David Howley, lead vocalist and guitarist from We Banjo 3, was my guest on Nine Volt Heart. He previewed “his band of brothers” upcoming New England tour in support of their new release, Haven. The tour has stops in Conn, Maine and a local stop at Northampton’s Iron Horse on 2/6. They play at the Somerville Theater on 2/9 to finish the tour.

This quartet hails from Galway, Ireland and consists of two sets of brothers; Martin Howley plays banjo,mandolin, and sings. My guest, David Howley, plays guitar and sings. The other set of siblings includes Enda Scahill on banjo and Fergal Scahill on fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Between the four, they count about Twenty All-Ireland awards in their honor. They play like a cross of Avett Brothers meets The Frames.

Their new disc, Haven, is a powerhouse of all originals played with intensity and sincerity. The songs seem like party tunes but the lyrics tell a deeper story. Several deal with deeply personal issues like depression and anxiety. David was very open about discussing the band’s latest direction. We talk about their inherent optimism and the need for honesty in dealing with these tougher issues. They are a talented and energetic bunch and are selling out these shows quickly. So, give our interview a listen along with the songs “The Fox”, “Haven”, “Happiness”, “Hold On to Your Soul” and “Don’t Let Me Down”.