R.S.A.G.

Last updated • 5 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

R.S.A.G.
Birth nameJeremy Michael Hickey
Also known asRarely Seen Above Ground (R.S.A.G.)
Origin Kilkenny, Ireland
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsDrums, vocals, bass, guitar, synths, percussion
Years active2007–present
Labels Reckless Records [1]

Jeremy Hickey (also known as Rarely Seen Above Ground—abbreviated as R.S.A.G.—) is an Irish multi-instrumentalist and producer from Kilkenny. He has released four albums and one EP. Rarely Seen Above Ground (2007) Organic Sampler (2008) Be It Right Or Wrong (2010)Rotate EP (2013) and Chroma (2020).

Contents

R.S.A.G released his debut double album Organic Sampler which received a Choice Music Prize nomination for Irish Album of the Year 2008 along with a 5 star review from the Irish Times. His follow up "Be It Right Or Wrong" was also received with critical acclaimed and earned him 5 stars in the RTE ten magazine. 2013's "Rotate EP" was named as one Nialler 9's top 10 EP's that year. His latest album "Chroma" which is hailed as his finest piece of work to date was released on 29 May. The Irish Times calling it 'One of the best Irish albums of 2020'. His live show has been a staple of the Irish Festival scene for years showcasing his talent as a live performer. He has performed at several festivals, including Castlepalooza, Electric Picnic and Body & Soul and is rumoured to be "one of the most innovative and astonishing Irish musicians around" Entertainment.ie

[2]

Style

Hickey is influenced by bands such as Joy Division, Talking Heads, Primal Scream, Jon Hopkins and Tony Allen. [3] 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. [3] [4] Jeremy Hickey appears as the guitarist and bassist on screen in the background, although they are controlled by another Kilkenny man, Paul Mahon. [5]

Career

Hickey began his musical career as the drummer in a Kilkenny band called Blue Ghost. [3] [6] He headlined the Body and Soul Area at Electric Picnic 2008, 2009, 2013. [7]

Other Irish Festivals: Oxegen, Vantastival x2, Body & Soul x2, Valentia Isle Festival, Electric Picnic x6, Castlepalooza x2, Independence, Forbidden Fruit, Pigstock, Kilkenny, Kinsale & Westport Arts Festivals.

Foreign Festivals: Calvi On The Rocks Corsica, Montraux Jazz Festival Switzerland, Cannes Music Festival France, Burning Man Nevada USA, Nuitssonores France, Electron Festival Geneva, SXSW Texas USA, Tsugi Festival France.

TV appearances: Raw Session, Other Voices, Late Late Show, Saturday Night Live. Numerous French & UK shows.

Points of note: Choice Music Award Nomination, 5 Star review from Jim Carroll, The Ticket. Various 'Album Of The Year' awards, ROI.

Highlight: Supporting The Pixies, Dublin's Olympia Theatre.

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
IRL
[8] 		UK
2008Organic Sampler
  • Released: 2008
  • Label:
  • Formats: CD, Download
——
2010Be It Right Or Wrong
  • Released: 11 June 2010
  • Label: A Rare Production
  • Formats: CD, Download
——
2013Rotate EP
  • Released 12 July 2013
  • Label: Independent release
  • Formats: CD, download
—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Organic Sampler

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. [3] [9] Analogue commented that the best part of the album featured Hickey's "heavy bass and dominant percussion [...] nicely complimented [ sic ] by his sometimes guttural voice". [9] 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". [3] 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". [6] 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". [4] 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" [10] 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. [11] [12] R.S.A.G. won the first heat and a prize of recording an original track at Grouse Lodge, County Westmeath. [13] He next appeared in the sixth episode of the series which was broadcast on 16 June 2009. [14] He recorded the track "Movement" whilst Dirty Epics recorded "White Out", both with producers Leo Pearson and Ken McHugh at Grouse Lodge. [14] Both acts had eighteen hours to record an original song. [15] The three acts with the most votes (and downloads) progressed to the final. [16] The final was recorded live at the Button Factory music venue in Dublin on 26 June 2009, [10] [16] [17] before being broadcast on 30 June 2009. [10] [18] It featured performances from the top three artists; Dirty Epics, The Infomatics and R.S.A.G. [19] The winner, The Infomatics, was announced on 4 July 2009. [20] [21] [22]

R.S.A.G. performed on the Red Bull Music Academy Stage at Oxegen 2009, [23] arriving on stage half an hour late. [24] 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". [5] He also performed at Castlepalooza several weeks later. [25] [26] He is currently working on a new album. [24]

R.S.A.G. has also worked with Super Extra Bonus Party. [27]

Be It Right Or Wrong

Be It Right Or Wrong, R.S.A.G.'s third album was released 11 June 2010 release, preceded by the single "The Roamer". [28]

