Off Her Rocker Is One Year Old!
What a year…the most fun ever, cross my heart. Off Her Rocker is 1 year old on 20 December!! Hot Press took a gamble approving my idea for an Irish music catablogue: just two years earlier I’d turned up on the doorstep a musical orphan, clinging to memories of my abandoned parents Papa Black Flag and Mother Love Bone. I thought cameras came from vending machines and gigs were a type of horse-drawn carriage.
“Are you familiar with the magazine?” I was asked at my interview.
“Sure, I’ve ate many a dinner off a Hot Press on my lap!”
Chancing it gets you everywhere: invigorated by the discovery of a thriving scene on my own doorstep, OHR opened the way towards some truly brilliant musical experiences in 2008. Though Berlin and Berkeley have their own vibe there are people who will never even see a guitar, or know what it’s like to call for an encore. They live in Beirut and Bangladesh but also in Ballymun and Ballsbridge. It’d be a waste to not love it all, my job, my life. From roars, chants and sighs, conducting rolling hillsides to a divine post-rock soundtrack on the train to the NSMA heats, shy helloes after gigs, grabs for set-lists, the infinitesimal number of drunken faux pas…it’s been a blast from start to finish, all so real and live.
With such a fresh soundtrack it feels I haven’t aged a day this year. I’m a grumpy mama as as well as a giddy PJ and in our house, music’s always on. We have SEBP raves and bake biscuits to Leanne Harte. Aged eight and seven, my kids are deadly brats who give me zits, hugs and a full schedule…Although it seems as though I’ve covered a lot of live gigs this year, some I simply couldn’t make. There have been so many kind messages and invitations to which I’ve not responded and I’d like to apologise for this negligence. Sure I’m always at 90mph and my memory’s woeful but sometimes it just feels crap to say no.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been publishing shots from the year that were waiting in the wings. I’m afraid I lost some brilliant pics of Halves, New Amusement, 202s and Realistic Train. Other bands’ lighting conspired to foil best efforts…I’m coming back for you!
Anyway I thought it would be nice to pop back to some of the high points of the year and so as a birthday present/indulgence for the occasion I delved into the Happy Moment files: 2008 news and photos from festivals. Look what lovely memories you’ve given us…
~* CLICK ME FOR WOWZA PHOTOS*~
January : Norn Iron fire at The Wiggers’ Brawl in the snowy wastes of Portrush. Led by Team Fresh MCs a 200-strong chorus of ‘”FUCK KELLY’S!” ushers in the new year *** hardglammers DC Pakt call it a day *** Large Mound find a Hollywood follower in Vince Vaughn, who profile-plays their song Your Holiday Sounds Boring on MySpace.
February : Off Her Rocker breaks exclusive news of The Chalets’ decision to split *** Controversial judges award Super Extra Bonus Party with the Choice Music Prize, your reporter cleans up at the bookies *** Podge Mc Namee muskerades as Chris Martin on a YouTube spoof of Yellow.
March : Glen and Marketa Irglova win an Oscar for Falling Slowly *** National Student Music Award heats get underway in Cork and Galway *** Originally a solution for boredom as Irish music hit a quiet lull, OHR’s The Real Underground Scene post goes down a storm amongst readers and subsequently appears in print edition of Hot Press.
April : Garage stooges The Urges announce signing to Steve Van Zant’s American label Wicked Cool *** Crayonsmith land support slot on Islands’ North American tour *** The Pez go to war against a fan who dared replicate their image…in Lego *** The Minutes win Vodafone Bright New Sounds and a Carbon record contract.
May : And So I Watch You From Afar play Chicken in the traffic around the Parnell monument for a photoshoot on their first gigging trip to Dublin *** A new batch of Hot Press/Tisch videos are unveiled, featuring brilliant talents of FKOS, Halves, Ian Whitty and the Exchange to name a few *** Cork expats-on-the-run Class of 1984 perform at the so-hawt-now Great Escape festival in Brighton *** Floyd Soul and the Wolf win the NSMA 2008 final at The Village.
