Fast Thursday - 015 - 20190903Hard rock 3 piece Irish punk band performing a blow out gig at Bennigans Bar, Derry City. The band consist of Reece Nelson, guitar/vocals, newest memeber Jamie Mc Clelland, Bass guitar/vocals and Luke Sharkey on drums. Hailing from Strabane, they'e had a fantastic year with a mini-tour of the UK and also more recently performing at Stendhal 2019. Images by Darron Mark Photography | DMfotoNI

Let me introduce you to Fast Thursday, where the lead singer is a Skoda Estate driving lunatic who drinks and smokes too much and could possibly drop dead at any minute due to a dodgy ticker, a drummer who has a habit of passing out pissed and losing an eyebrow and their newest band member who learned the band's set in 10 days before being launched on the public at the Stendhal Festival in August, having only been with the band a grand total of 2 weeks. This hard rock 3 piece Irish punk band command your attention at every gig, and they closed off 2019 at their own gig in Bennigans Bar, Derry City. The band consist of Reece Nelson, guitar/vocals, newest member Jamie McClelland, Bass guitar/vocals and Luke Sharkey on drums. Hailing from Strabane, they've had a fantastic year with a mini-tour of the UK and also more recently performing as previously mentioned, the Stendhal Festival, 2019.

I've recorded these guys before, well, I say guys, the truth is; only Reece is the link between then and now, where then was a fecking cold March 1st night, as CHERYM decided to launch their latest album on a night that almost fell below freezing, in a bar that has an outdoor stage and between sets you could hear people's nipples falling off and hitting the concrete below.

Fast Thursday - 008 - 201904063 piece Hard Rock Alternative Punk band from Ireland consisting of
Reece Nelson, on guitar and lead vocals, Adam McGinley on bass and backing vocals, Luke Sharkey on Drums. Fast Thursday hail from Strabane Northern Ireland. They closed off the Battle of The Bands event at The Delacroix in Derry City on Saturday night, placing a second place, but a firm first for the fans. Pictures by Darron Mark Photography - https://www.dmfotoni.com/music That night, with a lacklustre performance, they were hardly noticeable amongst the mega talent that is Mosmo Strange and CHERYM. However, that was then, this is now. Well, I'll caveat that with an interjection. I saw Fast Thursday again this year at the Grand Final of Battle of the Bands, and 'not in a gay way', I couldn't take my eyes off Reece. He demanded you pay attention, not through instruction, but by simple stage presence. That night I'd brought my son with me as he was in town visiting, and he, like me, came to the same conclusion: They should have won! It was an attendance vote that night, and don't get me wrong, the winners were worthy, however, they did have more 'fans' from Derry in the room that the band from Strabane, and it was a People's Vote that swung it. 

Reece's appearance had changed, now sporting a big blue mohawk and a slimmed-down waistline, he was 'cooking on gas'!

He'd also swapped out his drummer with Luke after an internal dispute over an ability to commit to the band, but it was logistics that really ended that relationship. Adam, the bassist wasn't going to be around for long either as it turned out, though that relationship has been amicable, queue Jamie's appearance at Stendhal.

Fast Thursday - 014 - 20190816Fast Thursday are a loud energetic hard rock band from Northern Ireland who’ve played gigs in every pub bar and club up and down Ireland, they are an original drums bass and guitar trio and to truly experience the feel of a Fast Thursday show is a wild ride, they have two EPs released to date with the second EP unite the factions taken on tour across the uk in june 19 as well as a smattering of Irish gigs to go with it. Pictures by Darron Mark Photography | DMfotoNI When it comes to music, I'm an old goat. I know what I like when I hear it. That's not to say I'm tethered to any particular genre as such, it means that if you can get the hairs on my arms to stand up, you have my attention, and Fast Thursday have them up in droves, so when they were appearing at Bennigans in what they term "Post Summer Holiday" "Pre College" gig, I just had to be there.

What's next for Fast Thursday? They're writing, practising and I've spoken to the band about potentially doing a video in the near future with them. Reece has a new song, needs polish and practice but he hopes to have it recorded in the next few weeks. Luke and Jamie want to include a busted apocalyptic 9 and Half Weeks montage in there somewhere (I hope it's soon, cause I'm averse to the cold lol) and they're looking at organising another tour very soon.

Will They Make It? Fuck yeah! These guys are amazing. The command Reece has of the stage is tantamount to bullying. You simply have to watch him or he'll turn the amp up to 12 if you don't. His drive and passion for his craft is a burning flame that burns blinding bright and would melt the weakest of mic stands, learn the name 'Fast Thursday', it's fuck all to do with dieting.

This is the video from the Winter Session as I like to call it and trust me, they're amazing live!