On The Record

  • Phantom 105.2 playlist, Thursday October 30

    October 31, 2008 @ 12:10 pm | by Jim Carroll

    As played on The Producers, the new music show on Phantom 105.2, Thursday October 30, 8pm-10pm

    And that is the end of the road for The Producers. A revamped night-time schedule comes into effect next week across the station so I’ll be presenting a new weekly show called The Far Side on Tuesdays from 10pm to midnight. Expect to hear an indiesyncratic mix of new and old tunes from every shelf in the music department store - yep, it’s the return of the eclectic Saturday show except it’s now on Tuesdays. Strap yourselves in!

    Tilly & The Wall “Alligator Skin” (Moshi Moshi)
    The Gaslight Anthem “Miles Davis & The Cool” (Side One Dummy)
    Annie “I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me (Get Shakes remix)” (Island)
    MGMT “Kids (Soulwax remix)” (Columbia)
    Little Boots “Meddle (Toddla T remix)” (50 Bones)
    Grace Jones “This Is” (Wall of Sound)
    Camille “Home Is Where The Hurt Is” (Virgin)
    Lykke Li “Little Bit” (LL)
    Kleerup “Thank You For Nothing” (Virgin Sweden)
    The M’s “Big Sound” (Polyvinyl)
    Dark Meat “Well Fuck You Then” (Vice)
    Titus Andronicus “Titus Andronicus” (Troubleman)
    Chairlift “Bruises” (Kanine)
    Her Space Holiday “The New Kid Revival” (Wichita)
    TV On The Radio “Crying” (4AD)
    Gang Gang Dance “First Communion” (Warp)
    Shout Out Louds “Impossible (Studio remake)” (Information)
    A Place To Bury Strangers “I Know I’ll See You (The Clapp remix)”
    (Killer Pimp)
    Vampire Weekend “Ottoman” (Atlantic)
    Little Joy “The Next Time Around” (Rough Trade)
    I’m From Barcelona “Music Killed Me” (Mute)
    The Notwist “Boneless (Panda Bear remix)” (City Slang)
    Quiet Village “Gold Rush” (!K7)
    Deerhunter “Never Stops” (4AD)

  • Feargal Sharkey to head up new music-biz body

    @ 10:29 am | by Jim Carroll

    It’s a long way from “Teenage Kicks”. This week, former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey was unveiled as the head of UK Music, a new umbrella body representing various strands of the British music business.
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  • Universal music truths

    @ 10:27 am | by Jim Carroll

    Anyone keen to learn just where the music business might be going should pop along to Whitla Hall in Belfast next Thursday.

    While NI Music: The Way Forward is aimed primarily at Northern Ireland musicians, the all-day conference will probably contain a bundle of universal truths about the current state of the industry.

    Organised by the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission, the conference will feature such speakers as Paul Brannigan (Kerrang), Una Johnson (South By Southwest), Harry Martin (Domino Records), Declan Forde (POD Concerts), Iain Ramage (Sony ATV Music), Ben Turner (Bestival) and UK Music boss Feargal Sharkey.

    Admission is free and more information on the event can be found here.

  • Rockin’ in a free world

    @ 10:25 am | by Jim Carroll

    With more and more venues looking to beat the economic blues, some Dublin residences are showing others the way to go may be by not charging an admision fee.

    Every Sunday, Texan slide guitarist NC Lawlor sets up shop in the front bar of Whelan’s. Lawlor has played with the likes of Jim Lauderdale, Seasick Steve and Billy Joe Shaver in the past.

    Meanwhile, the Sick & Indigent Song Club continue their long-running residency at the city’s Hapenny Bridge Inn on Mondays. A new album is due soon from the collective, the follow-up to the well received “The Inistioge Folly”.

  • Etc

    @ 10:23 am | by Jim Carroll

    Get ‘em while they’re hot. Plug away to your heart’s content, remembering to declare an interest where relevant or don’t be surprised if one is declared for you

    Early 2009 albums to look forward to include new releases from Animal Collective (”Merriweather Post Pavilion”), Franz Ferdinand (”Tonight: Franz Ferdinand!”) and Antony & The Johnsons (”The Crying Light”).

    Take That are the first act announced for Dublin’s Croke Park next summer, for June 13th. Interestingly, it’s billed as a co-promote between big boys MCD and Aiken Promotions.

    Foggy Notions November shows at Whelan’s in Dublin include Cass McCombs (15th), Parenthetical Girls (21th), These Are Powers (22th) and Beach House (27th - video below).

    Quote of the week: “I don’t notice politics, but I got caught up in it because politicians seem bent on ruining Iceland’s natural environment” - Björk comments on the Icelandic economic crisis

  • Tune of the Week - “The ‘59 Sound”

    October 30, 2008 @ 10:18 am | by Jim Carroll

    Here’s one for the Springsteen and Replacement fans in the audience.
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  • Jape, Dublin, December

    October 29, 2008 @ 12:47 pm | by Jim Carroll

    Biggest Dublin headliner yet for the Richie Egan Band as they play Tripod on December 18.

  • Competition - win tickets to not one, not two, not three, not four but FIVE gigs!

    @ 9:57 am | by Jim Carroll

    Yes, you read that right. It’s a MONSTER Recession 2.0 competition, courtesy of our pals at POD Concerts.

    One On The Record reader is going to win a pair of tickets to EACH of the following gigs:

    Nitin Sawhney - Tripod, Friday October 31

    Lambchop - Tripod, Saturday November 1

    The Walkmen - Button Factory, Sunday November 2

    The Kills - Tripod, Monday November 3

    Neon Neon with Yo Majesty - Tripod, Tuesday November 4

    That’s €263 (including booking fees) worth of tickets, dudes. Five nights gigging in a row - when was the last time you went out five nights in a row, eh? You’ve never gone out five nights in a row? Oh. Well, hey, you can change that now.

    To win, simply tell us what is your favourite blog and why. It’s as easy as that. Anyone who nominates their own blog - or this blog - will be instantly disqualified. Competition runs until midnight tonight. Make with the funnies and smart comments and recommendations, folks. Videos follow from Neon Neon and The Kills to (a) add some moving pictures to the page and (b) bulk out the post.

