A successful week for Irish music all-round! Firstly congratulations to Jape on winning the Choice Music Prize – many have already said it went to the nicest man in Ireland and of those on the final shortlist, he was certainly amongst the most deserving. Halfset made a really good album and R.S.A.G. certainly set tympanics trembling with Organic Sampler but in the end the award went to one whose music played truly massive role in 2008. Despite fear and suspicion on the night due to the presence of David Holmes and The Script, Richie Egan is now wealthier to the tune of ten thousand fruits and a smooth celebratory trophy declaring Ritual the most critically-acclaimed Irish album of 2008. Thank you Jape.
There’s an interview with Choice founder Jim Carroll over on Analog. It’s a decent read…have Phantom really been binning bands’ CDs? In this age of carbon neutrality I thought unwanted promos found a home in charity shops. It’s all a wicked lie!
Salulations are also in order for Falter Ego who won the DIT Battle of the Bands in Think Tank on Wednesday (by the by, how fantastic is the new Cylon ceiling in the Eustace Street club?! Totally makes up for the naff Diet-Cokesque mural and porn-star toilets…!) Falter Ego beat off competition from Bojangled, Flying Columns and The Harm to win the first heat. Myself and two judges from Drop-D were level-pegging at 3/4 time and prepared for a fight amongst Indies when the three metallers rocked on and settled the score with four great, catchy songs. Look forward to hearing from you lads but if I can make one teeeny suggestion – introducing online visitors to your music with “The Official…Myspace Page” is a bit naff. Just sayin….
Before I launch into the plethora of upcoming releases and shows, take a moment to consider Parhelia‘s words on the effects of illegal downloading on small bands.
The Dublin post-rockers released Shifting Sands in early February and yet to date there have been over 500 downloads from one filesharing site alone – more than the album’s total legitimate sales. That ain’t cool. Support your local music industry people – it’s the only way to survive without selling out.
The other gigging biggie is The Urges in Whelans, also tomorrow – biggie because it’s their last Irish date before they descend on the not-so-sleepy town of Austin, Texas for SXSW….did you know the city has a bat population of 1.5 million? Sounds like a kind of haven!
Do you know, I’ve gotten into some great bands through these interviews from Jaguar Love and LITE to King Crimson…my mum’s CD collection came in handy for that last! Loving Brian Deady’s contribution this week, he makes some delightful observations…
Drop-D: Can you pigeonhole your tastes into one particular genre or do your preferences spread through an array of influences?
Brian: I couldn’t put all of my influences in one particular box/hole. The obvious influences would come from 70s/80s soul and funk. Curtis Mayfield, early Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, The Brothers Johnson, and Prince, but when it comes to trying to figure out what you’re influenced by, really you have to go way back. The music around me growing up was imprinted like a musical genetic code and is still with me. I would have been absorbing what was on the radio, the telly and my parents’ records: Pop, Country, Rock, the theme tune to Chips, Abba, Elvis, Roy Orbison, Glen Campbell, it has all influenced me.
Drop-D: What triggered your musical infatuation? Was it a certain band/person/style/age?
Brian: I listened to a lot of the vocal groups like The Drifters, The Four Tops, The Chi Lites, Earth Wind and Fire and was amazed by that sound. My neighbour two doors down from us was older and slightly more guitar based in terms of taste, his whole family were musical, my brothers and I would knock around and listen to The Beatles and E.L.O., even then it sounded really fresh to me. It happened many other times after, on a summer evening when I was 15, up in my room recording songs off the radio I heard Aint Nuthin But That G Thang [Dr. Dre - Ed.] breeze in and it changed how I heard music. It keeps happening, every now and then music sounds totally new all over….
Read the full Soundtrack over on Drop-D.
How many times have you fallen in love with a record only to discover, much to your horror, that the band have broken up? Such is the fate of unsuspecting Irish indie music fans who have not yet discovered Green Lights – this Friday 27 February sees the band’s final performance with good friends The Funeral Suits in Whelans.
