That was Zen, this is Mao – the 10 step re-up
Jim Carroll
(1) Big thanks to various readers for keeping things going while I was in Elsewhere last week. I hear those Sam Amidon shows were excellent (he was one of my highlights at this year’s SXSW), the Bon Iver Galway gig we mentioned here months ago is now confirmed, Fever Ray plays Oxegen (unfortunately, Karin Dreijer Andersson and friends appear to have been abandoned in the Dance Lean-To – someone at More Cash Dinny Inc has obviously not heard the band) and Temper Trap are playing the Electric Picnic. Oh and for garethh, that version of “Dirty Old Town” from The Wire was apparently sung by Pierce Turner.
(2) You go away for a week and come back to see politicians strung up on every pole in town. Unfortunately, the stringing up only consists of posters, but hold that thought. Here in Dublin North Central, we have a fine gallery of rogues and gombeens. Our favourite poster-boy is Ronan Callely – the son of Ivor – whose poster is calling for change of some sort. Change? From the member of a Fianna Fail dynasty? OK, admittedly a very small dynasty (and that’s just the size of the FF logo on the poster), but a Callely calling for change is like a turkey calling for Christmas. Dude’s bigging up his Facebook page so maybe that’s the change he’s on about. Nepotism really does begin at home. Hey, where are Rock the Vote when you need them and their wacky videos featuring various celebs?
(3) Elsewhere, it’s a choice between dynasties and blokes off the telly. George Lee’s triumphant arrival into Dublin South on a Segway has to be welcomed, if only for the fact that it may prove that voters are prepared to do more than just vote for a family name no matter what Mary Coughlan thinks. Of course, it may be a different matter for George once inside Dail Eireann where it’s clientalism and not celebrity which usually gets you back to the top of the poll. For now, though, his presence on the hustings is a modicum of change.
(4) More change. Tubs FTW! Ryan Tubridy gets his Saturday nights back as he takes over the country’s favourite goldfish bowl. Oh yes, it is the nation’s favourite show because no matter what is said about The Late, Late Show, people still watch the damn thing and discuss its good, bad and downright awful turns the week after. Tubs may be seen in a lot of quarters as a safe pair of fogey hands, but he’s a safe pair of fogey hands who could and can take it this way and that. Remember, folks, it’s only a chat show.
(5) More change? Hey, who died and made you Barack Obama? By the way, did you hear Barry’s speech at the White House pol corrs nosebag the other night? Dude killed them. Anyway, where were we? Oh yes, Rupert Murdoch wants your change. The Australian Darth Vader thinks it’s time folks paid to read his papers online. This rumble is going to be interesting to watch, especially as Times Online readers can just switch their browsers to stun at the BBC instead. Something tells me Rupe should get one of his minions to find that memo from the record industry on all this for him.
(6) The soundtrack for my week off in Elsewhere was provided by Dirty Projectors (“Bitte Orca” is an awesome wall of sound), Yeah Yeah Yeahs (“It’s Blitz” just gets better and better with every listen), Nina Simone (I’d forgotten just how fantastic “Baltimore” was), The XX (even their version of “Teardrops” works), Raphael Saadiq (“The Way I See It” will also make you a believer), Death (old-school Detroit punky garage rock on their “…For The Whole World To See” album from 1975), El Michels Affair (their “Enter the 37th Chamber” is a funky, fat Wu-Tang freestyle) and Crocodiles (new album “Summer of Hate” is fuzzy, buzzy and bad-ass).
(7) We’re about 10 days behind with this, but what the hell – Tipperary v Kilkenny, what a game. The championship may actully produce a few matches after all if other teams press the Cats like that. Of course, they’ll probably still win, but it will at least be more interesting.
(8) I really wish I was going to Brighton to the Great Escape festival this week. Dammit.
(9) Forget the Champions League, the NBA play-offs are where it’s at right now. We’re really digging the Lakers set-to with the Rockets.
(10) And finally, seven shades of awesomeness
You forgot to congratulate Man U for being on the brink of clinching the title and reaching another Euro final.
Soundtrack to my week has been the new Super Extra Bonus Party album – probably the most interesting album I’ve heard in years. It’s gggreeeeattttt.
i’ve just discovered the bamboo’s version of ‘King Of The Rodeo’
they can even make a KOL song great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qxTVXvEovA
those FF logos are very, very small, aren’t they?
Justin – tiny. It’s as if they’re trying to hide something. The Facebook logo on Callely’s posters were bigger than the FF logo – maybe he’s running for the Fianna Facebook party?
That El Michels Affair album is the bees knees.
