Hal

Irish quartet Hal comprises siblings Paul, who handles vocals and guitar, and Dave Allen on vocals and bass, alongside drummer Paul Hogan and keyboardist Stephen O'Brien. Folk musicians themselves, the Allens’ parents instilled a deep musical affinity in their sons, with Dave performing in groups from his early teens onward and the pair composing numerous songs jointly for the band. Emerging in the early 2000s, Hal fused their affinity for classic rock acts such as the Beatles, the Byrds, Harry Nilsson, and the Beach Boys into a distinctive style. Following a six-month residency of weekly performances at Dublin’s Sugar Club, Rough Trade secured the band’s contract amid fierce bidding from other labels. Their debut single, “Worry About the Wind,” appeared in March 2004, and the track joined the lovely “Out Tonight” on the label’s 2004 anthology The Rough Trade Field Guide to Music, Vol. 1. A series of concerts ensued, including support slots for Starsailor, Grandaddy, and Doves, before the quartet tracked a full-length album. Produced with help from ex-Tears for Fears member Ian Stanley, Edwyn Collins, and Hal themselves, the 2005 release Hal stands as a peak achievement in buoyant pop and sincere classic ballads, matching the caliber of any guitar-driven rock from 2005 or nearly any other era.