“Why can’t all bands be this instantly lovable?”, wondered our own Johnnie Craig when he came across Waterford’s O Emperor at last October’s Hard Working Class Heroes festival. The band certainly stood out then and still do. Their dreamy sound owes much to the music of America both past and present, joining the dots between the Band and Flaming Lips. Debut single ‘Po’ certainly did the business for them on its release, leading them to headline the New Bands stage at Oxegen. With their place already booked on the next series of RTE 2′s Other Voices, they head out this week on a UK and Irish tour that marks the start of what is sure to be a hectic year.