Setlist: Two Door Cinema Club, Dolan's, 2 February 2010

I reviewed Two Door Cinema Club's debut album last week, and it seems that it's getting a lot of love from every direction. They're definitely the breakout stars of 2010, as far as Irish/Northern Irish bands go, and are sure to become even bigger. So now is a great time to catch them live, when they're still playing medium-sized venues like Dolan's in Limerick. The setlist comes to me via IndieLimerick, who also have a review of the show up. Read it here.

Setlist:
Cigarettes In The Theatre
Undercover Martyn
What You Know
Do You Want It All?
Something Good Can Work
This Is The Life
Kids
Costume Party
You're Not Stubborn
Eat That Up It's Good For You
--
Come Back Home
I Can Talk

Watch opener 'Cigarettes in the Theatre':

Album Review: Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History

Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History

The music world, and particularly the Irish music scene, goes through phases. What happens is that a mega-band comes along and has a huge impact with their debut album (and sometimes the follow-up too), bringing with them a newish sound, as well as a whole fresh approach to things. In the 00s, the Strokes were one of these bands. After the release of Is This It, countless post-Strokes bands came on the scene, some even went for the same look.

A lot of acts are taking queues from Vampire Weekend at the moment, and Two Door Cinema Club have definitely taken notice of that New York band's self-titled debut. Although formed in 2007, Two Door Cinema Club have a very "now" sound. Their music has nods to late 00s bands such as Bloc Party and Phoenix, and is all the better for it. Opening track 'Cigarettes in the Theatre' sounds like one of these VW-influenced songs, and at first you feel the album is going to be a sub-par attempt at deck-shoe chic.

However, on track two 'Come Back Home' it all changes, and the album gets infinitely better from there. 'This is the Life' sounds staggering like one of the 00s' most underrated bands, Mumm-Ra. It is a stomping guitar-driven song with a marvellous hook and perhaps should be a future single.

'Do You Want It All?' was already released as the B-Side to 'Something Good Can Work', both featured here. 'Do You Want It All' has an addictive refrain which will seep into your conscious - you'll find yourself singing it at random intervals after days apart from the album. 'Something Good Can Wait' is Two Door Cinema Club's finest hour so far, and the centrepiece of Tourist History. The tripping-over-words vocals are extremely endearing, unlike the missed opportunity of 'I Can Talk' which tries to do much and never gets anywhere.

'Undercover Martyn' is the current single from the album, and an excellent choice. It has radio written all over it, and is better than a lot of the current dross being played, such as Owl City. 'Eat That Up, It's Good For You' sounds like it could be a Postal Service tune, and thus is the kind of thing that those Owl City fans should actually be lapping up instead of some dimwitted tune about fireflies and goodbyes.

A lot of the songs sound like singles, 'What You Know' would definitely be a contender, were it not ruined by a horrible instrumental section. All in all, there's much more here to savour than not, making up for a fantastically accomplished debut album. They narrowly missed out on the final ten for BBC's Sound of 2010 poll, and on the basis of this, the Beeb missed an opportunity. Definitely ones to keep an eye on, and until they make their masterpiece: This'll do, Pig, this'll do.

List: Irish Sound of 2010

After last year's succesful Irish Sound of 2009 post between myself and Peter over at 2UIBestow, we have teamed up again to highlight ten acts worth looking out for in 2010. We've picked five acts each, all of which could end up dominating the Irish music scene in the next twelve months.

A Plastic Rose

Belfast based A Plastic Rose consists of equal parts Sligo and Belfast and make the type of Indie Rock music Tim Wheeler dreams about. The vocals are shared by the contrasting styles of Ian and Gerry which results in harmonies not normally associated with the alternative rock genre. So far in their career they have released Eps and Singles with the full LP hopefully out this side of Christmas 2010. Seeing A Plastic Rose live is a must for the new year.

MySpace



The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra

Hailing from Limerick The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra make some wonderful indie folk music which is receiving radio play across the country. They've release two EPs, played Electric Picnic and HWCHs as well as picking up celebrity fans like Paul McCloon and Cormac Battle along the way! 2010 could be the year of The BPLO with the likely release of their debut on the horizon.