  • This is what the future of the music business looks like

    October 28, 2008 @ 10:24 am | by Jim Carroll

    What were you doing last Wednesday night? I know, I know, it’s the kind of question they used to pose on Garda Patrol and still do on Law & Order. Anyway, there was football on TV but there was also a couple of gigs happening in Dublin. Sly & Robbie were in Tripod, Pivot were at Whelan’s and White Hinterland played at Crawdaddy. There were a couple of hundred to see Sly & Robbie, a hundred or so at Pivot and 18 paying punters to see White Hinterland. Lets stick with White Hinterland because there is a lesson here about what the future of this business looks like.
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  • Phantom 105.2 playlist, Thursday October 23

    October 27, 2008 @ 11:53 am | by Jim Carroll

    As played on The Producers, the new music show on Phantom 105.2, Thursday October 23, 8pm-10pm

    Chairlift “Earwig Town” (Kanine)
    Vivian Girls “Where Do You Run To” (In The Red)
    Housse de Racket “Oh Yeah!” (Kuskus)
    The Secret Machines “Atomic Heels” (TSM)
    TV On The Radio “Halfway Home” (4AD)
    The Ettes “Crown Of Age” (Self-release)
    Telepathe “Chrome’s On It” (No Pain In Pop)
    Errors “National Prism” (Rock Action)
    Holy Fuck “Balloons” (Young Turks)
    Annie “Two Of Hearts” (Island)
    Au Revoir Simone “Lark (Ruff & Jam remix)” (Our Secret Recording Co)
    Bat For Lashes “A Forest” (Manimal Vinyl)
    Princeton “Waves” (Striking Peasant)
    Marching Band “Make No Plans” (U&L)
    The Gaslight Anthem “The ‘59 Sound” (Side One Dummy)
    Jay Reatard “An Ugly Death” (Matador)
    Marnie Stern “The Package Is Wrapped” (Kill Rock Stars)
    Cause Co-Motion! “Baby Don’t Do It” (Slumberland)
    Abe Vigoda “Dead City/Waste Wilderness” (Bella Union)
    Thomas Tantrum “Shake It! Shake It” (Sindy Stroker)
    Deerhunter “Never Stops” (Kranky)
    Theresa Andersson “Birds Fly Away” (Basin Street)
    Department of Eagles “No One Does It Like You” (4AD)
    Ryan Adams “Evergreen” (Lost Highway)
    The Dears “Money Babies” (Dangerbird)
    Arthur Russell “Hey! How Does Everybody Know” (Rough Trade)
    Passion Pit “Smile Upon Me” (French Kiss)

  • Live Nation v Ticketmaster - the heat is on

    October 24, 2008 @ 9:33 am | by Jim Carroll

    The concert ticket business is to heat up in 2009 with the arrival of major competition for the current leader of the pack, Ticketmaster.
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  • Guest post - Eamonn Doyle on DEAF 2008

    @ 9:22 am | by Jim Carroll

    DEAF 2008 is now live, y’all. Festival chief Eamonn Doyle filed this blog late last night to give a taste of what it takes to put on a monster event like this - and why he and his team do it every year.
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  • Blunt news for newspaper readers worldwide

    @ 9:13 am | by Jim Carroll

    The professionals may argue otherwise, but it would seem that any aul’ eejit can edit a newspaper section.

    Proof of this comes with the news that James Blunt is set to edit part of daily giveaway tabloid Metro on November 17th.

    “I am looking forward to raising the profile of subjects close to my heart and hopefully have a little fun along the way,” commented Blunt.

    It could have been worse. Blunt might have decided to give away one of his CDs with the paper.

  • Belfast continues to rock

    @ 9:12 am | by Jim Carroll

    While the Belfast Festival at Queen’s University runs until the end of the month, the festival action in the Northern capital also extends into November with the A Little Solidarity music festival providing a snapshot of the vibrant new band scene in Northern Ireland.

    From November 13th to 15th, Fighting With Wire, General Fiasco, And So I Watch You From Afar, Panama Kings and others will play at various venues. There will also be a photo exhibition from Graham Smith and various industry panels.

    And that’s not all up north. Tomorrow night sees Foy Vance, Bronagh Gallagher, the Inishowen Gospel Choir and others take part in Urban Hymns at the May Street church in the city.

  • Etc

    @ 9:09 am | by Jim Carroll

    Gemma Hayes heads out on the road soon, calling to Belfast (Nov 26), Mullingar (29), Limerick (30), Cork (Dec 1), Waterford (Nov 4), Dublin (6), Castlebar (7) and Galway (7)

    Currently on a lengthy US tour supporting Jason Mraz, Lisa Hannigan plays her biggest Irish headliner to date at Dublin’s Vicar Street on December 13th (video below)

    Coldcut’s Jonathan More, Mixmaster Morris and this week’s Ticket CD of the Week star R.S.A.G. combine for a show at Dublin’s Andrew’s Lane Theatre on December 12.

  • Guest post - White Noise at DEAF 2008

    October 23, 2008 @ 4:57 pm | by Jim Carroll

    One of the must-see gigs at DEAF 2008 will be White Noise playing their classic album “An Electric Storm” in full at the Sugar Club on Sunday night. Here’s White Noise’s Mark Jenkins talking about the project.
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  • Tune of the Week - “Earwig Town”

    @ 9:17 am | by Jim Carroll

    Anyone else interested in seeing what’s going on in “Earwig Town”?
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  • Feeling a smidgin sorry for your local gig promoter

    October 22, 2008 @ 2:21 pm | by Jim Carroll

    It may be time for POD to admit that their Some Day Never End fest is cursed. If last year’s “unforseen circumstances”, the ones which forced the Groove Armada and Dizzee Rascal show to be downsized, was a bad start for a new festival, this year has been been downright terrible.

    We’ve already written about how ALL the proposed gigs at IMMA have been forced to move to smaller venues in the city. Then, there was the attempt to put on a My Morning Jacket gig which came a cropper.

    As if things couldn’t get worse (pause for dramatic effect), well, they just did. The gig which was supposed to feature a trio of Eighties pop stars - namely Human League, ABC and Heaven 17 - at IMMA which had been moved to Tripod has been further downsized. Yes, the Human League ain’t coming to town.

    The official reason? Hairspray issues? Cocktail bar waitressing paying more cash? Per the press release: “after long consideration, The Human League have regretfully had to withdraw due to technical difficulties beyond their control associated with moving the date from its original venue at IMMA to Tripod”.

    Because of the League no-show, tickets are now €24.50, twenty euro less than the original tickets which went on sale ages ago. Anyone who has already paid the full whack can get their twenty euro back on the door on the night. Wonder how many twenty euro notes they’ll need for that?

    It can’t get any worse, can it? Oh yes, it can. The Minotaur Shock gig at Crawdaddy at the weekend has also been pulled. Blimey. No reason given so maybe it was something to do with the medical cards for the over 70s. Or maybe not.

    Poor POD, they must be morto at all this.

    Hold on, what’s this? Another change? You’ve got to be joking. You’re not joking? OK. Now we hear that one of the two Roseanne Barr gigs have been cancelled. The Friday show is still going ahead, but they need the venue back for ABC and Heaven 17 on the Sunday so Roseanne’s second gig is 86′d.

