new: Grinderman video, Casanova Wave video, Funeral Suits, Nodzzz, Fionn Regan and Jape

New Grinderman video. NSFW. From Grinderman 2 which came out last September. After this I want to hear no more about Primavera mkay? But you guys have a real swell time.



The Casanova Wave, electronic project of Waterford man Brian McCartan on Bluestack Records, has released his debut video.



Here is is debut E.P:



Funeral Suits are the band. I saw them play a while back to rapturous review and ongoing adoration from my friends and contemporaries in Galway town. I didn't get it. Hearing this I feel differently. They're just back from The Great Escape. I hear things went well. We'll hear much more soon.

Funeral Suits - Colour Fade by IASCA

Nodzzz. Where have you been all my life? This San Francisco band have made music just for me. Warm, fuzzy, tuneful pop music. It's not gonna change the world but it's made my week a little better. Innings came out a few days back. I wouldn't say buy it because the are donating a portion to charity but if you do get it know that a portion of each sale is going to Swords to Ploughshares, a charity helping veterans.


Nodzzz - Heyday Past Heyday Due

New Fionn Regan. One of Ireland's finest songsters is back with a captivating strings and shimmering cymbals affair. Get it free from his website, check his tour dates and await his third album, 100 Days of Sycamore which is out in August.


Fionn Regan - 100 Days of Sycamore

I posted Jape's new single a few weeks back, now it's all set for release and sees this beauty as the other side of this double A. It's out on brand new Dublin label Music/Is/For/Losers. Ocean of Frequency is out in Sepetember.

The Worry Fades by Jape

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Electric Picnic 2011 lineup

Electric Picnic lineup. Oooooh. Iiiiiinteresting.

Here are whole host of reasons why one should go.

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Lost Chord E.P

Guest post from the delightful Ciara O Doherty.

Hear ye, Hear Ye!

Celebrated Galway band Lost Chord have released their latest musical offering, to coincide with their upcoming tour dates at Canadian Music Week, the international music festival.

This aptly titled "Canada E.P" features brand-new recordings, not to mention a re-vamped version of their previous hit Drunk & Unspoken a song already much salivated-over by Galway music lovers. The boys set sail for Toronto early yesterday morning, and my sources can confirm that they have arrived safely, and are having just about all the craic.

With support from Imagine Ireland and First Music Contact, the quintet, who have been listed as "Top 5 Irish Bands to Listen to Right Now" on Nialler9's blog, are now bringing their acclaimed live shows to a whole new continent, and will no doubt cause quite a stir on their travels.

For anyone who finds themselves nearby, shows in Lees Palace (9th March), and Parts & Labour (11th March) have been confirmed, with more to follow.

Here's the E.P, feel free to see what all the fuss is about.




Lost Chord - Drunk and Unspoken

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Two Door Cinema Club win Choice Music Prize!

Congrats to Two Door Cinema Club for bring chosen as the best Irish album of what was one of the finest ever years for Irish music.

Undercover Martyn by Two Door Cinema Club

They beat 9 excellent albums from the following bands. Check out my previous post on the prize to have a listen to each band.

Adebisi Shank
The Cast of Cheers
Cathy Davey
Fight Like Apes
Halves
James Vincent McMorrow
O Emperor
Imelda May
Villagers

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new: And So I Watch You From Afar

It's HERE! In yesterdays post I noted my excitement at the prospect of hearing a new track from And So I Watch You From Afar which debuted last night on BBC NI and Today FM ...of course I missed it cos I was making a sandwich but I got to hear it this morning and now, so do you.

Search:Party:Animal is the single. It's out February 28th with remix stems available for you to take it apart and put it back together. Like musical Lego.

Their second album is called Gangs. It's out May 2nd on The Richter Collective.

And So I Watch From Afar - Search:Party:Animal by Nialler9

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N-E-W: The Depravations

I'd been meaning to blog about The Depravations ever since some-time PGTR blogger, long-time buddy Brian text me on Christmas Day to tell me that his family were listening to them over Christmas dinner. He did this to piss me off as I was listening to some sort of pan-pipe Christmas CD. I would rather have been listening to The Depravations, based purely on one show I'd seen. But in fairness, pan-pipes ain't much competition. So over Christmas I mailed Jay from the and he sent on some mp3's.

David Boland, Otis Liddy, Eoghan McGinley, Hob Junker & Mosey Byrne are their names.
According to them "the general sounds we like come from the 1950s and 1960s, surf music, really old country and blues and 1990s dance music". I'd been waiting to muster up sufficient praise for what is up with the best music I've heard in months. But there I've said it.

Keep an eye out for this band, they're bloody brilliant and if there's any justice in music (though let's face it there's really not) they'll reach some manner of recognition at some stage in the not too distant future. If you like rich sounds, stories, harmonies or in fact anything that makes music pleasant to listen to you'll head on down here, download these mp3's, put on a cup of tea, stick on those big headphones and lie back on the couch soaking up these sounds.

