Magnificent U2?

Could it be that this magnificent tune gets into your top 10 or 20 U2 songs of all time?

Magnificent
Magnificent

I was born
I was born to be with you
In this space and time
After that and ever after I haven't had a clue
Only to break rhyme
This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

I was born
I was born to sing for you
I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice
[ U2 Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]
From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise…

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love unites our hearts

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent
Magnificent

Magnificent [Link removed because you should go buy the album or look at the video clip below!]



The next U2? The Kinetics performing I Will Follow at the Inspirations gig 27th Feb 2009

Irish Bands on YouTube - Ruby Sessions in March

There have been three Tuesday's of Ruby Sessions gigs announced so far for the month of March.....every night looks amazing!

3 Mar 2009 21:00

House of Cosy Cushions, Sophie Coyle, Elder, Roy Shiels



10 Mar 2009 21:00

Caruso, Sixteen Layers, Star Crossed Enemies, Craig McConnel




31 Mar 2009 21:00
Heathers, The Resistance, Michael John, Doug Sheridan

Something For The Weekend - Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club

An Emotional Fish frontman Jerry Fish is releasing a new album this Spring! Best to let his website tell ya about it.....

"Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club
‘The Beautiful Untrue’

The New studio album from ‘Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club’ entitled:
‘The Beautiful Untrue’ is scheduled to be released in Ireland on April the 24th.
And will also be available to download shortly thereafter all over the planet earth.

Produced by Jerry Fish, Recorded by Dick Meaney (The Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine) and Mixed by Phil Hayes ( The Cake Sale, Bell X1)

‘The Beautiful Untrue’ will be released on Jerry’s record label The Mudbug Club and distributed in Ireland by RMG Chart Entertainment. The album features some extraordinary guest vocal performances from two of Irelands up and coming singers Imelda May and Carol Keogh.

… and of course The Wonderful and Ever Expanding Mudbug Club Troupe. Buzz Wilde, Spicy Mudbug, Dr.Nebulus, Q, Conor (Jesus) Brady, Grum, Dave Frew, Mark Healy, Stefano Muscovi, Princess Mischa, Pat (Mr.T) Corless, Serge Stavila, Josie Doherty, Justin Carroll, Joe Ryan, The Mighty Stef and Oleg Ponomarev.

The first Single to be taken from ‘The Beautiful Untrue’ entitled ‘Back to Before’ will be released to radio in March and available on itunes as a download only single.

‘Back to Before’ is one of two duets on the album featuring singer Carol Keogh. The song has a Parisien Circus feel and sounds like it came from the soundtrack of ‘Amelie’ or ‘City of The Lost Children’.

Subscribers to the mailing list can look forward to a preview of the new record on the website www.jerry-fish.com as soon as it is mastered.


I know that it has taken forever to complete, if it’s any comfort to you all, I’ve been making lots of babies in the interim, and I’m very happy for it.

LoVe, Jerry The Fish"

Also arriving straight from the Mudbug Club site are the following:

True Friends

It Rains On Me [featuring Mundy]

My U2

With just a few hours to go until 'No Line On The Horizon' hits the shops I can't help but be a bit envious of those fans waiting in line on Grafton Street to be one of the first to get their hands [legally] on their idols new CD. Read here! Envious not because of U2 but because I'd love to have that obsession with a band. It made me think about what U2 means to me and my perspective on Ireland's most famous band.

My earliest of memories of U2 was the complete cloud of U2 hysteria in Ireland around the time of the Rattle & Hum album and their complete domination of the music world in America. My first U2 tape..... yes tape was for Christmas 1991, Achtung Baby. I have a crystal clear memory of Christmas morning playing Terminator 2 on the old Commodore 64 listening to Achtung Baby on repeat.

I especially fell in love with the song Night & Day recorded in 1990 for the Red, Hot & Blue album. It was on heavy rotation on MTV [a real novelty back then] and was written by Cole Porter. A truly wonderful song.



Achtung Baby is such a great album and when viewed in this retrospect mode it is elevated to greatness. This is because the album came on the back of The Joshua Tree. No one thought that they could push themselves to a higher plane. The non single tracks on Achtung Baby are what make this album great. There's the overlooked distortion of Zoo Station and the melodic Ultra Violet (Light My Way), the flirty Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World to the best song on the album Acrobat with the best lyric 'Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down'.



