THE BAND THAT REFUSED TO HURRY
Dublin-based pop-rock band The Elusives draw on the musical language of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, combining melodic rock with atmospheric guitars, synthesizers and driving rhythms. The result is a sound shaped by the eras that influenced the band, while retaining a distinct contemporary identity.
The group’s roots stretch back to the mid-1990s, when multi-instrumentalist Paul Gilligan and vocalist and drummer Joe Brady began writing and recording together. Following separate musical pursuits, the pair reunited in 2014 and began developing the project that would become The Elusives.
For much of the next decade, the band operated largely away from the spotlight. Rather than pursuing a conventional release schedule, Gilligan and Brady focused on songwriting and recording, producing home demos, refining their material and gradually building a catalogue of original songs. Live appearances remained occasional, allowing the band to develop its sound largely on its own terms.
Somewhere along the way, bassist Gavin Healy and vocalist Laura Hand joined the lineup. The band subsequently released its debut single, “The Strangler”, and began work on an album. We were fortunate enough to sit down with Gavin to talk about the band’s past, present and future, and to get his perspective on the journey so far.
When did you first pick up the bass guitar, and what inspired you to start playing?
I first picked up the bass when I was about 15. My brother Phil was playing in a band called The Cherry Brogues, he showed some stuff and I used to rob his bass and his amp and run over to my friend’s house because he was a drummer. We’d just mess around and play together.
Phil eventually told me, “I’m not going to teach you, I haven’t got the time. Go and get some lessons.”. I am self-thought and just became completely fascinated by the bass. I loved the idea that you could almost sit underneath a song and hold the whole thing together without necessarily being the instrument everyone was listening to. The bass is the glue of the song and without it the song falls apart. It is always the hit in the chest of that bass wave when I am watching any live band that makes or breaks the gig for me.
What bass do you play?
I play a Fender Jazz Bass, and I’ve had it since 1997. It’s probably the most important piece of gear I own. I absolutely love it. I’ve had it for so long that it’s become part of me, it’s my baby. I bought it in a music shop in Glasgow (well the record company bought it), as part of an earlier band’s record deal.
I’ve played other basses over the years, but I always come back to the Jazz Bass. There’s just something about the feel and the sound of it that works for me.
If you had to choose one legendary bass line, what would it be?
That’s a difficult one, but I’d probably have to go with “I Wanna Be Adored” by The Stone Roses. Released in 1989.
The funny thing is, it’s actually a very simple bass line, but it was the first bass line I ever learned when I started playing at 15. I used to put the record on and just play along with it.
It’s basically just moving between G and D, but there’s something brilliant about how simple it is and how much space it creates in the song. I’d actually recommend it to anyone starting out on bass. It teaches you that you don’t have to play loads of notes to make a bass line effective. Sometimes the simplest thing is the thing that works best. The songs opening bass line is instantly recognisable in its simplicity.
Could you tell us a little about The Elusives? How did the band come together?
Joey and Paul approached me around 2016 about becoming part of The Elusives project. At that point it was just the two of them, and they already had a heap of songs written.
I had started a college degree in 2016, so I couldn’t commit myself 100% to the band because I had other things going on and was involved in other musical projects as well. But I was really interested in what they were doing, so I joined them and we started working on the songs.
Our first gig was in 2018 at Drop Dead Twice in Dublin, and that’s really where The Elusives began for me. It’s been an interesting journey because we’ve never been a band that’s in a rush to do things. We’ve always been more interested in the songs and the recording side of things, and I think that’s become part of what The Elusives is.
“The Strangler” was inspired by documentaries about serial killers. Could you tell us more about the inspiration behind it?
I’m probably the wrong person to ask about that one! “The Strangler” was really Joe and Paul’s baby. It was one of the earlier songs they’d already written before I joined The Elusives, so I wasn’t involved in the original inspiration behind it.
I can tell you that it’s certainly not your conventional pop-song subject matter, but for the story behind the song itself, you’d have to ask Joe and Paul!
“Run Away Into The Night” is coming out in a few weeks. What can we expect from it?
When I listen to “Run Away Into The Night”, I hear influences from the ’80s and ’90s. There’s a particular sound to it that I don’t hear very often in new music, and that’s one of the things I really like about it. In fact, there are no new Irish bands sounding like The Elusives as far as I can tell.
It’s got that kind of nostalgic feel without sounding like it’s simply trying to recreate something from the past. For me, there’s an 80s/90s vibe running through it, but it still sounds like The Elusives and sits as a hit single in the setlist to me. The focus is to have the debut LP filled with singles and no fillers! I feel that has been achieved.
The Elusives are looking for additional musicians. Is there a plan for live shows?
It’s funny you mention live shows. We have done only three gigs since 2016, so, elusive by name and elusive by nature, I suppose!
I’d imagine 2027 is going to be a busier year for us, particularly once the album comes out. But one thing I’ve noticed about this band is that there’s never really been a rush to do anything just for the sake of doing it.
We’re not really a traditional gigging band where we’re looking to play every weekend. We’d rather select the right gigs, the right supports and the right opportunities for the band.
So, yes, there is definitely an appetite to get out there and play, but it has to feel right for the band.
Watch this space for 2027.
Who are your top five bass players of all time?
That’s a tough one, but I’d probably go with these five.
Mani from The Stone Roses, he was probably my biggest bass hero when I was starting out. I was lucky to have met him a couple of times and say thanks. A true gentleman.
Bruce Foxton from The Jam. Absolutely brilliant player, and someone who understood how to make the bass a huge part of a song without overplaying.
Norman Cook from The Housemartins, who many people will know better as Fatboy Slim. He’s a seriously underrated bass player, and The Housemartins had some fantastic bass lines.
James Jamerson. His influence on bass playing is enormous. The feel and musicality in his playing are incredible.
And finally, Phil Healy, my brother. He was the person who originally got me into the bass, so I couldn’t really leave him out. He might not have the profile of the other names on the list, but without Phil, I probably wouldn’t be answering this question in the first place.
So that’s my five: Mani, Bruce Foxton, Norman Cook, James Jamerson & Phil Healy.
What is your philosophy on life?
I suppose my philosophy is: what are we waiting for?
Anyone that knows me knows I live by this philosophy. Life is short. We can spend an awful lot of time waiting for the right moment, the right time, waiting for things to happen, or waiting for somebody else to make something happen for us. I think sometimes you just have to go after the things you want and make them happen yourself.
Losing people I’ve loved has probably made me more conscious of that. You can have somebody in your life one minute and then, in the blink of an eye, everything can change. You simply cannot take the time we have for granted. If you are lucky to have your health then go for that project, education, album, book etc…just do it!
I don’t want to spend my life constantly waiting for someday. If there’s something I want to do, I’d rather have a go at it. That someday, is now today. Tomorrow is never promised. Pushing things, you can do today to next year saying ‘we’ll do this and that’ doesn’t interest me when we have now.
And I think there’s something else that’s important too, leaving something behind. Whether that’s music, work, relationships, memories or something you’ve passed on to your children, I’d like to think I’ve contributed something that continues after me. Music certainly does that and lives on far beyond you or me.
That all may sound a bit heavy but it’s been my view for a long time now.
So, really, my philosophy comes back to one question: What are we waiting for?
Explore further:
Interview by staff at MBTM
