- @TwoDaff
Dare To Dream - Gallaher's Green
By Daffs aka @TwoDaff
Gallaher’s Green are a four-piece UK rock band with a wide range of influences which include the Rolling Stones, Oasis, Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses and many more in between. consisting of Jon Olphert on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Tom Stretton on lead guitar, Ian Gallagher on Bass, Tom Leather on drums.
Their debut album ‘Lucky 13’ encompassed the broad spectrum of influences which inspired them and was released on 12th February 2021. Independently released and without any PR support the album has grown organically and continues to attract a worldwide audience with listeners in countries including US, UK, Japan, Italy, South Africa, Mexico and throughout South America. To date it has received over 160k listens on Spotify alone.
In April 2022, Gallaher's Green recorded their full length follow up album 'Dare To Dream' at Voltalab studios, Rochdale and it was released on March 31st 2023. 2022 also saw the band released a fantastic charity single in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund, ‘Memphis’ a poignant, heartfelt track regarding a friend of the band who sustained horrific injuries whilst serving in HM forces. This was followed by 'Here with Me' in November and ‘Where do I Begin’ released on January 6th 2023.The last single from the album ‘Young Man’s Game’ was released on February 17th.
'Dare to Dream'. was recorded, engineered and produced by Jamie Alsop at Voltalab studios in Rochdale between 23rd - 30th April 2022. For the recording the band consisted of Jon Olphert: Lead vocals & Rhythm guitar (Acoustic guitar on Find You Way (Back To Me)). Tom Stretton: Lead Guitar (Acoustic guitar on Heal This pain and backing vocals on Memphis). Ian Gallagher: Bass Guitar (Piano on the track Dare To Dream). Tom Leather: Drums and Michael Walsh Backing vocals.
An atmospheric swirl of psychedelic noise
The album opens with ‘Where Do I Begin’ their 5th single and was seen as motivational track with friends and family suggesting it should be in Nike advert, other comments were: ''This song motivates me to train harder!'', ''I play this when I'm in the gym!" When you hear it, they are not wrong...
Opening with an atmospheric swirl of psychedelic noise before your ears are pummelled with a thunderous, stomping drum beat, there is an upbeat rhythm that sets a frenetic pace you and soon has you moving through gears. Then, the guitar hits you, powerful, huge and anthemic, it cuts through the drums and creates a canvas for the soaring lead riff to work its magic. Its anthemic, loud, the vocal snarls at you, begging the question ‘Where do I begin?’ building up to the explosive chorus, injected with more pace, more aggression and more swagger.
The lyrics added poignancy
Next up we ‘The Way We Used To Be’ their second single. The line ''The way we used to be'' is a partner reflecting on a relationship that is in its final death throes and is about to end...
Now, going by the title and the sentiment/inspiration behind the song you would expect the vibe to be balladlike, maybe a bit morose…well you would be wrong, from the beginning a lead riff explodes, interrupted by stabbing rhythm hooks. Packed full of melodies and catchy hooks, backed with powerful drum patterns and a fantastic vocal, its fast paced with a big dose of energy. The vocal adds the emotional content and the lyrics added poignancy recalling the happy times in the beginning and the stress and strains in the final years. The lead solo’s throughout giving an almost upbeat feel despite the subject.
A beautiful rendition of emotion
Third on the list is ‘Heal This Pain’ inspired by a close friend when they were offloading about the many struggles in their life including the death of their father, a life changing medical condition that they had recently been diagnosed with and difficulties in their marriage. The lyrics ''I don't want to feel this pain anymore'' was a literal cry for help...
This track is deep, a beautiful rendition of emotion, intense vocals filled with passion lead the way, the passion and emotion is exemplified in the instrumental, hard riffs from the lead are cut short by the beautiful acoustic melodies. An underlying energy cuts through the track and really gets the sentiment across. Tight and on point it’s a glorious track.
Intricate and powerful.
‘Lost your Way’ is next, and was the first song that Ian and Jon wrote together. It was written about two different incidents, one being an altercation between two long-time friends where trust was betrayed. The other incident was a major argument between a couple, (a forerunner to 'The Way We Used To Be')...
Again, we have the trademark powerful vocal, backed with soaring riffs and a bold drum pattern, intricate and powerful. Guitars swirl and shimmer creating a backdrop for the vocal, another anthemic track.
One thing I have to say as the album progresses, you feel the power and sentiment within each track, there is an undeniable energy built in that adds to this, emotive and passionate and totally relatable.
The next track is ‘Catch the Sun’ Their first single and is about a young couple who are struggling to start a life and a family together and face all the obstacles that can sometimes destroy a relationship...
Opening with a big drum beat and chiming lead guitars intertwine with choppy rhythms, before building to an anthemic chorus that gives a lift. Its uplifting, and as with the other tracks packed with bags of energy, catch the sun is the metaphor for cleansing all the past worries. You can imagine sitting on a beach as the waves cleanse your soul. The solo is fantastic, soaring and crisp. Its vibrant and definitely a song for the summer. Again, the vocal is immense, powerful and evocative. One of my favourite tracks.
The vocal is immense, powerful and evocative
‘Find Your Way (Back To Me)’ is the only fully acoustic track without drums on the album. This song just appeared one Sunday morning out of the ether when Jon and Ian were nursing their hangovers and playing acoustic guitar...
A brief respite and a chance to catch one’s breath, but the energy is still there despite the melancholy vibe, a song suggesting that things might be okay but not all is as it seems. It’s a straight forward acoustic track, no drums with the emphasis on the vocal yet the acoustic is sublime, lyrics are once again relatable ''There's poison water in the wishing well'' another great track.
