Setlist: Tom Baxter, Spirit Store, Dundalk, 19 June 2008

The Spirit Store may sound like some sort of record shop, or a place where you can buy ghosts and the undead, but is actually a public house (or pub or bar to you non-Ross O'Caroll-Kelly readers. God I hate Ross O'Carroll-Kelly, but this is neither the place nor the time). It's a really intimate venue and holds about 100 revellers.

Night Like This
Skybound
Tell Her Today
A Day in Verona
This Boy
Smile
Better
Half a Man
Hot Wax to a Stone
Last Shot
Tragic
Miracle
Icarus Wings
Don't Let Go
----
Love is Not Enough
My Declaration

Live recommendations: 20-22 June 2008

Some pretty good artists playing in Dublin this weekend - well that all depends on your taste, but even so, there should be something to cater for everyone.

The biggest name of the weekend is obviously the cream of the crop, Eric Clapton, who brings his legendary brand of blues to Malahide Castle. Concertgoers are recommended to use public transport, and with the Dart station only 150 metres away, that would be my preferred method of transport. It's how I plan to get in and out of the castle for Neil Young next weekend anyway. Tickets are still on sale for both Clapton and Young, so that's the next two weekends sorted for you!

Tonight, Christy Moore is playing Tripod (as he did last night), but who hasn't seen him at this stage? Cathy Davey plays the Olympia, and Tom Baxter brings his own brand of generic singer-songwriter nonsense to the National Stadium. Don't get me wrong, he does have some good songs - but they were all on his first album, which is nearly half-a-decade old at this stage. Cathy Davey is a homegrown hero, and the singer's latest release Tales of Silversleeve was released to much acclaim in the UK just last week.

If you can't afford to see Eric Clapton, then there are plenty of alternatives on Saturday night. Poppette KT Tunstall plays the Olympia, fresh from supporting The Police in Belfast tonight. Republic of Loose promote their new album of funky-weirdness at the Ambassador. Tom Dunne is still going strong, and hopefully will play that one hit 'Parachute' in Whelan's. For people who claim they like "proper" music, Liars and Keren Ann are also visiting our fine capital.

Sunday is a bit of a letdown after Saturday, but rock fans from around the country will be at the RDS for nu-metallers Linkin Park (sadly there won't be any sign of Jay-Z), who are supported by the used-to-be-good-before-Nick-Oliveri-left Queens of the Stone Age and metal band Coheed & Cambria.

Wherever you go this weekend, enjoy. And don't blame me if the Dart is absolutely jammed.

Album News: The Verve release date announced

According to The Tripwire, The Verve have finally announced the release date for their upcoming album, which is as of yet untitled. The band's comeback record will be released August 18th in the UK, so expect it to hit Irish stores on the 15th of August. That's the great thing about the Irish album charts, the Irish release date is earlier than most everywhere else.

The Verve are amazingly not one of the three headline acts at this year's Oxegen Festival, they take to the stage on Saturday, just before R.E.M.

Here is a video of them talking to NME about their upcoming festival shows:

Setlist: Damien Rice, Royal Hospital Grounds, Kilmainham, 14 June 2008

Another short set from Damien Rice, to allow Loenard Cohen more time to play.

Older Chests
Amie
Blowers Daughter
The Professor
What This Night Is For

Check out some photos of the night here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bearpark/sets/72157605625478683/

Also, check out this video of 'Cannonball' from night one, recorded by Olive:

Setlist: Damien Rice, Royal Hospital Grounds, Kilmainham, 13 June 2008

Damien played support for one of his heroes last weekend. However he did not seem in awe of Leonard Cohen, and played just short half-hour sets each night.

The Professor
Cannonball
Delicate
Elephant
Coconut Skins

Olive has videos on here youtube page of many of the songs from night one, here's 'Elephant'.

This weekend's gigs: 20-22 June

Friday, 20 June 2008

Bad Manners	The Academy	19:30	€25.50
Tom Baxter	National Stadium	20:00	€31
Cathy Davey	Oympia Theatre	20:00	€24
Holly Golightly	Whelan's	19:30	€15
The Minutes	The Village	20:00	€10
Christy Moore, Declan Sinnott	Tripod	19:00	€43.96-€49.55

Saturday, 21 June 2008

Eric Clapton	Malahide Castle	Gates 17:00, Show 18:30	€76.25
Keren Ann	Crawdaddy	20:00	€17
Liars	Andrew's Lane Theatre	19:30	€19.50
Republic of Loose	Ambassador Theatre	19:30	€23-€25.50
Something Happens	Whelan's	20:00	€23
John Spillane	The Cherrytree	21:00	€17-€20
KT Tunstall	Olympia Theatre	19:30	€34.20-€39.20

Sunday, 22 June 2008

Linkin Park, Queens of the Stone Age, C&C	RDS	20:00	€69.50
You Me at Six	Whelan's	13:00	€14.50

Live News: Mercury Rev and Spiritualized to play Kilkenny

The Kilkenny Arts festival takes place every August, and this year the city will not only host Dolly Parton, but a Cathedral outing for Mercury Rev and Spiritualized.

