List: 50 Best Irish Acts Today - 10-01

Part Five, and the final part of my countdown of the Best 50 Irish Acts today. The only requirement for entry is that the artist must have played live or released something in the past twelve months.

Read the rest of the list:
50-41
40-31
30-21
20-11

10. Mick Flannery
'Tomorrow's Paper' from Corkonian Mick Flannery's second album 'White Lies' is about as good a singer-songwriter classic as you're likely to hear. In fact that whole album is utterly brilliant. A vast improvement on his debut Evening Train, he's an artist who keeps going from strength to strength. He tours endlessly around the country too, so be sure to catch him when and if you can.



9. Adrian Crowley
Winner of this year's Choice Music Prize, Adrian Crowley is finally getting the adoration he deserves. His first album came out way back in 1999, but it seems like the 2010s will be his decade. My own favourite artist Ryan Adams loves him, and if that's not praise, he's due to appear high up on the bill at Electric Picnic 2010 as one of Ireland's biggest names.



8. The Swell Season/The Frames/Glen Hansard
These are all lumped in together as they're whatever Glen Hansard decides to do after polishing his Oscar when he wakes up in the morning. He's focused mainly on the Swell Season in the past few years, but with the Frames still gigging (and also set to play this year's Electric Picnic), there would be no better time than 2010 for some new material from Ireland's greatest rock band. Until that happens, however, we still have Glen and Marketa churning out gorgeous duets, as well as reissues of the Frames' breakout albums to keep us going.



7. The Holy Roman Army
Fellow Carlovians, the Holy Roman Army appeared on the scene last year with their amazing electronic record How the Light Gets In. Their song 'Stagger Gently Home' was a captivating track, and after appearing on Nialler9's MAP gained attention all over the world. They are similarly amazing live, and have really honed their live act since I first saw them early last year. They've also followed up that debut album with a fantastic covers EP, Desecrations, which can be downloaded for free here.



6. Oliver 'Ollie' Cole
Ollie Cole is best known for being the frontman in Irish pop-rockers Turn. They made some incredible albums during their time together, with Forward being the standout. However, on his own, Cole is proving to be even better. He released his debut solo album We Albatri last month, and is one of the country's most charming live performers.



5. The Chapters
The Chapters are a bunch of the most down-to-earth musicians in Irish music. After a rocky start with label bankruptcy and the like, the band finally signed with 3ú, who unleashed 'Videotapes' on the world last summer. Since then, the band has been engulfed in success, releasing the fantastic debut album Perfect Stranger, and going on to appear on radio on TV both here and across the pond. They're set to be one of the biggest draws at this year's Indie-pendence on the August Bank Holiday weekend.



4. The Divine Comedy/The Duckworth Lewis Method/Neil Hannon
Like the Frames and the Swell Season for Glen Hansard, these two bands are Neil Hannon's babies. In 2009, Hannon joined forces with Pugwash's Thomas Walsh to record the greatest ever Irish concept album - about a fundamentally British game. It was one of the year's most captivating and charming albums, featuring the utterly brilliant 'Jiggery Pokery'. 2010 sees Hannon back in his old work clothes, with the Divine Comedy due to release their tenth album Bang Goes the Knighthood on May 31st.



3. James Vincent McMorrow
In my review of James Vincent McMorrow's recent debut album Early in the Morning, I called it "the best album to come out of Ireland in a decade". Yes, it's that damn good. The songs from it have been used in an advert for Barnardos as well as on hit US television shows Grey's Anatomy and One Tree Hill. However, this is only the start for McMorrow, who will definitely be the breakout Irish star of 2010.



2. Bell x1
Bell x1 are my favourite live band. Any chance I can get to see them, I take it. Paul Noonan is a fantastic entertainer, and the band are always on form together. The public knows this too, and they easily could have played 365 days at the Olympia or Vicar Street last year. They've come a long way since the days of Juniper, and release wonderful singles as well as enchanting albums. They've also gained a huge following in the US, where they've appeared on primetime television shows - including many great live performances.



1. Fight Like Apes
A bizarre bunch of folks, fronted by the brilliant vocalist MayKay, Fight Like Apes released one of the most-anticipated Irish albums of the 00s, And the Mystery of the Golden Medallion to much fanfare in 2008. It was every bit as good as expected, and was released worldwide last year. Their live show is even better, playing festivals all over Europe last summer, including a standout performance at Glastonbury. They represented Ireland at the Eurosonic Festival last January, which has just been released as the free album Live at Eurosonic. Download that fantastic set here. Ireland's greatest act right now.

