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R.S.A.G.

Jeremy Hickey (also known as Rarely Seen Above Ground—abbreviated as R.S.A.G.—) is an Irish multi-instrumentalist from Kilkenny. Following a performance at Electric Picnic in 2008, he appeared on the television series Other Voices. The double album Organic Sampler received a Choice Music Prize nomination for Irish Album of the Year 2008 in 2009. Hickey later appeared on the interactive music television programme The Raw Sessions, reaching the final where he lost to The Infomatics. He has performed at several music festivals, including Castlepalooza, Electric Picnic and Oxegen and is rumoured to be "one of the most innovative and astonishing Irish musicians around".[2] He came thirteenth in a list of "The 50 Best Irish Acts Right Now" published by The Irish Times in April 2009.[4]

Style

Hickey is influenced by bands such as Joy Division and Talking Heads.[2] As R.S.A.G., he is a solo drummer performer but alongside a virtual band who are projected onto a screen in a manner which has been likened to Gorillaz.[2][5] The guitarist and bassist appear on screen in the background, although they are controlled by Hickey himself.[6] He also loves big hairy gee's, the most influential gee Hickey has ever seen was Mary Harneys. mmmmmm mary harneys gee!

Career

Hickey began his musical career as the drummer in a little known Kilkenny band called Blue Ghost.[2][3] He headlined the Body and Soul Area at Electric Picnic 2008.[7]

Hickey's debut album as R.S.A.G., Organic Sampler which was launched in 2008, had a bonus disc of "mostly instrumental doodles" which was effectively an album Hickey had previously released.[8][2] Analogue commented that the best part of the album featured Hickey's "heavy bass and dominant percussion [...] nicely complimented by his sometimes guttural voice".[8] entertainment.ie gave the album four out of five stars, saying it was an "extraordinary" and "wondrous debut album" and remarking that "there's a magic about Organic Sampler that means every listen will unearth new surprises".[2] Jim Carroll, writing in The Irish Times, said Organic Sampler was "such a wow", its songs were "compelling, dramatic and exciting" and that the artist's "sense of scale and ambition is remarkable" and "his grooves are extraordinary".[3] Una Mullally, writing in the Sunday Tribune, also gave Organic Sampler four out of five stars and remarked on the "mazes of bass jams, resourceful rhythms and malleable vocals [which] create an intriguing, occasionally creepy, whirlpool of sound".[5] R.S.A.G. appeared on the television series Other Voices.[7]

R.S.A.G. appeared on The Raw Sessions, an interactive music television programme broadcast on RTÉ Two in 2009. Hickey described the show as “great thing”[9] and made his debut on the first episode which was broadcast on 12 May 2009. R.S.A.G. recorded "All Along That Road", whilst Sweet Jane who also appeared in that episode, recorded "Black Eyes", both at Sun Studios.[10][11] R.S.A.G. won the first heat and a prize of recording an original track at Grouse Lodge, County Westmeath.[12] He next appeared in the sixth episode of the series which was broadcast on 16 June 2009.[13] He recorded the track "Movement" whilst Dirty Epics recorded "White Out", both with producers Leo Pearson and Ken McHugh at Grouse Lodge.[13] Both acts had eighteen hours to record an original song.[14] The three acts with the most votes (and downloads) progressed to the final.[15] The final was recorded live at the Button Factory music venue in Dublin on 26 June 2009,[16][15][9] before being broadcast on 30 June 2009.[9][17] It featured performances from the top three artists; Dirty Epics, The Infomatics and R.S.A.G.[18] The winner, The Infomatics, was announced on 4 July 2009.[19][20][21][20]

R.S.A.G. performed on the Red Bull Music Academy Stage at Oxegen 2009,[22] arriving on stage half an hour late.[23] Jim Carroll called the performance "a robust, beaty and meaty fare, a fabulous mash-up from the Marble City which is one part hardcore-punk to three parts heavyweight funk".[6] He also performed at Castlepalooza several weeks later.[24][25] He is currently working on a new album.[23]

