Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Fuck it
Just booked a spontaneous October/November trip to NYC there, even though I'm going for New Year's Eve and have yet to book that. Aerlingus.com is having a deadly sale though.
Plus, I'll be there during the election. Was in the US for the last presidential election, so it's practically tradition at this stage, right? Also, my mates are going to be over there running the marathon, so I have to go support them, right? I'm so amazing at convincing myself...
Woohoo! No money left for me! Fuck you recession!
Mushieeeee
Saw this on El Chancero, a new video for Super Extra Bonus Party's 'Mushie Shake' directed by Liam Geraghty. Gotta love this tune. The Vinny Club remix is also savage.
Going Back
In light of Becs unearthing my favourite ad ever, I thought I'd post the song that features in it, one of my favourites.
Dusty Springfield - 'Goin' Back'
Dusty Springfield - 'Goin' Back'
UnaRocks articles of the day
Digiromp: Facebook for lesbian sex - Village Voice
The language of Sarah Palin - New Yorker
Northern Ireland rape survey is 'disturbing', says Amnesty - RTE
What can 'Choke' and 'Californication' teach us about sex addiction? - Slate
Straight model sues over gay pics - GCN
A guide to 50 Autumn 08 albums - Rolling Stone
Jay McInerney on how yuppies revived New York - New York Magazine
Google comes out against proposition 8 - Advocate
Can Republicans find a way to comepete on the Web - Atlantic Monthly
Palin: people and dinosaurs co-existed - LA Times
What's 'Bounce'? - Guardian
The language of Sarah Palin - New Yorker
Northern Ireland rape survey is 'disturbing', says Amnesty - RTE
What can 'Choke' and 'Californication' teach us about sex addiction? - Slate
Straight model sues over gay pics - GCN
A guide to 50 Autumn 08 albums - Rolling Stone
Jay McInerney on how yuppies revived New York - New York Magazine
Google comes out against proposition 8 - Advocate
Can Republicans find a way to comepete on the Web - Atlantic Monthly
Palin: people and dinosaurs co-existed - LA Times
What's 'Bounce'? - Guardian
Twenty calls it a day
Say it aint so! Well, it seems it is so. Twenty Major has hung up his blog, and the Irish blogosphere has lost a real talent. Hopefully he'll return in another shape or form.
It's been emotional, you cunt.
It's been emotional, you cunt.
Who needs America's Next Top Model?
When you have Britain's Next Top Bear
(thanks to FionnTimes for the headzup)
(thanks to FionnTimes for the headzup)
Monday, September 29, 2008
Maser tells the Dubliner to stop being so sarcastic
Perhaps peeved that they didn't get a shout out in a recent article on Dublin in the New York Times, The Dubliner posted a mini blog on it, only to face the wrath of Maser in the comment section. The graffiti artist has asked them to remove the diss.
The Music Show
Has everyone ever gone to The Music Show? You know, that Hotpress & 2fm thing in the RDS. Every year when it comes around I always wonder what it actually is and end up none the wiser. I should probably just go and see. But it doesn't seem to make any sense to me.
I guess it's kind of like the Holiday and Leisure Fair but for rock and roll, right? Reading the 'about' section of the blog seems to confirm this: "The Music Show is Ireland’s ultimate music event. An Access All Areas event, The Music Show features Ireland’s Biggest Music Exhibition: The latest technology, the classiest equipment, the best studios, music schools, fun and much more. The Live Stage: Featuring Ireland’s hottest acts and international virtuoso musicians. Seminars & Workshops: The leading lights of the Music Industry both nationally and internationally come to the RDS to educate, debate & illuminate.."
I have an inherent distrust of music seminars and gatherings like this (when they're not free). I mean, you pay €15 to go into a hall full of stands for drum shops and a live set from Republic of Loose, and are you meant to come out as a boarding on indie star or what?
Maybe I'm wrong, has any musician out there reading this ever gone and got really useful information? That said, there are a few good bands playing; Ham Sandwich, Fionn Regan, Cathy Davey, Republic of Loose.
Regarding the seminars available, what can Maria Doyle Kennedy really tell you about getting radio play? Can Liam O Maonlai get you a gig in the discussion about 'live music is where the money is'? The photography one looks good, because it's basically experience photographers telling you how to get a good shot, which is useful. Having Universal reps speak at the 'are young bands getting a raw deal on major labels' thing is kind of funny. I mean, major labels are in meltdown. What are they going to say? A young indie band would be mad to sign to a major unless they have serious commercial clout, look at how fucked smaller bands have been by majors here. Are there any reps from indie labels, or individual imprints to which 99% of Irish bands are signed? Maybe I'm missing something.