Spiritualized will be promoting their new album Songs in A and E, and Mercury Rev will be, well, doing what they do best. And what better venue than St. Canice's Cathedral to host the two acts' own-brand of nineties psychedelia. The acts will be supported by Dublin band 3epkano.

Tickets for the August 17th show are onsale now from Ticketmaster.ie and usual outlets and cost €40.

No doubt all the Kilkenny cats will be partying like it's 1998. God, do you remember how good Deserter's Songs was when it came out? And how good it still is. It's a pity they don't make music like that any more.

Setlist: Crowded House, Olympia Theatre, 18 June 2008

Crowded House's final show was an excellent one. The band doesn't bother with encore breaks anymore. They don't even leave the stage.

Locked Out
World Where You Live
Turn It Round
Fall at Your Feet
Don't Stop Now
7,8,9
English Trees
Sunny Afternoon/Here Comes the Rain Again
Heaven that I'm Making
Now We're Getting Somewhere
Pineapple Head
Falling Down
Matt on Bhodrain
Either Side of The World
Three Blind Mice
Mary of the South Seas
Distant Sun
It's Only Natural
------
When You Come
Don't Dream It's over
Weather with You
Private Universe
Four Seasons in One Day

Remember Hazel Kaneswaren and Dove covered 'Don't Dream It's Over'? Horrible. But here it is...

Setlist: Iggy & The Stooges, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, 16 June 2008

Not the longest set, but a really decent one nonetheless. 'Wanna Be Your Dog' is always a highlight.

Loose
Down on the street
1969
Wanna be your dog
TV Eye
Dirt
Real Cool Time
No Fun
1970
Mindroom
Fun House / LA
Skull Ring
My Idea Of Fun
Search And Destroy
-------
I Got a Right
I'm Fried
Electric Chair

Setlist: Crowded House, Olympia Theatre, 16 June 2008

Posted by Mary-Ann on Frenz:

Recurring Dream
Time Immemorial
Pretty Vacant
Don't Stop Now
Pour la Monde
Private Universe
Chocolate Cake
Fall at your Feet
Turn it Around
Twice if your Lucky
Isolation
Mean to Me
Don't Dream its over
Distant Sun
Locked Out
Heaven that I'm Waiting
Something so Strong
Four Seasons
Throw your Arms Around me
Better Be Home Soon
Weather With You

If anyone has any updates to these setlists, please mail swearimnotpaul@gmail.com

Setlist: Crowded House, Ambassador, 14 June 2008

Posted by Tine in the Frenz forum:

When You Come
Isolation
Don't Stop Now
Fall at Your Feet
Turn it Around
Either Side of the World
Twice if You're Lucky
Silent House
Falling Dove
Say That Again
Distant Sun
Pineapple Head
Don't Dream It's Over
Whispers and Moans
Weather With You (Time Immemorial tease)
World Where You Live
It's Only Natural
Locked Out
Throw Your Arms Around Me
4 Seasons in One Day

Here's a clip uploaded by Roo of 'Locked Out':

Setlist: Crowded House, Olympia Theatre, 17 June 2008

This was posted by Mary Ann, a member of Frenz, the Crowded House fansite:

Everything is Good For You
789
Turn It Around
Its Only Natural - followed by slo-mo pretend punching and and kick boxing.
World Where You Live
Dont Dream its Over
Something So Strong
Don't Stop Now
Four Seasons
She Walked Her Way Down
Message to My Girl
Pineapple Head - I think
Distant Sun
Weather With You
Better Be Home Soon
Neil's Improv burlesque number
Locked Out
In My Command
When You Come
Say that again
Fingers of Love

Please let me know if there is an inaccuracy in this setlist, as the poster herself admits there could be a few. Thanks.

Album Release: The Mary Janes - Bored of Their Laughing, now on iTunes

It's taken years to get to this stage. Hot on the heels of Radiohead releasing their back catalogue on iTunes, one of Ireland's finest lost bands, The Mary Janes have made their debut album Bored of Their Laughing available on iTunes.

