Steer Clear were a pop punk

Pop punk

Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...

 five piece band from Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

, Northern Ireland that played gigs from 2005 to 2009.

History

The original line up consisted of Mark McGowan, Pearse Sharratt, Pádraig 'p0d' McAlister, James 'Sib' McAuley and Vinny Feeney. They released their first EP, Dog in a Bath, in 2005, recorded in Einstein Studios. Due to both personal and musical differences Pearse left and Ciarán Bartlett took over as lead vocalist, fitting in perfectly with the bands new style. The band released another EP in 2006, Fairytales That I Despise, recorded in Manor Park Studios. Again, Steer Clear lost their vocalist, to be replaced by Dave O'Gorman. After entering the Blast:beat competition,they reached the national finals but came in 4th. Blastspace still showed interest and signed Steer Clear. Due to musical differences Dave left Steer Clear and p0d was talked into taking over lead vocals for the recording of their first full length album, No...You Hang Up.

They then decided to get a keyboardist for live performances, and after many applicants finally found Simon Craig, who gelled with the band almost straight away and helped create Steer Clear's unique sound.

Steer Clear had created a big fan base in Ireland and landed big support slots with Enter Shikari

Enter Shikari

Enter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...

, Good Charlotte

Good Charlotte

Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 1998, the band's constant members have been lead vocalist Joel Madden, lead guitarist and back-up vocalist Benji Madden, bass guitarist Paul Thomas and rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Billy Martin...

, Set Your Goals

Set Your Goals

Set Your Goals is the debut album of the punk rock band CIV. It was released in October 1995 on Lava Records. The album is best known for the hit single "Can't Wait One Minute More"...

, Elliot Minor

Elliot Minor

Elliot Minor are a classically influenced rock band from York, England. The group consists of Alex Davies , Ed Minton , Dan Hetherton and Ed Hetherton .-History and formation: 2000-2006 :...

, Paramore

Paramore

Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...

, Anti Flag and InMe

InMe

InMe are an English alternative metal band from Brentwood, Essex, who were formed in 1996. To date they have released four studio albums – Overgrown Eden ; White Butterfly ; Daydream Anonymous and Herald Moth and a greatest hits compilation album, Phoenix: The Very Best of InMe...

. These slots got Steer Clear to a wider audience and a wider fan base.

In reviewing a 2007 concert in Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

, the BBC

BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

 wrote, "There is a purity to the pop hooks that sets Steer Clear apart from the emo also-rans."

They released their first single, "Please Be My Girlfriend Again" and their debut album, No...You Hang Up soon after.

Steer Clear played in South By South West in Texas in 2008. They were well received at the festival, and were described as "the next big thing", based on the merits of their performance at the festival.

Steer Clear released the second single from their album, "Comebacks Aren't Your Thing" on 4 July 2008. They recorded a video for it in Bolton. http://youtube.com/watch?v=56FU5X2dkEU

From 7–14 July 2008, Steer Clear were all locked in a two-room secret location in Dublin, with only a practise and chill out room. They had certain tasks they had to fulfill if they wanted food, such as singing for their supper and writing a song a day. They were not allowed to leave the building. There was a 24-hour webcam and fans had to guess where the secret location was for a chance to win prizes and a chance to see them perform their new songs in The Lock In. The website received 50,000 hits in the first three days.

The band's concert at The Academy in Dublin in July 2008 was a sellout. They then were heading to Britain for a series of concerts, now with a management team, From Here To The Pier, that is based in Liverpool

Liverpool

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...

.

In September 2008, Vinny (guitarist) left the band and Conor Ebbs, the new guitarist was introduced to the public.

Break-up

The band split up in November 2008, posting a final blog on their MySpace page. They said,

"Basically we always had the attitude that the band should be fun and the second it stopped being fun is the second we stop playing. We want to leave the band in a place in our hearts and memories as something we enjoyed, something we loved doing and something that we learnt from and grew up with."

p0d and Ebbs went on to form the band Jody Has A Hitlist in early 2009.

Mark and Sib went on to form the band "I Fight Crime" with Rakan and Newg from local band "Boy Turns Hero", but Sib left soon after and the band broke up during autumn 2009.

p0d and Ebbs' new band released a 6 track EP including Steer Clear's track "Comebacks Aren't Your Thing".

Discography

Year	Album
2005	Dog in a Bath E.P.
2006	Fairytales That I Despise E.P.
2007	No...You Hang Up
2008	Bridge the Gap E.P. (Limited Pressing)