Lots of generous musicians have truly entered into the spirit of Christmas this week by deciding to give something back to those who’ve supported their music this year.
James O’Toole take note! Bats‘ EP Cruel Sea Scientist was released last week and spam-bulletins have been non-existent. Instead they post little bits and pieces of furry-faced fun, like this short’n'silly YouTube vid for the lovers of their their leather-winged thing. While you’re at it, check out their brand new website too. They do the art thing so well…
And while they ain’t gifts as such, Dark Room Notes want everyone to know that t-shirts will be available from their Whelans gig with Lauren Guillery and the Claws tomorrow night.
And on the note of Kowalski, who are planning the most extravagant extravaganza at their show tonight (horns, trumpets, choirs, guest vocalists and three drummers), I’ll leave you with their regal indie Christmas message from last year. They’ve promised to post regal indie Christmas message 2007 on the Big Day itself. So excuse yourself from Hot toddies and brandy butter on the premise of a nap (for Christmas day is aaaall about toddies, brandy and naps) and get your MySpace fix of the Seesaw funsters.
Chosen from a record-breaking 450 entries from around the country, covering a wide variety of musical genres, each band will now compete in regional heats to qualify for the semi-finals in April 2008. Selected local venues will also feature headline performances from Delorentos, Fight Like Apes, Future Kings of Spain, Giveamanakick, Fred, Ilya K and Ham Sandwich.
Hooray for the Evil Harrisons, who’ve posted a lovely blog thanking everyone involved in making their Tisch video for A Pickle Like You. See it hereCan’t wait to see the others popping up in the days to come. I’ll keep you posted! It was SuperHotPressChristmasParty at The Bridge last night. Great food, wine, people you haven’t seen all year. We were booked until 2am and Gav brought along his decks so there was zilch time and phone credit wasted crossing the city in cabs.
Christmas is definitely on the way when Tisch rolls around again. My first social assignment for HP was the 2005 premiere with videos from The Radio and Ham Sandwich. Now the event’s expanded into a twice-yearly showcase of transatlantic talent thanks to New York’s finest young directors coupled with a diverse array of Irish bands.
House of Cosy Cushions with director John Lamensdorf (rear centre)
With a glut of gigs lined up to really chuck us into the swing of Christmas season proper, this’d be a fine place to start as your money goes towards Crumlin and Temple Street Children’s Hospitals. Relax! Your collection of Jem dolls is safe: this Thursday’s Bodytonic/Thumped gig is asking admission of €10 or a new, non-plush toy (unwrapped) and in return you’ll get be treated to divine rock vs rave DJ sets from the likes of Large Mound, Jim Carroll, Richie Jape and Johnny Moy. And with a line-up like that, it’s safe to say Shakin’ Stevens won’t get a look-in….
Be-millinered Kildare rockers Kill City Defectors have joined forces with musicians from their home county to record Home For Christmas, an album of festive tunes in aid of homeless charity Focus Ireland. No details available yet on its distribution so do your bit and ask around when you do your Crimbo shopping.
“Goodbyee, wipe a tear baby dear…” After a stellar spell with north Dublin quartet The Kinetiks, drummer John McIntosh is hanging up his sticks and calling time on his tenure with the band. Good luck for the future, John-boy!
What wet your whistle and your wellies this year? Electric Picnic? Roxegen? Indie-Pendence? Cois Fharraige? The nice people at CherryCool who brought myfavourite festival (CastlePalooza) want you to vote for your best event of 2007.
Get-well wishes to Director‘s lead guitarist Eoin Aherne, who’s not feeling the best. The band had to cancel gigs across the country over the last few days but hope tonight’s Cork show at Cypress Avenue will go ahead.
Story of Hair have posted new tracks from their Ho!Ho! Ho! Stamp EP on their MySpace
page. The EP itself will be launched at Radio City on December 13th.
Also with new tracks to sample are The Hot Sprockets…they’ve just finished their first studio sessions and with the EP scheduled for early 2008, they’ll finally garner the respect they deserve.
Corsairs are preparing an offensive for 2008 and begin with a search for a manager. With a huge back catalogue of material and plans for their debut album to begin as soon as possible, they’re looking for someone motivated and serious with contacts at home and abroad. Interested applicants can mail the band (corsairsband[at]gmail.com) but be warned! Timewasters will be tied to a chair and forced to endure aeons of crap reality TV.
You’re Only Massive are a duo after me aul’ heart: they’ve posted lyrics to Beep Beep, SugarShakeTheCool, Here Is Home and Epidemic on their MySpace blog.
And my weekly reminder is due: for modern stories with candid, morbid, bizarre and downright funny flair, go digest Deaf Animal Orchestra. Read up for latest instalments on being chased by the fuzz, great music journalism and what brats can be found in the Irish music scene.
Podge from Ham Sandwich found himself in hot water last week: on arriving at Whelans for an interview with the News of the World’s Martin Burns, he was refused entrance to the legendary venue. Pissed on his faithful Buckfast to celebrate the finale of RTE’s 2fm 2moro 2our the night be4our (*GROAN*), the Hambo manbo climbed up to the pub roof, had to be rescued with a builder’s ladder and was warned off Whelans for the foreseeable future.
The interview took place in on foreign ground of *gasp* a coffee-house. Hope he had his passport!
Biggest regret of the weekend was missing Le Galaxie open Butterfly Explosion‘s highly-anticipated only Irish headliner of 2007 in Crawdaddy on Saturday. I was stuck in taxi-traffic from the Quays to Wexford Street and missed their set. Everyone I spoke to was blown away…get yourself to their next show, a Christmas extravaganza also in Crawd, with the similarly excellent Betamax Format on December 15th.
Instead I arrived in time for second support, The Blonde Majority, renamed since their days as Fair Verona.
