I was tagged by Adam in this blogathon: name seven songs you’ve been listening to and tag another seven people to participate.
I’m not sure if I know seven people who like music. Hrrmm…

Car Park – Butterfly Explosion
Last week’s untimely news that Butterfly Explosion as we know it is no more, I’ve been giving them a fair oul’ bash on the iPod. Oh-so-unhurried in its build-up, Car Park remains my favourite track. If sugar had a sound, this would be it.

Phil Lynott – Jape
“Jape’s new album is a little slice of Heaven” said my friends and they were right. I picked the album up last week and it’s barely stopped. While I’m not so much an acoustic fan, I looove this little number about a the shadow of lunar eclipse like Philo’s sleepy eye looking over the rockers of Dublin. Beautiful homage to a true Dub legend.

Drone Rock – SuperExtraBonusParty
Yep, I’ve played the album to within an inch of its life and yet it shows no sign of losing appeal. While Propellor is my favourite tune, I love the tribal tones in this number building hypnotically before accelerating into signature SEBP mayhem. Should be a permanent fixture on any Irish DJ set.

Summer Broke My Spine – Waiting Room
This Dublin band parted ways a few months ago and released their debut album shortly afterwards. Graceful and tranquil, this haunting melody may well be first on my playlist when heading home from a weekend of wading through Oxegen mud: it’s perfect for staring into inky night with a happy head and heavy heart.

Lost Now – Dry County
Who doesn’t love Dry County? Though a while since its release, I still find my clicking button drawn to these songs and Lost Now is one flawless slice of Irish electronica that never fails to raise spirit and smiles on my account. Cheeeeck their “last ever”* gig at Whelans this Thursday.

Are We Winners – New Amusement
One of my favourite bands at the moment,  New Amusement released this beauty of a song on their ambitious mini-album Any Port in a Storm. With underlying Eighties romance and the twangy sound of new indie, it puts me in a great mood.

Seven – We Are Knives 
“beeepbeeepbeeep”…make way for the cement truck, folks! Driven by Belfast trio WAK, Ireland’s rock foundations are ready to be laid by the latest musical-masons to emerge from the North. Seven features on their searing six-track debut and I’ve been in raptures. While my heart belongs to ASIWYFA, I might just cheat and kiss these songs to death.

* So they say. Despite this Drop-D article hinting at a new album, rumour is rife that DC are up to something. I think a cigar factory in the Honduras or perhaps the new in-house singing barmen at the Bernard Shaw…sure, why not?!

In keeping with the MeMe, I hereby tag seven Irish bands:

1. Red Kid
2. Lauren Guillery
3. La Faro
4. Ugly Megan
5. 79 Cortinaz
6. The Kinetiks
7. Matt Lane

Congratulations to Balcony TV on a smashing ceremony on Friday night in which a new batch of winners were announced at the second Music Video Awards. The web-based channel broadcasts fresh music content every day on YouTube, updating via their website and blog. It’s proved a popular format for musicians and fans alike and a second channel was established in Hamburg, Germany, in late 2007.
Ascending another step of the pop scene ladder with a win on Friday were The Script who walked away with Best Band, beating off heavy competition from The Coronas and The Flaws. It’s looking rosy for the Dublin trio who’ve gone into orbit from obscurity (check out their MySpace calendar boasting serious festival activity) with the release of We Cry, their first single from August’s self-titled debut album on the RCA label Phonogenic.

Amongst the hordes hanging out on the night were Camogie Lovers, Lauren Guillery, Red Kid, Royseven, Jacqui Carroll and The Kinetiks, who rocked their way through a sharp, polished set with frenetic ease. I love their blue neon KINETIKS sign!

Here’s the full list of winners:
Read the rest of this entry »

Nautilus vs Irish Ferry – so fresh it’s steaming. Go to Bats and pay homage with insects.

