Idir
Idir | |
|---|---|
 Colm MacNider, Ardal Galicia and preforming live in Rucesion in 1997. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Temuair |
| Genres | Needlerock ∙ soulrock ∙ hard rock |
| Years active | 1981 - Present |
| Labels | IdirJams |
| Associated acts | Brothers MacNider ∙ De Coiro ∙ Antiga Raíña ∙ More |
| Members | Colm MacNider ∙ Rowan MacNider ∙ Noreen Raíña ∙ Ardal Galicia ∙ Noè Pazos |
| Past members | See former members |
Idir is an Aisling needlerock jam band formed in 1982 by Colm and Rowan MacNider of Brothers MacNider and Noreen Raíña of Antiga Raíña as a jam band to allow for collaboration between the two groups, an idea which would eventually be expanded to include many artists within the needlerock community. Their first album, entitled Illusions of Love was released in 1983 and included members from both bands. It preformed admirably on the Luas charts. It is very common to see Idir preforming at music festivals across Temuair, and they have been invited to preform at the Luas Music Festival on numerous occasions, most recently in 2016. Over time, Idir has hosted members from numerous other needlerock bands, such as De Coiro, and others.
The bands name is Aisling for "in between" and was chosen by the original members since this side project was set to formed while members we're in between audio sessions or tours with their respective bands. Though today the band is comprised of full time members, they still consider themselves to be a jam band first and foremost.
History
The bands recording label IdirJams was initially funded directly by Colm MacNider and his brother Rowan. Following the success of Illusions of Love Idir has funded the label with proceeds from its live performances and album sales. In 2019, Colm MacNider joked at sales of Idir's album's had exceeded his own at any point in history. When the band formed in 1982, Colm, Rowan and Noreen agreed that, regardless of what happened in the future, the songs recorded by Idir could be played by their respective groups in future live performances. In 1985, both Colm and Rowan decided to discontinue their own duo group, Brothers MacNider, and focus on their work with Idir. They attempted to convince vocalist Noreen Raíña to dispense with her all-female rock band Antiga Raíña but were unsuccessful. Instead, the brothers recruited signer/songwriter Kiera Rosal, who sang with the band from 1982 until 1989, when Noreen Raíña joined Idir full time. Since then, Kiera Rosal has preformed on multiple occasions with the band, singing on several albums as well as preforming during several live shows. She often pairs with with signer Noreen Raíña to preform duets on some of the band's more famous songs. In 2012, Rosal announced she would no longer be preforming with Idir as she was retiring from producing rock music to focus on her contributions to the electronica and pop genres.
The band took a break from recording together or touring from 1991 to 1996. According to Rowan MacNider, this was so he and Colm could focus on their own works, and because drummer Ardal Galicia had become disillusioned with the band and the music industry in general and wanted to take some time off. The band was in the middle of a tour circuit at the time of his departure, so Antiga Raíña drummer Rosalía Andon sat in with the band for the rest of the tour. Rather than retain Andon and continue touring, the group decided to take a break. From 1996 to 2001, Andon continued to play with the band. Galicia would return in 2002 and resume his position as the band's drummer. During this hiatus Noreen Raíña regrouped with her former band mates from Antiga Raíña to preform a final farewell tour, which ran from the end of 1992 until 1993 making a total of 192 stops in 10 countries, including Temuair, Rocha Sur, Notreceau, Trinovantum, Licana, the Copperhead Republic and Luminerra.
In 2004, Isaías Bains departed from the band to begin his own solo career. Colm MacNider put him in touch with friends at Apex Entertainment to assist him in securing a recording label. Bains would go on to form Espoleta mimicking the sound of Idir and its component artists. Though he has not played a live show as a part of Idir since dis departure, his band has toured with Idir on several occasions, and he sat in with the band in 2012 while recording Prodigal Sons and preformed as a session guitarist on several songs. In a rare move, Colm MacNider agreed to credit Bains with his work on the song, but did not extend him or his band the right to play the songs in concert. Isaías Bains was reportedly furious following this decision and filled a law suit against the band. Prior to the suit reaching litigation, Colm MacNider invited Bains to visit him at his home. It is unknown what transpired during that visit, but afterward Bains dropped the lawsuit against the band. He has not played with the band since, nor has Espoleta toured with Idir.
In 2010, the band re-recorded the song Moonlight Rider, which was originally recorded by Brothers MacNider, for use as the theme for the hit television series Moonlight Rider. The band has been heavily involved in musical production with the show since, and released soundtrack of songs recorded for the show in 2011 (Riders Rhymes) and in following the series finale (End of the Road). Both album charted well, mainly due to the popularity of the show. Several songs from the soundtracks, including Moonlight Rider have become Idir staples at live shows.
In 2015, the band preformed a studio recording session with needlerock band De Coiro, producing Idir's eighth studio album Gunslinger of Old. Following the release of Gunslinger of Old in 2015, the bands toured together for the later half of 2016 to promote the album, concluding at the 2016 Luas Music Festival. De Coiro regularly preforms several of the albums popular songs live.
In 2019, Idir invited needlegrass signer Laci O’Leary to attending a studio recording session with them. Though O’Leary had announced a temporary retirement from her musical career to finish her degree, she agreed to sit in with the band while the recording of Whispers. She was invited to tour with the band on its 2020 Whispers tour but declined, citing a desire to remain in school. Her parts will be preformed by Noreen Raíña
Members
Current Members
- Colm MacNider - guitar, vocals (1982 - 1991, 1996 - present)
- Rowan MacNider - organ, piano, guitar, vocals (1982 - 1991, 1996 - present)
- Noreen Raíña - vocals (1989 - 1991, 1996 - present)
- Ardal Galicia - drums (1982 - 1991, 2002 - present)
- Noè Pazos - bass guitar (2004 - present)
Former members
It should be noted that former members should not necessarily be considered as having departed form the band, but are just not currently playing with the band, or do not play live with the band. In a 2009 interview with StarLine Colm MacNider stated that "no one actually leaves Idir, they just come and go." As such, their time with the band will represent when they played with Idir.
- Kiera Rosal - vocals (1982 - 1989, 1999, 2004, 2012)
- Isaías Bains - bass guitar (1982 - 2004, 2012)
- Rosalía Andon - drums (1991, 1996 - 2002)
- Laci O’Leary - vocals (2019)
Discography
| Year | Album | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certification | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luas | Luas Hot 100 |
Le Pouls Roche |
Tabellone | Impulso | ||||||||||||
| 1983 | Illusions of Love |
|
17 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 1986 | Over the Vi Castis Mountians |
|
12 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 1991 | New Beginnings |
|
2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 1997 | Retro Returns |
|
21 | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 1999 | Millennium Bell |
|
7 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2004 | Pick Up the Pieces and Go Home |
|
21 | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2012 | Rider Rhymes |
|
34 | 15 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2012 | Prodigal Sons |
|
19 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2015 | Gunslinger of Old |
|
14 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2017 | End of the Road |
|
12 | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2019 | Whispers |
|
40 | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2022 | Trials of Time |
|
31 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||||||||||||