Matt – it is just the business, especially their version of “Shimmy Shimmy Ya”. Check out the Raphael Saadiq album too – I think you’ll dig it.
Note to people trying to plug stuff here – I’ve decided to delete all off-topic plugs from here on in because this isn’t Craigslist. We have one weekly plug post (on Fridays) and that is where all plugs should go. End of public info announcement.
Sean D – agree big time on the SEBP album, better than the first in my humble opinion. Was hoping to blog on it but these are busy busy times for people in the regional rags.
Here’s one for ye; a cumann secretary of a certain tiny logo party asked me in the course of informing me of their candidates if i could speak with our ad dept to sort a discount for their campaign spots. The fact that his party’s handling of the economy has already caused a mass drop in ad revenue seemed lost on this particular individual.
Joe – So it’s not just the logos which are getting smaller…. But did the ad dept negotiate a deal with him? After all, reduced ad revenue from Small Logo Party is better than no ad revenue at all
True that, but considering other Bigger Logo Parties have already advertised with us, to give a reduced price to one would raise hell. Small town papers, word would get out.
Joe – that means Small Logo Party candidates will have to do a whip-round or get a dig-out from some Small Logo Party supporters to pay for the ads – if they can find them, that is.
Vote for change – gas, isn’t it? “It worked for yer man Obama, lads. Just keep saying the word and yis’ll be fine…”
Same up north here too. Jim Nicholson (incumbent unionist MEP for over 20 years) is also running “for change”. Ye couldn’t make it up….
Jim, did you hear about the farce that was Miss Kitten and the Hacker?
On the night, tickets were on sale at the door for two for the price of one. Obviously sales were crap, but at €30, you can see why.
No refunds for those who paid the full price for it. They were told to give their email addresses with a vague promise of a free pass for a gig in the future.
To add insult to injury, the pair eventually came on around 12.50am and place a crap set to half empty ALT. Rubbish.
Michael – Jim Nicholson is campaigning for change? You gotta be joking!! Jesus, they all thing the Barry Obama magicstick will work for them
nerraw – that’s really interesting because I got a press release from the promoter on April 21 saying tickets were “flying out” for this one. Obviously “flying out” means something else in promoterspeak.
You’d be forgiven for thinking this was an Armando Iannucci spoof of some sort….
http://www.voteforchangeni.com/
Michael – i think he (and a lot of other politicians) should take a closer look at the definition of “change”
3. Given his work with Charlie Bird on the NIB story years ago the idea that Lee might get the chance to give Bev. Cooper Flynn a wave from across the Dáil chamber gives me a bit of a chuckle.
Personality candidate he might be but at least he’s a qualified one as opposed to FG rolling out Graham Geraghty in Meath for the last general (or even as was rumoured FG approaching George Hook for the upcoming Euro’s and FF Packie Bonner for the same).
Also enjoying that SEBP album (though I liked the debut too so perhaps not that big a shock) though right now and locally it’s all about the awesome Subplots record for me.
Michael – i think he (and a lot of other politicians) should take a closer look at the definition of “change”
Most comical jumping on the change bandwagon are of course the taxi drivers (whatever happened to “sorry bud, no change”?)
Their website has to be seen to be believed …
http://www.taxidriversforchange.com/
Losing a marriage breakdown must be a pretty awful thing.
Flying out? If only.
Also, on the way in, saw a group of people tell the bouncer they were on a ‘paying’ guestlist for €20 per person i.e. €10 off the ticket price.
However, one of the group pointed out to the others that it was now cheaper to pay on the door due to the price reduction than go in on the paying guest list.
The bouncer overheard this and told them they would only get in if they paid the €20 guestlist. After a brief, take it or leave it from the group, they were allowed pay €30 per couple.
I had some sympathy for the promoters at the start of the night, some nights do bomb no matter how hard you work.
But come 12.50am and the realisation that you were only getting a 90minute set, any sympathy quickly vanished.
Even €15 was too much.
Jim, Thanks for the tip. David Axelrood. Who knew?
Yes Sam Amidon was great. Video here. Pity I missed him at SXSW but it was great to see in the Cobblestone.
Sam even left a comment himself this morning.
http://www.nialler9.com/2009/05/07/video-sam-amidon-the-cobblestone/
boo-urns to Hoops. That’s not a sport for men. You want to be wrapping your mits around some hard-hitting NHL action. We’re balls-deep in the conference semi-finals, the youthful Chicago Blackhawks are the only ones through so far, with the 3 other series all boiling up nicely. Boston-Carolina yesterday was a beast, i’ve never seen more fighting in a match, not even in International Rules.