Awards

Organic Sampler received a Choice Music Prize nomination for the Irish Album of the Year 2008 on 14 January 2009. [1] [29] [30] [31] The award was won by Jape for the album Ritual on 4 March 2009. [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] R.S.A.G. was amongst six of the nominees who performed during the live ceremony in Vicar Street, Dublin. [38]

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2009Organic SamplerIrish Album of the Year 2008Nominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republic of Loose</span> Irish funk rock band

Republic of Loose were an Irish funk rock band from Dublin. Formed in 2001, the band formerly consisted of lead vocalist Mick Pyro, bass guitarist and vocalist Benjamin Loose, keyboardist Deco, guitarists and vocalists Dave Pyro and Brez and drummer and percussionist Coz Noelen.

Cormac Battle is an Irish musician and radio presenter/producer. He is the vocalist and lead guitarist for the bands Kerbdog, Wilt, Jonny's Boys, and On the turn. He is also the current presenter of RTÉ 2fm's alternative music programme, The Battle Axe.

Dan Hegarty is an Irish radio presenter employed by RTÉ. He presents his show The Alternative on RTÉ 2fm Monday to Thursday from 10:00 pm – 12:00am. He is regularly dispatched to important musical events such as the Eurosonic Festival in The Netherlands, Electric Picnic and Oxegen for live broadcasting purposes, as well as being sent around the country to present the 2fm 2moro 2our. In 2008 Hegarty featured on the panel of judges for the Choice Music Prize and was sent to The Music Show to distribute advice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choice Music Prize</span> Award

The Choice Music Prize, known for sponsorship reasons as the RTÉ Choice Music Prize is an annual music prize awarded to the best album from a band or solo musician who is born in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland or holds an Irish passport. For bands, the majority of members must have been born in the island of Ireland or hold an Irish passport.

A summary of the year 2004 in the Irish music industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delorentos</span> Irish alternative rock band

Delorentos are a Dublin-based Irish alternative rock band, formed in 2005. They consist of Rónan Yourell, Kieran McGuinness, Níal Conlan and Ross McCormick. The band's debut album In Love with Detail was critically acclaimed in Ireland, being nominated for the Choice Music Prize and in the Best Irish Album category at the 2007 Meteor Awards, at which Delorentos were also nominated for Best New Irish Band. Two extended plays have also been released; their debut release, titled Leave It On, in October 2005, and the follow-up EP, titled Do You Realise, came out in November 2007. The Delorentos discography consists of a selection of singles which impacted on the Irish Singles Chart, such as "The Rules" in May 2006 and "Stop" in July 2007.

This is a summary of the year 2008 in the Irish music industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jape (band)</span> Irish electronic–rock band

Jape are an Irish electronic–rock band from Dublin. Formed as a side project by Richie Egan whilst part of The Redneck Manifesto, they have released five albums to date; Cosmosphere (2003), The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me (2004), Ritual (2008), Ocean of Frequency (2011), and This Chemical Sea (2015). Jape's wider discography includes the EP, Jape is Grape (2007), as well as a number of singles, including "Floating" and "Phil Lynott". The band have performed at festivals and events such as Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, Lovebox and Hard Working Class Heroes and provided support for The Flaming Lips at Belsonic in Belfast in August 2008.

This is a summary of the year 2009 in the Irish music industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fight Like Apes</span> Irish alternative rock band

Fight Like Apes were an Irish alternative rock band formed in Dublin in 2006.

<i>Sea Sew</i> 2008 studio album by Lisa Hannigan

Sea Sew is the debut studio album released by Lisa Hannigan. It was released in Ireland on 12 September 2008, with the lead single, "Lille", made available as a free download on lisahannigan.ie on 25 August.

Halves are an ambient band based in Dublin, Ireland. It is composed of Brian Cash and brothers Tim and Elis Czerniak, with additional live members.

Here Comes the Night was a late night radio show hosted by Donal Dineen on Today FM. It commenced broadcasting on 17 March 1997, lasting for a seven-year period before being replaced by Dineen's current show Small Hours. It was Dineen's first radio show on Today FM, airing from the station's opening day. Dineen is largely credited with breaking David Gray in Ireland during this show's tenure. Other artists whose music featured on this show included Jape, who went on to win the Choice Music Prize in 2009.

Dirty Epics were a four-piece Irish new wave band formed in Greystones, County Wicklow, but now resided in Dublin. They were composed of vocalist Sarah Jane (SJ) Wai, bassist Richie Power, guitarist Darren McCoy and drummer Alan Delaney and were managed by Nadine O'Flynn. They have performed at numerous festivals and television shows..

<i>Ritual</i> (Jape album) 2008 studio album by Jape

Ritual is the third studio album from electronic rock band Jape, released on Co-op Records in 2008. It won the Choice Music Prize for the 2008 Irish Album of the Year in March 2009.