Irish music takes a bow tonight at the Sugar Club as Balcony TV’s 2008 Music Video Awards commemorate the best live performances of the year. The Kinetiks, Royseven, Readers’ Wives and six others will set the stage for the winning announcements, which along with the usual Best Male/Female/International categories include Best Show and Best Band. 2007 winners Royseven hand over their crown tonight and Camogie Lovers and Readers’ Wives face a fierce fight for the title from The Script, The Coronas and The Flaws.
Best of all, ADMISSION and BEER are FREE

Although LoveMusic, HateWar at Dorans will be cracking I think you’ll probably find me here tonight for two reasons:
A) I’m sick to death of Dorans’ lighting
B) Last Thursday I went to see Galway’s Mugger Dave at McGrudders, along with Rennie and the Heartburns. Thanks to yummy vodka and the discovery of a cooool little acoustic lounge – we urged Rennies’ bassist up for a few turns to which he forgot the lyrics and the chords – I pretty much missed Mugged Dave. Of their set, a few hazy 1am memories of men in black shirts and white ties remain. I promised myself I’d check their next Dublin show.
Also on the bill are Fear The Foliage and Miracle Bell, who I’ve been wanting to check out for a while. What is it with Kildare and electronic noises, was there a highest per-county capita of SNES consoles and Doctor Who during the formative 1988-1999 period? Whatever, it’s looking good
Now, I must go and pray to God of Sound Desks for a decent light rig in The Village. Anyone heading to Candy Karaoke or Dorans later? Bells optional.

Irish Music Central has come to a standstill. The front page hasn’t refreshed since April and the last update was March. Has it folded? Does anyone know why?
I loved this little site and really notice its absence. Sure it needs a makeover via a shot of adrenaline but its heart’s in the right place.

Come back, IMC?

Maser, Synth Eastwood, Lili Forberg and David Cleary (I love his pics of Nina Hynes) are just a few of the names who designed one-off album covers of their favourite artists.  How much fun does that sound?
Candy Karaoke launches at the MonsterTruck Gallery in Francis Street tomorrow 19 June.

A statement on the Butterfly Explosion MySpace blog has confirmed the band’s split:

A quiet time since our last gig has given us opportunity to reflect on what has been a time of significant change for Butterfly Explosion. After much thought and deliberation we decided as a group, to part ways. As a band we have had many great opportunities, have met many great musicians and music fans and for this we are grateful. Thanks for listening, buying and supporting our music over the last number of years. We all plan to continue making music.

Plans are being put into place for work to continue on the project in a new guise with the goal of recording a Butterfly Explosion album in mind.
Check back here for updates in the coming weeks.

Good luck guys, we’ll be waiting in the wings….

This looks Thursday-night deadly and I got Ethics. Let’s all rock in the name of love.
*sighs*
Dorans again!

Jazz Biscuit posted the 2:30am Conundrum yesterday and also linked to BodyTonic’s article protesting the new legislation that will see theatre licenses (3:30am) scrapped in favour of blanket late licenses for all premises terminating the serving of alcohol at 2:30am (1am on Sundays) from as early as 3 July.
What do you think about closing times? How do they compare to our European neighbours? Is 2:30am already Godawful o’clock or would later hours mean a more responsible approach to drinking? Should dancing and socialising be allowed to continue after the sale of alcohol has ended?

GiveUsTheNight have long been campaigning for relevant licensing hours and this new move is at least an improvement on 2004′s attempt to restrict late licenses to 1:30am. The Irish Nightclub Industry Association (INIA) oppose the new move and instead seek a palliative approach to the high number of drinkers ejected at closing time each night. More info can be found here, while you’re at it why not complete the survey and add your name to the petition?

I personally think bars could cease trading alcohol at a respectable hour but allow socialising to continue with a soft bar offering water and even food. Dancing and music would allow people to wind down and depart on their own time while those out to simply get drunk would face no undue change to their habits. As it is, many people lose control by binging on doubles as last orders beckon. Drinking so much you puke, lose your taxi fare and end up kipping in a Burger King is the only worse end to a night than boisterous bar staff demanding every soul vacates the premises on the dot of closing time.

What do you think?

*Edit*
I’ve been thinking about the theatre license while getting ready to head into the office.
Is there a reason why our entertainment hours are intrinsically linked with pub closing times? They’re two separate factors of socialising conveniently lumped together. Why is there nowhere to go once the bar-staff finish up?
Theatre licenses are useful because they mark definite entertainment establishments while pubs and nightclubs are primarily aimed at the sale of alcohol. Retaining the theatre license and going some way to implement a downtime of sorts for people to relax and dance after the bar closes could prove hugely beneficial. There’s a horrible sense of urgency as last orders approach and crowds of happy people suddenly binge and become morose because they know soon they’ll be kicked out and there’s nothing left but to go home…or to a gaff party where many of the real dangers of indulgences abound. I’d much rather head to a Berlinese cafe and sober up with soft music and coffee.