Cracking stuff, also, turn down your brightness and up the contrast for the best puck viewability. Murder on the eyes, but like totally worth it or whatever..
I love a bit of Axelrod on a Sunday. I wish he’d do something live, in the NCH or Waterfront. It’d be fantastic.
Nerraw – while I have sympathy for promoters, there is a big difference between having tickets “flying out” and a half empty venue. The tickets obviously stopped “flying out”. Any other recent gigging or clubbing SNAFUs to report?
Liam – we tried to get On The Record readers hooked on the Stanley Cup this time last year and they were all wusses. Some of the handbags I’ve seen from this year have been off the hook. Better even than a west tipp junior hurling match. And there have been a few spats on the boards too – lots of scrapping in the Magic-Celtics games
Peter81/McLovin – Axelrod rules. A show with Axelrod and a big fuck-off orchestra would be just awesome
@ Jim,
The only sport in America even bothering with at the moment is the Indy Racing League – everything else is for Special K loving wimps!!
Sam Amidon by the way will be opening for Phosphorescent upstairs in Whelan’s on June 1st.
Not sure if he’s also dong the Cork gigthe next day.
I see Amidon was also playing with Nico Muhly in London the other night – http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/may/12/nico-muhly-gig-review – busy lad
Fever Ray playing that big sterile hangar building in Punchestown is a travesty. From the clips I’ve seen on YouTube, her show is pretty spooky and unusual and is not suited to the ‘dance arena’ in front of drunken 20-year-olds…Here’s hoping she plays her own gig her at some other point. MCD getting her for Ox is a major blow for EP, has to be said.
Great to see George Lee going into politics…pity the party he’s joined is lead by an absolute plonker.
Amazing to see Tubs taking over anachronistic yawn-fest The Late Late Show is getting so much media coverage…unusual move, what was wrong with his own gig on a saturday night? Late Late should have gone with ‘Uncle Gaybo’ in 1999.
3 trophies, possibly 4, for Man Yoo this season…a season where, for long periods, they didn’t play well….amazing
The Dance Lean-To at Punchestown is the most appalling venue on this island for live music. I know, that’s saying something considering the competition, but it makes the RDS Simmonscourt look like Vicar Street. It’s basically a big concrete shed which is usually full to the brim with lads and lasses getting off their bins for the weekend. And yeah, this is the venue which the government spent €14 million on! In fairness, the line-up is usually quite good but it’s just the worst place imaginable for an act like Fever Ray. As my online peers are wont to say, FAIL.
The LLS and Tubs coverage shows up just how much attention the show gets, even in an era when the big chat-show event is supposed to be dead. I think Tubs will make a good fist of the job, though I think it will be more like his Saturday night show than what we’re used to in that slot up to now (less politics and current affairs; more guests and quips). Wonder is he bringing Clint Velour with him? Clint, care to comment?
168 campaign posters between my flat and work…please note the distance between the two is 0.2km…talk about an eye sore
The Mary Lou poster has come loose up around Harcourt St. Very windy this morning, she could have caused a nasty papercut.
I can see the headline, “Mary-lou slits throat of passer by – Gay Mitchell looks on.”
Apparently, the Green Party had to recall tons of their eco-friendly posters because they were falling apart – I’ll leave it to someone else to draw the obvious comparison
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0512/1224246323812.html
Our local Party of Small Logo dude thinks change is too small time. He is demanding
“Tus Nua, New Beginning”…
If you look hard enough at his website, you can eventually spot the name of the party in the bottom corner. http://seaghankearney.ie/
El Michels Affair do a great take of Walk On By on one of the Rewind compilations. Not a bad soundtrack for election time in the city.
Just got a phone call about 30 minutes ago from someone from Libertas looking for a vote. For “enterprise and job creation” apparently. Sort of like saying they were for puppies and small children really in terms of ground breaking thinking.
Paub – New beginning? The revolution has begun! Pity his pupils can’t vote for The New Bertie – http://ie.ratemyteachers.com/schools/ireland/dublin_7/dominican_convent_girls/seaghan__kearney
Ian – Tell them you’ll vote for them if you get a direct call from Silvio. And how the fuck did they get your number?
I think we’re going for an On The Polls blog vibe here for the next few weeks, people. Any interesting canvassers yet?
Speaking of crap venues…ish. Saw Ladyhawke at the launch of the new Arnotts store on Friday night. It was in the basement of the store, off henry st and was surprisingly a decent venue for a gig.
Really good set up, even went to the trouble of putting dampeners onto pillars to improve the sound. Nice video wall at the back too.
Ladyhawke was decent, besides some sound problems at the start and it being full of uninterested blaggers there for the free booze.
