TONY CLAYTON-LEAtalks to Johnny Holden of Hoarsebox
What's on your rider?Wine, water, beer, fruit.
What would be on your fantasy rider?Jameson 18-Year-Old, four 18-year-olds, water, fruit, red wine and some giant shrimp.
What's your pre-gig ritual/routine?We always go and eat somewhere near the venue. For tomorrow's gig in Crawdaddy, I'd say we'll go to Rotana Café on Portobello Bridge for falafal and hummus.
What's the best gig you've ever been to?We played in Arlene's Grocery in New York to a full house. People were queuing up to see us for a gig we had advertised almost exclusively online. As a punter, the best gig I've ever been to is Toots & the Maytals in Vicar St, August 2007.
And the worst?We played a gig in Dingle to a crowd about eight strong. Four of them were our friends, the other four hated every minute of it - and made that perfectly clear to us.
Who is the most famous person to show up at one of your gigs?The late great John Martyn came to see us in Kilkenny once, as did two of the dudes from Fun Lovin' Criminals in New York.
Most embarrassing on-stage moment?Supporting The Stranglers in Mandela Hall in Belfast. We arrived so late they wouldn't even let us set up our equipment. So we had to play acoustically while sitting on four Westlife stools for 25 of the longest minutes of my life.
Groupies. Would you? Wouldn't you?How many roadies does it take to change your lightbulbs? We have a soundman who has been with us now for a couple of years. We wouldn't leave home without him. Apart from that, it's just the four of us.
Have you a special stage wardrobe?I like to wear red. That's about as imaginative as I get.
Do you like to meet and greet fans after the gig?Yes, of course, especially if we've gotten them moving their hips.
Any useful stage tips?Dance like nobody's watching.
What's the worst thing ever thrown at you?A bottle of wee. No wait, that was me throwing the bottle at James Blunt in Electric Picnic. No one has thrown anything at us. Yet.
Hoarsebox play Crawdaddy, Dublin tomorrow
