The Flaws were an Irish indie-rock quartet, hailing from Carrickmacross in County Monaghan. The band released their self entitled debut EPin the Summer of 2005 which attracted a flurry of label attention and eventually culminated in the signing of a 5-album contract to Polydor UK/ Universal Music in December 2005. The flaws released three full-length studio albums between 2007 and 2016. The Flaws consist of: Paul Finn on Vocals/Guitar, Paul Mallon on Bass/Backing Vocals, Shane Malone, Lead Guitar and drummer Colin Berrill.
Career
Background
The original group went to Patrician High School secondary school together in Carrickmacross and formed a band in the early 2000’s called Sweet Relief during their Dublin college years. A more serious approach to original music culminated in a band name change, the recruiting of Dundalk music guru Derek Turner of Tumbleweed Studios, Spirit Store and Honey Thieves fame and extensive Irish original music venue touring ensured a sound foundation for the quartet in those early years. Popular venues such as the aforementioned Spirit Store, McHughs Drogheda, Eamon Doran’s, Cypress Avenue, Dolan’s, Auntie Annies, McGarrigles, Voodoo Lounge, Yukon Bar, An Roisin Dubh were frequented as the band shaped their musical niche. The Flaws embarked on an extensive tour during the Summer of 2005 around Ireland with Dublin band Delorentos and Belfast indie outfit Fast Emperors. Other high-profile support slots to The Fratellis and Editors helped bolster the bands growing popularity in the early days. In July 2007 original drummer, founding member Stephen Finnegan left the band for personal reasons.
Popularity
The Flaws played the Crawdaddy Stage of Electric Picnic at 13:15 on Sunday 2 September 2007. They did an instore in BPM in Wexford on Sunday 28 October at 15:30. They played "Rock 'N Roulette" on The Podge and Rodge Show on Tuesday 20 November. The Flaws were nominated for two Meteor Awards in the categories "Best Irish Album", and "Best Irish Band" at the 2008 Meteor Awards. Their debut album, Achieving Vagueness was also nominated for the Choice Music Prize. The list of 2008 festival appearances for the band includes a return to the Electric Picnic and slots at Glastonbury, Indie-pendence and Castlepalooza. The Flaws have also had their music played on a number of radio stations and music channels in Italy.
Discography
The Flaws's four-track EP was recorded in Tumbleweed Studios in Dundalk, County Louth. National commercial radio station Today FM broadcast the track on Alison Curtis's The Last Splash programme, in which she described the lead track "16" as "brilliant". The EP also includes the tracks "Idolise", "Everybody's Got to be Somewhere" and "Fed to the Lions". Their debut album, Achieving Vagueness was released on 14 September 2007 to critical acclaim. A Choice Music Prizenomination for the album followed on 10 January 2008. Their debut album was recorded and mixed by acclaimed Irish producer Gareth Mannix. October 2010 saw the release of the group's second album, Constant Adventure. The Flaws went on an hiatus for 2 years, infrequently releasing singles until they announced that they would release a third record. "Springtime For The Flaws", was released 24 April 2015. This was to be the bands final offering but to fans surprise an unannounced song entitled “All Of Us” was released on social media with accompanying video in May 2020.