June : Butterly Explosion undergo a drastic line-up shuffle *** BATS continue their deadliness-defined dominion with the release of the Nautilus vs Irish Ferry video *** Dry County hit Whelans for the most incendiary ClubAC30 Dublin yet and announce they’re changing their name.
July : Festival season swings into play and Oxegen boasts its greenest line-up yet with the IMRO stage line-up featuring New Amusement, The Red Labels and Codes *** The Athenrides plan a campaign to become Ireland’s next Eurovision candidates *** Noise Control sign two songs to Disney Interactive’s new action-sports game Pure *** You’re Only Massive’s Megan reveals she will depart after the release of the YOM/Queen Kong split DotDash.
August : The Script hit the top of Ireland and UK album charts with their debut album *** Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners passes away *** Fight Like Apes wow the Castle Palooza crowd and many leave awed by the discovery of RSAG.
September: Hard Working Class Heroes returns to its home in Dublin city centre with its most ambitious line-up yet featuring The Vinny Club, Groom and Crayonsmith *** Land Lovers come from obscurity to release Romance, Romance *** Adebisi Shank prove they own our arses at the cataclysmic launch of their long-awaited debut album TITAOABCAS
October : Hot Press brings The Music Show to town for the biggest and best expo crowd yet as thousands cram in to catch live performances from Fionn Regan, Damien Dempsey, Ham Sandwich and Republic of Loose *** GiveAManAKick, Heathers, Hooray For Humans and Fighting With Wire wow New York at the CMJ Music Marathon *** Super Extra Bonus Party pack 700 sweaty souls into Andrews Lane Theatre for their Appetite For Reconstruction remix album launch *** Irishman My Woolly Hat goes head-to-head against Diplo and James Holden in the race to remix Radiohead’s Reckoner and doesn’t come off too badly at all for his troubles
November : The Hot Sprockets release their debut EP Country Dirt and in true Human Music shit-kicking style, cause a massive stage invasion in the Button Factory *** Scientific BATS shock the Irish music community by announcing plans to record their first album with Kurt Ballou of Converge fame in Salem, Massachusetts AKA Witch Town *** A campaign begins to make Jape’s Phil Lynott single a Christmas number one *** Independent record Label Out On A Limb celebrates five years still in business with an all-star cast in Limerick
December : 79 Cortinaz announce the end of the band in its current line-up *** Limerick’s We Should Be Dead decide to up sticks and head west to seek their fortune in America *** Laura Izibor is chosen to open for soul legend Aretha Franklin in New York….and who knows what else is in store before the year’s out? Don’t YOU get caught with your hand in the till….
As a music fan, there’s so much talent and excitement in this country, built on the values and ethics of The Deadly Buzz we all know so well. I’d like to thank all the readers who’ve stopped by Off Her Rocker, the bands, labels, managers, promoters for the music and the roles of hard work they play in helping to spread the word of what’s really going on. You guys make me jump out of bed in the morning and sing my way down the road…2009 and a whole new year beckons. Mind if I tag along for more?
congrats m’dear and more to come i’m sure!!
‘Don’t YOU get caught with your hand in the till….’
Hahaha GENIUS!
Power to ya nay.. keep up the good work.
Cheers lads
Any highs and lows of the year yourselves?
I . - . - . !
L “, ,” U
O ” . ” O
V E Y
I like it messy :p
roll on year 2 Nayski!!
I find OHR addictive…..it’s my drug!
well done!!! yay!
Congrats nay! Always good to see a blog that cover Irish bands the coverage they need. Keep up the deadly work.
not drunk - swear.
congratumalations
Congrats Nay and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you in’09. ENDA.
Well, what can I say!! Club AC30 Dublin and Off Her Rocker are almost exactly the same age!! There’s like 5 days in the difference!!! Madness.