Awards

Organic Sampler received a Choice Music Prize nomination for the Irish Album of the Year 2008 on 14 January 2009.[26][1][27][28] The award was won by Jape for the album Ritual on 4 March 2009.[29][30][31][32][33][34] R.S.A.G. was amongst six of the nominees who performed during the live ceremony in Vicar Street, Dublin.[35]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 Organic Sampler Irish Album of the Year 2008 Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b "Choice Music Prize - Shortlist Announced". IMRO. 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "R.S.A.G. - Organic Sampler". entertainment.ie. 2008-11-10. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  3. ^ a b c "Well grounded". The Irish Times. 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2009-08-05. You may well wonder why a solo project from the former drummer with Kilkenny band Blue Ghost demands your attention. [...] There are many elements which make Organic Sampler such a wow. Hickey's sense of scale and ambition is remarkable, and each track leaps out of its skin because the producer won't settle for the mundane. [...] His grooves are extraordinary, a heavyweight percussive storm conducted by the lightest and finest of touches. [...] Put all this together and you have tunes that are compelling, dramatic and exciting. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "The next 50 bands". The Irish Times. 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2009-08-06. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b "Rock and Pop". Sunday Tribune. 2008-09-28. Retrieved 2009-08-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Oxegen - RSAG, Friendly Fires, Lady Gaga". The Irish Times. 2009-07-12. Retrieved 2009-08-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b "R.S.A.G". Other Voices. Retrieved 2009-08-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ a b "R.S.A.G. - Organic Sampler". Analogue. 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2009-08-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ a b c "Raw talent ready for final". The Irish Times. 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2009-08-01. Jeremy Hickey of RSAG told The Ticket that participating in the series has been a "great thing". The final will be aired on RTÉ2 on June 30th. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Sony Ericsson Raw Sessions now underway". Hot Press. 2009-05-13. Retrieved 2009-08-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "Sony Ericsson Raw Sessions: catch it this weekend". Hot Press. 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2009-08-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ "R.S.A.G. win first Sony Ericsson Raw Sessions heat". Hot Press. 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2009-08-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ a b "Raw Sessions: Who will go through to the final?". Hot Press. 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2009-08-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "Another chance to catch Raw Sessions tomorrow night". Hot Press. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-08-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ a b "Raw Sessions: you decide who makes the final!". Hot Press. 2009-06-24. Retrieved 2009-08-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "Tonight: Raw Sessions acts prepare for final". Hot Press. 2009-06-23. Retrieved 2009-08-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ "Raw Sessions: The final gig tonight!". Hot Press. 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2009-08-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ "Catch the Raw Sessions live final tonight!". Hot Press. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2009-08-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ "Raw Sessions: The winner will be announced tomorrow night". Hot Press. 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2009-08-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ a b "Raw Sessions... The results are in!". Hot Press. 2009-07-05. Retrieved 2009-08-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ "Infomatics win The Raw Sessions". RTÉ. 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
  22. ^ "Oxegen 09: Oxegen line-up". Irish Independent. 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2009-07-03. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ a b "Oxegen Sunday – The Ting Tings, That Petrol Emotion, R.S.A.G." State. 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2009-07-03. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ "Castle Palooza". Irish Independent. 2009-07-29. Retrieved 2009-08-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ "Inside Track: Kings of the Castle". Hot Press. 2009-07-30. Retrieved 2009-08-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ "Choice Music Prize Shortlist". Hot Press. 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2009-01-16. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ "Choice Music nominees announced". RTÉ. 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  28. ^ Eoin Butler (2009-01-15). "Choice script upset by inclusion of . . . The Script". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2009-08-16. Other acts nominated were Cork songwriter Mick Flannery, Dublin-based rock outfit Halfset and electronica maverick Jape, while Messiah J The Expert, Oppenheimer and R.S.A.G. complete the list. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ "Jape album wins Choice Music Prize". RTÉ. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  30. ^ "Dublin musician Jape wins Choice Music Prize". Irish Examiner. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-03-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ "Dublin musician Jape wins Choice Music Prize". Irish Independent. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-03-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ "Jolly Jape admits he's surprised to scoop Choice gong". Irish Independent. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-03-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ "Dublin band Jape wins overall prize at Choice Music awards". The Irish Times. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-03-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ "Jape the surprise choice as Ritual takes the plaudits". The Irish Times. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-03-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ "UPDATED: Jape wins 2009 Choice Music Price". Hot Press. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-03-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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