Fight Like Apes - Album News
May 29th, 2008 by nay
Too Famous To Get Fully Dressed has the low-down on FLA’s new single and hotly-tipped debut album.
Blog : …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Bread
May 19th, 2008 by nayUnaRocks‘ post about silly foodie-bands is a giggle. I’m tryna think of a trump card to beat Nina Heinz. Toss your own names into the ring!
(Nina Hynes photo: David Cleary. Condiments: model’s own.)
Blasterbra Dropped From Road to V!
April 28th, 2008 by nayA right stink was kicked up by one lone dissenter on the official Road To V messageboard regarding the inclusion of Galway band Blasterbra in the final 14 of the festival competition.
Apparently as the band are Irish and non-resident in the UK, they were not eligible to participate, despite the previous inclusion of the new-defunct The Immediate. V representatives contacted Blasterbra in search of a loophole to ensure they retained their place in the final but efforts proved fruitless and Blasterbra were dropped.
Read the band’s MySpace blog for more…commiserations guys 
To be honest, it’s a fecking farce that V allowed willingly allowed the band to enter despite their Irish status. Or is it another example of British people forgetting Ireland’s a republic?
Knock, Knock…It’s Funzo!
April 17th, 2008 by nayWhy was David Gray fired as manager of Liverpool?
He kept bringing Babylon.
More random hilarities ….
News - 14/04/08
April 14th, 2008 by nayTeam Fresh have a new vid for Trojan, using live footage shot in venues and studios across the north coast and Belfast…
I might buy a bullwhip and herd y’all up to see them rock Auntie Annies in Belfast this Wednesday. Or maybe I’ll turn it round and thrash ‘em down here. A southern gig is long overdue guys!
Fresh from supporting Fight Like Apes in Belfast last week, AJ Suzuki are releasing their new single on iTunes today. Entitled Jump Start, it features remixes by Skibunny and Jupiter Ace & K Harmonix (and while you’re in the mood, download this free, brand-new mixtape from SkiBunny)….
Still on the subject of things norn, a shout-out to Japanese Popstars who’ve signed an exclusive record deal with Japanese label Beatnik Records who are responsible for Asian distribution of Underworld and Aphex Twin. Signed to Gung Ho! over on the home front, it’s all good for the Japstars who’ve been making fast impressions with their quirky electronics, converting your dearly-beloved Hot Press along with BBC jocks Steve Lamacq and dance legend/MySpaceMusic curator Pete Tong, who’s been playing their tune Sample Whore on his radio show. The band are set to release their Delboy’s Revenge EP on Gung Ho! Records on 19 May and a gander at their MySpace calendar shows a packed live schedule for coming months culminating in a slot at Oxegen in July. Keep your eyes peeled for a show in your town soon!
Your Arch Enemies have posted three wicked new songs to MySpace, a taster of their debut EP to be released sometime later this year. Older songs are available to download via mediafire if you should so fancy…more information here.
Skinny Wolves are up to their usual hi-jinx this weekend with the fabulous Effi Brieste come to Dublin and none other than the Party Weirdo girls pledge support. Give yourself a break and check out the Transformer venue under Thomas Reads while you’re at it…
Wicklow instrumentalists Almost Cliche popped into view this weekend with a live video of their new song Tubelord performed at Eamon Dorans. Not quite ready to steal my heart from ASIWYFA just yet, nonetheless it’s good to see some new post rock beginnings…
If you’re at a loose end tomorrow and fancy a career in the music biz, The Mighty Stef is looking for extras for his Tisch video for Death Threats. Shooting begins at 9am until 6pm in Voodoo Lounge, Arran Quay and follows a theme of red, white and black clothing. Give the man a shout over on his MySpace if you’re interested.
Following previous success on the soundtrack to US drama One Tree Hill, two new La Rocca tunes Love Under Key and Roadway Hymn will feature in the newest series which kicks off for American viewers tonight! Having released their debut album state-side in 2007, band were recently home in Ireland from their LA base to give the record a push on its release here at home and jetted straight back to put the finishing touches to endeavour #2, which is now finished. A chosen title is yet to be revealed so keep checking back for new updates….
Ham Sandwich performed a medley of tunes at Tower Records for the launch of State magazine’s first March issue and the band were so taken with this cover of Goldfrapp’s Ride A White Horse, they’re looking to include it as a permanent fixture to their live catalogue…if YOU agree. Have a listen and let them know if you be likin’ what ya hear…
The clock is ticking down for Limerick’s finest as the entry date for Gohan Records/Limerick Green and Live FM compilation album draws close. If you’re a band from Fab City, get your skates on and get in touch with Alan Jacques…
Finally, check out this new video by Toni Ireton for Noise Control. A keen fan, she combined several months’ music and fashion photography to create this short for Our Life, one of the band’s live favourites and a dead cert for the coming album. It’s looking like a quiet time for the Control crew in the wake of extensive gigging over the last few months…methinks I hear festival batteries a-charging!
NSMA ‘08 : Dublin
April 9th, 2008 by nayBloody excuse my dire blogging lately. It never rains, it April showers! Just as my kids finished school for a fortnight’s mid-terms, my workload tripled and we all got sick. I’ve been a very screechy, beleagured photojournalist wishing for a pair of padded manacles and desktop TeaMaid. Or a job in Spar.
Dublin’s round of the National Student Music Awards came and went in a whirl on March 27, The Dirty 9s and Jerome’s Law finalising a crack team of studious musical assassins who are now psyching up for lethal battle in The Village on 24 April. Galway’s sneering sweethearts Disconnect4 and Floyd Soul and the Wolf will square up to Philtre, who’ll probably flip a V-sign, gentler Ladydoll will eye the set-up of Dublin’s…Dirty Law! That’s a band-name…
It’s been great craic following the competition from its early stages of gleeful band-bulletins to awesome stage shows, brave kids giving a bit of extra balls and brashness but still blushing when congratulated afterwards. Most of these bands are already working the gigs circuit in their town, getting away from bedrooms and books to make a go of music and they’re good. The judges made informed choices and while I’d juggle a result or two, they ultimately agreed an adventurous selection of bands.
As an event in the educational calendar it seems overlooked: if this were America the halls would be packed with patriotic students cheering on their States rather than their mates. I’m sure there could be more input from schools and communities although in fairness, every 18 year old female in Dublin turned out for The Coronas.
In 2005 Delorentos went to London and won for the Irish, proving we have what it takes to impress on the large scale. These things come in threes so we’ve got two more sets of winners left to make….
Check out my account of the Dublin heat the HotPress NSMA blog!