Live: Drop Haiti's Debt at Vicar Street

There's a fine amount of benefit gigs happening around the country, but this one is definitely worth mentioning. Cathy Davey, Julie Feeney, Villagers, The Chapters, The Chakras, and more will be playing Vicar Street for the Drop Haiti's Debt campaign on Thursday 11th of February. Tickets cost €20 and are on sale now.

Today, Haiti still owes some US$890 million, much of it to global financial institutions, and is due to make millions in debt payments in the coming year alone. As a result Trocaire has started the Drop Haiti's Debt campaign. All money from this concert will be going towards that.

Ciara Gaynor, Trócaire’s head of campaigns said ‘It will take decades for Haiti to recover from the earthquake. The country must not be faced with the additional massive burden of debt repayments. Any emergency earthquake assistance must be in the form of grants, not loans, which will only increase Haiti’s debt burden in the long run. The people of Haiti have suffered for too long. Please join the call for debt relief, and help Haiti on the long road to recovery from this devastating disaster. Please support the campaign on www.trocaire.org and join the ‘Drop Haiti’s Debt’ group on Facebook”.

Watch The Chapters - 'Your Voice' live in 2006:

Live: Haiti Aid Dublin 2010

Wednesday 3rd of February is the date for Haiti Aid Dublin, a music marathon taking place in Whelan's and the Village. Tickets are €20 with proceeds going towards the Irish Red Cross's work in Haiti.

The event will be hosted by Michelle Doherty and features a marvellous line-up. In all, 14 acts will be performing, including Ham Sandwich, O’ Emperor, The Chapters, Patrick Kelleher and his Cold Dead Hands, The Holy Roman Army, Sleep Thieves, and Butterfly Explosion.

More info:
http://www.mycharity.ie/event/haiti_aid_dublin_2010/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000732571790

List: Top 10 Irish Songs of 2009

I originally posted this on Nialler9's blog as part of his readers' poll for the best Irish albums and songs of the year. Well here's my top 10 Irish songs of 2009, complete with videos. Enjoy!


1. The Holy Roman Army – Stagger Gently Home


What a fantastic video, created by the kids at Drumphea National School in Co. Carlow. Plus the song itself is amazing.


2. David Geraghty – Tuesday’s Feet
(No video, not even a live one online)

3. 202s – Ease My Mind


4. Duckworth Lewis Method – Jiggery Pokery


5. The Holy Roman Army – Elegy

(Recorded by 2uibestow)

6. CODES – This is Goodbye


7. David Geraghty – Watch Her Win

(also recorded by 2uibestow)

8. Super Extra Bonus Party – Comets


9. The Chapters – Videotapes


10. I am Not Lefthanded – Everybody Sleeps

Download: The Chapters - Videotapes (Lights remix)

Lights have remixed The Chapters 'Videotapes', their excellent single (and the track that was featured on Emmerdale). They've (I should say he, since it's Neil Dixon who does the work) done a dubstep remix of the tune and it sounds great. Stream it here and then download it. It's a fine complement to the album!

Stream:


Download

Interview: The Chapters

I've been lucky enough to get to talk to Turlough Gunawardhana from the Chapters, who is having a very busy week this week promoting their excellent new single 'Moving' which was released over the weekend. Here he talks about making their album Perfect Stranger, supporting Neil Young, playing the o2 Blueroom, new single 'Moving', and headlining Dublin's Academy.

Your debut single with 3u came out in April, and the album followed soon after, has everything seemed to happen together? Have you had time to look back on it and think how far you've come already this year?
Everything has happened quite quickly. From signing to 3u - recording the album and then releasing it. It all happened within 4 months. I guess we're always striving to be better so we have to look back and review things but I'm never happy with how things are going. I get a bit anal about things. And if I was 100% happy I'd give up!

The 3u deal was a defining moment for you, especially after all the false starts. You've been together since 2007 and relentlessly touring, was there a time when you felt you'd never make it?
I guess for every Musician/Artist there are always setbacks. It's how you learn form them and move on in the hope of not making similiar mistakes. I think I still have times when I get disillusioned but I think that's all part of being a Moody Musician. Ha. I dont think we've made it. It's just the start and i hope we can grow from here.

You don't think you've made it yet? What about when you supported Neil Young? Surely that was a "we're here" moment?
That was definately a moment I'll never forget. However, I'll be saying we've made it when our Music becomes as timeless as Neil Young's!

Haha, very true. Not many artists make it that far. For now though, you have one excellent album under your belt. Tell us about that.
What would you like to know about the album?

