Limerick Duo Pity of The Sea release debut EP Abandoned

Limerick Duo Pity of The Sea release debut EP Abandoned

By ilovelimerick correspondent Frances Watkins

Limerick duo Ger Cremins and Tony Monahan (Protobaby) record under the moniker Pity of the Sea. The debut EP called ‘Abandoned’ charts the downward spiral of a serial killer from birth to the point of his most vicious crimes.

‘Abandoned’ is a very accomplished piece of songwriting and production. The music is a melting pot of influences reflecting the wide experience the musicians already have in other lineups.

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Pity of the Sea’s debut EP, ‘Abandoned’ launched in November 2017. ‘Abandoned’ is a narrative that contains 5 interlinked songs chaptering the life of its protagonist. It examines our preconceived notions of people who fall on the ‘other side of the tracks’. It challenges the listener to examine the criminal’s life in its entirety before making a judgement on his final actions.   

Pity of the Sea is the music project of Limerick duo, Ger Cremins (Reg) and Tony Monahan. The duo came together out of a mutual love of the music of a number of artists.

Tony said about the duo “Myself and Ger have gigged together on and off over the last few years and have always shared similar views on original bands and on all things music. Ger had written some songs with an acoustic slant in late 2016 and wanted me to produce these songs, looking to create big full band arrangements. I always have a lot of song ideas of my own stored away, so I played some of these for Ger. We worked with those ideas and reworked Ger’s acoustic songs. These songs became what is now the ‘Abandoned’ EP. That’s how Pity of the Sea was formed”.

Reg also spoke about the pairing “I have been writing songs for a number of years now but didn’t want to release something if it was going to be as generic as much of what I heard in Mainstream radio. It has only been in the last number of years that my cynicism has abated when listening to bands like Windings, Bleeding Heart Pigeons, Protobaby (Limerick) and in particular Girlband (Dublin). These bands have proven to me that there is an audience for inventive, original music. My idea for Pity of the Sea was to create a narrative across the 5 songs and awaken the listener to examine lyrics in more detail. That’s the plan anyway”.
  
Reg has been a part of the cover band scene for a number of year now, working with artists such as Pat Byrne (Hedfuzy) and Aidan Graham (ex-Protobaby). He has performed with acts in Dolans though the Mary I Music Society and performed in the Irish language with Liam Ó Maonlaí (Hothouse Flowers).  As a Primary school teacher, in collaboration with Tony, he has directed and produced a video with Broadford N.S. of The Riptide Movement’s ‘It All Works Out’.  The video appeared both on RTE television and featured on Bressie’s ‘A Lust for Life’ website. He continues to work with students in creative projects and choirs. 

Tony has been a part of the original music scene in Ireland for many years. He has regularly toured both nationally and Internationally with various original acts, releasing numerous albums, EP’s and singles with bands such as Protobaby, 
Kraven and Just. He is a founding member and a current member of Limerick band Protobaby. Collaboration and Production of other music acts have also become an important part of his work in recent years. He mentors teenage songwriters and performers through Music Generation Limerick City and is a guitar tutor at The Peter Dee Academy of Music. 

From the childlike pop/ electronic tones of ‘Monster’ to the dissonance of final track ‘Weeds’, the recordings on ‘Abandoned’ charts the development of a killer’s controlled cold anger. ‘Abandoned’ EP dropped on Digipak and on all digital platforms in November 24. 

For more on music in Limerick click here

For more on Pity of The Sea click here