The acoustic is sublime
Memphis is next and this track hits hard, I want to dwell on this as some of you may not know the reasoning for it. It was the Third single. Released 7th October 2022...
The song was inspired when a close friend shared his experiences after being very seriously injured after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) whilst serving as a military working dog handler with his dog Memphis in Afghanistan in 2011. The friend had recalled the moment he stepped on the IED, his treatment on the battlefield, to the helicopter rescue where his uniform was ripped off by medics and receiving two injections of morphine, to when he had to have his lower leg amputated and finally being forced to leave the military. This song is dedicated to all of the wounded veterans who feel that they no longer have a voice and are forgotten. This song was released as a charity single in aide of the RAF Benevolent Fund, the charity which helped our injured friend and successfully raised over £1k.
The rumble of helicopters, the barrage of drums and the radio transmissions open the track and give an instant air of tension, A screaming guitar riff adds further tension and then the opening line…” August 4 2011, the day my world turned upside down” and that’s when it hits you…
its heartfelt, emotive, a story of bravery, loyalty and patriotism, the lyrics are descriptive and take you to the time in question, the intensity in the instrumentation gives you the feelings encountered and the stress and despair felt. It’s very powerful.
Driven on by blistering raucous guitars, pummelling drums and a thundering bass the song builds to crescendo of a static infused solo that ends with more helicopters, totally immersive and emotionally charged. It is a magnificent track in its own right yet the story behind it makes it even more special.
Totally immersive and emotionally charged
'Best Part of Me' was inspired by and dedicated to Jon's teenage daughter and was written as a song to hopefully give her some strength as she faces all the challenges that life may throw at her...
Another guitar driven track filled with stabbing rhythm chops and vibrant lead riffs, that shimmer and shine, punchy drums and a deep bass provide a backdrop for another emotive vocal, guitar solos, melodic, crisp and vibrant add a kaleidoscope of colour. Lyrically you immediately get what this track is about and a fitting tribute and advisory to any teenager in this day and age.
A kaleidoscope of colour
Up next is ‘Young man’s Game’ was their Sixth single. It’s their (and many others for that matter) opinion on the state of the music industry at the moment. Established rock bands which everyone loves (or loathes) like Guns and Roses, Foo Fighters and Liam Gallagher to name but a few sit at the top table and rightly so, filling arenas and stadiums worldwide yet the major labels/radio stations ignore the next crop of bands. They are happy pushing bands with youngsters singing about twitter and irrelevant subjects etc with no distortion, jingly jangly tunes with no feeling or passion, just a monotonous conveyor belt of inane tunes...
Opening with a driven riff and crunchy rhythm it instantly hooks, nothing jingly jangly here. A soaring lead emphasises the message. Plenty of distortion, thundering drums and a vocal that packs a proper punch. Gallaher's Green have something to say here and there’s no better way to say it. Hints of Oasis infused with a harder rock element gives a powerful soundscape that encapsulates what they are trying to say, driving the message home. The line “I listen to your music its driving me insane, everybody’s saying it’s young man’s game” A true statement that directly addresses all that is wrong with industry in my opinion.
Gallaher's Green have something to say here
And so, we come to the final three tracks…
A colourful backdrop with an air of foreboding
‘Where You Goin’ the precursor to 'Catch The Sun' and shows the young couple at their lowest point when they were living in sub-standard accommodation and struggling financially to make ends meet. It captures the exact moment when one of the partners expresses their intention to leave...
And capture the moment it certainly does. Intense and emotive its heartfelt from the off, the haunting intro, chiming and melodic adds a colourful backdrop with an air of foreboding and sadness. The track picks up pace in the choruses, giving a raw edge to really put you in the moment.
A riot of blistering guitars and wailing leads
The Penultimate track is ‘Here with Me’ Their Fourth single. Released 25th November 2022 This song is a follow on from the first single 'Cut Right In To Me' on 'Lucky 13' when the intense relationship has ended. The lyrics ''breathe in, breathe out again, I will be free'' are a mantra that the main protagonist adopts and uses to help them stop dwelling on the past and that they will eventually be free from the pain that they are experiencing...
This is pure rock, and everything that goes with it, driven guitars and a thunderous drum underpinned with a deep resonating bass, the vocal is powerful as ever and, the intro has an air of expectancy until it explodes into a riot of blistering guitars and wailing leads.
Emotive and sentimental lyrics
The final track, the title track is ‘Dare to Dream’. Verse 1 was written about Jon's son and verse 2 about Ian's nephew, who sadly lost his mother four years ago. It's a salute to both boys and a celebration of their young lives and a positive message about the bright future that lies ahead of them...
This has it all for me, pure indie infused with harder rock elements, rich vibrant guitars, explosive drums and a magnificent vocal delivering emotive and sentimental lyrics. Everything is tight, on point and highlights the sheer skill this band have. Yet another fantastic track that delivers and then some, beautiful piano interludes, atmospheric chimes from guitars and as I have said magnificent vocals.
Overall, this album is set to make people sit up and take notice. There is an overriding theme with everything this band create. Lyrically, they encapsulate so many facets of today’s society whether it be the state of the music industry or emotional subjects such as love, loss, relationships and family and then there are provocative subjects such as our veterans or. Gallaher's Green have an undeniable knack of portraying these subjects whether it be through the vocal whilst capturing the essence of the sentiment within the instrumentation. Whichever way you look at it (or hear it) it delivers, it sends a message, it makes you prick up your ears and listen.
This album ticks all the boxes, lyrically and vocally accomplished, powerful and emotive. It highlights the prowess and skill in their abilities, from the drums through to the vocal everyone packs a punch, sending a message. A Fantastic album in my opinion, I am sure you will agree.
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