Firstly, congratulations to Niamh Farrell and Derek Byrne on the birth of baby Oscar! HP were first to report the news and well-wishes have been pouring in for Ham Sandwich’s Niamh and Autumn Owls‘ guitarist Derek who met last year. Saturday night’s Hambo gig in Mayo was cancelled due to ‘illness’ on Niamh’s part but faced with the news of little O’s birth on Sunday, I’m sure there’s a welcome return on the cards. Best of luck to the new family…let’s hope a chaperone accompanies Podge, Olly, Darcy and John when babygro shopping for the latest addition!
Kudos to The Red Labels who’ve just been confirmed for Oxegen!
The Kinetiks are very, very pleased to announce their inclusion on the bill for Punchestown 2008 as well. There’s a packed schedule to get through first including BalconyTVAwards and a special support with The Gorgeous Colours to Delorentos in the Academy on 27 June.It’s been non-stop with a steady slog through a gruelling schedule since their debut EP High Horse Olympics and Shuffle Your Feet/Bite The Bullet singles were released last year after the runaway success of Cop Yourself On.
Since this was picked up by entertainment.ie as Video of the Week, Robotnik is a very happy…human. Created with cheap chalk and a blackboard, People Walk Away is anti-singer/songwriter Chris Morrin’s most popular track, rated #7 in the Vodafone Bright New Sounds competition. His MySpace shows busy times ahead and fun tunes on the player, so get a skiddle over if you like what you’ve seen.
Alphastates have juggled a heady couple of weeks with the impending release of Human Nature, follow-up to 2005’s Made From Sand. A shaky rendition of (I Lost My Heart To A) Starship Trooper on the Podge and Rodge Show last week left the uber-coolers a little red-faced but they’ve now bounced back on form, bringing news: users of music websites MySpace and iLike can stream tracks from the new album while 2005’s debut Made From Sand has been uploaded as seperate tracks to buy from downloadmusic.ie
Also on the download front but this time freeeebie-wise, Black Soul Strangers have uploaded a live recording of Wichita from their Crawdaddy show last week. They plan to start recording debut single Leave in April, having already started pre-production with Tom McFall (R.E.M, Bloc Party, Stars) and say everything is coming along nicely indeed…
Losing their original drummer Jimmy hasn’t set The Things back any: new EP Tiger sees the hairy scaries hit the Roisin Dubh in Galway tomorrow night (27 Mar), Tower Records Dublin at 6pm on Friday (28) and Psychotic Reaction at Crawdaddy on Saturday (29). It’s good to hear of launches further afield from home ground and indeed, The Things have big plans abroad, starting with a June jaunt to Berlin, recording new tracks for what is as yet known only as a “project”. Chilling!
Television Room return as headline acts to Revolver at Radio City this Saturday, accompanied by Cowboy X and The Ghandis. Great news for the hard-working quintet who’ve gigged a slew of dates and singles since their return to the limelight late last year. New single Modern Boys and Girls is almost trademark, jangling instruments and sunny vocals providing some of us (ie, sick, sniffly me) with a glimmer of sunshine. Be sure to download the single over at downloadmusic.ie or Sonikpollen.
It’s been a good week for The Eclectic as their excellent EP Breathe gets some well-deserved recognition over on State and Mp3Hugger. Check out their last.fm page for free downloads from their debut Songs For A Blank Canvas or stream the Breathe EP from their MySpace…just so you’re in the mood for what’s shaping up to be a storming headliner at Death Via Satellite with The Idiot and Verona Riots in Eamonn Dorans this Friday . and
IMRO’s Showcase gets into full swing with its second free gig, this Friday at the Sugar Club with LeGalaxie, Betamax Format and Grand Pocket Orchestra. Treats galore in-store from the righteous musical organisation of Ireland, all free, can be found over on the website.
Thanks to Forever Presents, Bats are very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very excited to support Chrome Horse at Whelans on Friday.