Perhaps about the process of writing and recording it. How you already had some of it done before your record deal fell through.
Well we had around thirty tracks already written before we recorded the album. However, a few weeks before we recorded the album we wrote 'Videotapes' (the first single from the album) and also 'Ukiyo'. We all write together. When we first started playing we agreed that everything would be split equally. We all trust each other's ability musically and when composing. A bass line is just as important as a lyric. Thats our motto! We recorded the album with long time friend and producer of the band, Ciaran Bradshaw. We had approached a lot of producers before one of the deals broke down. But when we signed with 3u we knew there was only one man who could put up with our banter... and it was Ciaran.

Was that an issue with 3u? Were you allowed to choose your own producer or did you agree beforehand that Ciaran Bradshaw would be in control of the album and no-one else?
3u were magnificent when it came to the creative process. They left us alone. They wanted us to go with someone we were happy with. The label didnt listen to the album until we had to decide tracklisting after mixing. Once we chose the track listing it was off to New York to get it mastered. When we gave them 15 tracks... Joe O'Reilly (the head of the label) turned around and said he absolutely loved it! He said "Every song is a single"

What have you done with the tracks that didn't make the cut? Will we see a Neil Young-aping Anthology released way down the line with a bunch of outtakes? Or have those songs been scrapped forever?
Well some of them are played live. We have a song called 'Heart of Glass' which is a alot of peoples favourite song. We had it on an EP and did an Acoustic version of it and had it as a B-side. it got great feedback. But it didnt make the cut as we felt we didnt do it justice when recording it. I would like to think it'll be on the second album, but not sure yet. The new material is slightly different to the first album. I am sure we'll try and do something with the songs that didnt make the first album.

Are there any plans to record that second album in the near future? Or are you going to push Perfect Stranger as much as possible before moving on?
We definately plan on recording the second album very soon. I think the plan is to record it next Summer. But we still plan on pushing 'Perfect Stranger'. We've had alot of interest abroad including Film and TV. So if things work out in that area it might be a good opportunity for Perfect Stranger to grow outside of Ireland.

Yes, I heard about the TV interest. You're going to have some songs on Emmerdale, isn't that right? How did that come about?
Yes Videotapes will be played on Bonfire night on Emmerdale. Our album was passed onto a Script Writer of the show by a friend, and they liked it.

As easy as that! TV is a great way to increase your audience, but has there been any TV or radio shows that you'd never go back to?
Well I have always enjoyed Interviews and playing acoustic sets. We did an Interview with Tony Fenton. And we also played a tune. He was a lovely man. I have to say Today FM was a great studio to be in. Also the staff were very very nice. I've been in a good few stations and some of them have a stale Corporate feel. iRadio 102 Breakfast is great too. The lads and Lass are greta in there. I don't know how they get away with some of the stuff on that show. We just recently did a Live Set in the O2. Which was some experience. It should be online soon. But the crew at the O2 Bluerooms are lovely. I think its its one of very few production companies who know what they are doing when it comes to Live Music on TV.

Hopefully one day you'll be headlining the main stage at the O2, but you do have a huge headlining gig coming up at the Academy. Are you looking forward to that?
Yeah, I can't wait for that one. We've been thinking of ways to make the show interesting. We have a few interesting tricks up our sleeves. I guess we always work hard on our Live show. And we want to make our shows value for money. Only recently Ross (the band's lead singer) has come out of his shell and started running into the crowd. So I/we promise an Entertaining show!

Sounds like it's going to be a fantastic night. Your latest single 'Moving' was released over the weekend, and is getting a lot of airplay. Do you feel it's your best work?
Yeh 'Moving' is regarded by some as the best song on the album.. For me I am a favourite of 'Black Room'. We actually wrote 'Moving' three years ago. But like us it matured.

Like this interview, the decade is just finishing up, so I have to ask: What has been your favourite album of the decade? And do you have a favourite Irish album of the decade?
Good Question, I have to dig deep. Best Irish Record in the last Decade: Fionn Regan The End of History. I love this album. Overall it'd be Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago. The first time I heard his voice I thought it was an African-American from the 60s. I've loved it since.


The Chapters will be playing the Academy on November 20th. Tickets are on sale now and cost €14.50.

Buy the single 'Moving' here:
iTunes

Watch 'Moving':

Watch: The Chapters - Moving

New single from their excellent album Perfect Stranger:

Awards: IMTV Video Music Awards Nominees

The nominees for the IMTV Video Music Awards have been announced, and they feature a fine selection of Irish talent.

