Last weekend Irish musics finest converged various venues about Dublin to celebrate new music for Hard Working Class Heroes 2010. Michelle O Grady headed on down to a few gigs for PGTR.
Enemies: The Grand Social
I actually cannot praise this band enough. Each time I see them, they just get better and better. It's clear to see this band have grown in confidence and rightly so. On the first night of this year's Hard Working Class Heroes festival, Enemies took to the stage after some delay but it was worth the wait. The whole crowd were immediatley caught up in their rhythmic yet relaxing melodies. Their have a great stage presence though this may be due to the on stage chemistry between their two drummers(yes, that's two drummers!).
There is a great energy to their band and with dates played from everywhere from Paris to Galway and even Japan, they have cultivated a steady following.
My personal favourite is 'Two Lads' which they failed to play last Thursday but all is forgiven due to the stellar show they put on.
To hear more of this self proclaimed 'progressive/ambient/rock band, get yourself a copy of their album 'We've Been Talking' which is out now.
Enemies - Nag Champa Alt
Halves-The Workman's Club
I was really curious to see this band as what I had read about them previous to this, led me to believe that they are different to everything else that is out there on the Irish music scene at the moment-and I was correct.
Halves use a wide and eclectic variety of instruments to create what I can describe as beautiful yet haunting sounds. The celestial voice of their lead singer has you just about lulled into a sense of calm when the whole band builds into a crescendo and you cannot but be taken with the energy of the music.
As the music is quite serious, I was expecting that I may not leave the gig in the most olympic and joyous of moods and it may be all very 'chin-strokery' but I was quite mistaken. As a band, they are highly enjoyable to watch. Band members swop around instruments(which for some reason, always impresses me) and there is a great on stage comradery.
For fans of Sigur Ros, Mogwai and bands of that ilk, Halves are a must see.
Halves are just about to release their debut album 'It goes, It goes (Forever & Ever) on the 29/10/10.
Darling, You'll Meet Your Maker by halves
On top of this I got a big up to some of Galway's finest who did everyone proud over the weekend. Tony Higgins ex-So Cow aka Junior 85 and Lost Chord
Here's Lost Chord playing Records Not Fear at their gig in Sweeney's over the weekend
Lost Chord - You Do Not Do from mark willis on Vimeo.
And here's a track from Junior 85's Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide Awake E.P
Junior 85 - Raymond Scott Alt
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The Halves track you posted is probably one of the darkest, most grim tracks I have heard in a long time. Whoa. Instant mood set. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but instantly was struck by how dark this track is. Kind of freaky.
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