<i>Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion</i> 2008 studio album by Fight Like Apes

Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion is the debut studio album of Fight Like Apes. It was released in Ireland on 26 September 2008, the UK on 26 January 2009 and Japan in April 2009.

<i>The Raw Sessions</i> Irish interactive music television programme

The Raw Sessions is an Irish interactive music television programme broadcast on RTÉ Two in 2009. The country's first ever rockumentary series, it is presented by Dez Ryan and follows the attempts of eight musical acts to write and record an original composition in the space of twelve hours. It is produced by Lotus Media.

The Infomatics is an Irish hip hop musical ensemble from Dublin. They consist of Bugs, BOC, Steo, and Mr. Dero. Steo's brother, Damien Gunn, was lead vocalist and saxman with Tokyo Olympics and previously DC Nien, a 1970s band who at one stage rivalled U2.

A summary of the year 2010 in the Irish music industry.

This is a summary of the year 2011 in the Irish music industry.

References

  1. 1 2 "Choice Music Prize – Shortlist Announced". IMRO. 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  2. ↑ "The next 50 bands". The Irish Times . 10 April 2009. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "R.S.A.G. – Organic Sampler". entertainment.ie. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  4. 1 2 "Rock and Pop". Sunday Tribune . 28 September 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. 1 2 "Oxegen – RSAG, Friendly Fires, Lady Gaga". The Irish Times . 12 July 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Well grounded". The Irish Times . 24 October 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2009. 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.
  7. 1 2 "R.S.A.G". Other Voices . Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "irishcharts.com - Discography The Answer". www.irish-charts.com.
  9. 1 2 "R.S.A.G. – Organic Sampler". Analogue. 9 October 2008. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 "Raw talent ready for final". The Irish Times . 26 June 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009. 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.
  11. ↑ "Sony Ericsson Raw Sessions now underway". Hot Press . 13 May 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  12. ↑ "Sony Ericsson Raw Sessions: catch it this weekend". Hot Press . 15 May 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  13. ↑ "R.S.A.G. win first Sony Ericsson Raw Sessions heat". Hot Press . 20 May 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  14. 1 2 "Raw Sessions: Who will go through to the final?". Hot Press . 17 June 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  15. ↑ "Another chance to catch Raw Sessions tomorrow night". Hot Press . 19 June 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  16. 1 2 "Raw Sessions: you decide who makes the final!". Hot Press . 24 June 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  17. ↑ "Tonight: Raw Sessions acts prepare for final". Hot Press . 23 June 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  18. ↑ "Raw Sessions: The final gig tonight!". Hot Press . 26 June 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  19. ↑ "Catch the Raw Sessions live final tonight!". Hot Press . 30 June 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  20. ↑ "Raw Sessions: The winner will be announced tomorrow night". Hot Press . 3 July 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  21. ↑ "Raw Sessions... The results are in!". Hot Press . 5 July 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  22. ↑ "Infomatics win The Raw Sessions". RTÉ. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  23. ↑ "Oxegen 09: Oxegen line-up". Irish Independent . 3 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  24. 1 2 "Oxegen Sunday – The Ting Tings, That Petrol Emotion, R.S.A.G." State . 14 July 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  25. ↑ "Castle Palooza". Irish Independent . 29 July 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  26. ↑ "Inside Track: Kings of the Castle". Hot Press . 30 July 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  27. ↑ "Super Extra Bonus Party tour + single". Hot Press . 1 February 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2010. The band also have the R.S.A.G.-assisted 'Who You Are And What Do You Want' included on the Dance to the Radio label's 4x12" Volume 4 compilation, alongside exclusives from Drink Up Buttercup, Milk White Teeth and Paul Thomas Saunders.
  28. ↑ "Listen to R.S.A.G.'s new single here". Hot Press . 7 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  29. ↑ "Choice Music Prize Shortlist". Hot Press . 14 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  30. ↑ "Choice Music nominees announced". RTÉ. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  31. ↑ Eoin Butler (15 January 2009). "Choice script upset by inclusion of . . . The Script". The Irish Times . Retrieved 16 August 2009. 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.
  32. ↑ "Jape album wins Choice Music Prize". RTÉ. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  33. ↑ "Dublin musician Jape wins Choice Music Prize". Irish Examiner . 5 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  34. ↑ "Dublin musician Jape wins Choice Music Prize". Irish Independent . 5 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  35. ↑ "Jolly Jape admits he's surprised to scoop Choice gong". Irish Independent . 5 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  36. ↑ "Dublin band Jape wins overall prize at Choice Music awards". The Irish Times . 5 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  37. ↑ "Jape the surprise choice as Ritual takes the plaudits". The Irish Times . 5 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  38. ↑ "UPDATED: Jape wins 2009 Choice Music Price". Hot Press . 5 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.