A House: The Witty Heart of Irish Indie Rock
A House was an Irish indie rock band known for their sharp lyrics and melodic guitar-driven sound. Formed in Dublin in the mid-1980s, the group achieved significant chart success in Ireland and the UK, most notably with their 1991 album I Am the Greatest.
Early career
A House formed in 1985 around the core songwriting partnership of vocalist Dave Couse and guitarist Fergal Bunbury. The Dublin-based quartet quickly built a reputation for their energetic live shows and Couse's distinctive, acerbic lyrical style. Their independent debut single, Kick Me Again Jesus, arrived in 1986, leading to a deal with the independent label Setanta Records.
Breakthrough
The band's commercial breakthrough came with their second album, 1990's I Am the Greatest. Released on Setanta and licensed to East West Records for wider distribution, the album spawned their biggest hit. The single Endless Art, a spoken-word tribute to deceased artists, became a surprise Top 20 hit in the UK and a defining anthem for the band.
Key tracks
Endless Art — This 1991 single became their signature track, a unique spoken-word piece that achieved unexpected mainstream chart success.
Call Me Blue — A driving, guitar-heavy track from I Am the Greatest that showcased their potent blend of rock energy and pop melody.
I Am Afraid — A later single from 1992's Wide Eyed and Ignorant that demonstrated their continued songwriting strength and earned radio play.
Take It Easy On Me — A standout from their 1994 album No More Apologies, highlighting a more mature, reflective side of their indie rock craft.
The success of I Am the Greatest was followed by 1992's Wide Eyed and Ignorant, which included production work from Edwyn Collins. The band's final studio album, 1994's No More Apologies, saw them exploring a broader sonic palette before internal tensions led to their split in 1995. A House reunited briefly in the early 2000s for a series of well-received live performances.
Fans of A House's intelligent brand of guitar pop may also enjoy other key figures from the Irish indie scene. The Sultans Of Ping shared a similarly witty and irreverent approach to post-punk. My Bloody Valentine emerged from the same fertile Dublin circuit, though pursuing a vastly different sonic direction. The Divine Comedy continues the tradition of literary, orchestral-influenced Irish pop. Something Happens were contemporaries who also crafted catchy, lyric-focused alternative rock.
The music of A House maintains a steady presence on radio stations that celebrate classic alternative and indie rock. Their tracks are regularly featured on dedicated indie rock radio stations and online streams focused on guitar music from the 1980s and 1990s. Many independent music radio stations include their hits in rotations highlighting influential cult bands.
Listeners can discover the sharp songwriting of A House through the radio stations featured on our website. Their essential Irish indie rock tracks are played on various stations available on onairium.com, offering a direct route to their influential catalog.