Born in a student gaff in Monaghan, Green Lights began in 2006 with guitarist Colin, drummer Daniel and a lot of bad songs. Of which, some (Fold, Threading Ice, Glove Box) survived and make up the live set list.
After about a year of Colin and Daniel jamming away, synths player Nigel moved into said gaff and the line-up of Green Lights was complete.
Colin: We had no bass and we liked it that way.
Drop-D: That’s quite surprising though, Green Lights seem like the kind of band who would have a bassist. And I hadn’t realised you were knocking around for a while…you seemed to just emerge last year in a flurry of EPs, Small Curious Things followed by Time To Tell The Parents.
Colin: We did release quite a bit in 2008. It annoys me to see great bands not getting their material out there. Sure, it costs money but it’s so much fun to do. They were like mini projects that kept me busy when I was unemployed.
Nigel: Yeah it’s much more rewarding if you do all the press release, photoshoot, managerial stuff yourself. Less people to get pissed off with!
Drop-D: It’s quite unusual for Irish bands to produce so quickly though. I’m not sure if it’s entirely financially-driven either, there honestly doesn’t seem to be enough good material to keep releasing….
Colin: Well I think it’s because we live together? Also people can forget about bands very easily in Dublin. I’m not too sure. I do think a lot of bands are scared to fork out money on what can be quite daunting project. My advice is go for it, regret it later!
Nigel:Colin will admit he can be quite prolific with the songwriting if Daniel and I lock him in his bedroom and only give him Sugar Puffs until he writes something new!
Drop-D: So what spurred the advance from bedroom band to really hitting the live circuit?
Nigel: Back in the middle of 2007 we decided Dublin was finally ready for a big onslaught from us and so we started just taking whatever gigs we could get, ranging from support slots to club nights and even barn dances…
Colin: It was hard starting out mind…coming from Monaghan where there are zero bands apart from The Flaws, it was almost impossible to get gigs. Then we started showcasing with the brilliant Garageland which proved a great starting point for us, met lots of people and bands and it got easier….
“Developing at breakneck” doesn’t sound like the healthiest start to a year but despite juggling a full-time band and 9-5 job, things couldn’t be better for Rupert Morris. Not even fatigue can burst the creative bubble surrounding BATS‘ debut album, already one of the most highly anticipated Irish records of 2009.
“We’ve been super-busy getting everything ready to go to Salem next week to record our album with Kurt Ballou. Can’t remember what a free weekend is like. We played Cork on Saturday night. Rushed home on Sunday to finish writing the last song. Song 11. Before that we were wading through the click-track swamp for weeks. We’re on track now. We’ve been spitting out some of these songs easier than expected. Some not so easily but there’s definite buzz coursing through our neurons. We’re like kiddies the night before Christmas, knowing what presents we’re getting but not knowing what they look like.”
Hanging BATS
“We” are lyricist Rupert, conjoined with Craig Potterton and Conor McIntyre to bring the guitar tally to three, backed by Timmy Moran on bass and drummer Noel Anderson. Vocal roles range across the board. Martha Washington is their missing link, a band of which no trace remains: many months elapsed before the songs were fully weaned but since BATS hatched in late 2005 their music has grown into an instinct-driven freak like nothing Ireland’s ever known. When the progressive metal enthusiasts released their Cruel Sea Scientist EP on the Armed Ambitions (now incorporated into The Richter Collective) label just over a year ago, it was to an uncertain future. Diversifying rapidly, was alternative rock scene quite ready for 15 minutes’ textbook-thumping?
My name’s Nay and I’m addicted to Tenaka.
It’s been twenty hours since my last song.
I realise by facing the truth of EPonymously Titled‘s hold over my playlists, I can move forward to a fruitful life equal to my peers, gaze no longer blinded by the brilliant, electronic sun…
Drop-D: Can you pigeonhole your tastes into one particular genre or do your preferences spread through an array of influences?
