Irish music blog. Containing gig, live and concert reviews reviews; album reviews; setlists for recent Dublin shows; album news; and basically everything from the Irish music scene.
Showing posts with label New Irish Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Irish Music. Show all posts
Once again, I was a guest on John Barker's Totally Irish on 98fm on Sunday night. If you tuned in and wanted to know more about what I discussed (apart from my tips for the World Cup), here are the links.
Richter Collective An independent label formed by musicians, who are more about promoting great music than anything else. Features some great Irish acts like Adebisi Shank, BATS, and the Redneck Manifesto. http://www.richtercollective.com/
Jogging - Minutes One of the more impressive Irish debuts this year, Jogging are the best band signed to RC (so far) in my opinion. Hear their debut in its entirety here: http://jogging.bandcamp.com/
Reading Doctor Leaves' bio is a heartwarming experience, I'm not sure if it's the effort they put into it (it's a well-thought out extensive story of their musical lives so far), or if it's the line that begins "Between them they also have a grasp over the flute". Intentional or not, it's fun. Just like their debut EP which was released in September of 2009.
I'm only getting around to hearing it now, but it is well worth your time downloading. It was recorded last summer and has a definite summer feel. There's only two official band members: Ben Shorten and Dara Munnis, but Dara has been lending his drumsticks to many other artists for a while now, and the EP features a fine selection of the Irish Musical Who's Who. There's Ciaran and Turlough of The Chapters and Graham from the Coronas on board as well as many other names. The backing vocals of Niamh Farrell and Bairbre Munnis are gorgeous too. Just check out 'Seven Year Itch' to see what I mean (to make it handy for you, I put the video below). The catchy closing track also has one of the best titles I've heard in a long time: 'Small Fish, Small Pond'. Brilliant.
You can stream the EP in full at their MySpace (as well as other online areas), or alternatively download it for the bargain price of zero cent at their official website here. I cannot wait for a full length album from these guys.
Tracklist: No Step Forward When Darkness Turns to Light Seven Year Itch Small Fish, Small Pond
Niall Byrne aka Nialler9 writes a regular column in the Irish Independent's Day & Night section. He also has a blog to go with it. Today, the Sound of 2010 list written by myself and Peter over at 2UIBestow was featured. In addition to this, there's also a large number of other bands tipped for the top, with links to many lists. Check them all out here: http://dayandnightmag.ie/2010/01/15/new-bands-to-watch-in-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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Niall and Peter have followed on from Jim and co. to do their own lists. I thought I'd chime in with mine. Like Niall's it's in alphabetical order. Numerical order would be impossible.
Adebisi Shank Armoured Bear Bell X1 Cap Pas Cap Cathal Coughlan Adrian Crowley Dark Room Notes Cathy Davey Colin Devlin The Divine Comedy Duke Special Evil Harrisons Julie Feeney Fight Like Apes Martin Finke Mick Flannery The Frames/Swell Season/Glen Hansard The Funeral Suits The Gorgeous Colours The Guggenheim Grotto Ham Sandwich Lisa Hannigan Gemma Hayes Heathers Herm The Holy Roman Army I am Not Lefthanded Jape The Jimmy Cake The Kanyu Tree The Kinetiks David Kitt Kitty and the Can Openers Lines Drawing Circles Colm Mac Con Iomaire Imelda May Messiah J and the Expert The Mighty Stef Mumblin' Deaf Ro Roisin Murphy One Day International Oppenheimer Pony Club RSAG Fionn Regan Damien Rice Robotnik The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock Tenaka 202s Villagers Wallis Bird
Jim Caroll, Lauren Murphy et al. have a lot to answer for. Not content with over 150 comments on On the Record, they've also spurred on some spin off lists. If I had time myself I'd make a list of my own, but since I'm lazy, check out Nay, Peter and Niall's lists. (And Pat's rant...)
Jim Carroll and co. over at the Ticket have made a list of their top 50 Irish acts on the scene currently.
There were three qualifying conditions. (1) Solo acts had to have been born on the island of Ireland or to hold an Irish passport. (2) In the case of bands, half or more of the members had to have been born on the island of Ireland or to hold an Irish passport. (3) Bands had to have recorded or released music since January 2008, or to have played a gig since January 2008.
There are many ommissions, which have already been pointed out (even by me): But no Gemma Hayes, Mumblin' Deaf Ro, Tenaka? Ricer higher than Mick Flannery? Republic of Loose? etc. etc.
I'm a big fan of promoting upcoming Irish bands, and one band which could be massive are the splendidly-named Lines Drawing Circles.
Their debut single 'Thebes' will be released independently on Friday, February 6th 2009. It was Produced and Mixed by Gareth Mannix at Sun Studios, Dublin.
I've gotten my hands on the tune, and I must say it's pret-tay good for a first release. Look out for it.
Neil from Thundercrack Playlist has drawn my attention to Dublin band Star Little Thing, and their excellent new single 'Fishface'. Watch the video here:
Another great new video comes from Kilkenny band Saving J, for their new single 'Kick Off'. I actually prefer the B-Side to the single, called 'Friend or Foe', so in order to get that, you'll have to go and buy the single. Tower Records have it in stock, as the band played the single launch party there a few weeks back.
Check out their Monkees-like single here. And a good job by the bass player giving himself the thumbs up!
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