    I’m going to end this post now before I hex something else.

  • Did you know that yesterday was Global Anti-Piracy Day?

    @ 10:22 am | by Jim Carroll

    If only we had known, we’d have baked a cake or worn an eye-patch or walked the plank (John Moloney kind of did that, though, in front of 2,000 angry auld wans in a church in Dublin - actually, he was still walking the plank last night on Prime Time AND Nighty Night With Vinnie B) or something.

    So because we missed Global Anti-Piracy Day yesterday and because it’s always good to talk about these things, here’s a re-up.

    It was an initiative from Microsoft to big up their plans to throw pirates overboard. Don’t know if this also applies to pirates in Somalia.

    Per the press release, it was “a simultaneous launch of education initiatives and enforcement actions in 49 countries on six continents to combat the sophisticated, illegal trade of pirated and counterfeit software. The programs announced today include intellectual property awareness campaigns, engagements with partner businesses, educational forums, local law enforcement training, and new legal actions against alleged software counterfeiters and pirates.”

    There’s also an interactive map to go with the campaign, outlining detailed info about what the corporation are doing where and why.

    Best of all, it features comments from former pirates who have seen the error of their ways. Like SLL in Nova Scotia: “I purchased my product off an online auction site. I was really frustrated that it turned out to be counterfeit. I am very thankful to Microsoft. Your efforts to help victims of software piracy are great. The Windows Genuine Advantage program is just one of many ways that your company is a leader in the software industry. Microsoft is the best!”

    No, I’m not making this up. Microsoft 4 EVA y’all.

  • Guest post - Alan Lambert on the film programme at DEAF 2008

    @ 9:01 am | by Jim Carroll

    Irish artist and filmmaker Alan Lambert is curating the film and visual programme at DEAF 2008. Here’s his rundown on what you should check out this weekend.
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  • Why grey is the new black

    October 21, 2008 @ 11:21 am | by Jim Carroll

    Well, that’s the end of that. At a press conference this morning, the government put up the white flag with regard to the medical card issue.

    In less than a week, Brian Cowen’s administration have fallen apart like a cheap suit. A couple of pushes and shoves and, bang, they capitulated. Of course, this was always going to be the way after it was forcibly pointed out to their TDs and ministers at constituency clinics all over the country last weekend that those people who had voted them into power were not very happy with one tiny element of their budget. The plan to curb universal entitlement for over 70s to a medical card may well have saved €100 million, but it has created some massive headaches for Cowen and co.

    While I’m sure there was a very good reason that minister for finance Brian Lenihan was missing from this morning’s press conference announcing the back-down, the semantics didn’t look great. Lenihan is probably vexed beyond belief at how this one has played out. He will probably be even more vexed when the next climbdown brings about changes to the income levy. He’ll remember his first budget fondly.

    The issue also shows that Fianna Fail and their sidekicks in the Green Party (and whatever independents haven’t chickened out and ran for the cameras like Finian McGrath) will have real problems taking big decisions in the near future. There’s no sign of any collective backbone to deal with the issues to expect even more shirking when it comes to everything from public sector reform to the Lisbon Treaty,

    But the real story here is what 140,000 senior citizens can achieve when they put their minds to it. Forget risible campaigns like Rock the Vote, what you saw in action over the last week was real people power. Now that they’ve got the medical card back, I wonder could the grey army be pressed into action about those education cuts?

  • Guest post - Niamh Ahern at DEAF 2008

    @ 9:20 am | by Jim Carroll

    Film-maker and videojournalist Niamh Ahern resides these days in Berlin and she’s coming to DEAF 2008 with Totally Wired, her documentary about the city’s analogue boutique, Schneider’sBuero. Here’s Niamh talking about the background to the documentary.
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  • Great issues of our age

    October 20, 2008 @ 12:40 pm | by Jim Carroll

    No Age. Damn, they were good. Their appearance in the middle of the Drowned In Sound Shred Yr Face triple-bill in Whelan’s on Friday last put the cork on it for me - they are the ones who are really pushing things forward. If you haven’t already succumbed to the joyous put-blood-in-the-music thrillganza of their “Nouns” album, what the hell are you waiting for? Great turn-out for them too - met a ton of folks I hadn’t seen in ages (no, ages etc). Times New Viking were awesome too. Didn’t hang around for Los Campesinos. Did I miss anything?

    Gomorra. Go see right away. One of the finest flicks of the year.

    Gerry Ryan. Enough already. You know he has a book out, right? You can’t escape the damn thing. Bet there isn’t even a mention of the purple underpants in it. One interesting snippet which did emerge from the Ryan Tubridy v Gerry Ryan interview the other night (good to see that RTE are spending our licence fee so well, isn’t it?) was that Ryan once wrote a letter to the editor of this here paper giving out about a Shane Hegarty review of his lousy TV show. G Ryan even got a reply too - the editor telling him basically to cop on and take it on the chin.

    Ger Loughnane. Anyone seen sight or sound of him since last week?

    Liverpool’s weekly comeback. Great entertainment but shocking for the aul’ nerves.

    The withdrawal of automatic entitlement to a medical card for the over 70s. Imagine the very worst fuming you can from the ranks of Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Oasis and AC/DC fans about, oh, anything at all. Now, double it. Add a couple of zeros at the end. Multiply by the amount of money Irish banks won’t be getting back from developers any time soon. Now, treble that. And you’re still not even close to the sum total of stupidity behind that budgetary snip. Bet Bertie Ahern is having a grand old snigger at this one.

  • Guest post - Steinski at DEAF 2008

    @ 8:18 am | by Jim Carroll

    On The Record kicks off a week of DEAF 2008 guest posts with Steinski telling us about what he will be doing in Dublin this weekend.

    Steinski is Steve Stein, a former New York advertising exec turned cut-and-paste pioneer who has been a formative influence on such artists as DJ Shadow, Coldcut, Cut Chemist, Girl Talk and Norman Cook. For a good round-up of Steinksi’s work, check out the “What Does It All Mean? 1983-2006 Retrospective” on Illegal Art.
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  • Levi Stubbs RIP

    October 19, 2008 @ 9:58 pm | by Jim Carroll

    The Four Tops singer died on Friday morning (BBC obit here). Remember the man and that truly distinctive, raw and emotive voice this way.

  • Phantom 105.2 playlist, Thursday October 16

    October 17, 2008 @ 11:16 am | by Jim Carroll

    As played on The Producers, the new music show on Phantom 105.2, Thursday October 16, 8pm-10pm

    I’ll be moving to a new show from next month as part of the station’s night-time schedule revamp. The new show is called The Far Side and it will be broadcast every Tuesday from 10pm to midnight. The show’s remit? An indiesyncratic mix of new and old tunes - yep, it’s the return of the Saturday show on Tuesdays. First show airs on November 4. Until then, check out The Producers on Thursdays.

