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By: Off Her Rocker » Blog Archive » News n Etc

Off Her Rocker » Blog Archive » News n Etc — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:29:37 +0000

[...] Hassle Merchants got up to their usual bold tricks over the weekend, earning themselves a ban from Eamonn Dorans, a tad bothersome considering their debut single The Indie War is/was due to be launched at the venue on Saturday night. “BOTHER?!” I hear the Merchants cry, “NAY!” More hassle, no trouble? Indeed: the previous plan was to charge €10 admission into Dorans. Now the gig (featuring Sickboy and The Hot Sprockets amongst others) will go ahead gratis at the Bernard Shaw on Saturday. Check out this post for flyer/vid/free download of Felix Comes A-Lickin’… [...]

By: nay

nay — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:46:45 +0000

Here’s a suitably terrified Donie :
http://www.hotpress.com/photos/photo.php?id=2907430&idx=24

By: duan

duan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:24:54 +0000

gallery here!

By: nay

nay — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:58:38 +0000

It was indeed
Donie climbed atop a 15-feet high speaker stack, sparking up a faaag.
Perry (Automatic’s keys man) saw him and went apoplectic, scrambled up after him, snatched his cigarette, threatened Donie’s eyeball with its glowing ember, threw him on the stage, followed, throttled and came close to pounding shades out of him…except several thousand people in the Ambo were watching as he raised his fist….while true to name, The Automatic played on as if a mere pair of knickers had been hurled on stage.
I’d root out a pic but they’re on the HotPress machines…I think HM have it on their blog though.

By: PeterW

PeterW — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:48:25 +0000

Was it you who took that great pic of yer man from the hasslemerchants on stage invading at the automatic?

By: nay

nay — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:07:44 +0000

Indeed, such a random accident that really shook up the band. They told me it broke their hearts to continue the band without Age’s drumming but he’s been given as long as necessary to recuperate and his place will always be there. They’re a bloody brilliant, bawdy group, can’t wait for the EP (hopefully later this year)
The HM&Friends spectrum I mentioned really came into force with support at that time of his accident too. They watch out for each other.

And there you go, John. Sauce for your goose ain’t for Dave’s gander and ever will it be so.

By: Dayve

Dayve — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:12:03 +0000

John- perhaps frenetic rock is just more popular than more calculated electronic music? Not to say Channel One and Dry County aren’t worth my time, but I’m more attuned to the rock angle myself.

Aye, funny you should mention Hot Sprockets. My brother was just filling me in on them last night, and I was quietly impressed. Nasty business with that Luas though.

By: nay

nay — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:25:27 +0000

Dude, Dry County were nominated for the Choice and Channel One went to SXSW. Both are recognised as exceptional talents here and are always billed accordingly. I wouldn’t say (by a long stretch) the Hassle Merchants are more succesful/known?

I think HM are exactly what you said, arrogant and noisy. They’re the kind of band who are happy to play with the same back-up, in the same venues, to the same people, year-in, year-out because they thrive on live performances. Interestingly enough, their performances are excellent: I’ve seen them several times and first I was unimpressed, thinking they were a parody of the more succesful Irish bands at the time. However as time’s passed, I’ve seen them progress to stronger shows and excellent crowd interaction: one thing you get at these kind of gigs HM&Friends have regularly established in Ireland is energy. Bags of it, crowds of it, on the stage, in your face.
It’s not easy to be a plain oul’ rock band in cosmopolitan Dublin where all the paying gig-goers listen to Dan Deacon or Avey Tare. Yet they’ve built up a commendable base and after three years of solid gigging, prepare to release a debut single. Whose tastes can argue with dedication like that?

By: John

John — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:07:15 +0000

Same old, same old. I have seen all the above bar Sleepy rise. The kind of arrogant noise rock that comes from Camden even week. The Dublin music scene is a sad thing really. I am an avid gig goer and know a fair bit about the Irish “scene”. I have no idea why proper good bands like Channel One, More Tiny Giants and Dry County are not bigger than they are and that messy rock garage bands seem to be more well known. Awell, I definitely won’t be attending the above!