We Banjo 3 is an Irish-Americana fusion band that is reviving the banjo’s
opulent heritage. The group consists of two sets of brothers: Enda Scahill on banjo, mandolin, and tenor guitar and Fergal Scahill on fiddle, guitar, and bodhrán;
and Martin Howley on banjo, mandolin, and tenor
guitar and David Howley on banjo, vocals, and guitar.
We Banjo 3 uses avant-garde arrangements, ancestral
melodies, and technical virtuosity to mix contemporary bluegrass with old-timey
Irish folk music.
Growing up in
Galway, Ireland, the Scahill and Howley
brothers were introduced to traditional Irish music at young ages, and
immediately sensed a strong musical chemistry upon meeting each other in
school. After playing together in various groups, We Banjo 3 officially formed
in 2007. Originally there were three members: Enda Scahill,
Martin Howley, and David Howley;
but they quickly added Fergal when the music inevitably started gaining
momentum. By that point, the name “We Banjo 3” had enough clout that
they decided to keep it.
Up until six months
ago, We Banjo 3 was still self-managed, putting in countless hours and
sleepless nights of work and travel to get to its current level of success.
When asked what outside influences might surprise the band’s audience, David Howley admits that he’s always been influenced by the late Chris
Cornell’s singing: “Every word told a story,” Howley
says. “I wanted to feel that power.” In addition, his dad would always
tell him, “Music is for your soul,” words of solidarity that forever
validated his passion.
The positive energy
is palpable in We Banjo 3’s live performances. Its newest album,
“Haven,” is meant to provide a sonic safe haven for those struggling
with mental health issues: $2 per purchase of the single, “Don’t Let Me
Down,” goes toward the Pieta House Suicide Prevention Charity, an
organization in Ireland that provides people with a safe environment to get
help for their mental well-being.
We Banjo 3 is on a musical mission to spread a message of hope and
inspiration for all. What follows is an edited transcript of a recent interview
with lead vocalist David Howley.
CITY: What has been your
greatest obstacle as a band?
David Howley: Not to be emotionally invested to the point of failure. Bringing a fully
written song to the group – tearing it apart and building it back up again – can
be brutal. It’s easier to come in with five lines and some chords to allow room
for the others to do something with it.
Do you have any
special pre-show rituals?
We’ll sing a chorus
or two a cappella to get our sounds locked in. And we drink an immense amount
of coffee. We’re always searching for the places with the best coffee in every
city we visit. Seriously. If anyone wants to send us
suggestions for where to find the best quality coffee in Rochester, they will
receive a free hug after the show from a sweaty Irishman.
Also, our engineer
Frank will come into the green room before every show and shake each of our
hands to wish us a great gig. He’s never missed a single show in the three years
he’s been working with us.
How do two sets
of brothers keep from butting heads when working and touring together?
We don’t fight, but
we argue sometimes. While we do butt heads, it’s always about a difference in
opinion rather than a difference in direction. We are all striving for the same
thing. It’s just a difference of how to go about it. We’re some of the most
stereotypical Irishmen you could meet, and we all get very passionate about
what we’re doing.
What is your
mission going forward as a band?
To
bring awareness of mental health through a positive lens.
Is there anything
else you’d like people to know about We Banjo 3?
Whether you’re a
longtime fan or have never heard of us before, we personally promise that you
will leave with a smile on your face. We never got up on stage with the
intention to wow people. We just really love what we do, and it makes us so
happy to have someone come up to us after a show and say we’ve made a
difference in their lives, or that our music brightened up their day.
This article appears in Jan 23-29, 2019.
