Ham Sandwich

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Ham Sandwich

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Img_capt = Ham Sandwich at Mitchelstown Indie Pendence Festival 2007
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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = Kells, Meath, Ireland
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Genre = Indie rock
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Years_active = 2005–present
Label = Route 109 Records
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URL = [http://www.eathamsandwich.com/ eathamsandwich.com]
Current_members = Podge McNamee
Niamh Farrell
John Moore
Darcy
Ollie Murphy
Past_members =

Ham Sandwich is an Irish indie rock band from Kells, County Meath. The band consists of Podge McNamee on vocals and guitar, Niamh Farrell on vocals, John Moore on bass guitar, Darcy on guitar and piano, and Ollie Murphy on drums.cite web |url= http://www.berubecommunications.com/html/hamsandwich.html |title= Ham Sandwich |work= [http://www.berubecommunications.com Berube Communications] |date= August 20, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-11-26] The band has released four singles, an EP, before releasing their debut album, "Carry the Meek", on February 15, 2008. That same day they won the Meteors Hope for 2008 Award.cite news |url= http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0216/breaking5.htm |title= Meteor eight-in-a-row for Westlife |date= February 16, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-02-19 |work= The Irish Times] The band is currently based in Dublin, Ireland. [In December 2007 the Sunday Times pegged Ham Sandwich as "Ones to Watch" for 2008.]

Background

Johnny Moore and Podge McNamee were childhood friends, and first announced the formation of the band on Good Friday, 2003. 'Martin' the original lead guitarist in the band departed after just 6 months citing musical differences in the band, he was replaced by 'Darcy'. Moore and Darcy met at St. Patrick's Classical School, Navan; other notable pupils include Tommy Tiernan, Dylan Moran, Hector Ó hEochagáin. Niamh Farrell joined the band in Dublin after a solo stint in Glasgow, Scotland. Bassist and songwriter Moore suggested the name at an early rehearsals session when the group could not decide on a name, and it has both helped and hindered the band. U2 frontman Bono encouraged the group to change the peculiar name upon meeting drummer Ollie Murphy in 2006, but conceded that U2 faced similar criticism before their success.cite web |url= http://www.podcastingireland.ie/listen-channel.html?id_directory=71&item=42 |title= O2 Making Waves - Ham Sandwich |work= 02 |date= 2007 |accessdate= 2007-11-27] Niamh has commented, "it’s a bit of a blessing I guess, no-one ever forgets the name and it makes us work harder."

On March 17, 2007, the band participated in the annual Kells Festival of Colour. [cite web |url= http://www.kellsfestivals.com/stpatricks |title= Kells St. Patrick's Weekend Festival 2007 |work= [http://www.kellsfestivals.com Kells Festivals] |date= 2007 |accessdate= 2007-11-26] In Summer 2007, the band was featured on FM104's "Open Mic with Ruairi Carroll". [cite web |url= http://openfm104.blogspot.com/2007/07/bands-weve-had-on.html |title= Bands we've had on |work= FM104 |date= November 12, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-11-26] On August 4, 2007, Ham Sandwich played at the Guinness Indie-pendence festival of independent Irish bands in Mitchelstown, County Cork. [cite web |url= http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-irish_news/ham-sandwich-take-to-the-road/spId/0B697F03-EFDE-1BA1-362F36F7E0D4523E.html |title= Ham Sandwich take to the road |date= June 8, 2007 |work= [http://www.muse.ie Muse] |accessdate= 2007-11-27] The band have been televised on The Late Late Show in February, the Dustin once a week show in September as well as the "The Podge and Rodge Show's" halloween special on October 30, 2007 during the Rock 'n Roulette feature.

The majority of songs on Carry The Meek were written by Moore while he was working nights at St. Patrick's Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin where Jonathan Swift was Dean, as a matter of coincidence some of Carry the Meek was recorded at a house where Swift wrote Gulliver's Travels.

