What's On Your Rider?

Carol Keogh

What's on your rider?Most likely a few nice craft ales from the local off-licence. And a package o' cripps.

What would be on your fantasy rider?Heated swimming pool and outdoor hot tub.

What's your pre-gig ritual/ routine?Trying to avoid having to talk to people and pacing, generally.

What's the best gig you've been to?Tom Waits in the Phoenix Park in 2008 on his Glitter and DoomWorld Tour.

And the worst?Well one of the worst gigs I've ever played – not musically, you understand – was Electric Picnic two years ago with The Natural History Museum. It was at 1am on the Sunday/Monday and it had been bucketing down rain for about five hours. The outdoor glass stage, which had been designed by Diarmuid Gavin, was not built to withstand the weather and was leaking all over the gear and the acts. Myself and Dunk were only marginally less miserable than the poor few sods who turned out to watch us.

What are your favourite and least favourite venues?Well, Vicar Street is an absolute joy to play so I'll go with that. It's also one of my favourite places to see a show. The Olympia is pretty special, too. Regionally, Dolan's in Limerick is great. I still miss the old Lobby in Cork. I've played a few dives in my time. My former band, The Tycho Brahe, once played a biker bar in Brighton with The Dudley Corporation. That was a bit hairy in more ways than one!

What's your crowd-pleasing number?A song called Forty Foot, which will be on the Mongrel City album. It's actually two songs in one (Forty Foot/Saint Michael's Solution). It's part sea shanty, rambunctious and righteously angry. Always gets a big response.

Chatting between songs – good or bad?If you mean me chatting, then, sure, why not? Not so keen on other people chatting loudly while songs are being performed, though!

Groupies. Would you?Don't be silly!

Have you a special stage wardrobe?Just nice things with a touch of glitter/glamour. I used to have specific stage outfits for Autamata gigs, but these days I'm less playing a character than slightly embellishing myself.

Do you like to meet and greet fans after the gig?It's nice to meet people after, yes. And the adrenalin is usually pumping at that stage, so it's good to blow off a little steam.

Any useful stage tips?If you make a mistake, it's almost always best to carry on as if it hasn't happened. Occasionally – if it's a howler – it's best to own up and laugh it off.

What's the worst thing ever thrown at you?Probably an insult.

Who's invited to your aftershow party?Friends, family, and selected media personalities.

What's your best tour story?Probably playing a major music seminar called CMJ with The Plague Monkeys in the mid- 1990s. We were pretty young and all in New York for the first time. A special memory. Austin City Limits in Texas with Autamata was pretty special too, though. What a city!

Carol Keogh plays Dublin tomorrow night