Greetings!! P.J. O’Connor here.
A singing drummer by trade, you’ll likely know me through my work as the percussionist/backing vocalist with The Bogmen (1992-1998, 2001-present) and Radio 4 (2000-2010).
Having begun to write my own material in 2012, the last eight years have seen me slowly emerge as a singer, performing the songs of my idols like Van Morrison, Roy Orbison, and Jerry Garcia in the East Village, Rockaway and Long Beach. After shows into the wee hours, I was putting my ideas together. In an effort to finish the songs and continue my growth as a singer/songwriter, I went over to Ireland. I spent hours busking in Dublin, Cork, and Galway getting stronger by the day, far removed from the distractions of New York City. It was in the small towns in the west of Ireland in County Kerry where I really began to find my voice playing for small but attentive crowds in the pubs, meeting some of the finest people that I have ever known.
I came home with 12 finished songs that I brought to my long-time collaborator, and Bogmen frontman, Vic Thrill (Billy Campion). We instantly agreed he was the perfect person to produce the album, now known as Television’s Golden Age, which includes creative contributions from talented friends that I’ve made along the way while playing with both Radio 4 and The Bogmen. Traces of both of those bands can be heard in these songs all while bringing something fresh.
These recordings represent a culmination of a career’s worth of experience, told within the backdrop of my rapidly-changing home, Greenwich Village. I’m proud of the honesty of these songs. I had only to stay true to myself for this record to come to life.
I hope you dig it. -PJO’C