Following the release of their third single, the band, with the assistance of producer Karl Odlum of The Frames, began recording in the neo classical estate of Headfort House. The band was awarded the Meteors Hope for 2008 Award in February 2008. The award was voted on by listeners of RTÉ 2fm, who chose Ham Sandwich over five other acts. Ham Sandwich are managed by the legendary Derek Nally.

On June 8, 2008, Niamh gave birth to a boy, Oscar Farrell. [ [http://www.hotpress.com/news/4591456.html Hot Press: Ham Sandwich front woman gives birth to baby boy] ]

On June 28, 2008, Ham Sandwich performed at Glastonbury 2008.

They are currently working on a follow up album.

Discography

Ham Sandwich released their first single, "Sad Songs", in early August 2005. [cite news |url= http://www.spiritstore.ie/bios/ham_sandwich_biog.html |title= Spirit Store |work= Hot Press |date= August 12, 2005 |accessdate= 2007-11-26] They have followed it with singles "St. Christopher" in January 2006, [cite web |url= http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2845025.html |title= Ham Sandwich single launch announced |date= January 16, 2006 |work= Hot Press |accessdate= 2007-11-27] "Words", and "click...click...BOOM" on February 16, 2007.

Ham Sandwich's debut full length album "Carry The Meek" was released on February 15, 2008 on Route 109 Records. [cite web |url= http://thrillpier.blogspot.com/2007/11/ham-sandwich-debut-album.html |date= November 13, 2007 |title= Ham Sandwich debut album. |work= [http://thrillpier.blogspot.com Thirll Pier] |accessdate= 2007-11-26] The band elicited fan art to complete the CD release. [cite web |url= http://www.phantom.ie/content/view/771/104/ |title= Ham Sandwich Want You |date= July 13, 2007 |work= Phantom FM |accssdate= 2007-11-27] Ham Sandwich' debut album "Carry the Meek" debuted in the Irish album chart at number 23.Fact|date=February 2008 The band had previously released a debut EP. The album was produced by Karl Odlum (The Frames, The Mary Janes, Gemma Hayes, David Kitt, Kila) in Heafort House, Kells and Cross, Mullagh, Co. Cavan. It was mastered by Fred Kevorkian (The National, The White Stripes, Ryan Adams, The Walkmen, Sonic Youth, Regina Spektor, Debbie Harry).

The album received reviews from the Irish Independent - Four Stars, [ [http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/day-and-night/music/ham-sandwich-1290507.html Ham Sandwich - Music, Day and Night - Independent.ie ] ] Irish Times - Three Stars, [ [http://www.ireland.com/theticket/articles/2008/0215/1202938376290.html ireland.com - The Ticket ] ] Hot Press 8/10, [ [http://www.hotpress.com/archive/4430544.html Carry The Meek ] ] Cluas.com, [ [http://www.cluas.com/indie-music/Default.aspx?tabid=87&EntryID=531 CLUAS | Album reviews - Ham Sandwich 'Carry The Meek' ] ] and RTE. [ [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0311/hamsandwich.html RTÉ.ie Entertainment: Ham Sandwich - Carry the Meek ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.eathamsandwich.com/ Ham Sandwich Official Website]
* [http://myspace.com/eathamsandwich Official band MySpace page]
* [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/search?entity=podcast&media=all&submit=seeAllLockups&term=nvtv FREE ACOUSTIC SESSION by Ham Sandwich from NvTv]
* [http://www.hotpress.com/archive/archives.php?artist=2845016 Ham Sandwich news archive] on Hot Press
* [http://www.podcastingireland.ie/listen-channel.html?id_directory=71&item=42 O2 Making Waves podcast]
* [http://hamsandwich.fotopages.com/ Ham Sandwich on Fotopages]
* [http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/tasty-ham-sandwich-are-far-from-out-to-lunch-1298003.html "Independent" article]