Once more with feelingSome bands won’t do them. Others insist you endure two or three. But very few musicians still deliver encores as a spontaneous response to audience demands.CIAN TRAYNOR asks what they’re really for
The xx factorNow that they have emerged bleary-eyed from their garage bunker, The xx are stealing the show with their blend of emotional, somnambulant rock. Singer Oliver Sim tellsJIM CARROLL how a bunch of teenagers from south London became the talk of the town
Rock/Pop »
- The Middle East: blood ties
NEW MUSIC: Just when New Music thought there was little else in Oz to grab our attention, The Middle East come along, chuck their gorgeous five-track mini-album in our direction, and we’re sighing with delight once again.
- Planet Parade: style counsel
As always, it comes down to the tunes. Sure, Clane trio Planet Parade could have picked a better name to toil under, one which we don’t keep forgetting or mixing up with someone else’s moniker, but they’re stuck with it now. At least they didn’t take solace in a few profanities or misplaced punctuation marks.
Reviews Rock/Pop »
- The Specials
Olympia, Dublin : Dublin was far from a ghost town over the past few days, although you could spot several apparitions in two-tone scarves, pork-pie hats and Fred Perry shirts, making their merry way to TheSpecials’ 30th anniversary reunion tour. This reviewer last saw The Specials in the Stardust ballroom way back in the mists of the last recession – this time round the crowd is older and portlier, but the energy is still palpable. The rude boys are back, and it’s as good a reason as any to celebrate.
- Yusuf Islam
The O2 Dublin
Roots World Jazz »
‘We’d be on X Factor being hacked to death by Simon Cowell!'TALK TIME: EOIN BUTLER talks to Donal Lunny
In pursuit of JazzinessMUSIC: He’s the best-selling UK jazz artist of all time but the purists won’t be buying his new album. Not that this seems to bother the indefatigable Jamie Cullum, writesBRIAN BOYD
Blogs »
- Top of the plugsJim Carroll | On The Record »In The Ticket today, the Coen brothers talk about their new film A Serious Man, The XX mark the...
- The pains of being pure at heartJim Carroll | On The Record »Share This...
- The Far Side - playlist for November 17 - James Byrne at the controlsJim Carroll | On The Record »As played by James "Indie Kid" Byrne (Nightlink, Any Other City Records, Villagers) who stood in...
News and Comment »
- Pampered, ignorant punters should relax and take it easy
BRIAN BOYD on music....
Big voices signed for RTÉ showThe eighth instalment of RTÉ’sOther Voices TV show will kick off in its usual venue, St James’s Church in Dingle, Co Kerry. Dublin- born BBC DJ Annie Mac will host the show, which will be filmed from December 5th to 9th, and screened in the new year.
Classical »
Mass communication from the inner cityThe uplifting music on Dublin Gospel Choir’s funky and soulful second album could be just the thing to get a cranky and reluctant populace interested in Christmas at the end of a bad year, writesKEVIN COURTNEY
Wexford risks forfeiting its unique selling pointWith Irish opera facing upheaval, one of its key centres, Wexford, should be wary of giving up its reputation as a place to hear work that simply can’t be heard anywhere else, arguesMICHAEL DERVAN
