TPOE 326: HousePlants

The Point of Everything

HousePlants are Paul Noonan and Daithi. They released their second album Half Known Things on October 18 and talk about its creation on this episode of the TPOE podcast. Buy Half Known Things: https://wearehouseplants.bandcamp.com/album/half-known-thingsh HousePlants tour dates: December 27: Roisin Dubh, Galway December 28: Cyprus Avenue, Cork January 11: Dolan's Warehouse, Limerick January 30, 31: Button Factory, Dublin Intro music: HousePlants - Swimming Pool Outro music: HousePlants - Hope is a Hell of a Drug --- Press release: HousePlants have built a reputation for their electrifying live performances, from festivals like All Together Now and Beyond the Pale, to opening slots for legends such as Chic and Leftfield. Their unique combination of energetic rhythms and heart-on-sleeve storytelling has earned them a loyal following. With Half Known Things, the band promises to deliver more of the vibrant, feel-good energy that has become their hallmark, while venturing deeper into sonic experimentation and live band dynamics. Paul Noonan reflects on the evolution from their debut: "This album was very much informed by playing shows with the first one, feeling what was connecting and creating those euphoric collective moments. With Dry Goods, we were sending each other parts from our respective bunkers. This time, we had the luxury of being in the same room for some of it and making decisions in the moment. Every decision, we asked, ‘Will it make the people move?’ The result is an album full of heart, heat, and groove, with distorted textures and vibrant beats driving the music forward. From the album opener “In The Right Light” to the seven-minute opus “No Pushover,” Half Known Things pulses with life, capturing the raw, raucous energy of their live performances. Daithí shares his journey throughout the making of the album: "Half Known Things feels alive in a way I’ve never experienced before – we’ve tried to capture the wild energy of our live shows and bottle it into these nine tracks. It’s music that’s messy, human, and alive, which to me is the heart of what HousePlants is all about." Standout tracks include 'Swimming Pool', an upbeat anthem that captures the messy joy of life, and 'My Love My Umbrella', a haunting ballad that draws inspiration from Irish writer John McGahern’s works. From start to finish, Half Known Things offers a sonic experience that is simultaneously introspective and celebratory, inviting listeners to lose themselves in the music, and most importantly, have fun.