Anyway, anyone who has attended or featured in this, is it worth it? Is it brilliant? Is it a swizz?
MTV Europe Music Awards 2008
I was just looking at the nominees there, and noticed that over 50% (21 out of 40) of the nominees are women.
In the categories of Act of 2008, Album of the year and Best New Act, 4 out of five in each category are female artists.
Is this a first? Maybe not.
SoundCheck + SoundCheck///AfterParty + Le Cirque
Details of an epic Thursday on the 2nd of October in Spy are over on the SoundCheck blog. There are three club nights in one evening, brilliant guest DJs, dressing up, awesome cocktails, and of course, fun times.
See y'all there!
See y'all there!
Friday, September 26, 2008
A Kidney Soup
Right now I'm about to have a pow wow with Tainer Bang's family (minus FionnTimes) which involves parsnip, ginger, chili and lemon soup with some nice red wine. Tainer Bang makes the best fucking soup in the universe.
Then I'm going to Fight Like Apes! Should be a cracking gig.
After that, I'm gonna do a mini DJ slot in Spy and then early to bed, early to rise.
Tomorrow morning, I'm meeting up with the final Kidney (it's the final kidney, do do do do do do do do doooo) aka FionnTimes in Westport, as he finally gets off the rock in the middle of the Atlantic he has been living on for the last week or so, and off we shall travel to the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival. There is a very good reason for this which I shall explain at a later date.
So, have a good weekend, y'all. I just bought a savage BAPE hoodie, so I'm happy (shallow, shallow.) See ya at the gig. Say hi if you're around and see me acting the maggot.
Drive safe
x
Then I'm going to Fight Like Apes! Should be a cracking gig.
After that, I'm gonna do a mini DJ slot in Spy and then early to bed, early to rise.
Tomorrow morning, I'm meeting up with the final Kidney (it's the final kidney, do do do do do do do do doooo) aka FionnTimes in Westport, as he finally gets off the rock in the middle of the Atlantic he has been living on for the last week or so, and off we shall travel to the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival. There is a very good reason for this which I shall explain at a later date.
So, have a good weekend, y'all. I just bought a savage BAPE hoodie, so I'm happy (shallow, shallow.) See ya at the gig. Say hi if you're around and see me acting the maggot.
Drive safe
x
Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion out today
In case y'all haven't noticed, FLApes debut album is out today. I walked past the giant window artwork in Tower Records last night, pretty impressive. The album got one star in the Indo today, in a review in the Day & Night magazine, which also dedicated a two-page spread to the Coronas, which seriously brings the lolz, when it comes to weighing up importance and relevance of two bands! There's an unwritten rule amongst music journos (many of whom are frightfully fragile creatures) that you shouldn't criticise each other publicly, but I've never been one for rules and personally think the review is a bit silly, doesn't really get the music, and is kind of flat.
Haha! Indie (journo) war! As these dudes might say.
Anyway, myself and John Meagher have completely different tastes in music (I've only ever met him at one gig I've been to - Codes in the Sugar Club - so our paths rarely cross. I can only presume he goes to none of the gigs that I do and vice versa.)
Dunphy is writing the review for the Tribune this weekend, but I wrote one as well (yes, believe it or not, even if an album I listen to is not getting my review in print, I still write reviews for myself to make sense of what the album means to me. I know, giant nerd.) So here it is.
Oh, and just before that, some people have accused me of being 'excitable' when it comes to Fight Like Apes. Excitement is part of what I feel about this band, but namely it's about passion. I feel very strongly about quality Irish music and have tried to bring it to people's attention whenever I can (examples of this have been trying to bang on about bands I believe in; The Immediate, Adrian Crowley, Delorentos, Super Extra Bonus Party, The Vinny Club and so on over the years) just on the off chance that anyone is dumb enough to listen to me and a band gets one more person listening to them.
If you're not passionate (and I hate meeting music journos who aren't passionate, you know the good ones, the ones that are bundles of energy, get excited like kids in Disneyland if they're talking about a record or band they're into) you might as well go the fuck home.
Anyway, see yiz at Whelan's tonight. And if you aren't going to Whelan's, haven't got a ticket or whatever, go see Adebisi Shank in the Boom Boom Room. Tenner in, and you get a free album. Fucking savage band, check them out.
Fight Like Apes
Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion (35:53)
Model Citizen
4.5 stars
This album is so anticipated, that music industry observers have gone past the obvious fact that Fight Like Apes are the best Irish band of their generation, and are beginning to wonder what impact their inevitable success will have on their peers in Dublin when the international stage steal the Apes from us. It’s a lot of responsibility for a young band together only two years, currently on a sold out tour across Britain with indie-pop darlings The Ting Tings, to which these three Dubs and a Kildare lady are obvious successors. Does it live up to the hype? Yes. And then some. What we have here is a brilliant scuzzy pop record full of humour, joy, anger, cynicism, surreal flights of fancy – both lyrically and musically - vocal and synth battles, and most importantly, 12 fantastic songs (one of which is just a seven seconds punch of noise).
The band has dumped some of their disorganised musical roots, peeling away their debilitating – if trademark – raw lo-fi growl that typified their two previous EPs, revealing how versatile and distinct lead singer MayKay’s vocals are, and how strong the endless melodies slide. Mining 90s pop culture for lyrical references and emerging with hook after hook, everything from sex, drugs, dodgy TV programmes and plenty of swearing and screaming is wrapped around duelling keyboards, samples, beautifully jittery bass and vigorous drumming.
And so you have the forcefully catchy ‘Lend Me Your Face’, the smashing ode of ‘Jake Summers’, stomping pop song ‘Do You Karate?’ and the waltzing sing-along ‘I'm Beginning To Think You Prefer Beverly Hills 90210 To Me’, an angry if humorous rant against their now fired previous manager . It’s not all fun times, though.
The depth in ‘Battlestations’ and ‘Snore Bore Whore’ reinforce the fact that despite the rawkus live shows and idiosyncratic humour, Fight Like Apes is not a cartoon band, but four incredibly talented individuals who shouldn’t gel, but do, creating astounding music in the process. Never jaded, ‘Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion’ is an electro-indie-punk winner. It’s a perfectly constructed mess that is as fresh as it is joyful and everything indie music in 2008 should be, a brilliant firework over the current landfill of guitar stodge.
Download: ‘Lend Me Your Face’, ‘Snore Bore Whore’, ‘Jake Summers’
Haha! Indie (journo) war! As these dudes might say.
Anyway, myself and John Meagher have completely different tastes in music (I've only ever met him at one gig I've been to - Codes in the Sugar Club - so our paths rarely cross. I can only presume he goes to none of the gigs that I do and vice versa.)
Dunphy is writing the review for the Tribune this weekend, but I wrote one as well (yes, believe it or not, even if an album I listen to is not getting my review in print, I still write reviews for myself to make sense of what the album means to me. I know, giant nerd.) So here it is.
Oh, and just before that, some people have accused me of being 'excitable' when it comes to Fight Like Apes. Excitement is part of what I feel about this band, but namely it's about passion. I feel very strongly about quality Irish music and have tried to bring it to people's attention whenever I can (examples of this have been trying to bang on about bands I believe in; The Immediate, Adrian Crowley, Delorentos, Super Extra Bonus Party, The Vinny Club and so on over the years) just on the off chance that anyone is dumb enough to listen to me and a band gets one more person listening to them.
If you're not passionate (and I hate meeting music journos who aren't passionate, you know the good ones, the ones that are bundles of energy, get excited like kids in Disneyland if they're talking about a record or band they're into) you might as well go the fuck home.
Anyway, see yiz at Whelan's tonight. And if you aren't going to Whelan's, haven't got a ticket or whatever, go see Adebisi Shank in the Boom Boom Room. Tenner in, and you get a free album. Fucking savage band, check them out.
Fight Like Apes
Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion (35:53)
Model Citizen
4.5 stars
This album is so anticipated, that music industry observers have gone past the obvious fact that Fight Like Apes are the best Irish band of their generation, and are beginning to wonder what impact their inevitable success will have on their peers in Dublin when the international stage steal the Apes from us. It’s a lot of responsibility for a young band together only two years, currently on a sold out tour across Britain with indie-pop darlings The Ting Tings, to which these three Dubs and a Kildare lady are obvious successors. Does it live up to the hype? Yes. And then some. What we have here is a brilliant scuzzy pop record full of humour, joy, anger, cynicism, surreal flights of fancy – both lyrically and musically - vocal and synth battles, and most importantly, 12 fantastic songs (one of which is just a seven seconds punch of noise).
The band has dumped some of their disorganised musical roots, peeling away their debilitating – if trademark – raw lo-fi growl that typified their two previous EPs, revealing how versatile and distinct lead singer MayKay’s vocals are, and how strong the endless melodies slide. Mining 90s pop culture for lyrical references and emerging with hook after hook, everything from sex, drugs, dodgy TV programmes and plenty of swearing and screaming is wrapped around duelling keyboards, samples, beautifully jittery bass and vigorous drumming.
And so you have the forcefully catchy ‘Lend Me Your Face’, the smashing ode of ‘Jake Summers’, stomping pop song ‘Do You Karate?’ and the waltzing sing-along ‘I'm Beginning To Think You Prefer Beverly Hills 90210 To Me’, an angry if humorous rant against their now fired previous manager . It’s not all fun times, though.
The depth in ‘Battlestations’ and ‘Snore Bore Whore’ reinforce the fact that despite the rawkus live shows and idiosyncratic humour, Fight Like Apes is not a cartoon band, but four incredibly talented individuals who shouldn’t gel, but do, creating astounding music in the process. Never jaded, ‘Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion’ is an electro-indie-punk winner. It’s a perfectly constructed mess that is as fresh as it is joyful and everything indie music in 2008 should be, a brilliant firework over the current landfill of guitar stodge.
Download: ‘Lend Me Your Face’, ‘Snore Bore Whore’, ‘Jake Summers’
Other reviews? The Irish Times gives it 4 stars, Analogue's one is here, Nialler9 calls it 'a superb debut', Entertainment.ie gives it 4 stars and Sputnik Music gives it 4 stars.
SoundCheckin', movies and GPO
Once again, SoundCheck was mucho funsies last night. Great crowd, good people, deadly cocktails and awesome tunes. Oh, and french fancies, of course. We played a few movies too, which was fun.
After that, me and Sarah wandered over to Andrews Lane which was very quiet, but it didn't matter because Grand Pocket Orchestra were playing, and they were awesome. Such a great band. One of their glockenspiel sticks broke, but we improvised with a selotaped lollipop left over from SoundCheck. Smartsies!
And then I met my hat twin:
After that, me and Sarah wandered over to Andrews Lane which was very quiet, but it didn't matter because Grand Pocket Orchestra were playing, and they were awesome. Such a great band. One of their glockenspiel sticks broke, but we improvised with a selotaped lollipop left over from SoundCheck. Smartsies!
And then I met my hat twin:
Thursday, September 25, 2008
first!
Yes! Ireland finally wins something. We are officially the first EU economy to slide into a recession. Everyone else talks about economic turmoil - Ireland actually does it.
Ireland FTW!
Ireland FTW!
see y'all at SoundCheck!
SoundCheck kicks off in just over an hour with Le Galaxie, Psychic Kids, DeK and Alan Feeney playing their favourite indie (and beyond) tunes.
See y'all at Spy from 7pm.
pictured: Sarah Palin making her way into SoundCheck just a few short moments ago
Fight Like Apes to headline Levi's Ones To Watch tour in UK
FLApes continue along the road to simian domination by netting the headline slot on the Levi's Ones To Watch Tour this November.
The dates are;
Wed 19 Brighton, Audio
Thur 20 Camden, Barfly
Fri 21 Birmingham, Barfly Dragon Bar
Sat 22 Liverpool, Barfly
Mon 24 Glasgow, Barfly
Tue 25 Aberdeen, Moshulu
Thur 27 Manchester, Roadhouse.
Fri 28 Cardiff, Barfly
Sat 29 York, Fibbers
In the last few years, headliners on this tour have included Editors, The Kooks, Hard-Fi, Maximo Park, Foals, The Fratellis and The View. So it's a pretty big deal. The previous LOTW tour in May featured Santogold and Late Of The Pier. FLApes are clearly hitting all the right buttons in the UK right now.
The dates are;
Wed 19 Brighton, Audio
Thur 20 Camden, Barfly
Fri 21 Birmingham, Barfly Dragon Bar
Sat 22 Liverpool, Barfly
Mon 24 Glasgow, Barfly
Tue 25 Aberdeen, Moshulu
Thur 27 Manchester, Roadhouse.
Fri 28 Cardiff, Barfly
Sat 29 York, Fibbers
In the last few years, headliners on this tour have included Editors, The Kooks, Hard-Fi, Maximo Park, Foals, The Fratellis and The View. So it's a pretty big deal. The previous LOTW tour in May featured Santogold and Late Of The Pier. FLApes are clearly hitting all the right buttons in the UK right now.
FLApes debut album 'Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion' is released in Ireland tomorrow.
SoundCheck tonight... and some EXCITING news!
Tonight the reincarnated Betamax Format, now Psychic Kids will be unveiling their favourite tunes at SoundCheck @ Spy. Alongside them, the excellent Le Galaxie will be playing the sounds that inspired their awesome music.
If that’s not enough for you, Alan Feeney and DeK will be backing that up with their favourite indie and beyond tunage.
You want more? Fine, how about some free cakes, two-for-one cocktails all evening, and, oh, yeah, it’s FREE IN.
SoundCheck runs from 7pm to 11pm @ Spy on South William Street. It was jammers last week, so our advice is to get there early.
See y’all there!
***************************
And now, get ready for SoundCheck AfterParty. That's right, from next week, we will be going ALL. NIGHT. LONG. as SoundCheck expands into the early hours of the morning. All the details are here. So excited!
***************************
We'll also be announcing our October line-up today, and it's off the chain!
Rawk on.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
I'm a FLApe starter, twisted FLApe starter
Fight Like Apes blog about the Ting Tings tour, a post which includes the nugget that the Prodigy are Fight Like Apes fans.
Here's the Jake Summers video:
Here's the Jake Summers video:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
George Putnam (94) dies
If you have listened to 'Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion', then you will know who I mean.
UnaRocks articles of the day
Crystal Castles settle t-shirt 'Madonna' logo dispute - NME
Do bankers really jump out of windows when the market crashes? - Slate
Hip-hop's crown jewels for sale - Guardian
15 people the next US president should listen to - Wired
Martha Stewart's little girl starts an empire of her own - New York Magazine
Do bloody tampons belong on the stage? - The F Word
The decline of New York's economy - New York Times
Nine dead in Finland school shooting - RTE
Do bankers really jump out of windows when the market crashes? - Slate
Hip-hop's crown jewels for sale - Guardian
15 people the next US president should listen to - Wired
Martha Stewart's little girl starts an empire of her own - New York Magazine
Do bloody tampons belong on the stage? - The F Word
The decline of New York's economy - New York Times
Nine dead in Finland school shooting - RTE
my crash course in the LHC
I was really interested in the LHC, and read as much as I could about it, but I'm not a bleedin' physicist, so never really got it. Luckily, my homie Aoibhinn is! So yesterday, we went for dinner in the Porthouse and then a pint in Hogans (that's us in the photee, having a bevvie) where she explained everything to me, so now I get it a little more.
Aoibhinn actually worked at CERN on the SPS (Super Proton Synchrotron) part of the accelerator complex, so she knows her stuff. She says it's going to take about two months to get past this blip that they've just had, and then the LHC will be back on track. Until then, I'm going to nerd up on the Higgs boson.
Physics is fun!
Bukes
I got bored of Stephanie Meyer's 'New Moon' so quit it a while ago. 'Twilight' was entertaining, but it's just quite dodgy overall, I think. Since then, I've got through the second volume of Schopenhauer's 'The World as Will and Representation', and a book about baby animals that I can't remember the name of.
At the moment I've started two quite different things, both, um, sexy.
The first is Chad Heaps' 'Slumming: Sexual and Racial Encounters in American Nightlife 1885 - 1940', and the second is a graphic memoir by David Heartley called 'My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down', which is basically a graphic novel depicting every sexual encounter Heartley has ever had. Bizarrely, it's the second graphic-graphic novel I've picked up recently. The previous one was some fucked up Japanese anime schoolboy/girl porn that FionnTimes gifted me with.
What are y'all reading at the moment? Any recommendations?
At the moment I've started two quite different things, both, um, sexy.
The first is Chad Heaps' 'Slumming: Sexual and Racial Encounters in American Nightlife 1885 - 1940', and the second is a graphic memoir by David Heartley called 'My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down', which is basically a graphic novel depicting every sexual encounter Heartley has ever had. Bizarrely, it's the second graphic-graphic novel I've picked up recently. The previous one was some fucked up Japanese anime schoolboy/girl porn that FionnTimes gifted me with.
What are y'all reading at the moment? Any recommendations?
New Amusement to support British Sea Power
One of my favourite Irish bands New Amusement (who first popped up here last February) are supporting British Sea Power at the Academy next Monday. Don't miss them, get there early.
Here's the video for 'Lights Go Down':
Here's the video for 'Lights Go Down':
Zip Up Your Titties
What do you mean you didn't see Twink getting vaguely nekkid on the Late Late Show? No, neither did I. So, click here to watch it back. Go to the 'fashion show link' and fast forward to 5.34, if you want to see Twink in her jocks. How stupid is it that in order for a woman of a certain age to assert herself and to try and remain relevent, the only thing she seems able to do is to get her kit off. Sad.
Is it just me, or does Baz sound like he's speaking English for the first time? That said, he seems like a nice dude. Met him once outside the South William, v friendly, but maybe fashion show commentary is not for him.
Once again, the Late Late Show manages to be more surreal than Twin Peaks dunked in the Mighty Boosh.
Speaking of Irish TV, did anyone watch The Apprentice last night? I caught the last bit. Pretty good, no? The Chancer has his thoughts here.
Is it just me, or does Baz sound like he's speaking English for the first time? That said, he seems like a nice dude. Met him once outside the South William, v friendly, but maybe fashion show commentary is not for him.
Once again, the Late Late Show manages to be more surreal than Twin Peaks dunked in the Mighty Boosh.
Speaking of Irish TV, did anyone watch The Apprentice last night? I caught the last bit. Pretty good, no? The Chancer has his thoughts here.
New Nialler9
Check out Nialler's shiny new blog.
Way to make everyone else look shit, dude.
Seriously though, it rocks. Bravo!
Seriously though, it rocks. Bravo!
SoundCheck this Thursday
DJs be: Psychic Kids (Betamax Format), Le Galaxie, Alan Feeney and DeK.
Get there early!
The latest SoundCheck tune chart is now up on the SoundCheck blog. Details of an awesome October line-up and more exciting news coming soon!
The latest SoundCheck tune chart is now up on the SoundCheck blog. Details of an awesome October line-up and more exciting news coming soon!
Monday, September 22, 2008
On the road with Fight Like Apes
I went to a few gigs with the Apes and wrote about it for the cover of the Tribune's new arts section yesterday:
"Glastonbury – June
Fight Like Apes' bass player, the tall-and-skinny-with-an-afro-on-top Tom, stands victorious in front of the drum kit as his bandmates disappear to the wings following a storming set on the BBC 6 Music Stage. He holds a bottle of Buckfast aloft like a rawkus prince might a sword, surveying a battlefield of conquered enemies.
Backstage, while loading her keyboard into the back of a van, lead singer MayKay hugs it momentarily and calls "hold me" to no-one in particular with hysterical humour. In the dissipating audience on the other side, journalists and industry people wander back to the press bar rather stunned, while a BBC radio reporter gathers vox pops on the gig – generally breathlessly excited appraisals of many people's new favourite band..."
...read more
The Van
Ed Devane's re-remix of Super Extra Bonus Party's 'Dorothy Goes Home' on 'Appetite For Reconstruction' is fucking savage. You'll know what I mean when you listen to it. It's crazy. I've known Ed for a few years, he makes crazy fucked up music and is a sound dude. He's playing Galway on October 2nd (don't know where) so go fucking see him because Ed seriously warps people's minds. The man needs more recognition!
Ed also plays in a band called the John and Mary Trilogy with my homies Nif, Fionn and The Killer aka Redmonk.
Ed also plays in a band called the John and Mary Trilogy with my homies Nif, Fionn and The Killer aka Redmonk.
Meanwhile, The Boners release the excellent 'Appetite For Reconstruction' - a remix album of their Choice Music Prize-winning debut record - as a free digital download in October. You can pick up a hard copy if you head to their gig @ ALT (buy tickets for just a tenner here.) The gig has a fucking SAVAGE line-up; R.S.A.G., The Vinny Club, Nouveau Noise, Ikeaboy, Richie !Kaboogie and Caipirinha Band from Brazil. It's all happening on October 10th.
pictures from Lili
Lili is back in her home town of Tel Aviv, and is photo blogging some very cool pics. Check them out.
David Amsden: The Dubliners
David Amsden came to Dublin, we hung out, I recommended him some spots to hit, he hooked up with Dublin Streets, wandered around, partied, and then wrote a piece for the New York Times magazine, which appeared yesterday.
Here it is.
Here it is.
This is why I love FionnTimes
I received a package in work this morning in a electric blue bubble envelope. It contained a blue dinosaur, a neon pink pencil, a small tub of apricot jam a tube of toothpaste with 'McGinty Paste' written on it, and an anonymous container of breakfast cereal with 'McGintyBix' written on it.
Also, there was a note from FionnTimes with a warped passport photee.
Amayonaissing
Ze Weekend. One big Friday night and that's about it.
You know when sometimes you can't wait for the weekend, you accidently make Friday night your weekend? No. Right. Well, anyway, that's what I did.
Went to Tainer Bang's after work where she was with Lucy and Davih. They were watching the episode of the L Word where Dana dies because Davih, for some reason, loves it, and always makes everyone watch it to depress us even more. Also, everyone can do a really good impression of Alice at the funeral, "DANA WAS GAY." It's pretty easy.
I really want to play Taboo with Davih because everyone talks about this legendary game where Davih had to describe the word 'mountains': "right, they're in Tallaght. They're in Tallaght. Like volcanos, but not volcanos. VOLCANOS IN TALLAGHT."
We really wanted to play poker, but Tainer Bang had left her kit in Ragin's. So we went on a bit of an adventure to the petrol station to buy petrol, cigarettes and wine while listening to Hot Chip. We then buzzed over to Ragin's where I kicked everyone's ass in poker and won the GIGANTIC pot of just over €11. Punk ass bitches.
There, we were joined by Baby Helen, and me and Ragin and her made our way to Pantiabar while the others flaked out. In Pantibar, we drank beers, talked about T-shirts, Baby Helen's remarkable six-pack and met Sonja and co and Cooney (who regaled us of her adventures with East 17), Chelsea and Emma. There, we jumped in taxis to the Tivoli for Kiss' fifth birthday.
After queueing for something ridiculous like half an hour, we got in, and the place was packed and it was one of those nights where EVERYONE was in the same place and it was loads of fun. As usual, we spent most of it in the smoking section acting the maggot.
When they chucked us out, we went to a party in Sonjas. There was a wine fight, gym equipment, 'Paper Planes' played approx a million times, and lots o fun. The party went well into Saturday so I was pretty much zombified for the rest of the weekend, although I did have time to have dinner with Meadzer, watch the All-Ireland final (good match) and Ross Kemp on Gangs (serious guilty pleasure.) I also ate a lot of waffles.
Friday, September 19, 2008
The A-Z of SoundCheck last night
AMAZING post on Darragh's blog: a complete photo-illustrated A-Z of last night's SoundCheck. Party on!
Death Magnetic sounds shit
And the engineer is disowning it.
In fact, the Guitar Hero version of the album sounds better than the CD! Crikey.
Check out the comparisons on this vid:
In fact, the Guitar Hero version of the album sounds better than the CD! Crikey.
Check out the comparisons on this vid:
Listen to the new Fight Like Apes album, right now!
Yup, 'Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion' is being streamed on entertainment.ie
Rock on!
Thoughts on the record? I've been listening to it for over a month now at least, and it's defo in with more than a shot for my album of the year.
You can pre-order it from Tower Records here.
if you weren't there, you missed some serious awesomeness!
SoundCheck was totally off the chain last night. DJ battles between me and Rick prompting me to drop the drum and bass version of John Waters interview on Newstalk slagging bloggers, Fight Like Apes and Grand Pocket Orchestra were in the house, the place was jammed, we got recession sweets in for your yumsies pleasure, and I don't think I've had that much funsies in a LONG time.
Full report here.
Full report here.
Get there next week if you haven't been there yet. It's going off!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
SoundCheck is on tonight!
See y'all in Spy on South William St from 7pm.
Free in, two-for-one cocktails, fun times!
DJs are Rick O'Shea, Dublin Streets, Dark Room Notes, and me.
Free in, two-for-one cocktails, fun times!
DJs are Rick O'Shea, Dublin Streets, Dark Room Notes, and me.
(Pictured: Kate Middleton on her way to SoundCheck five minutes ago.)
How Facebook is changing the way we communicate
Here's my column from the Tribune last Sunday. It's internety-related, which is why I'm alerting all you nerds (joke) to it.
Panti's American TV chatshow lying adventure
THIS, my friends, is why Panti is the biggest legend in the history of the universe, and once again confirms her status as my hero.
Shouldn't there be a gold statue of Panti somewhere in town? The campaign starts here.
(via The Mullinator.)
Shouldn't there be a gold statue of Panti somewhere in town? The campaign starts here.
(via The Mullinator.)
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
you dancin'?
Dublin Streets are talking game, Rick, listen up. Word on the street says there's WAR between SoundCheck DJs Rick O'Shea and Dublin Streets. Dublin Streets are the upstarts, on before Rick, determined to blow him away with their cuts of Elton John, and their fancy pants. Rick is the experienced indie monster, ready to crush them with his neon claws.
Who wins? Come along to Spy on South William Street tomorrow from 7pm, and find out.
De Facebook event
De blog
De MySpace
De Facebook event
De blog
De MySpace
Roll Up Your Sleeves
Dylan Haskins, the 21-year-old behind Hideaway House and Hideaway Records premieres his 27-minute documentary on DIY counterculture @ the IFI this Saturday at 12 noon. It's free. Go see it.
Here's the trailer:
Here's the trailer:
UnaRocks articles of the day
The State of Sarah Palin - New Yorker
Quitting the girls and drugs makes Kings of Leon write better songs about girls and drugs - NME
The rise of 'red band' movie trailers - Slate
Look inside the dreams of cartoonist David Heatley - New York magazine
Gay bar becomes safe haven in Hurricane Ike aftermath - Advocate
TV V Movies? No contest - Vanity Fair
The cost of the LHC @ CERN - New Statesman
Quitting the girls and drugs makes Kings of Leon write better songs about girls and drugs - NME
The rise of 'red band' movie trailers - Slate
Look inside the dreams of cartoonist David Heatley - New York magazine
Gay bar becomes safe haven in Hurricane Ike aftermath - Advocate
TV V Movies? No contest - Vanity Fair
The cost of the LHC @ CERN - New Statesman
Heathers - 'Remember When'
Drops of Love: 'Licking Tables'
Check out my homeboy FionnTimes' amazing new song, 'Licking Tables'. Ooh yeah, get down.
Phantom to broadcast Fight Like Apes Whelan's gig
Can't make it to the sold out album launch gig next week, well Phantom will be on hand to broadcast it:
"Fight Like Apes launch their debut album, Fight Like Apes And The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion with a sold-out show at Whelans, Dublin on 26th September, 2008.
The performance will be broadcast live on Dublin’s leading indie-rock station Phantom 105.2.
Phantom 105.2’s flagship drivetime show, Heavy Traffic with Jack Hyland (5-8pm), will air live from The Village Venue on Dublin’s Wexford St. on the day, leading FLApes fans up to the sold-out performance that night. The band are expected on-stage at approximately 10pm – tune in to Phantom over the coming weeks for confirmation of broadcast times.
Fight Like Apes will be performing tracks from their long-awaited debut album, including the popular new single ‘Something Global’, live favourite ‘Lend Me Your Face’, and new tracks such as ‘Tie Me Up With Jackets’ and ‘I’m Beginning To Think You Prefer Beverly Hills 90210 To Me’. The performance is now sold out so for those of you lucky enough to have grabbed a ticket, general mayhem, on-stage wrestling and surprise stage props are also included in the price.
An exclusive interview podcast with Fight Like Apes will be available from www.phantom.ie from Thursday 18th September. Phantom's podcast interviews were recently recommended by Q magazine.
Phantom 105.2, current holder of the PPI Music Station of the Year Award, plays the best in indie, alternative and modern rock with an emphasis on new Irish music and is available in Dublin on 105.2FM, DAB digital radio, nationwide on UPC Digital Channel 935 (NTL/Chorus) Digital Channel 935 and online at www.phantom.ie.
Fight Like Apes And The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion will be streaming live for free from www.entertainment.ie/fightlikeapes from the 19th - 25th September and will then be released on CD and vinyl in record stores across Ireland and on download from the usual on-line outlets on Friday September 26th."
"Fight Like Apes launch their debut album, Fight Like Apes And The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion with a sold-out show at Whelans, Dublin on 26th September, 2008.
The performance will be broadcast live on Dublin’s leading indie-rock station Phantom 105.2.
Phantom 105.2’s flagship drivetime show, Heavy Traffic with Jack Hyland (5-8pm), will air live from The Village Venue on Dublin’s Wexford St. on the day, leading FLApes fans up to the sold-out performance that night. The band are expected on-stage at approximately 10pm – tune in to Phantom over the coming weeks for confirmation of broadcast times.
Fight Like Apes will be performing tracks from their long-awaited debut album, including the popular new single ‘Something Global’, live favourite ‘Lend Me Your Face’, and new tracks such as ‘Tie Me Up With Jackets’ and ‘I’m Beginning To Think You Prefer Beverly Hills 90210 To Me’. The performance is now sold out so for those of you lucky enough to have grabbed a ticket, general mayhem, on-stage wrestling and surprise stage props are also included in the price.
An exclusive interview podcast with Fight Like Apes will be available from www.phantom.ie from Thursday 18th September. Phantom's podcast interviews were recently recommended by Q magazine.
Phantom 105.2, current holder of the PPI Music Station of the Year Award, plays the best in indie, alternative and modern rock with an emphasis on new Irish music and is available in Dublin on 105.2FM, DAB digital radio, nationwide on UPC Digital Channel 935 (NTL/Chorus) Digital Channel 935 and online at www.phantom.ie.
Fight Like Apes And The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion will be streaming live for free from www.entertainment.ie/fightlikeapes from the 19th - 25th September and will then be released on CD and vinyl in record stores across Ireland and on download from the usual on-line outlets on Friday September 26th."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