For those of you who haven't heard of this entirely wonderful band, The Mary Janes were the former band of producer Karl Odlum and the late, great Mic Christopher. Karl Odlum is now renowned in the Irish music scene and has wored with everyone from The Frames to Fionn Regand via Ham Sandwich and Mark Geary.

Mic Christopher was responsible for perhaps the best Irish album of all-time (yes, even better than The Joshua Tree!), Skylarkin. The Mary Janes second album, Sham, has been available for quite a while now, and you'll even find it in HMV on Grafton Street. If you don't already have a copy, pick it up.

Bored of Their Laughing however, charts the genesis of two of Ireland's finest musicians, Odlum and Christopher. And for that reason alone it is worth having. I await a hardcopy CD version. But until then, this will definitely tide me over.

Visit their MySpace
http://www.myspace.com/themaryjanesdc

Buy the album:
iTunes

Watch a video of Mic Christopher and Glen Hansard busking on Grafton Street, back in their Heyday. (See what I did there?)
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Streaming Music: Conor Oberst - two songs from Self-titled

Another of this year's Electric Picnic performers is releasing a new album this year. Conor Oberst, who is better known as Bright Eyes, will be releasing a self-titled album. For his Electric Picnic debut, he will be accompanied by The Mystic Valley Band. This is the name of his own backing band, much like Bob Dylan had The Band, Bruce has E Street, and Bono has U2. The new self-titled "solo" record is not really a departure for Oberst, as Bright Eyes was 100 percent his own vehicle from the outset.

The album itself will be released August 4th, which gives those of you going to Stradbally a chance to digest the record and sing-a-long. Irish fans will remember Bright Eyes from Oxegen 2007, and also from the fact that he pulled out of Oxegen 2006 at the last minute, much to the dismay of myself and the random stranger beside me who couldn't recognize him onstage when whatever subpar replacement act was performing.

Two songs from his upcoming album can be streamed on his own website, and are a teaser for what's to come...
http://www.conoroberst.com/

Streaming Music: Sigur Rós - Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust

Those of you who have pre-ordered the new Sigur Rós record (complete with bums on the cover), can download a 320kbps version of the album from today. I'd highly recommend it.

But for those of you who don't like paying for music, you can stream it online here:
http://widget.nabbr.com/sigur_ros.html
Note: You must have Javascript enabled.

Look out for a review of the album soon.

The band are playing Electric Picnic this year (as long as it's not cancelled due to a ridiculous IMRO courtcase). It's like the Mahon Tribunal of Music.

To get you in the mood, here's a recent setlist from their festival appearance in Mexico city

Festival la Colmena, Tepoztlan, Mexico: June 7, 2008
1. Svenf-e-englar
2. Glósóli
3. Vaka
4. Festival
5. Heysátan
6. Gobbledigook
7. Fjótavik
8. All Alright

And some kind taper was good enough to upload it: http://rs53.rapidshare.com/files/121281864/Colmena_SR_.rar

Media Attack: Herald AM, June 17

This is the segment where I complain about other sections of the media, usually reviews. It's easy, and also quite enjoyable.

Today's Herald AM (that's the free morning newspaper version of the Evening Herald, to anyone not in the know) had reviews of both Radiohead's Best of (EMI making money from unnecessary releases) and the new Coldplay album, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.

The Coldplay review started off badly with an attack on the album's title. It was immediately obvious that this reviewer was thoroughly biased. I guess this reviewer was the same Eamonn guy who reviewed the Radiohead record, but there was no name at the end of this review. Does it matter what the album is called? Not really. Led Zeppelin didn't even bother with names on some of their albums... And The Buttless Chaps have one of the worst band names ever, but still make good music.

It all went downhill from there. The reviewer comments how the opening track features "the usual Chris Martin 'oohs' and 'aahs'". Now I've listened to 'Life in Technicolour' a good few times now, and I distinctly remember no vocals, oohs or aahs on this instrumental song.

To top it all off, he even ends the review by admitting that he "doesn't like Coldplay". Seriously, his editor should have looked at this review, went "No", and threw it out. Even the mailboy probably would have done a better job.

And two stars? You're kidding me, right?

Tour news: Coldplay

Not content with getting the UK #1 slot at the weekend, and getting a whopping 6.5 review from Pitchfork, Chris Martin has decided to throw his band's upcoming tour into disarray by injuring himself on the day before the tour. Or so claims The Sun newspaper.

The future Fish and Chip wrapper states "Chris Martin has thrown Coldplay's comeback concert into jeopardy after twisting his knee during tour rehearsals. The frontman was left hobbling in pain after injuring his leg in practice sessions for the band's eagerly anticipated first performance in London tomorrow."