    Passion Pit “Sleepyhead” (Frenchkiss)
    Thomas Tantrum “Rage Against the Tantrum” (Sindy Stroker)
    The Do “On My Shoulder” (Wagwram)
    We Have Band “Oh” (50 Bones)
    Oxford Collapse “Electric Arc” (Sub Pop)
    Jay Reatard “See/Saw” (Matador)
    I’m From Barcelona “Music Killed Me” (Mute)
    Ray LaMontagne “You Are the Best Thing” (14th Floor)
    Collapsing Cities “So I Said Last Weekend” (Way Out West)
    Foals “Super Inuit” (Young Turks)
    The Juan McLean “Find A Way” (DFA)
    Filthy Dukes “Tupac Robot Club Rock” (Fiction)
    Bomb the Bass/Fujiya & Miyagi “Butterfingers” (K7)
    Amadou & Mariam “Sabali” (Because)
    Esau Mwamwaya “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” (XL)
    The Very Best “Get It Up” (Ghettopop)
    The Knux “Bang! Bang!” (Interscope)
    Roots Manuva “Let the Spirit (Hot Chip remix)” (Big Dada)
    El Guincho “Cuanda Maavilla Fui” (Young Turks)
    Marnie Stern “Shea Stadium” (Kill Rock Stars)
    Crystal Antlers “Owl” (Touch & Go)
    Gang Gang Dance “House Jam” (Warp)
    The Notwist “Boneless (Panda Bear remix)” (City Slang)
    Department of Eagles “In Ear Park” (4AD)
    Holy Fuck “Balloons” (Young Turks)

  • Nation responds to Minister for Finance’s “call to patriotic action” by demanding extra AC/DC show

    @ 10:19 am | by Jim Carroll

    The AC/DC show at The 02 next April sold out this morning in seconds. No sign of a second show yet. What’s the betting there will be an outdoor show in the summer?

  • New text download service aims for the impulse buyers

    @ 9:21 am | by Jim Carroll

    Irish bands will find it easier to sell their music, thanks to a new MySpace add-on from Downloadmusic.ie
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  • Castle Palooza’s magic

    @ 9:17 am | by Jim Carroll

    The 2,000 capacity Castle Palooza festival has won many plaudits from punters and pundits during its three-year run.

    Now the Co Offaly event, headlined this year by The Parlotones and The Mystery Jets, has made the shortlist for Best European Festival in the UK Festival Awards, where it’s competing with such giants as Exit (Serbia), Benicassim (Spain), Roskilde (Denmark) and fellow Irish fest Oxegen.

    Naturally, Castle Palooza’s organisers are making the most of this inclusion and early-bird tickets for next year’s August Bank Holiday weekend festival are now on sale at a recession-friendly price of €59.

    Couples who still have some cash in their pockets after this week’s budget can buy Treat Yourself tickets for €299, which include two weekend passes, a fully equipped and pitched tent, and a champagne breakfast.

  • Indiecater goes back to the future

    @ 9:16 am | by Jim Carroll

    Irish music blogger MP3 Hugger’s Indiecater digital label offshoot continues to flourish.

    Aside from two fine compilations, Indiecater has also taken a hankering to reissuing classic forgotten albums.

    California band Red Star Belgrade’s Where The Sun Doesn’t Shine album was the first to be restored and now, early 1990s Dublin act Sunbear are to get the reissue treatment.

    Only 1,000 copies of their self-titled debut album were released in 1994, but Indiecater now have the album available for download for the cheap-as-chips price of 3.50 euro.

  • Etc

    @ 9:12 am | by Jim Carroll

    Here we go, here we go, here we go - it’s the weekly plugathon where you (yes, you) can sell your wares to millions of On The Record readers for the small price of a declation of interest.

    Win Gabriela’s guitar! Check out previews from Rodrigo & Gabriela’s new “Live In Japan” album and DVD plus a competition to win that Yamaha APX guitar right here. From your pals at irishtimes.com.

    Downpatrick classic rock faves The Answer are to support AC/DC on the American dates of their Black Ice world tour.

    Songs For Susie is a new compilation in aid of the Susie Long Hospice Fund, featuring such Kilkenny acts as Engine Alley, the excellent R.S.A.G (video below), Kerbdog and many more.

    Canadian electronic artist Milosh hits the road with Chequerboard next week for dates in Galway (De Burgos, Tues), Dublin (Whelan’s, Wed), Dundalk (Spirit Store, Thurs), Cork (Triskel, Fri), Tralee (Brogue Inn, Sat) and Limerick (Red Cross Hall, Mon).

  • There was gold at the end of the Rainbow after all

    October 16, 2008 @ 12:57 pm | by Jim Carroll

    A year or so after The Day The World Changed Forever Because A Rock Band Gave Away Their Album For Free, music publishers Warner Chappell have came up with the first details about exactly how well Radiohead did from their “In Rainbows” venture. Three million sales - that’s a lot of Yorkies.

    I would say that the Music Ally analysis will make for interesting reading for every band with an established audience thinking about doing a Radiohead in the next while. And for bands without an established audience built up by releasing a number of albums thanks to the largesse and patience of a major label? Uhm, er, ah, ugh, doh etc. Yeah, no change there.

  • 10 reasons why Oasis have not yet decided on a ticket price for Slane

    @ 10:35 am | by Jim Carroll

    (1) The whole sterling/euro thing is confusing Liam Gallagher

    (2) Band management are keen to use the gig to trial a revolutionary pay-per-weight ticket buying scheme

    (3) MCD are working out if the new income levy applies to their acts.

    (4) Noel Gallagher is insisting on getting paid in Silvermints and Brunch ice-creams

    (5) Lord Henry Mountcharles wants Dara as the support act, but band think he means Dana

    (6) Band want to add Joe the Plumber, Joe Six Pack and Joe Le Taxi to the bill and are checking about fees.

    (7) Gem Archer believes that Oasis fans will happily pay over the odds to see them stand still on a stage. Promoters unsure if fans will really pay €90.90 (plus Ticketmaster charges) for that.

    (8) Ticket price to be determined by the cost of the Topman Spring/Summer collection

    (9) Staff in MCD have lost the office calculator

    (10) Band’s agent is waiting to hear back from Polish builders about the cost of the extension on his gaff before agreeing to ticket price.

  • Tune of the Week - “Sleepyhead”

    @ 8:11 am | by Jim Carroll

    Meet your first favourite new band for 2009.
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  • Competition - beat Recession 2.0 and win some tickets!

    October 15, 2008 @ 2:16 pm | by Jim Carroll

    Thanks to the good folks at Forever Presents, we have a recession-busting set of tickets to give away to some upcoming shows in Dublin.

