I won’t have it! The amazing LeBien have packed up their synths, pulled down the shutters, padlocked the doors and chucked the key aside. Their performance at Childline last night was a grand finale to us unwitting punters and I am devastated to say goodbye. They’ve even deleted their MySpace profile. *sob* You will be sorely missed guys. Sorely.
La Rocca live the American dream, packing their guitars on their back and hitching their way to LA. Kinda.
They finish their Irish tour tomorrow night at Crawdaddy. I’d be there but for the Irish Blog Awards *chomps nails*
Can I just take this opportunity to wish everyone the best of luck. You’re all brilliant writers, astute, sharp and a barrel of laughs. All winners in my eyes.
Congratulations to Hooray For Humans on their new line-up. As you may remember, I posted the news of Aine’s departure last week. It’s just been announced that they’ve found two new members: give a grand welcome to Jen and Matt. Can’t wait to see them take to the stage and blow us all away. It’s gonna be a mad few weeks as the band prepare to release their Safekeeping 7″ and tour the UK so wish em all the best of luck!
The Kinetiks are a fierce machine. They’ve come a long way from mop-topped sneaker rock in Eamonn Dorans when Johnny Craig slated them as “The Kooks without the hooks”…this weekend they take to Whelans to launch their new single, Bite The Bullet, recorded with Gareth Mannix in Grouse Lodge last year. You can buy Bite The Bullet in digital form from Sonikpollen and downloadmusic.ie or alternatively, pop into Tower Records at 1pm to see their live in-store sesh. Hard copies are also available at Road Recs.
SuperExtraBonusHangovers are doing the rounds today! What an incredible night! Each of the ten acts performed spellbinding sets to the packed-out venue, although I only saw nine, missing Kila. There was a great buzz in the air…everyone was happy to be there and on tenterhooks awaiting the final decision!
It was an extremely pleasant event to work at. The after-party in the back bar was conversation heaven, a great chance to catch up with some old faces and a few new ones, too!
Heartfelt congratulations to the SEBP chaps on winning the prize, Vicar St erupted into euphoric chaos when Jim announced the winner and yours truly took a galloping leap into the air: I’m €280 better off today!
Fabulous result…shows that there’s a lot of faith in the new music industry: SuperExtraBonusParty’s eponymous, off-beat debut is officially the best Irish album of 2007 and by gum, I’m proud of that musical ambassador!
Congrats again a thousand times to the winners, thanks to the judges and organisers of Choice Prize for all their hard work ensuring a good time was had by all, to all the performers for great shows and also to the long-suffering audience at the front who put up with us peegees rampaging over the feet all night!
You can catch SuperExtraBonusParty tonight at Childline Rocks in The Academy. More photos from the night are on their way in a special Choice Music Prize gallery on HP.com
If you played Dead Start Program to death and are anxious for a new fix of Dark Room Notes, they’ve posted four songs from their 2fm session with Dan Hegarty in September last year. One or two of these tracks may be reworked to feature in their debut “lovely vintage analogue synths” album, scheduled to be recorded this summer. Catch DRN this weekend for the Dublin wing of Akoustik Anarkhy when they support Eyebrowy faves UK-based It’s A Buffalo and LAPals
Although these flyers mention the BoomBoomRoom as the venue, gigs have been moved to Murrays (formerly Fraziers) of O’Connell Street so any purchased tickets will be made good on the night.
Dig out your chequered Vans and hippy headbands, sunny anthems are on their way! It’ll be summer in no time…RedKid are back! Yeeah!
Hearing that RedKid have been holed up in Hollywood recording their debut album Nobody Told Me…, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’ve another LaRocca/The Thrills on our hands. Except it’s Hollywood, Co. Wicklow and the glitzy lifestyle enjoyed in the making of their impending record concerns page 3 and a local ghost named Charlie. They rented a cottage, lugged up gear and provisions and proceeded to scissor-kick the shit outta the Rockers’ Code of rehearse, record, refill. Read all about it!
“I think the combination of mixing Jaegermeister, red wine, whiskey and the great outdoors brought out the wild men in RedKid. We decided at 3 in the morning to go check out a ‘haunted’, abandoned old house just up from the cottage. Ro, JonnyBoy and Aidan all reckoned there was a spirit in there but I reckon it was the spirits inside us!”
That’s what ya wanna hear, eh? High jinks, good spirit, fun times…plenty of those in the Red camp!
Seven brand-new songs were laid down in the cottage session which certainly bodes well in the transition of new lad Aidan who replaced the deadly Liamo on bass late last year. A lot of work goes into the bright sound of the band’s showtime numbers, a medley borne of love for Nineties indie pop juxtaposed with love of almost everything Sixties, harmonically developing into dreamy melodies at the pace of your fastest heartbeat. Exciting times ahoy!
Decide for yourself next week when RK release Nobody Told Me… in its entirety as a FREE DOWNLOAD.
You know I’ll hit up those links so be sure to check back here soon!
You can play a part in kicking off a great season for RedKid by heading to The Academy tonight to see them battle it out amongst kindred hopefuls Jezzebelle, Star Turtle, No Veto and Junah for a place in this final and the chance to play Oxegen 2008. And if that ain’t enough, ye slaverin Red beasts, here’s a making-of clip from their shoot for the Rocket Ship video shortly after Aidan’s arrival.
Dublin’s finest open-mic night, Bruxelles’ own Zodiac Sessions, launch a new compiliation album, The Potential Collection v.2 at the Sugar Club this Thursday. Overseen by Philo’s now-famous statue, all breeds and bands of lyrical brigands descend on the Harry Street bar each Wednesday night for the chance to jam amongst kindred spirits. If acoustic rock is your thing, get along to the launch tomorrow night. The new album is also available to buy via the online store of zodiacsessions.com
Here’s the zany Zodiac collaboration of Blue Oyster Cult on Don’t Fear The Reaper…
Got some smashing pics for you here today: Toni Ireton, blogette extraordinaire went along on Saturday to shoot Ham Sambo’s first airing of Carry The Meek in their favourite Dublin venue, Whelans. Hop along to her blog to check out all the pics in their full technicolour glory…Thanks Toni!
Ham Sandwich have a smorgasbord of gigs lined up over the coming weeks with ten nationwide tour dates promoting Carry The Meek to be found on their MySpace. You can also catch them at Childline Rocks (Feb 28) or Murphy’s Live (Mar 6).
Here’s the video for their brand new hit, Keepsake:
Starting the week with a gorgeous new flyer…Butterfly Explosion, Subplots and Lights (formerly The Negative Way) play Whelans as March’s instalment of Club AC30. In terms of deadly St Patrick’s day celebrations, this beats polystyrene shamrocks and warm cans of Harp hands down…