But since he sits at a piano for some of the songs, before twirling around like a madman on others, can't he just sit for them all? Of course he can. It's just the usual newspaper nonsense.

How come I didn't hear about Silver Jews frontman David Berman injuring his hand in Meath while on their three-show stint in Ireland? That's right, because it just wasn't worth mentioning in the news. Berman still sang on, and gave a cracking performance at Whelan's (no 'Party Barge' though - the horror!). Similarly, Martin will no doubt be in excellent condition whether singing or standing. That's of course if he's not doing an encore of that terrible performance at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards:



Horrible, wasn't it?

And even so, they're not playing Belfast til December. I'm sure he'll have healed by then.

This week's Gigs: 16-18 June 2008

I can't say I'd recommend going to see any of these artists early this week. The Courteeners have received the usual NME-hype that any British band gets, but they're really not that good. I'd save my money for the weekend. Madness and Crowded House tickets would have made great Father's Day presents yesterday, and unless you're bringing your dad I suggest staying in instead. And watch a Birdseye ad on TV. One minute of Suggs is more than enough for anyone to take.

Monday, 16 June 2008

The Courteeners	Whelan's	20:00	€16.50
Crowded House	Olympia Theatre	20:00	€49.20
Iggy & The Stooges	Royal Hospital	Gates 18:30	€55
Michael McDonald	Vicar Street	20:00	€54.80
Prince	Croke Park	xx:xx	Cancelled!

Tuesday, 17 June 2008

Crowded House	Olympia Theatre	20:00	€49.20
Madness	Tripod	19:30	€64.50-74.50

Wednesday, 18 June 2008

Crowded House	Olympia Theatre	20:00	€49.20
Paul Curreri	The Sugar Club	20:00	€13
Madness	Tripod	19:30	€64.50-74.50

Setlist: Leonard Cohen, Royal Hospital Grounds, 15 June 2008

Even the rain couldn't keep the adoring fans away for the final night of Leonard Cohen's non-emergency visit to the Royal Hospital Grounds in Kilmainham.

1. Dance Me to the End of Love
2. The Future
3. Ain't No Cure for Love
4. Bird on a Wire
5. Everybody Knows
6. In My Secret Life
7. Who By Fire
8. Heart with No Companion
----Set Break----
9. Anthem
10. Tower of Song
11. Suzanne
12. The Gypsy Wife
13. Boogie Street
14. Hallelujah
15. Democracy
16. I'm Your Man
17. A Thousand Kisses Deep
----Encore Break----
18. Take This Waltz
19. So Long, Marianne
20. First We Take Manhattan
21. That Don't Make It Junk
22. If It Be Your Will
23. Closing Time
24. I Tried to Leave You

Setlist: Leonard Cohen, Royal Hospital Grounds, 14 June 2008

The second of three excellent in the Royal Hospital grounds, Kilmainham performances from the legend that is Leonard Cohen. He's much much more than that Jeff Buckley song... (Shows 1 and 3 coming)

Dance Me to the End of Love
The Future
Ain’t No Cure For Love
Bird on a Wire
Everybody Knows
In My Secret Life
Who by Fire
Anthem
----Set Break----
Tower of Song
Suzanne
The Gypsy’s Wife
Boogie Street
Hallelujah
Democracy
I’m Your Man
A Thousand Kisses Deep
Take This Waltz
----Encore Break----
Waiting for a Miracle
First We Take Manhattan
That Don’t Make it Junk
If It Be Your Will
Closing Time
I Tried to leave you
Whither Thou Goest

Setlist: Neil Diamond, Croke Park, June 14

While the weather could have been better, the man himself could not. Diamond put on a great performance, with many songs from his new album Home Before Dark, but closed the set with many crowd favourites including 'America', 'Cracklin' Rosie' and 'Sweet Caroline'.

One more bite of the Apple/Holly Holy
Street Life
Beautiful Noise
Lady Oh
Cherry Cherry
Thank the Lord for the Night time
Love on the Rocks
Home Before Dark
Don't go there
Pretty Amazing Grace
Crunchy Granola Suite
Done Too Soon
Red Red Wine
Brooklyn Roads
I Am.. I Said..
Solitary Man
Forever in Blue Jeans
Sweet Caroline >
Sweet Caroline (Reprise)
You don't bring me Flowers
Song Sung Blue
I'm a Believer
Man of God
Hell Yeah
-----
Cracklin' Rosie
America
Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show


And just so you realise that I'm not a mentaller for actually liking Neil Diamond, here's a 1971 version of one of his classics, 'Solitary Man':
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