Anyway, Jay sent on a load of mp3's, saying I could use what I like and fook the rest away. I couldn't bring myself to throwing them away. Too good. Here's the lot. It's called the Mosey E.P.

Boys Can Be So Cruel

Not Forgotten

Oh My Love

To The Sea

Tonight

In The Garden

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N-E-W: Cloud Castle Lake

They came ever so highly recommended by anyone who has seen them live, and they didn't disappoint. Cloud Castle Lake are the band, and this is possibly the best tune I've heard all year.

A Wolf Howling by cloudcastlelake

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N-E-W: No Monster Club, Wye Oak, James V. McMorrow, The Babies & Vancans

One eye on blogging, one eye on Ireland v. France in Rugby. Apologies for any poor spelling/bad grammar/sentences that make little sense etc.

I love Sundays so I do.

I'm waiting for it. Some day, it's bound to happen. Ireland's run of a few years of consistently good music will grind to a halt and Glen Hansard will unleash a new breed of misery demons with battered guitars to bore us into oblivion. I don't mean to rip into Glen but like it or not he is seen as the father figure to that slew of singer songwriters who defined Irish music a few years ago. Anyway, let us not dwell on music famines of old but appreciate some more great music, this time some infectiously positive jingle-jangle pop from No Monster Club. NMC is headed up by Bobby Ahern, formerly of Dublin Duck Dispensary. From the website I can't make out where one bands starts and the other begins but all I can say is these new tracks are a cracking listen and should make you smile. Give them a go!



Wish Me Well by No Monster Club

The Last Bottle In The World by No Monster Club

N-E-W: We Are Losers

I've been meaning to post the new We Are Losers track. Since posting about them and songwriter Gav Elstead's other act, Adult Rock in December they've been one of my favourite acts. Fantastic lo-fi guitar pop. I really really like this tune.

Cheerleader by wearelosers

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N-E-W: Jape

New Jape! The former Choice winning, Redneck Manifesto member and all round musical hero is back with a single and whispers of an album.

While it's a little different to his usual stuff, he has dealt with a vast array of different styles already so no massive surprises either. As I said, whispers of an album, but if it continues with this kind of quality it'll be darn good.

Its Shadow Won't Make Noise by Jape

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N-E-W: Sacred Animals

I'm playing catchup here but better late than never to the Sacred Animals party. This mysterious Wexford man released this debut E.P back in August. Nialler9 hit the nail on the head saying it sounds like Radiohead & Bon Iver without sounding too much like either, while State said the exact same thing, pretty much word for word, so I don't feel bad plagiarising their reviews. Creepy sounds, beautiful voice, strangely comforting. Listen and decide for yourselves. For me, best Irish music I've heard in a while. Scrap that, best band I've heard all week.

Wired, Islands by sacredanimals

Welcome Home by sacredanimals

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Arbutus Yarns. Villagers, Janelle Monae, Donal Dineen and loads more

Myles O Reilly runs Arbutus Yarns, a filming company that has documented some of the better Irish and international music moments in Ireland over the past two years, especially in the more roots, folk, interesting side of things.

Myles and Steven Mogerly filmed what I hear was an incredible gig, by Villagers back in early December. Watch it. All of it.



It's only a matter of time before Myles and co. get snapped up to film anything and everything music related. They do it so well. Here are a few of my favourite videos, the Picnic ones especially. For the rest go to arbutusyarns.com.

N-E-W: Retarded Cop

Here is some beautiful poetry about the day to day struggle of being broke. It's taking up where Scary Eire left off back in the 90's with Dole Q.



Retarded Cop was featured as part of the Music Alliance Pact last month representing Ireland, picked by Nialler9 who has been waxing lyrical for a time about R.C's 2xm alter ego Gaz Le Rock.

This is clever, banging pop punk in the best way possible.

Retarded Cop - Copvan

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Live: The Certain Three Tour (The Ambience Affair, Windings, We Cut Corners) ...plus Jeff The Brotherhood in Brixton

Yesterday I posted about a London gig that I can't go to. Today I'm posting about a gig I'm actually going to. It's The Certain Three tour and it's hitting the Roisin Dubh, Galway TONIGHT!

Who are the certain three then?

This is The Ambience Affairs new single. If these guys don't get noticed to a significant degree in 2011 I know fuck all about music and will be taking up a good pensionable job in the private sector and shutting my mouth once and for all.

We Cut Corners have gone from being one of those pretty good Irish bands to one of those excellent bands full stop.

And Windings, the current musical outlet of Steve from now-defunt Limerick rock legends giveamanakick released an album back in October. I wasn't massively impressed last time I saw them live but I can only wait and see what they're like tonight.



Here are the rest of the dates:

14th January 2011- The Workmans Club, Dublin
15th January 2011 – The Spirit Store, Dundalk
20th January 2011 – The Pavilion, Cork
22nd January 20111 – Gonzo Theatre, Cavan
28th January 2011 – De Barras, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
29th January 2011 – Dolans, Limerick

Also, the bloody brilliant Jeff The Brotherhood are playing tonight in The Windmill Brixton.

