Glasgow Guardian Music Editor Evelyn Hylands speaks to The Mary Wallopers during their five night stint at the Barrowland Ballroom.
The Barrowlands stands historically as one of Glasgow’s most prominent musical venues and after being inducted into the hall of fame there, The Mary Wallopers have without a doubt made their mark. The band took over the venue for five nights, the longest run in the venue’s history. Each night was packed jumping, and as the band put it “downright disrespectful”. Glasgow Guardian’s Evelyn Hylands sat down with the band ahead of their sold-out Saturday night show to talk all things Glasgow, Trad and rowdy crowds.
The Barrowland Ballroom’s changing rooms ahead of a show are known for being rowdy, loud and not shy of a few pints. The Mary Wallopers were no exception to this, a crowded room full of laughter, many a can of Guinness and a few laptop dwellers trying ever so hard to concentrate it was clear that they were the perfect fit for a good night at ‘the barras’. The lively pair Charles Hendy and Andrew Hendy, brothers, describe Glasgow in some often colourful words:
EH: “So five nights in Glasgow is a lot, why do you want to be here for so long?”
CH: “Glasgow is deadly, we love Glasgow and we love the craic we have in Glasgow”
AH: “It reminds us of when we started out and we used to go into the roughest pub we could find in Dundalk and play ballads, the people aren’t coming out to just be quiet and respect us, that is what we like from a crowd”
The chat with the two was frequently interrupted by people coming in and out to tune instruments laying on the beat up sofas that had seen many interviews take place at the Barras before a show. Every single person got a hard time from the pair, as they jokingly mocked them for dampening the success they were trying to bring to the band.
EH: “Do you guys think that the style of your music is important and keeping that tradition in your music is important to you?”
CH: “I think what keeps it alive is that people are doing different things with it, different genres of music you listen to or enjoy will impact the music that you are playing. Do not be afraid of people telling you the music isn’t traditional enough, tradition isn’t a shackle around your neck, it evolves with you”
AH: “Tradition is meant to be changed and made more inclusive and exciting”
EH: “Do you think then this has helped you in reaching wider audiences, your ability to evolve?”
CH: “Ever since we started, accessibility was maybe our number one priority. We are here to shatter this illusion that musicians are creative geniuses, we are for everyone. We were shite when we started, and we are still shite”
EH: “Well its good to be self aware”
AH: “Johnny get her out! No we are only joking, we love our crowds, especially in the barras. It feels like it could be a tiny pub with the buzz and the energy it has, that is what has made it so fun to play in over the last week.”
EH: “Well, coming off the back of insulting you. I believe you spoke about being treated as a novelty act. Do you think that is following you around or has changed as you have grown?”
CH: “A wee bit, people don’t like us because we don’t take ourselves too seriously, because we are normal people”
AH: “We can do extraordinary things sometimes, but also rip the piss out [of] each other. I think its important and I think it is the most human thing “
CH: “It’s back [to those] things about not taking ourselves too seriously, we aren’t anything special or people that hold huge secrets. I hate seeing band photos where everyone is sulking and looks miserable. Have you ever worked on a building site? Because that is miserable, it’s shite!”
EH: “So what about looking to the future, do you have anyone on your watch list who people should look out for?”
AH: “Brogeal, of course, we heard you already spoke to them. Just mustard are great too”
CH: “There is so much class stuff out there at the moment”
Five sold-out nights at the Barrowland might look like a milestone, but The Mary Wallopers treat it less as an achievement than a continuation. Their refusal to define what it means to celebrate tradition, their insistence on accessibility, and their love for chaos place them comfortably within Glasgow’s iconic music scene, rather than above it. In a city that values energy and sincerity, the band’s presence at the Barras was well and truly appreciated by the Glasgow audience, and as many will know, that is no easy task. Chatting with the band gave a distinct sense of how down to earth they are in the face of what can only be considered major success. Their growth has come from their ability to stay true to themselves, and of course their distinct ability to have a bit of craic, even prior to playing a sold-out show. The band are set to support KNEECAP in London, in a show which is sure to be yet another roaring success.
Image Credit: NME
