But his friend and fellow guitarist Shane McCullagh has no doubt about Alan’s musical talent, commenting: “Alan could practise for 9 or 10 hours a day. He has a very good ear for music and is dedicated to his art. He makes himself better all the time through practice - he is a perfectionist.”

The proof of the pudding is in the eating and Shane McCullagh seems to be spot-on about his friend, as Alan, from Donore, Bagenalstown has recently landed himself a deal with an American record company named Fused Out which operates in Detroit.

This major breakthrough for the 26-year-old Bagenalstown guitarist came about when he had his CD with some 20 demo songs reviewed on the inter-net by Guitar 9 Records in America.

Alan says Guitar 9 features undiscovered guitar talent from around the world and, on the basis of the demo CD, they offered him a deal.

He has now been offered a month-long contract to play 17 theatres in Japan some time between June and November of this year.

Last Thursday, I met lead guitarist Alan, Shane, who is a 26-year-old bass guitarist from Kilcumney, Goresbridge and 17-year-old drummer Brian Walsh from Maple Drive, Bagenalstown.

The three musicians have come together over the past month to form a rock band but so far have not even got around to deciding on a name for the band.

Tonight (Wednesday) they will perform on-stage for the first time at The Music Club, otherwise Ryan’s of Friary Street, Kilkenny. The Music Club is a place where people of many diverse musical styles perform and is considered a real Mecca for music lovers of all kinds.

Alan, Shane and Brian will be joined tonight by two young Kilkenny guitarists Eric Gleeson and Eoghan Ledbetter, along with Declan Devine from Leighlinbridge who will be on keyboards.

Alan and Shane were classmates and friends at Presentation De La Salle College, Bagenalstown where Brian is a Leaving Certificate student at present. But Brian is also a teacher, giving drumming lessons at his home on week nights and at weekends at the Newbridge School of Music.

These are three young men who are very serious about their music, even if Shane and Brian are adamant that this music story centres firmly on Alan Lennon.

Alan took up the guitar about 10 years ago. He writes his own material and has done so for some six years.

Fused Out indicated their interest in Alan about a month ago and he says he is one of a number of unknown musicians the record company is promoting, in order to foster their musical talents and careers.

He needed the backing support of other musicians to go with him to Japan, so, in his own words, Alan had “to pick musicians that were as good as myself in their own right.” Hence Shane and Brian are also booked to make the Japanese trip.

Alan says that the trio are working on an album at the moment.

All Alan Lennon’s musical compositions are instrumental. “I build my numbers from a melody or a riff ” he explains.

Alan and Shane played the pub scene together in Bagenalstown, Carlow and Kilkenny, when Fifth Year students at Presentation De La Salle, going under the name ‘Moho Vodoo.’

Alan remembers: “I would play mostly my own original compositions but also some covers. We got a good reaction.”

Tonight’s performance in The Music Club will see the three Co. Carlow musicians testing out their material. Alan says: “It is like a warm-up before Japan.”

The lads would like anyone who wishes to hear them perform to simply come along tonight. They go on-stage for about an hour at 9.30 pm.

These are exciting times for Alan Lennon but, like many musicians, he is quite laid back about the whole thing. He says that he will see what happens when the Japanese experience is over and where that takes him.

But is does seem a likely priority for Alan, Shane and Brian to put their heads together and come up with a name for the band.

Anyone wishing to access Alan Lennon’s music on the internet can do so by logging on to ww.altheripper.moonfruit.co

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• Our picture shows, shows from left: Shane McCullagh, Alan Lennon and Brian Walsh.

 

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