Jeff The Brotherhood - U Got The Look

...also playing are Dignan Porch who are a new one for me and New Year's Evil who I posted about back in November.

Also, I'm aware that many of the readers live neither in Galway, nor London. I hope I'm not alienating people. What you need to do is take these posts as a list of three or four excellent bands that I would be focusing on anyway, but they just happen to be playing together, which is a nice coincidence for me in that I can tie them all in together on the blog. Good bands, PLUS!!! ...a gig for people who can make it!

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Choice Music Prize 2010

Yesterday the nominations for the Choice Music Irish album of the year 2010 were released. This will be the sixth year the prize has been given to the best album, judged by a batch of industry representatives, with a new 12 each year. Here are the nominations.

Adebisi Shank - This Is The Second Album By A Band Called Adebisi Shank (The Richter Collective)



The Cast Of Cheers - Chariot (Self Released)

The Cast of Cheers - Chariot by Richter Collective

Cathy Davey - the Nameless (Hammer Toe Records)



Fight Likes Apes - The Body Of Christ and The Legs of Tina Turner (Model Citizen)



Halves - It Goes, It Goes (Forever & Ever) (Hate Is The Enemy)

I Raise Bears (featuring Katie Kim) edit by halves

Imelda May - Mayhem (Universal)

Imelda May - Mayhem by charmfactory

James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning (Burning Rope)

AaRON - Seeds of gold (live @ Casino de Paris, Paris - 15-12-2010) from Soul Kitchen on Vimeo.

O Emperor - Hither Tither (Universal)

O Emperor - Sedalia by DamianChennells

Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History (Kitsune)

Something Good Can Work by Two Door Cinema Club

Villagers - Becoming A Jackal (Domino)





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N-E-W: Villagers cover Neil Young for Mojo Magazine

Regular readers may know the story. Villagers can do no wrong in my eyes. I fell in love over the early gigs, loved the E.P, album and generally have been keeping clued in as to what Conor J O' Brien and his band of village people are getting up to. I aim to be fair and impartial on the blog, and not to overindulge any bands or artists in particular but, well, not this time. Mojo Magazine have, for their current issue, brought a host of acts in to re-visit Young's classic Harvest. I don't buy music magazines but I'll be grabbing this one lively. On top of Villagers we have Phosphorescent, Smoke Fairies and loads more. Here's the whole spiel in video format:



Villagers - Old Man (Neil Young cover)

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Adebisi Shank "take it there"

While I wouldn't usually post videos taken at gigs on mobile phones, what happened last night at Whelan's in Dublin must in some way be documented. Twitter was abuzz this morning with claims that Adebisi Shank's launch of their second album was possibly the best gig EVERRRRRRRRRRRR. I don't doubt it. I saw them a few weeks back and could easily say one of the top 5 gigs I've ever seen in Galway. The level of divilment is palpable in this video, and the craic is most certainly being had. Good stuff, just gutted I wasn't there. Onward Shank, onward!



You can pre-order the album here. You really should.

Adebisi Shank - This Is The Second ....

I have the new Adebisi Shank album. It's called This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank. You may recall how much I loved the first album (you'll never guess what it was called). Well I think I like this one better. Post-rock guitar twiddling and rawking out could have it's limits, I will admit, but this ten track monster takes that possibility and turns it on it's head. It's a celebration, it's experimental and it's off the fucking hook. And it features two very cool guests, Conor J. O' Brien (Villagers) and Richie Egan (Jape & Redneck Manifesto).

The album will be released on August 20th with a show in Whelan's, here are the details:

Doors 7:30pm
Tickets: €12 (Including Booking Fee)
Get tickets from tickets.ie here or WAV [lo-call 1890 200 078]

I saw them last week in the Roisin Dubh in Galway. Probably the best live band in the country. NOT to be missed.

I posted this track last week, I'm terribly sorry but I'm gonna have to post it again, as it ties in with this preview review thingy. If you haven't heard it yet, enjoy!

Adebisi Shank - International Dreambeat by Nialler9

Japstars, new video

I'm back. A few days in Kerry was exactly what I needed. Swimming, surfing, barbeques, early nights and family time are the business. Then I got back, dropped my stuff off and hit the Roisin Dubh for the Summer Shindig. Cast Of Cheers, Disconnect 4, Adebisi Shank and Lost Chord. Great lineup and great fucking night. I'll be posting a new Ad Shank tune over the next few days, cos the album is an absolute belter! My neck is still in bits from being in the first moshpit I've been in since Iron Maiden when I was 17.

So new stuff from Derry's electro kings Japanese Popstars. Yet again Barry Gruff beats me to it. That guy's blog is well worth reading, Irish or otherwise.



First new stuff in a while. Always good to hear from one of the better live dance acts about.