But it got me thinking of how bad must the sound be in some professional venues when a temporary stage in Arnotts sounds better.
Re. The soundtrack for your week off in Elsewhere
Have to agree on Nina Simone’s “Baltimore” – just a stunning track and liking the love for Raphael Saadiq – nice to see him getting his dues these days. While I wasn’t the biggest Tony! Toni! Toné! fan, his solo stuff is ace. “Skyy, Can You Feel Me” is one of my go-to tunes. He is just such a fine singer.
Can’t get into the Dirty Projectors album though.
nerraw – i would imagine that Arnotts were spending a ton on PA hire and insisted on top dollar gear for that show hence the attention to detail and the serious sound. Good PA (and good folks to operate the PA) have a lot to do with it – the old Point used to be a hell-hole for sound but there were some shows (Springsteen’s solo show in 2005, for instance) where the sound was pristine
ivor – the whole “Baltimore” album is a wow.
@paub I notice he has links on the site to youtube and to facebook. Not to any content of his on the sites, just to the homepages of the the sites themselves.
@Jim They called me on a landline so they might have just been going through the phonebook. Or maybe from Ganley’s customer list because of the arsenal I’m stockpiling for …
well when it happens you’ll know.
On the subject of posters:
This guy … http://www.fiannafail.ie/page/-/images/profiles/cllrs/574.jpg/@mx_225@my_205 … running for Kildare County council looks more like a sex offender than a politician.
Worst photo shopping (best is probably Mary-Lou) I’ve seen is Cllr Claire Byrne http://www.finegael.ie/rep-images/Clare%20Byrne.JPG
On Friday night was seriously debating with myself whether to take down a poster of a particular labour candidate to use as a pin up at home. Shameful.
Oh and Sean Ardagh’s kid’s poster makes her look like a 16 year old emo of indeterminate gender
http://catherineardagh.com/images/header_bkg.jpg
Jim, for the on the polls record, I have a confession to make.
A couple of weeks ago, I managed to catch one of Maurice Ahern’s young fellas manhandling our postbox. It turned out to be his little Bertie brother in all his hobbling glory. I didn’t have the quickness of thought to bring him in and keep him under the stairs for a rainy day.
I could have been like Walter in Breaking Bad.
To my shame, he Bertied me well and good, with gushings of empathy and a few shakes of the head about how we seemed to have magically appeared in this economic situation. Bloody banks, eh…
On The Polls: Maureen O’Sullivan knocked on our door in Dublin Central, seemed like a nice lady but I had to explain I’d not moved my vote from Galway (even after four years in this constituency) for this election because I’m determined to vote for everyone except Ganley down West. And I mean everyone. That man exudes evil, and after seeing him on Vincenzo Brunni’s Nighty Night program last night and hearing him on Plank Kenny’s morning radio show I can’t conceive a more obnoxious, evasive, rude and petulant prig. Quite the cat’s bag of pols in North West this time round, hugely entertaining debate.
The picture of Cowen and Brennan Jr on today’s paper was special.
“This guy … http://www.fiannafail.ie/page/-/images/profiles/cllrs/574.jpg/@mx_225@my_205 … running for Kildare County council looks more like a sex offender than a politician”
Doesn’t he also bear a frightening resemblance to our former Dear Leader?
On The Polls is go!
ian – that’s some list. And I think you really need to see someone about that whole Labour candidate as pin-up material issue
paub – Bertie is obviously doing the rounds – he was around here the other week doing the same aul’ “not my fault, bud” lark at the frontdoor. Started to blame the meeja too for being down on everyone. Quickly left when I produced my (out of date) press card. Funny thing was the rest of his posse just abandonded him and left him to yak away for 10 mins
Major – I can’t undertsand why anyone would vote for Silvio or any of his cronies. But I thought the same thing last summer when Silvio was heading up the Say No To Europe Because We Have All The Cash Now campaign and I was wrong then. People are weird.
P&M – it’s compulsory for all new Small Logo Party dudes to look a little like the Bert – or just go to the same tailor
Biffo made a brief appearence on “Have I Got News For You” recently.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhYb6ZM-vds
Jim, gimmee a break, you’ve seen what’s looking down at me from posters in Kildare.
I have a feeling I’ll be regailing ye with On The Polls stories for weeks.
One new candidate for the small logo party told me a list of things she’d do as cllr if elected, many of which are executive powers completely out of her control. i challenged her on this and she worryingly didnt seem to understand what i was saying.
we should form a party here.
Ian – And most of those posters feature photos taken about 10 years ago
Joe – Going to start a new post later on for all these sightings
Brian Wilson confirmed for EP