    The winner takes it all and that’s a pair of tickets to all of the following shows:

    Throw Me The Statue and Headlights (Whelan’s, October 27)

    Tilly & The Wall (video below) with the magnificent Ugly Megan and Gran Casino (Andrew’s Lane Theatre, October 28)

    Jackie O Motherfucker with Valet and Inca Ore (Whelan’s, November 3)

    Who says we don’t look after youse?

    Anyway, seeing that so many of you are enjoying the Jamie Oliver post, here’s the deal. We want your recipes. For real! Just post your favourite recipe in the comments field below and I’ll pick a winner on Friday morning based on the usual considerations. As easy as that. Lovely -jubbly! Pukka! Etc!

  • Campaigning with Jamie

    @ 9:42 am | by Jim Carroll

    Jay Rayner’s review of Jamie’s Italian, a new chain of restaurants from Jamie Oliver, probably summed up the chef for many. Writing in last Sunday’s Observer, Rayner reckoned the joint had been put together with regard to “the buzz words to associate with brand Jamie - all that ‘authentic’ ‘rustic’ ‘pukka’ ‘matey’ bollocks you have to wade through before you get to the essence of what Jamie Oliver is about.”

    For many, that’s Oliver in a flavour shaker, the cheeky chappie splashing a big lug of olive oil into a pan while addressing his audience as either ‘mate’ or ‘darling’. It’s a schtick which has served him well, with a full shelf of best-selling cookbooks, an annual TV series and restaurant ventures like Jamie’s Italian and Fifteen to his name.

    But over the last few years, Oliver has ventured beyond the comfort zone inhabited by most of his peers. It began with Jamie’s Kitchen, a TV show focusing on his efforts to open a high-end London restaurant, Fifteen, staffed by a bunch of disadvantaged kids. The restaurant opened - and it’s still open - and has led to other Fifteens in Amsterdam, Melbourne and Cornwall. That led to Jamie’s School Dinners, his attempt to improve the standard of British school meals.

    The latest TV-led healthy eating campaign (naturally accompanied by a book in the shops for the Christmas) is Jamie’s Ministry of Food. It’s a four-part series about turning Rotherham into the culinary capital of Britain. What Oliver is trying to do is get the townfolk to learn how to cook fresh food and then pass on the recipes and cooking methods to friends and family.

    Leaving aside the cumbersome TV structure - the director’s need for a narrative and good/bad characters infringes a lot on what Oliver is trying to do (there are too many shots of the chef looking pensive or pissed-off, for a start, though they have found a fascinating character in Mick the Miner) - it’s an audacious undertaking. Rotherham’s citizens are probably typical of many around the UK (and Ireland) in how they approach food. It’s fuel, something to be consumed quickly before moving on to something else. Fast-food, takeaways and snacks dominate the menu. One of Oliver’s cooks existed largely on bags of crisps before he arrived in town and I’m sure she wasn’t the only one in that regard.

    Oliver is the cheer-leader for a completely different way of looking at food and is naturally appalled by what he finds in the town. His great scheme is to change how the good folk of Rotherham regard food which will, he hopes, encourage other towns to follow suit. He’s taking his cues in this regard from the Ministry of Food, a UK government body which gave advice on cooking and the use of rations in the post-war years.

    The culture clashes between Oliver and Rotherham are fascinating to watch. There is always a danger in this situation that the chef will come across as self-righteous and over-bearing, but what saves Oliver from pomposity is the zeal for what he is doing. After all, he could make far handier and easier money doing something more pukka, like plugging a supermarket or doing bespoke cooking classes or writing another book about scootering around Italy. Instead, he’s spending his Saturday afternoons listening to 5,000 people calling him a fat bastard at a football ground to focus on an issue which very few others would bother their hoop with.

    So can the campaign succeed? On one level, it already has because of reviews and features about the show. But the problem is that those who will read and see these are probably already part of an Oliver-friendly constituency. The real challenge comes in towns and villages and suburbs who couldn’t give a batter burger about Oliver and fancy food. While the TV show is doing its best to turn the whole shebang into some kind of X Factor finale - breathless voiceovers about problems and setbacks to come in the final episode - the truth of the matter came home to Oliver when he decided to knock on some doors in the town and see if people actually knew about what was going on. Most of them hadn’t even heard about the Ministry of Food. Not that this stopped Oliver in his tracks - he just went off and found another way around. You really can’t knock enthusiasm like that.

    (You can watch the shows to date online at Channel 4)

  • AC/DC, Dublin, April 2009

    October 14, 2008 @ 12:34 pm | by Jim Carroll

    AC/DC play The 02 on April 18, tickets will be €67.70 and go on sale this Friday, October 17th. Wonder how many more dates they will add to this? The press release says “their only Irish concert”, but I’m sure the “due to unprecedented demand” press release is ready to go on Friday AM too.

  • RTE news department pay tribute to ex-Irish Times blogger

    @ 9:07 am | by Jim Carroll

    Our former colleague on the Irish Times blogging block Shane was a fierce man altogether for pointing out the stupidity of RTE news reporters standing around on city streets doing their pieces to camera. He’d point out, like he did again in his Present Tense column last Saturday, how the news teams often had two seperate crews at two different sides of the same building. It’s part of an obsession with live reporting, as if to show that the news team are bang up to the minute with the story. Only problem is that the reporters are often talking about stories which are not exactly live.

    Last night, though, RTE news surpassed themselves. It was as if they had read the Present Tense column on Saturday and said to themselves “hah, sure he ain’t seen nothing yet”. First, we had George Lee standing around on Merrion Street preaching doom and gloom to the camera. Then, we had David Davin-Power sitting in the Dail studios looking as if he wished he’d had a haircut before going on air. And just to make sure that viewers were getting full value for money, the third report came from business correspondant David Murphy standing around on Merrion Square talking about something to do with the banks. I assume he had a seperate crew or maybe the lads filming Georgie took off up the road when they were finished with their camera and big fluffy mic on their backs.

    To top it all and make last night’s news bulletin a must-see for all future media students, Murphy also featured in the kind of cringeworthy package which Chris Morris used to specialise in. As part of a budget preview, you had Murphy sticking a wad of notes he was going to save from falling petrol prices into a wallet before a hand reached in from stage left to pinch them away. Yep, a “hand” to represent Brian Lenihan’s budget reaching in to take away the surplus cash. Good to see that the communications and media colleges are still turning out innovative, bright people full of great ideas.

    Actually, it was like a homage to The Day Today on the box last night. Over on TV3, there was a typically hard-hitting episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit dealing with the rape of a 12 year old boy. The sponsor for the show? Nurofen for Children. You couldn’t make this up.