1.BEST LIVE VIDEO
LISA HANNIGAN - I DON’T KNOW
LISA HANNIGAN - LILLE
LADYDOLL – BUTTON
THE BRILLIANT THINGS – RISE
AND SO I WATCHED YOU FROM AFAR – SET GUITARS TO KILL


2.BEST DANCE VIDEO
LE BIEN – HERE AND THERE
NOISE CONTROL – ADDICTION
DARK ROOM NOTES – LETS LIGHT FIRES
ARVEEN & MISK - HELLS BELLS
LE GALAXIE – YOU FEEL THE FIRE

3.BEST STYLED VIDEO
DIRTY EPICS – COMING UP
JULIE FEENEY – IMPOSSIBLY BEAUTIFUL
LAURA IBIZOR - SHINE
THE CORONAS – LISTEN DEAR
THE BLIZZARDS – POSTCARDS


4.BEST SOLO MALE
YNGVE WIELAND – LITTLE BOY
PADRAIG RUHSE – GONNA BE A CHANGE
JJ – PLAYING THE GAME
PEARSE MCGLOUGHLIN – WAYS TO KILLS A WEREWOLF
ENDA REILLY – MOL AN AIMSIRE

5.BEST SOLO FEMALE
LISA HANNIGAN – LILLE
JULIE FEENEY – LOVE IS A TRICKY THING
WALLIS BIRD – HOME
MISS PAULA FLYNN – HOLIDAY IN SWEDEN
GEMMA HAYES – HOME


6.MOST ORIGINAL CONCEPT FOR VIDEO
FIGHT LIKE APES – SOMETHING GLOBAL
THE CHAPTERS – VIDEOTAPES
HERM - HEADS
GRAND POCKET ORCHESTRA – BALLET SHOES
SEAN NEEDHAM - I’M NOT AFRAID

7. BEST PRODUCTION / SPECIAL EFFECTS
SICKBOY – SILENCE IN CONVERSATION
CAP PAS CAP – WE ARE MEN
JAPE – FLOATING
HAM SANDWICH – BROKEN GLASS
202′S - EASE MY MIND

8.BEST VIDEO BY A NEW COMER (public Vote)
HOGAN – I WANT YOU
HOARSEBOX – ALL I NEED NOW
BATS – SHADOW FUCKING
BOWLEGGED – RED LIGHT
TALLULAH DOES THE HULA – BAD BOYFRIEND

9. DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
EOGHAN KIDNEY
LORCAN FINNEGAN
SIMON EUSTACE
LINDSEY BYRNES
WILL MCCONNELL

10. VIDEO OF THE YEAR 2009
DUCKWORTH LEWIS METHOD – MEETING MR MIANDAD
FIGHT LIKE APES – TIE ME UP WITH JACKETS
THE CORONAS – LISTEN DEAR
THE BLIZZARDS – POSTCARDS
VALERIE FRANCIS – PUNCHES

Watch the five nominees for Video of the Year 2009:









Except you can't embed the Blizzards - 'Postcards'. :(

Live: The Chapters at the Academy

Dubliners The Chapters will be playing a headline gig at the Academy on November 20th. It's sure to be a great gig featuring one of Ireland's finest upcoming acts. Tickets go on sale Friday and are priced at €14.50.

They release new single 'Moving' at the end of the month, which is taken from Perfect Stranger, and the single version sounds amazing. (Not that the album itself isn't - it's a perfect piece of pop!)

Watch 'Videotapes':

Setlist: The Chapters, Oxegen, Sunday 12 July 2009

The desk blew in the first few minutes, the band went 10 minutes over time, but regardless of all that, it was a marvelous outing from the Chapters at Oxegen on Sunday at the Hot Press New Bands Stage.

Setlist:
Looking for love
Juice
Automobiles
Ukiyo
Ukrainian Gymnast
Perfect Stranger
Moving
Videotapes
Black Room
Trying to get Ahead

Live: The Chapters at Whelan's

Maybe when I do another best 100 albums list, or else a Best 200 Irish albums list for my 2000th post, there will be a Chapters record in there. They're one of Dublin's finest new bands and are due to play Whelan's (a major venue for anyone who's in an Irish band) next Thursday, the 18th of June. Their album Perfect Stranger was released last week, and like this gig, is highly recommended!

Doors: 7.30PM
Killer Chloe: 8.15PM
The Chapters: 9.15PM

Tickets are €13.50, and a small few remain. It's bound to be fantastic.

Watch 'Videotape':