing your songs back to you, nothing compares to that.

9. If you were to do it all over again would you change anything?

Not a thing

10. How important are live shows in todays music scene?

Essential. To us it’s our main source of work. Nowadays there’s not much money to be made from CD sales with illegal downloading and the cost of recording so without the live shows we couldn’t survive.

11. Are there any bands that you would like to support?

Loads…and loads. Would love to play with The Script again, they’re lovely guys and amazing songwriters. They deserve all the success they’ve had….and they’re great lads to have a few pints with!

12. What was the best show you ever played and why?

The gig in the Olympia last December was one of the best. We couldn’t believe it was sold out. I’d gone to many gigs there myself growing up. I remember going to see the Frames when I was about 18 and thought how cool it would be to play there. At that stage we had about 10 people coming to each gig and Dave hadn’t even joined the band yet! It was so surreal to headline such an amazing venue. Cant wait to get back there this December.

13. Do you still get nervous before you play?

Yeah but not too much. I get nervous when we don’t soundcheck, eg at a festival like Oxegen but they always end up being the best gigs.

14. How good do your relationships have to be with your fellow band mates before going on tour?

For us it’s essential that everyone gets on when we’re on tour. Band and crew included. It’s good that we’re all so close so if anyone’s acting like a diva or being difficult there’s 7 other people there that know them well enough to tell them to cop the fuck on!

15. How do you write a song?  Music first, words first, melody???

It’s different every time. Sometimes it’s the lyrics first or a melody or just chords, there’s no formula, well not that I know of anyway.

16. Do you have a favourite song to perform live?

San Diego is always great to play live or Heroes or Ghosts, anything that the crowd sing back to you. At the moment I’m loving playing All the Luck in the World. It’s great to see the reaction on the crowd’s faces when the 2^nd half kicks in

Other for fun:

1. Do you drink Corona?

Nope!

2. Have you ever jumped out of a plane?

Yes actually in New Zealand last summer, I did a sky dive and a bunji which was weird because I don’t even like rollercoasters. I’m too scared to go on the rides in funderland!

3. Whats your biggest fear?

I have a weird phobia of fungus and things that are gone off.

4. Are you a winter or summer man?

Winter

5. Ice pop or ice cream?

Ice pop

6. First album?

The Cranberries – No Need to Argue, great album

7. First gig?

Slane with REM in the mid 90’s

8. Last gig?

Dead Cat Bounce last week in the Sugar Club. They’re an amazing comedy foursome