  • Oasis, Slane Castle, summer 2009

    October 13, 2008 @ 3:29 pm | by Jim Carroll

    Best review of the new Oasis album so far? Kitty Empire in the Observer yesterday: “their least worst outing in recent memory”.

    Anyway, Noel, Liam and the other members of the world’s favourite meat-and-two-veg rock band will be playing in Co Meath next summer. Remember where you read it first etc when it is announced on Wednesday.

    UPDATE: Yes, we were right (again). Oasis play Slane Castle on June 20 next. Tickets go on sale on Friday October 24. Interestingly, prices have not been announced - the calculators must be broken.

  • M is for Monday

    @ 9:52 am | by Jim Carroll

    Gongmania! All hail the winners from the first ever Irish Web Awards.

    Speaking of gongs, this post from Penny over at The Antiroom should get the nod for Blog Post of the Month for October.

    The DEAF line-up for the capital city over the October Bank Holiday weekend is looking mighty tasty. Also make sure you pick up a print programme - you can’t miss it.

    If you only read one interview where the interviewee decides to stroke the interviewer’s face, kiss her and grab her breasts, make sure it’s Grace Jones talking to Miranda Sawyer in the Observer Music Monthly from yesterday.

    As he inks a brand new contract for himself (lots of zeros, we bet), Universal Music boss Doug Morris yaks about his life and times.

    Just so he doesn’t feel left out, Clive Davis (the man who once believed that the CD was named after him) makes sure the world knows he’s still doing the do with a nice puff piece in the New York Post.

    Doom! Gloom! Credit crunch! Jason Gross looks at how Recession 2.0 will hit the music business. It’s already hit On The Record - we’ve noticed less and less readers from the banking community here in recent weeks. Come back guys!

    Absolut Vodka v Absolute Radio - the gloves are off and the lawyers are in the ring.

    As first noted here last Friday, the Some Days Never End festival will not now be held in a tent in the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin 8. Instead, the 80s Horrors (AKA Human League, Heaven 17 and ABC) play (the much smaller capacity) Tripod on October 26 (going to be a tight squeeze because Roseanne Barr is already supposed to be playing there that night), Aimee Mann with Sharon Shannon play (the much smaller capacity) Tripod on October 28, Seasick Steve is at the (smaller capacity) National Stadium on October 29 with his original support act, My Morning Jacket, playing Tripod the same night. Those who bought tickets for the original SSS/MMJ gig can now swap ‘em, but you can contact Ticketmaster or the promoters for info on all that. While you’re at it, ask them if “unforseen circumtances” are to blame for the wholesale switcheroos. Those will long memories will remember that the same thing happened last year with Groove Armada and Dizzee Rascal. Just sayin’, like.

  • Phantom 105.2 playlist, Thursday October 9

    October 10, 2008 @ 11:24 am | by Jim Carroll

    As played on The Producers, the new music show on Phantom 105.2, Thursday October 9, 8pm-10pm

    Bloc Party “Ares” (Wichita)
    The Secret Machines “Atomic Heels” (TSM)
    MGMT “Kids (Soulwax remix)” (Epic)
    Annie “Two Of Hearts” (Island)
    MIA “Hit That” (XL)
    Manda Rim “Bad Things Happen To Bad People” (This Is Fake DIY)
    Filthy Dukes “Tupac Robot Club Rock” (Fiction)
    Streetlife DJs “We Love the Disco Sound” (Kitsune)
    Crystal Antlers “Owl” (Touch & Go)
    Colourmusic “Yes” (Great Society)
    Gaslight Anthem “Miles Davis & The Cool” (Side One Dummy)
    Jay Reatard “See/Saw” (Matador)
    Passion Pit “Sleepyhead” (Neon Gold)
    Chairlift “Earwig Town” (Kanine)
    Peter Gabriel “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” (XL)
    Vampire Weekend “Ottoman” (Atlantic)
    Parenthetical Girls “A Song for Ellie Greenwich” (Tomlab)
    James Yuill “This Sweet Love” (Moshi Moshi)
    Deerhunter “Never Stops” (Kranky)
    Department of Eagles “No One Does It Like You” (4AD)
    Marnie Stern “Every Single Line Means Something” (Kill Rock Stars)
    Fucked Up “For My Friends” (Matador)
    Dri “Two Are One” (Range Life)
    Horse Feathers “A Burden” (Kill Rock Stars)
    Ray LaMontagne “Meg White” (14th Floor)
    Antony & The Johnsons “Another World” (Rough Trade)
    Wilco & Fleet Foxes “I Shall Be Released” (Live track)

  • Some Days Never End - venue changes?

    @ 10:11 am | by Jim Carroll

    As spotted below by one of our eagle-eyed readers, Neil from Thundercrack Playlist, there appears to be some changes afoot with the forthcoming Some Days Never End mini-fest at IMMA, Dublin later this month from POD Concerts.

    The series is due to feature shows from The Human League with Heaven 17 (October 26), Aimee Mann with Sharon Shannon (October 28) and Seasick Steve with My Morning Jacket (October 29).

    The POD website is still listing these shows at the original venue, but the “buy tickets” link to Ticketmaster gives you a different story. The Human League and Heaven 17 show is now said to be “Postoned - New Date TBC”, Aimee Mann is now switched to Tripod, Seasick Steve has moved to the National Stadium and My Morning Jacket are playing a standalone show at Tripod. Are we seeing another case of “unforseen circumstances” here (Tripod and Stadium are both much smaller capacity venues than a tent in IMMA and this also happened last year with Groove Armada and Dizzee Rascal)? Or has the Ticketmaster computer had a bit of a hissy fit?

  • Hear the new Duke Special album on irishtimes.com

    @ 9:19 am | by Jim Carroll

    The Duke’s latest album “I Thought This Day Would Never Come” is now streaming on irishtimes.com. Click here for more.

  • Mobile phones that come with music - and a catch

    @ 9:11 am | by Jim Carroll

    Another week, another mobile music story: this time, it’s the latest unveiling of Nokia’s Comes With Music.
    (more…)

  • X-Music for x-musicians feeling the crunch

    @ 9:09 am | by Jim Carroll

    With Recession 2.0 now officially in full effect, songwriters up and down the land are no doubt digging out their guitars and trying to come up a catchy lyric which includes “credit crunch”, “recapitalisation” and “George Lee”.

    Songwriters and musicians who have found that their guitars have been decommissioned since the last time they wrote a decent tune need not despair: a new music equipment store, X-Music, opens for business this weekend.

    Located in Dublin’s Red Cow Retail Centre, X-Music is a 20,000 sq ft, muso-friendly plaza stocking gear from such brands as Gibson, Marshall, Korg, Roland, Ibanez and many others.

