Thereafter they were somewhat less-largely ignored and released two critically acclaimed albums (meaning lots of people claimed they bought them –when in fact few did) ‘It’s All Fun & Games Til Someone Loses An Eye’ and ‘For The Want of Some Better TV’ as well as a hatful of singles including ‘Strachan’ and ‘(She Broke My Heart So I Ate Her) Liver’ . They gained some reknown for their spikey punk-pop, acerbic, witty lyricism, terrace-chant chorus’ and ultimately for fiery live performances.

Their 1997 debut album 'It's all fun and games till someone loses an eye' got rave reviews. At a time when perhaps introspective navel gazing was the flavour of the day the NME said of the record which was garnering The Hitchers a hardcore fanbase in the UK and Ireland… "a work of lyrical genius... 14 songs you can play whilst washing up and/or shagging without having to break off halfway thru to phone the Samaritans" .

Giving Single of the fortnight status to the Strachan / You Can Only Love Someone double A-side -Hot Press said it was “sizzling with attitude, energy and sheer cheek”, Melody Maker called it “Skewed feckin marvellous pop” and the Times thought it sounded “like Hannibal Lector fronting the Saw Doctors.”

David Gedge tipped them, Sean Hughes had them appear on his show and Bob Geldof reckoned he’d just found the best Irish band of the last twenty years. Indeed when Sir Bob played Limerick the year after The Hitchers de-mobbed he and his band performed You Can Only Love Someone So Much But You Can Hate Them All The Way To Hell and dedicated it to the lads. It was also on his recommendation that the song ended up being featured in the Universal Studios movie ‘Rat’ that same year.

The legendary Mr. Peel continued to play The Hitchers regularly on his show since then, playing "Strachan" only weeks before his untimely passing. His successors Steve Lamacq and Gideon Coe continue to play the band to the present day while the bands Annual reunions (the ‘Staff-Do’ as they call it) in Limerick have become the stuff of rock'n'roll legend.

20th Anniversary Single -Austin Cusack

'Austin Cusack' the spanking brand new single from The Hitchers is now available on CD and also on Download from downloadmusic and indiestore. Marking the bands 20th anniversary the recording not only features messrs Quinn, Carney, Gallagher and Fitzgerald but also has walk-on roles for returning heroes Eoin O'Kelly and Brendan McCormack from the early ‘90’s lineup as well.

To celebrate the single The Hitchers are re-uniting briefly for a short jaunt around Ireland on a spring weekend. Catch them with Cooper and Theme Tune Boy at...

Dundalk Spirit Store 18.2.10
Galway Roisin Dubh 19.2.10
Limerick Baker Place 20.2.10

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