MySpace



Candice Gordon

Born in South Africa, but resident here since the age of seven, the Dubliner has an amazing voice as well as a wild backstory including a stint in the circus. But it's the music that really does the talking - it's a deep down dirty whiskey swagger that pulls no punches.

MySpace

Candice Godon - 'Smoking Like the Barrel of a Gun'


Fiach

Is it better to release a number of mediocre albums or wait until the time is right to make and release an amazing debut album? Fiach has been around forever but in February he will finally release that debut album that he has spent years preparing. Fiach is a veteran of many a sessions night clocking up an impressive apprenticeship of live performances. The recent Whelans gigs proved he is equally impressive fronting a band and owning his audience. I think 2010 will find us falling for the singer-songwriter again with Fiach's uplifting songwriting being at the forefront of the movement. February 25th finds Fiach in The Button Factory for the album launch!

MySpace



Henrietta Game

Henrietta Game only formed last January and already they've released a single, selected as Tony Fenton's daily download, performed with the legendary Peter Green and got a high profile slot at The Electric Picnic. Henrietta Game are guitar, cello, violin, glockenspiel and four part harmonies which send shivers down the spine. Henrietta Game is one of the most original bands out there which will appeal to indie kids and folk lovers alike.

MySpace




Oliver "Ollie" Cole

Many of you may remember Ollie Cole as the frontman in the sadly-missed Turn. Well, he's back under the guise Oliver Cole and has signed to EMI. He released the excellent What Will You Do EP last year, and looks set to release full-length debut album We Albatri sometime in 2010.

MySpace

Oliver Cole - 'We Albatri'


Padraig Digan

Padraig was the lead singer with Wallmark and later with Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. In 2005 Wallmark released a great album but Wallmark didn't last much longer after the release. Since then Padraig has been writing a whole bunch of great tunes that will become his debut album this year with Karl Odlum's input. Padraig writes honest emotional songs full of life and character. With luck 2010 will be Padraig's year!

Padraig Dignan



Planet Parade

Clane produces a lot of good music. Planet Parade are the latest act to join Bell x1 and Damien Rice as exports of Kildare's Detroit Rock City. They're a fantastic indie-pop band who have been honing their craft in a live setting - particularly at autumn's Hard Working Class Heroes Festival in Dublin. Check out their EP Ghosts to People, and if you're around, head over to Whelan's on Friday, January 15th to catch them live.

MySpace

Planet Parade - 'Sunshine'


Two Door Cinema Club

With a debut album imminent, Bangor, Co. Down's Two Door Cinema Club could be the biggest Irish act of 2010. They've been hyped by the BBC and Spinner, and will be releasing their first album, Tourist History, on March 1st. They played the Introducing Tent at Glastonbury last year, but expect them to feature higher up the bill at Festivals in 2010, as well as joining the NME Shockwaves Tour throughout the UK and Ireland.

MySpace

Two Door Cinema Club - 'I Can Talk'



We Cut Corners

Ireland's other singing drummer duo Oppenheimer split up over Christmas, but instead of the Nordies' electronic feel, We Cut Corners are a beautiful folk-pop group with songs that sound so much bigger than the sum of their parts. They also joined the lineup at Hard Working Class Heroes in 2009 and featured on RTÉ 2's When Under Ether. Expect to hear much more from them in 2010.

MySpace

We Cut Corners - 'YKK'

Album News: Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History

Northern Irish band Two Door Cinema Club will release their debut album Tourist History on March 1st. They'll release lead single 'Undercover Martyn' a few weeks ahead of the album, on February 22nd. The day before that, February 21st, sees them play the Academy in Dublin for the NME Shockwaves Tour with the Maccabees, which should be excellent. Read below for a full list of their Irish dates.

Tracklist:
'Cigarettes In The Theatre'
'Come Back Home'
'Do You Want It All?'
'This Is The Life'
'Something Good Can Work'
'I Can Talk'
'Undercover Martyn'
'What You Know'
'Eat That Up, It's Good For You'
'You're Not Stubborn'

Irish Dates:
21 Feb - Academy, Dublin
22 Feb - Mandela Hall, Belfast
2 Mar - Dolan's, Limerick
4 Mar - Roisin Dubh, Galway
5 Mar - Stiff Kitten, Belfast
6 Mar - Button Factory, Dublin
7 Mar - Sandinos, Derry

Watch 'I Can Talk':