Tenaka: I think a few years ago I probably could have pigeonholed my tastes in music, being a fan of bands like Oasis, The Beatles and Radiohead. All the obvious choices really. That all changed when I heard Radiohead‘s Kid A. I vividly remember the day I played it for the first time and thinking “I’ve no idea what you’d call this style of music but it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for…” I’d always been a huge music fan but had never actively sought new music so the radio was my main and limited source of new bands. Kid A was complemented by Four Tet’s Pause shortly afterwards and I was hooked. It opened my eyes to the diversity and originality of new music available and it felt like a darkness had lifted. I finally had ears.
Drop-D: What triggered your musical infatuation? Was it a certain band/person/style/age?
Tenaka: I think it had to be that Kid A moment. It really was defining and certainly shaped me as a person. Finding a deeper love of music and expression frees you from every-day stresses. It opens your eyes to the important things in life.
Craaaaazy busy today peepahs…I got involved in a photography project and will be documenting Changes today. Bear with me while I’m gone (I’ll reward you for it in the week) and while you’re kicking your heels awaiting my return, check out the latest Soundtrack interview with Ewan Friers from Derry Punk band Axis Of…
Axis Of pic : Nay
Derry’s Axis Of combine punk riffs and conscience to build songs about humans, politics and philosophy. Sickeningly young, the band released their debut album The Echo Conspiracy in 2008 and plan to follow up 2009 with a new EP, modestly prescribed as “the greatest thing the world has ever heard”. Drop-D waded in to test how deep Ewan Friers‘ musicial ripples spread…
Drop-D: Can you pigeonhole your tastes into one particular genre or do your preferences spread through an array of influences?
Ewan: I listen to as much as I can. This sounds a bit like your typical – ‘I’m so diverse, I listen to everything!’ spiel, but I really do think it’s important to absorb as much music and as many different styles as possible. It’s mad to think you’ll like everything, but the more music the better – it’s fresh. That’s how I see it anyway.
Drop-D: What triggered your musical infatuation? Was it a certain band/person/style/age?
Ewan: That’s a really difficult question to answer. I don’t think I can put it down to anything specific. I’ve always lived in an environment where music is really important. Though I could say around the age of 11-12 I started to view music differently and became far more passionate about it around that time than I had been before. Who knows?!
The japesters at Statesers have maders some tapesers…
A thirteen-track mix of brilliant Irish talent to watch out for in the year ahead. It’s all rather yummy and as a completely free download, you’d do well to drink your fill!
As you’re no doubt aware, the magazine announced last week it will no longer produce print-issues. It’s a hard time all-round for anyone trying to keep independent ventures afloat but the loss was cushioned somewhat to know there will still be a full monthly PDF issue available from State.ie.
The afore-mentioned feature on upcoming Irish music is absolutely packed with interesting nuggets from Villagers, Heathers, BATS and Adebisi Shank and lovely photography too. Defo worth a KitKat and your afternoon cuppa
It’s that time of the week again over at Drop-D and eee by gum, guess who just shuffled on to play at this exact moment? None other than that paragon of nostalgic 80s perfection, Dan Arkanoid!
I caught up with Adebisi Shank‘s one and only Vinster to ask what really went on in his musical brain once you get past the chips and wires…I’m not sure what I’d expected but it was definitely something like this….
Drop-D: Can you pigeonhole your tastes into one particular genre or do your preferences spread through an array of influences?
Vinny: Ah I’ll listen to any aul shite. Predominantly into what could be classified as ‘funky shit’.
Drop-D:What triggered your musical infatuation? Was it a certain band/person/style/age?
Vinny: I was 4 years old…my big brother had a Commodore 64…the Last Ninja was loading…the music kicked in…my mind imploded. And then I saw the video for Road to Nowhere. My mind exploded. Then I saw the video for Money for Nothing. My mind came back together, and exploded again.
Drop-D: Is there any kind of music you’d like to know/hear more of?
Vinny: I suppose I’d like to know the names of classical pieces…it’s a bit embarassing when ye have to go ‘Ye know the song off the Cornetto ad?’ or whatever.
Tuesday’s the new Soundtrack day and over on Drop-D, we caught up with Mr Dudley Corporation, co-creator of one of HotPress‘ Top Irish Albums Of All Time. He regaled us with stories of getting sent home from school for being too musical, trying to impress teenage girls with plagiarised lyrics and exactly why he’s in a band. Find out who he dubbed “spazzcore gunk” and what he thinks are the top songs for a hijacked radio slot. Oh, and the last word on 70s Turkish psychedlica….