Upstairs, Subplots follow on stellar supports with Butterfly Explosion and Codes to launch new single Alarms also on Friday. They were fabulous at AC30, which was apparently the last performance of their old set list, from now on focussed on reflecting the tone of imminent, untitled debut album…
Codes have enjoyed a jaunt or two across the country in recent weeks, including Galway, Mullingar and an Irish language session on Newstalk, all to promote new single This Is Goodbye. On the agenda is a Cardiff trip to develop dragon-heads and a penchant for rugby, along with the lesser task of recording their debut album. On-board to produce is Greg Haver who previously worked wonders with Welsh luminaries Manic Street Preachers and SuperFurryAnimals. However you have one last chance to catch Codes live before they go, at next week’s IMRO Showcase (more info next week or see the website above)…
Speaking of Whelans and debuts, Readers’ Wives‘ self-titled album goes live Upstairs this Saturday. However you must first nab a listen of RW when they command the airwaves on Aoife McIndie’s radio slot tomorrow night on 103.2 Dublin City FM…
Also on Saturday, Dirty Epics and Travega take over The Stables in Mullingar.
Final gig recommendation goes to So Cow and Michael Knight who lend support to Norwegian label-mate Soda Fountain Rag (all three have released through Dublin-based yesboyicecream records) on Monday 31st March Upstairs Whelans. It’s looking to be a corker: considered a one-woman powerhouse of anti-folk, Soda Fountain Rag’s worked with Scandinavia’s finest including Jens Lenkman and Suburban Kids With Biblical Names. Her debut album It’s Rag Time! is released on April 4th and will be launched in London with the support of Michael Knight, so you’re being treated to a pre-release sorbet of tracks which all sound absolutely delicious….
Congratulations to whoever won Deis Roc on TG4 last night. I sent my text in for The Dirty 9s, had a giggle at the very clean and old Dirty Face Kids, marvelled how good-looking Ronan O’Snodaigh is when he’s shaved and popped out to make a cup o’cha…to completely miss the announcement. Bah!
And I’ll miss Yngve Wieland: he’s leaving our shores, sailing across to Albion in his steadfast guitar with only his album and some phone numbers to bide his way to London town. Convinced as much can be done in Ireland and ready for pastures new, Yngve hopes to release his debut album Tell Men This to a new audience and I can only wish him all the best of luck and late nights. Come back soon, ya hear?
I leave you with my favourite flyer of the week: The Amazing Few are going Commie at Pravda’s Blitz Club tomorrow night.
And one last video, RedKid’s Rocket Ship…check out the cool sequence at the end using Toni Ireton’s photos from the shoot!
Truly tuning up their student charm, The Coronas have been announced as headline act for the UCD heat of the National Student Music Awards. Universities in Cork, Dublin and Galway will host regional heats in which four bands battle it out for their chance to reach the final in The Village on April 24th, headlined by The Flaws…full contenders, headliners and admission can be found here.
Congratulations to Fight Like Apes who have landed themselves none other than John Goodmanson to produce their album. Having previously worked with Sleater Kinney, Death Cab for Cutie and Blonde Redhead, FLA are understandably estatic to be working with him.
The guitarless outfit head to Texas next week to wow the crowds at SXSW (check MusicFromIreland for details of other Irish acts included in the line-up). On their return, are planning an Irish tour, capping off at The Village on April 13 with special guests from Cardiff, Future of the Left. All the details can be found over on their MySpace.
Got some smashing pics for you here today: Toni Ireton, blogette extraordinaire went along on Saturday to shoot Ham Sambo’s first airing of Carry The Meek in their favourite Dublin venue, Whelans. Hop along to her blog to check out all the pics in their full technicolour glory…Thanks Toni!
Ham Sandwich have a smorgasbord of gigs lined up over the coming weeks with ten nationwide tour dates promoting Carry The Meek to be found on their MySpace. You can also catch them at Childline Rocks (Feb 28) or Murphy’s Live (Mar 6).
Here’s the video for their brand new hit, Keepsake:
May, May, May. I can’t wait for May. There’s a slew of brilliant gigs lined up and now it’s been announced that Jape’s anticipated debut album will be titled Ritual, with a release date of 12 May. Check his MySpace blog for the tracklistings.
Another welcome snip of news comes with the single release of fantastically upbeat I Was a Man in a few weeks’ time which will surely replace 2007’s Floating as a favourite…In fact, all is looking good in the Jape camp after the move to Co Op from V2 Records late last year threw doubt on the album’s release.
You can catch Richie Egan and chums by getting diehard in Berlin on 29 February at TAPE Club.
I tried to find a decent vid of I Was a Man for you but the sound qualities were very dull. So here’s the excellent Floating video again. You never get bored watching anyway!
