Already boasting the impressive claim of opening for Maps, CODES were delighted at the weekend to hear they would support Tom “I carried drugs in my cheek pouches” Chaplin’s paino-ballad group Keane at the O2 in Dublin and Belfast’s Odyssey arena later this week. Great news for a determined band to know their efforts have been noticed but I was reluctant to share my friends’ joy at the news. I completely fail to see what links the bands’ music. Much as I love CODES – you can check out a recent interview or live photos here – with better perception, a better band could have been chosen to warm the crowd for the Sussex headliners. Isn’t that what bookings are all about? Read the rest of this entry »
A sneak peek at the artwork for Disconnect 4‘s new single The Rise due out this March. As I’m sure you know, Galway-based D4 make energetic indie-pop infused with darker threads of new-wave and more than a smidgen of emo histronic. Woooo, more rousing tunes for our late nights, we need young blood on the dancefloor that can hold its weight above the dismissal of generic indie.
In February Disconnect 4 go into the studio with Cazals member Martin Dubka to record a four-track debut EP due for release in June. The Rise will be released as a download-only single, followed by a tour with the fabulous Ghostwood Project in late March but keep your eyes peeled for other dates in Belfast and Dublin.
Rather lovely footage from Slipdraft of Halves‘ recent Irish tour set to their song Amberscene has been uploaded to Vimeo. Unfortunately the OHR video plugin does not extend to this domain and so it’s screengrab time again, back to ‘click the pic’!
Amberscene is taken from the EP Haunt Me When I’m Drowsy. As of today the band are knuckling down to record their debut album. It must be some kinda half-magic because I just found my Subplots EP. Bring on the third happy thing
La la laa! *prance and clap dance* Halves on tour!
Starting with a support slot to BellX1 (strange…but nice) in Vicar Street on 11 November, they hit Galway (13), Cork (14), Kilkenny (15) before returning to the smoke for a week-long anticipation to what will undoubtably be their biggest headliner to date in Whelans on 22 November. Good friends Subplots will sub-port at the Roisin Dubh and Cypress Avenue while newborn Villagers, brainchild of ex-The Immediate Conor O’Brien, provides back-up at the final Dublin show. That tingling you’re feeling is my brain shorting….
Something Halvish has been brewing to blow up for a while considering how immensely succesful 2008′s been for the Dublin-based instrumental outfit. Described as “sublimely atmospheric” by the oul’ HP, in May they released second EP Haunt Me When I’m Drowsy, a puddle of delicate, evocative songs and looked on as music fans lapped them up. Several prolific shows followed as a result, including a billing at the ill-fated Austrian Transmission festival.
This tour should act as a springboard to the next level of development for the band, who are currently psyching-up mental fireworks by writing new material. You’d better hurry for tickets: this tour’s been a long time coming….
Fight Like Apes have rescheduled their upcoming Irish dates in order to accompany The TingTings on their autumn tour of the United (Ape) Kingdom. Though the album launch of Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion<see the album artwork by Loreana Rushe> is still set for 26 September in Whelans, other performances will now take place as follows:
Sun 12th October Cork Cyprus Avenue
Mon 13th October Galway Roisin Dubh
Tue 14th October Limerick Dolans Warehouse
Fri 17th October Mullingar The Stables
Sun 19th October Dundalk Spirit Store
The reason behind this is apparent due to the Ting Tings dates which cover major venues in England, Scotland and Wales. Hit ‘read the rest of this entry‘ or the band’s MySpace to find out more.
I had a shoot with the guys on Tuesday morning and we originally planned a tour of our own: round Dublin in an open-topped bus! Alas, the weather conspired and instead we hit Sub City comic book store on Exchequer Street instead. They’re a great bunch to work with and I hardly had to tell them to do anything. Bring on the hair at Meeting House Square!*
Having kicked off Electric Picnic with a shebang at the Paddy Mirage, Monaghan’s other top band Sanzkrit are refuelling for a string of dates across the country this autumn in very good company. Aside from some headliners of their own, The Coronas, Fighting With Wire, Future Kings of Spain, The Flaws and UK indie outfit Collapsing Cities have all invited Dave Marron & Co to support their live performances from as early as next week all the way through to November:
13 Sep 2008 The Stables, Mullingar (w/ The Flaws)
18 Sep 2008 Cyprus Avenue, Cork (w/ The Flaws)
19 Sep 2008 The Brewery, Monaghan
23 Sep 2008 Rosín Dúbh W/ The Coronas
25 Sep 2008 Cypress Avenue
26 Sep 2008 Cypress Avenue
27 Sep 2008 Dolans Warehouse W/ The Coronas
30 Sep 2008 The Spirit Store (w/ Fighting With Wire)
3 Oct 2008 The Roisin Dubh, Galway (w/ The Flaws)
10 Oct 2008 Whelan’s, Dublin (w/ The Flaws)
11 Oct 2008 Crawdaddy, Dublin (w/ Collapsing Cities) www.ticketmaster.ie
24 Oct 2008 Electric Avenue, Waterford (w/ The Flaws)
31 Oct 2008 The Backroom, Navan (Halloween Ball with Future Kings of Spain)
6 Nov 2008 The Bank, Newry, Co. Down (w/ The Flaws)
Good news for Sanzkrit who, despite a strong catalogue and live energy, have seen the last year pass a little too slowly for their liking. An occupational hazard for bands who enjoy considerable success in their early stages, it’s commendable that Sanzkrit have weathered the storm of passing trends to continue producing their own brand of quality alternative – much of which is available for free download from their MySpace.
Below is an excerpt of We Should Be Dead‘s tour diary of Los Angeles and San Francisco. They’re playing gigs, meeting people and petting twin-headed turtles. Head over to MySpace for all its unabridged glory…
Tuesday August 5th 2008….
….
It was a wet and weary morning, we arrived grand and early at Shannon Airport to ingest our last cigarettes before the long 14 hour trip. As we queued to check in yer wan from Delta made a beeline for Anna and asked her if she was wearing a wig and if so, could she promptly remove it. This was the first of many “hair-raising” topics to come! We all flew through emigration, Tara even got a laugh off yer man but we soon realised we were missing Steve who was getting a grilling from cranky-pants McNulty about his current employment situation. We boarded the flight and found ourselves scattered across the plane. Gary’s telly yoke was broken for the whole thing (God help-us). Upon arrival at LAX the whole countries bags had arrived but Anna was still standing at the carousel, forlorn and bemused. We soon realised that we couldn’t get in touch with yer wan waiting for us at our rented apartment on the gammy American payphones, so Tara befriended a cop outside the airport and charmed him into letting us use his ‘cell phone’. He thought she was Canadian! Wa? We finally arrived at the apartment. It was Rapid! We celebrated by going to a rooftop cocktail bar on Venice beach. It was also Rapid! Our waitress was overly-friendly but had a pure Limerick head on her reminding us of home. Awake for 28 hours. Went to bed…..
BellX1 have been clearing their coffers and unearthed an unheard song Nobody Moves Me recorded during their Flock period. It’s been added to their MySpace player for a limited time so head over…it’s tranquil, classic BX1.
Update on last week’s news of RedKid: Dan the man is back on a drum throne soon! After a nasty fall from his bike Keet has confirmed there’s no serious damage -hooray!- and all will be well for the major haul ahead on the release of their eponymous debut in August (I have my copy: it’s great to be jaywalking to Soup!)
The Minutes really are carrying out their threats of gigs in gaffs…or should that be gigs’n'gaffes? Lock up your ma’s bras and hide the dodgy school photos: Phil Kelly has a teaser….watch out for The Minutes’ WhelansUpstairs residency in the next few weeks:
