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On The Record

Jim Carroll

Music, Life and everything else

Monthly Archives: May 2008

McCreevy’s ‘simple wish’ for EU-wide copyright deal

Charlie has spoken. EU Internal Market commissioner Charlie McCreevy has decided it’s time for peace talks in the long-running barney between electronics companies and musical-rights societies over copyright levies.

Analog gets shipshape

Arrr, me hearties! The first intake of singing pirates for Hal Willner’s Rogues Gallery show in Dublin on July 18 have been announced. Those enlisted by the much-experienced producer include Teddy Thompson, Waterson Carthy, Gavin Friday, Pere Ubu’s David Thomas, …

Etc

On The Record hearts Sigur Ros album titles. Album number five, “Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust” (or “With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly” in English), is released on June 20. Download album sampler “Gobbledigook” for …

Morrissey, Dublin, June 28

Remember that Morrissey show on June 28 that we told you about here? Well, it’s back on. The venue is now the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin 8 and not Luggala, in the middle of Co Wicklow as originally was …

Guest post – The Great Escape

Lauren Murphy was in Brighton the other week for The Great Escape, the new-ish festival which likes to think of itself as SXSW-On-Sea. She saw many, many things including some cracking bands. Here’s the A&R report featuring her Top 7 …

Taking the bus, the train or the tram

I noticed a very interesting ad from MCD on the DART from the Springsteen shows at the weekend. They’ve stuck four of their summer outdoor shows together – the ones which are not selling, obviously – and are promoting them …

On The Road – Adrian Crowley in the UK

We’re big fans of Adrian Crowley and his excellent “Long Distance Swimmer” album round these parts so we were delighted that he accepted the invitation to join our On The Road club. Adrian is currently doing UK shows supporting both …

Memo to those on the hunt for Tom Waits tickets

If you lose out in tomorrow’s Ticketmaster lottery, please don’t come complaining to us. Instead, spend the €131.25 you would have splurged on a night out with Crazy Ol’ Tom (™ On The Record) on FIVE tickets for the Future …

Most Serene Republic competition

Canucks The Most Serene Republic are in Ireland this week and play shows in Dublin (Whelan’s, Wednesday), Galway (Roisin Dubh, Thursday) and Cork (Cyprus Avenue Friday) Thanks to Aiken Promotions, we have a pair of tickets to give away for …

11 things I learned this weekend from three nights of Bruce
  • Bruce
  • May 26, 2008, 08:58

(1) I don’t think I’ve ever been at live shows in Ireland where the audience spanned every possible generation as much as they did over the last three nights in the RDS. From the gentleman who was proudly attending his …

Phantom 105.2 playlist, Saturday May 24

As played on Phantom 105.2, Saturday May 24, 10pm-midnight. The Hold Steady “Sequestered In Memphis” (Rough Trade) Albert Hammond Jr “In My Room” (Rough Trade) Paul Weller “Echoes Around the Sun” (Island) Foxboro Hot Tubs “Stop Drop & Roll” (Jingle …

Bud Rising calls time on several live music events

Bud Rising, one of the country’s most prominent music sponsors, is currently reviewing its involvement in the sector.

The greening of Enniscorthy

Is it possible for a festival to be eco-friendly? The people behind the Irish Green Gathering, which will take place for the second year at Woodbrook Estate, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford from August 8th to 10th, think so. Acts already confirmed …

Galway’s arts groove

When it comes to music programming, the Galway Arts Festival has always shown a lot of love for singer-songwriters, and this year Tom Baxter and KT Tunstall play the festival Big Top on July 23rd. However, there’s plenty to offset …

Etc

Send your tuxedo to the dry-cleaners pronto – Duke Special is about to do a posh gig. The Duke performs at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on August 22nd with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Twin Kranes continue their getting-to-know-you waltz …

Tune of the Week – “Sequestered In Memphis”

Hey kids, it’s The Hold Steady.

Tom Waits, Dublin, July 30, 31 & August 1

As predicted by On The Record a couple of weeks ago (and subsequently “borrowed” by other news sources who still managed to get the number of nights wrong), Tom Waits plays three shows in Dublin this summer. These will be …

The randomiser says “anyone for turkey sambos?”

About last night…. Broken Social Scene at Vicar Street were good, but No Age at Whelan’s were sublime. The BSS gig was a wonderfully ramshackle greatest hits set right from the heart of Queen Street, but No Age were awesome, …

Animal Collective’s texty gig promotion

Well done to all concerned who pulled off the Animal Collective late-night show in Whelan’s in Dublin last night. The gig was supposed to be on in Tripod but was cancelled when the band missed their ferry. Well, they obviously …

They’re back

If we knew they were coming, we’d have a baked a cake or a rhubarb tart (awesome amount of rhubarb in the garden at the moment). We’re talking, of course, about Rock the Vote. They launched their Lisbon Treaty referendum …

Self Aid, 22 years on

Riley, the DJ who does the show after me on Phantom on Saturday nights, is a great man for blowing the dust off CDs you’d half-forgotten about. A while back, it was Into Paradise’s “Churchtown” album which made for some …

Phantom 105.2 playlist, Saturday May 17

As played on Phantom 105.2, Saturday May 17, 10pm-midnight. Arveene & Misk “Rave Against The Arveene” (White) Health “Triceratops (Acid Girls Remix)” (Lovepump United) Skatt Brothers “Walk the Night” (Casablanca) Liquid Liquid “Cavern” (Domino) Brendan Canning “Hit the Wall” (Arts …

Festivals by the sea, the Lee, the Lagan and the Liffey

Typical: you wait weeks and weeks for news of some summer festivals to come along and then several appear all at once.

In the Irish pipeline

It’s already been a bumper year for Irish albums, with notable releases from Gemma Hayes, Chequerboard, Republic Of Loose, Crayonsmith and Jape. Others to add to that list in the coming weeks and months include the much talked about – …

Flaws hit the road

The Flaws were one of the brightest sparks in the class of 2007. A band who refused to let record-label incompetence stand in their way, they released their fine debut album, Achieving Vagueness, under their own steam. Today sees the …

Etc

Make a June Bank Holiday weekend date with Mr Scruff, the Mancunian tea-dancer who plays shows in Cork (Savoy, May 30th), Galway (Black Box, May 31st) and Limerick (Trinity Rooms, June 1st). His Dublin date will be at the Button …

Morrissey, Co Wicklow, June 28

On The Record understands that Morrissey will play a second Irish show this summer and the venue is likely to be Luggala Estate, Co Wicklow on June 28.

Phantom 105.2 playlist, Saturday May 10

As played on Phantom 105.2, Saturday May 10, 10pm-midnight. The Presets “A New Sky” (Modular) The Tough Alliance “Neo Violence” (Sincerely Yours) CSS vs Tom Tom Club “Lets Make Love (Streetlife DJs mix)” (White) Warrior Queen & The Heatwave “Things …

Unblogged

I’m away from the computer screen for the next 10 days or so and will not be updating the blog during this time. Comments will be updated (big thanks to Conor) so please keep talking amongst yourselves. You can use …

Phantom 105.2 playlist, Saturday May 3

As played on Phantom 105.2, Saturday May 3, 10pm-midnight. Yacht “Platinum” (Marriage) MIA “Paper Planes (DFA Remix)” (XL) LCD Soundsystem “Big Ideas” (Columbia) Santogold “You’ll Find A Way” (Lizard King/Atlantic) Crystal Castles “Alice Practice” (Last Gang) Duchess Says “Rabies” (Alien8) …

Future Days Festival, June – the full line-up

Yes, it is beginning to appear that June is the new May. Here’s the full line-up for the first Future Days festival, brought to you by Foggy Notions and Forever Presents, to be held in various Dublin venues in June. …

Heard the latest track from Grand Theft Auto?

The biggest music event of the week was not that Coldplay downplay, but rather the release of Grand Theft Auto IV.

Downloads go up, CDs go down

Further evidence that the record industry is in need of a radical pick-me-up came when the Recording Industry Association of America released its stats for 2007. The good news: digital formats now account for nearly a quarter of all US …

Oh Yeah, says Holmes

Those seeking a taster for David Holmes’s forthcoming album should check out the new compilation from the Oh Yeah music centre in Belfast. Holmes has contributed a new track, McCready Rides Again, to the Oh Yeah Sessions ’08 release. The …

Etc

There are some shows which are selling out this weather. All tickets for funkmaster Maceo Parker’s gig at the Mermaid Arts Centre as part of the Bray Jazz Festival tomorrow night have been snapped up. This year’s FeileAfrica fest in …

Tune of the Week – “War”

Meet my new favourite Mexican band. It used to be Molotov, but it’s now Chikita Violenta. And they sound mighty.