Well done pet, may OHR go from strength to strength as it well deserves to. You’ve made all my giggy fun memories 100 times better with amazo pics in this past year and got me into a wealth of excellente Irish musak. Keep it up!!!
xx
Also Nay!
Where is gig of the year/worst gig of the year award ?
Oh I can help you out with the worst gig of the year..
Tonight, I was unfortunate enough to be dragged along to YOU ARE ONLY MASSIVE (Forever Present xmas ‘bash’… so you need to named!) for my last night in Dublin before I head home home… well to be perfectly honest it was just depressing. YOU ARE ONLY TERRIBLE would be more apt. Do these guys seriously think this is good? I won’t list names here… Was it you that recommended these guys? Honestly. I went to give them another chance after their woeful EP show which made me angry and their Dan Deacon support slot which annoyed me to say the least. tonight was just agonizing.
R.S.A.G before them was just wonderfully unique and interestingly brilliant. 100% made my night. I will be picking up the album asap. He really should have headlined. He at least had a ‘crowd’ and had songs.
I have been going to an awful awful amount of gigs (Irish bands usually!) in 2008 and to end with this really does make me want to cry really and I now have to go out to buy a ticket to something else to make me forget about this half arsed mess that happened tonight.
About 10 people (presumably their friends) there for them.. RSAG had about 60 and the 50 or so people left after one YAOM song.
YAOM should pack it in. I really think they should and I am pretty sure they will quit after tonights show. I know you have fun on stage but we don’t. We really definitely don’t.
I really do applaud the guy who said “Why are you so s***” tonight. I would have shook your hand but you ran off after you said it.
I am sorry for taking this out on a respectable Irish music blog but I think this needs to be said for the 100 or people that may read this tomorrow.
colin.
“Cheers lads
Any highs and lows of the year yourselves?”
this year has only been lows (life in general), disappointments (music) and irritations (everything else)
what i need now is a sunny day!!
Congrats Nay
Been a year of great posts, unveiling some amazing Irish bands that don’t get covered in any other areas. I owe you thanks for making me go out and get cds by the likes of BATS and ASIWYFA through your constant plugging - and dead right you were.
You’ve got more of a feel for the great music being made by new Irish bands than anyone else in HP - fair play to you! Have a great Christmas!
Only a year old! Seems longer. Hope you get to keep it going.
Colin, sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy YOM. I wasn’t there last night but anytime I’ve seen them before they’ve been great.
Ah lads, thanks millions! I love this job so much, just wish I could do more justice to what’s going on! Proper in-depth stuff, features, reviews, interviews! It’s my big goal for 2009, don’t let me go back on my world!
Just to pick up on a few points:
**Best-Ofs are still on the way. 9 days of the year left! We’re officially on holidays now but I’ll get them out soon…Basically I keep remembering new stuff to add! Stay tuned for Best Albums, Best EPs, Best Songs, Best Gigs, Best Photos and Best Flyers…
*** I was under the impression YOM weren’t going to perform much longer:
http://wordpress.hotpress.com/offherrocker/2008/07/18/news-youre-only-massive-split/
You really don’t like them though Colin? I can’t pass judgement as I haven’t seen them live: was very sick at the Large Mound album launch they supported. Lots of people loved Dot Dash though.
***Leigh: Sun is on its way. An Post estimate its arrival as 29th.
***Flynndo: you just made my Christmas! To hear that anyone’s gone to a gig or bought a record through something they’ve read here is the ultimate gift.
nice one Nay - keep it going. I have to admit I check this blog out daily. AND ITS ALL YOUR FAULT!
Happy Birthday Nay, and well done xx
Happy birthday/xmas! Hopefully many more to come!
And if the BATS midnight gig in crawdaddys doesn’t make the top gigs list I’d be surprised, still got the war wound?
Oh I do…that contusion’s here to stay