  • All in a day’s work

    @ 9:08 am | by Jim Carroll

    The word on Stee Downes appears to be spreading.

    The Dublin vocalist, DJ and multi-instrumentalist, who has also played a big role in Bodytonic’s Scribble label, is seeing his All in a Day debut album get a worldwide release, thanks to Sonar Kollektiv.

    Downes has collaborated in the past with a wide range of acts, including London’s Loose Ensemble and Echoplex’s Ed Eustace. All in a Day was recorded earlier this year in Croatia with production assistance from Ishfaq.

    Downes plays live at Dublin’s Crawdaddy on October 26th and supports Roy Ayers at Dublin’s Button Factory on December 22.

  • Etc

    @ 9:06 am | by Jim Carroll

    You know the rules - plug away to your heart’s content, but declare an interest where appropriate or don’t be surprised if one is declared for you.

    Birthday one: Belfast clubbing institution Shine turns 13 on November 1st, with DJ Sneak, Green Velvet and many more blowing out the candles.

    Birthday two: AU magazine marks 50 issues on the newstands with a Top 50 Northern Ireland Songs of AU’s lifetime poll.

    Birthday three: Analogue marks its first birthday with “Peek!”, a compilation of Irish producers and acts to coincide with the latest issue. The mag throws a party at Dublin’s Twisted Pepper on October 16th.

    Scandinavian jazz trio The Thing join Japanese noise scene kingpin Otomo Yoshihide at Dublin’s Andrew’s Lane on November 22nd.

    Over-rated Las Vegas chancers The Killers play Dublin’s 02 (Feb 20th) and Belfast’s Odyssey (21st)

    Quote of the week: “Pen a bit harder!” - Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts advises Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who says he has been trying to write a song for them

  • Tune of the Week - “Turn the Magic On”

    October 9, 2008 @ 9:26 am | by Jim Carroll

    At the time of writing, 157 Irish albums have been released in 2008.
    (more…)

  • You won’t get me I’m part of the union

    October 8, 2008 @ 9:58 am | by Jim Carroll

    It’s just what the world needs right now as capitalism as we know it comes cap in hand to governments worldwide looking for a few bob - an union for rich rock stars to moan about their lot. Featured Artists Coalition made its way into the world at last weekend’s In The City conference in Manchester and more than 60 acts have already put their hands in the air to say yes to the idea of forming an union to campaign for the protection of their rights.

    Not surprisingly, the bulk of the artists who have already paid their union dues are acts who are well established. It’s always the way - the ones who’ve already made their cash are protecting their necks. There’s Radiohead (the band who became rich megastars thanks to the support and patience of EMI Music, who initially signed the band in 1991 when they called On A Friday and were way worse than they are today), Robbie Williams (the gombeen who declared “I’m rich beyond my wildest dreams” when he signed a £80 million deal with EMI in 2002, but who has gone from seeing angels to seeing aliens in that six years), Richard Ashcroft (you could probably purchase Iceland with the money record labels have wasted on him and his band over the years), Travis (yeah, they’re still around, probably still wondering about the rain) and many others. U2’s application must have got lost in the post from Amsterdam.

    On FAC’s website, they have a whole list of demands and aims. These loosely translate into getting more cash from record companies. They mention “digital distributors and others” in their manifesto, but it’s really the record labels they’re after.

    Ah, the record labels. The same record labels who took a punt on those bands when they didn’t have a clue what they were doing and guided them to where they are today. The same record labels who presented the bands with contracts outlining what they would get and what was expected in return, contracts the bands and their representatives (who seem to be behind the setting up of FAC) then paid a lawyer to read through and explain to them. Lets be blunt here - the bands knew what they were getting into when they signed those contracts. They were, I assume, all adults and took proper, precise, independent legal advice and didn’t just go with the lawyers their managers recommended because they were (a) cheap or (b) mates of the manager. That never happens. Oh no. Bands have brains. Bands think things through. Bands would never sign a contract and then bleat about it when the penny drops that they’ve actually agreed to do stuff. It would be like someone getting a loan from a bank (used to happen pre-’08 when banks had cash reserves) and then expressing surprise at having to pay the money back.

    Interestingly, there’s no mention of live promoters or agents in the ya-boo-sucks list. It would seem that the acts are completely happy with the large cheques they’re getting from that particular quarter and have little to say about how ticket prices paid by their fans have ballooned to pay for these pay-days. Funny, that.

    And if the bands think they have been hard done by conventional record labels, that’s nothing to what they’ll encounter with that rabid bunch of snakeoil salesmen currently working to get acts - and surprise, surprise, it’s acts with established audiences these boyos are after too - into bed with brands. You thought things were bad when your record label wanted you to do a couple of aul’ phone interviews to plug a new album? Wait till you get a load of what these brands want you to do for your big cheque. We won’t start on how the digital pimps will rip these acts off for fear that we’ll be here all day.

    All in favour of an all-out strike, raise your hand.

  • The possible giglist for 2009

    October 7, 2008 @ 9:39 am | by Jim Carroll

    Lets throw a few aul’ names into the hat, shall we? I mean, is there anything else to do on a miserable rainy Tuesday morning?

    Oasis! Yes, Oasis. Playing a big outdoors show somewhere outside Dublin next summer, according to Noel Gallagher in the interview he did with Big Richie McCormack which ran on Phantom FM over the weekend. Some readers are thinking Slane, but we reckon it will be more like Malahide Castle (that’s outside Dublin, right?). Any of our many readers in Park Road, Dun Laoghaire who wish to speak now rather than hold their tongues forever can use the comments below. Anyone who wants to tell us how amazing the new Oasis album is should also have a note from their doctor.

    Depeche Mode! Yes, Depeche Mode. Playing the 02 in 2009. You read it here first, pal.

    AC/DC! Yes, AC/DC. C’mon, it has to happen. New album “Black Ice” means a tour and a tour means an Irish date or two. We’re sure that one of the Big 3 promoters will flash an extremely large wad of cash at the group’s Mister 11 And Two Thirds for the rights to this one. Lets hope it’s Croke Park rather than Slane for this one. Actually, lets hope it’s anywhere other than that awful over-rated Co Meath field.

    All other speculation of a non-financial market kind in the comments please.

  • 11 things I know now that I didn’t know a week ago

    October 6, 2008 @ 8:50 am | by Jim Carroll

    (1) Remember this awesome guest post from Paul Tarpey about the early days of Irish club culture? Well, the Irish Blog Awards folks have just gone and given it the nod as 02 Blog Post of the Month for September. Congrats Paul! Memo to self: must get more quality guest posts.