Bloody hell but the music sphere is fucking boring today. I’ve been looking for something to talk about all day and no go…but thankfully, Jim Carroll interviewed Hideaway House‘s Dylan Haskins and the transcript is On The Record.
For those who aren’t sure, Dylan is the mind behind the DIY Counterculture documentaryRoll Up Your Sleeves, exploring the role of youth culture in Irish society and how it compares to our European neighbours.
This is something we desperately need to address: what are young people doing for fun? What provisions are made to encourage and nurture burgeoning creativity? Beyond pubs and venues, where is music made accessible, taking away the financial aspect of profit, what remains?
I’m a bore on this subject, I know, I know…it does seem as though I expound the failures of our society to treat our musicians and artists with the respect they deserve, and deserve it they do. Considering how many gigs I attended last year (more than 100 but I ain’t arsed counting exactly), only ten were all-ages shows. I’d say 25% were signed bands, the remaining number of acts promoting, managing, releasing and supporting themselves financially. As far as public and media interest goes, the reaction to this hard work is ignored on a large scale but at least a number of people do attend shows, do buy records, do spread the word.
But what of those who aren’t making music? Who just love it? Record labels with barely any cash take chances on obscure bands with great sounds, risking something uncommercial in a grossly over-commercialised culture. I have some very good friends running gigs and have seen first-hand what a difficult job it is, how little thanks and recognition is involved, and yet the releases and gigs continue as expenses grow.
And what of those who love music but can’t make it, for lack of equipment, experience, space, confidence?
What of those who want to see bands but are too young, broke, demoralised? What about those who’ve never even experienced “the spit of the singer in your face kind of thing” because they don’t even know such a scene exists here, just like me, three years ago?
While bands are hard-pushed to support themselves as it is, labels have their hands full simply keeping their heads above water and promoters work for hardly anything other than the buzz of a great show, who’s left to propagate the seeds sown?
Us. It is up to decent, idealistic music lovers to take matters into our own hands now. We must reclaim this nation from the crap DJs, the useless media, our insipid programmers and mindless chartbusting cretins who continue to buy the latest imported dross. It’s time to take a hard look at what our country has become, its potential – music, art and space – and ask ourselves how we can change that. And Dylan has the answer:
“[DIY] can spring up in a little town in the middle of nowhere because somebody finds out about some band and realises the whole idea about DIY culture and spreads this to all their friends.
“We used any space we could get that wasn’t a pub. The old parochial hall in Greystones, Paddy’s Hall, had closed down to be turned into apartments but it was lying dormant for ages so we eventually got to use that space through the father of one of the girls who used to come to our gigs. We turned it into our own building for our collective, the Basta Youth Collective. We showed movies, put on loads of shows and built up a really good community of young people who were coming to the shows.
“One of the important things for me is that it is not always an audience that I know. I like to have a mix of new faces and old faces. It’s not a party or a club or an elite. I do want to encourage new people to come in. A house is always seens as something very private and closed off from the world but I want to get people thinking about how a space can be used in all these different types of ways. They don’t have to be this set definition as we understand them.”
I respect this guy Haskins so much, not because of his age (21), his inspiration (Kilcoole punks) or reputation (tipped by the Sunday Tribune as Hot to Watch in 2009) but rather, his recognition of Ireland as desperately lacking support it needs to further the creative potential growing amongst young Irish art and music lovers. While I’d love to do something to make a difference, I haven’t a clue where to start. I’m not a great writer, photographer or blogger but I feel inspired to be, if it results in more people supporting our culture. Dylan’s vision has already begun to make a difference here. People are waking up to the idea that you don’t need gold medallions or a mirrored ceiling to support bands, just an open mind, spare hours and a real desire for Change?.
Drop-D: Can you pigeonhole your tastes into one particular genre or do your preferences spread through an array of influences?
The japesters at Statesers have maders some tapesers…
