Paul Bolger has been telling stories with pictures, sound and imagination since the late 80s. He’s an artist, writer, director and producer who recently stepped back into songwriting and recording. He uses one art form to fund the others, so if success can be measured in doing what he wants, then that’s how this Waterford, Ireland singer-songwriter gets things done.
‘Hard Truth’ was released on April 29, 2022. Four of the ten songs (“The Start Of It”, “Godforsaken”, “Lady Love & The Cavalier”, “Different Sky”) were previously released on his 2018 limited-edition EP. The new remixed and remastered versions on ‘Hard Truth’ feature the wonderful vocals of Della Mannion. The album also showcases the mighty talents of Dave Molloy (acoustic & electric guitars / keyboards / percussion / mandolin) who also produced and recorded the album, Ron O’Flynn (bass), Michael Black (drums / percussion), Tabitha Agnew (banjo), and Cathleen Flynn (piano) creating a blend of Irish vibe and rootsy rock and roll that give PJB’s songs a fresh urgency and ambition. “I wanted to widen my sound on ‘Hard Truth’ with a smaller band,” says Paul. “As my last effort was a big team, yet intimate, Canadian / Irish / American affair, I wanted to see how far I could push these songs with fewer people performing.”
Bolger’s self-titled debut was released through Wolfe Island Records, in Summer 2020, making Paul the label’s very first East-of-the-Atlantic signing. The songs were worked up from ideas and demos PJB brought with him when he went to visit producer Hugh Christopher Brown on Wolfe Island, Ontario in Summer 2018.
“If my first record was a slightly keyboard driven whisper, then ‘Hard Truth’ is an audacious guitar led shout.” Special guests on the album are Irish music legends, Horslip’s Barry Devlin on vocals and Rónán Ó Snodaigh from Kíla on bodhrán on the title track.
‘Hard Truth’ is dedicated to Paul’s late uncle Jimmy Jackson who was born and lived in Waterford.
Champion, Inspiration, Singer, Lost soul…
Work is underway on a third record. Let’s hope it comes with a limited-edition companion piece graphic book.