    (2) Most of you culture-vulture folks will already have caught Louis Walsh having a pop at Irish radio stations for not playing enough Irish music. Louis was himself fuming because none of these radio stations would play the new Boyzone single. Feck, it must be really bad so. Thought it was interesting to note that three of the most played records on Today FM last week, per their chart yesterday, were Irish - that’s 30 percent innit? And poor old Lucifer got a little bit of a biff in the Girls Aloud feature in the Observer yesterday. Louis was slated to be the band manager after they won the Pop Stars: The Rivals talent show but ignored the girls for two years. They’re getting on quite well without him, thanks very much. Mmm, whatever happened to the Carter Twins?

    (3) On The Record is getting snippy comments (number 67) from some League of Ireland fans (worse, Bohs fans) for writing about Liverpool FC rather than our lack of coverage for the homegrown league. Hey, we used to be Thurles Town fans until the club went out of business so we’ll go back on the terraces when they come back on the pitch. (Manchester City 2, Liverpool 3).

    (4) Who do you think is going to be the first rapper to rhyme about the credit crunch and banking crisis? Our money (sorry) is on Lil Wayne.

    (5) Speaking of pop and politics, did you know that KT Tunstall, Jarvis Cocker, Feist, Laurie Anderson and Martha Wainwright are on a ship off the coast of Greenland? No? Well, thanks to Peter Paphides, you now do. It’s part of Cape Farewell, a coming together of scientists and artists to form a “cultural response” to climate change.

    (6) Twenty Major has hung up his blogging boots. On The Record understands that he will be appearing on Seoige sometime this week to talk about how he now has the time to join Liberatas, write a duet with Damien Rice, cook the perfect risotto and learn how to play the tin-whistle. We wish him well, wherever he shall roam.

    (7) The Economist thinks initiatives like Nokia’s Comes With Music may well save the music business. Not so sure if that will work for Boyzone. Meanwhile uptown, record label folks are optimistic for the future, chiefly because they still have jobs to go to, it seems, and didn’t take the call from Lehman Brothers (who are still hiring).

    (8) Yeah, old news but, hey, I’ve been out foreign. Two bands with albums of the year bring the noise to the big smoke - Vampire Weekend play the Ambassador on October 23 and TV On The Radio play Tripod on November 15. Hell yeah, we’re excited.

    (9) Per readers of Entertainment Weekly… sorry, the RTE Guide, The Wire is the 49th best TV show ever made. It’s not as good as Blackboard Jungle or Location Location Location, then.

    (10) If you haven’t read Generation Kill yet, Evan Wright’s awesome tale of frontline Marines in Iraq, make amends pronto before everyone starts talking about David Simon, Ed Burns and Wright’s TV take on the book.

    (11) And finally, time to get stoopid. It’s a hard Knux life, folks.

  • Phantom 105.2 playlist, Thursday October 2

    October 3, 2008 @ 11:12 am | by Jim Carroll

    As played on The Producers, the new music show on Phantom 105.2, Thursday October 2, 8pm-10pm

    Lovvers “Human Hair” (Wichita)
    Constantines “Hard Feelings” (Arts & Crafts)
    Cut Copy “Hearts On Fire (Knightlife remix)” (Modular)
    Metronomy “Heartbreaker” (Because)
    Lykke Li “Breaking It Up (John Hill remix)” (LL)
    Grace Jones “This Is” (Wall Of Sound)
    Yo Majesty “Don’t Let Go” (Domino)
    Kidda “Strong Together” (Skint)
    Marching Band “Make No Plans” (U&L)
    Collapsing Cities “Hey Ester, Thanks For The Poster” (Way Out West)
    TV On The Radio “Dancing Choose” (4AD)
    Indian Jewelry “Going South” (Skinny Wolves)
    Times New Viking “Call & Respond” (Matador)
    Onra “The Anthem” (Favorite)
    Rabbits & Carrots “Give It Up Or Turn It Loose” (Vampisoul)
    Max Tundra “Will Get Fooled Again” (Domino)
    Volcano! “Africa Just Wants To Have Fun” (Leaf)
    The Faint “Get Seduced” (blank.wav)
    Deerhunter “Little Kids” (Kranky)
    The Black Keys “Oceans and Streams” (V2)
    Blitzen Trapper “Fire & Fast Bullets” (Sub Pop)
    Sea Wolf “You’re A Wolf” (Dangerbird)
    Chad VanGaalen “Bones Of Man” (Sub Pop)
    Emiliana Torrini “Big Jumps” (Rough Trade)
    Anni Rossi “Artic Swing” (4AD)
    James Yorkston “Tortoise Regrets Hare” (Domino)
    Seasick Steve “One True” (Warner Brothers)

  • BellX minus 1 as Crosby decides to leave the band

    @ 8:59 am | by Jim Carroll

    Bell X1 founding member Brian Crosby has announced that he is quitting the band.
    (more…)

  • Electric Picnic makes a play for the early birds

    @ 8:57 am | by Jim Carroll

    With the list of forthcoming live shows growing by the day, live music promoters will be hoping that the current financial doom and gloom don’t stop people going out.

    Promoters will especially be hoping that Irish music fans continue to exhibit their fondness for getting their hands on tickets months in advance.

    “Early-bird tickets” for Electric Picnic 2009, to be held a week later than usual from September 4th to 6th, go on sale next Friday (October 10).

    Tickets are pegged at €199, the same tariff as for last year’s festival, but this will doubtless rise when the full consignment of tickets goes on sale in 2009.

  • State give it all away

    @ 8:57 am | by Jim Carroll

    It has been a year of ups and downs for new Irish music magazine State .

    Following six outings on the nation’s newstands, the magazine is now joining such titles as Analogue, Connected and Totally Dublin in the free-of-charge zone.

    The latest issue of the magazine will be available nationwide from today. Readers can also subscribe for the price of a stamp and envelope or read a digital issue of the mag online.

    Issue number seven features interviews with Kings Of Leon, Fight Like Apes, The Blizzards and more

  • Etc

    @ 8:53 am | by Jim Carroll

    As always with the weekly Etc post, the floor is yours to plug, plug, plug. Be polite and declare an interest where relevant (ie if you are involved in putting on the show or releasing the record) or it will be declared for you.

    Glasvegas do a spot of DJ-ing at Strictly Handbag’s 14th birthday soiree at Dublin’s Spy on Oct 27.

    First must-see gigs of 2009: David Byrne plays songs written by himself and Brian Eno at Dublin’s National Concert Hall (April 6) and Belfast’s Waterfront Hall (7)

    Irish indie label Out On A Limb marks five years in the business with a bash at Limerick’s Dolan’s on Nov 21 with Crayonsmith, Giveamanakick, Hooray For Humans, Ten Past Seven, Rest and Windings.

    On The Record hearts Lykke Li. The Swedish popster plays Dublin’s Button Factory on Nov 24.