The four albums since Achtung Baby includes many wonderful tracks such as Beautiful Day, All Because Of You, Numb and Gone but to be honest they mean very little to me. I did explore U2 pre Joshua Tree and fell in love with An Unforgettable Fire from 1985. I came to understand why the Irish consistently voted Bad the best song in Dave Fanning's Annual Fab 50 chart.



'No Line On the Horizon' has arrived and it means nothing to me. I wish I could be absorbed by everything Bono writes and that their current music means more to me than it actually does. However the new album will mean a world tour. In the hope of hearing Bad, One, Running To Stand Still and Pride live I might try to go see them for the first time in 16 years when they play Croke Park this summer.

Padraig Rushe Album Launch Tour

Irish born Rock & Soul singer and former member of the Dublin Gospel Choir, Padraig Rushe, will release his debut album 'GreyWorld' this March 6th with a gig in The Sugar Club. Padriag as a member of the Dublin Gospel Choir performed with the likes of Paddy Casey, Declan O'Rourke and Liam Ó Maonlai. His debut is a fusion of funk, soul and rock with vocals somewhere between Jeff Buckley and Bill Withers. The future of Irish Rock music? I'm really looking forward to the album launch and find that answer!

http://www.padraigrushe.com/

http://www.myspace.com/padraigrushe

http://www.youtube.com/PadraigRushe

Ruby Tuesday - Wayne Brennan

Wayne Brennan is an interesting artist who I'm going to predict will have an amazing career ahead of him. Wayne creates wonderful music that is rather difficult to describe. Armed with a Spanish guitar he can at times sound similar to Rodreigo Y Gabrielle but with other tunes he is like an Irish Newton Faulkner. Like I mentioned... an interesting artist! I seen Wayne last week for a five tune Ruby Session and his guitar playing was breathtaking at times. The songs were solid compositions flirting with folk, pop and Calexicoesque alternative. Below is the video of his Irish Top 20 hit 'And I Love' and the video clip I recorded of his tune Pancake Tuesday which of course is today.






http://www.waynebrennan.com/

http://www.myspace.com/waynebrennan

Just Another Manic Monday

The Funeral Suits are on the way to superstardom with some great news that they will be warming up the crowds at the Franz Ferdinand gigs: "Next weekend you will be able to see us with your own eyes playing with Green Lights Upstairs in Whelan's on Friday and then we're playing main support to Franz Ferdinand for there three Irish gigs in Limerick, Dublin and Belfast." Remember these guys were one of our 10 picks for the year....... here

I promised myself not to even mention the 4 local lads from the northside of the horizon but I want you to check this out for a fun read.....

http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2009/02/23/u2-no-line-on-the-horizon/

Talking of a fun read, I'd like to wish Una Mullally all the best for her future projects and say the blogsphere and I will miss her fun observations on music and life. I know I've learned lots from the blog. Thanks Una.

http://unarocks.blogspot.com/

Monday Under The Covers - Inspirations

This amazing gig in The Acadamy could quite possibly be the most advertised gig in Ireland ever! The line-up is wonderful and to be honest almost all acts appearing could easily fill the venue by themselves. However this is a covers night for charity where we can expect songs by David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan sung by our best Irish artists and Fun Loving Criminals. In celebration of this gig I have a cover by the headliner Sinéad O'Connor. Sinéad has sung songs by Kurt Cobain, Cole Porter, Lee Perry and of course Prince who penned the breakthrough hit Nothing Compares 2 U. Below I have her version of the Damien Dempsey song It's All Good.

Sinéad O'Connor - It's All Good

http://www.barretstown.org/

Sunday's Seven Degrees of Lost Bands

In Ireland now like a lot of the world is experiencing a massive re-adjustment. Life seems to be spiralling back to the 1980's at a fierce rate where unemployment was high, emigration dominated family life and money was scarce. However culturally Ireland was alive and kicking. The child of the 1980's produced many fine bands who are no more. Below are Delorentos and six more samples from recent bands who should not be forgotten.

Leya - In Our Hands [More info]

Label [Terry Sutton, Binzer, Simon Good, Shane Fitzsimons] - No One To Blame [More info]

The Chalets - Love Punch [MySpace]

Wallmark [Padraig Digan] - Dryland [More info]

Delorentos - All This Time [More info]

The Prayer Boat [Emmett Tinley] - Paralysed [More info]

...... due to the nature of this post if any artist does not want their music represented here please contact me asap on mixtape4melfi[at]gmail{dot}com

Irish Bands on YouTube - Mark Geary

As can be seen in the image Mark Geary is on an Irish tour at the moment in support of the third album called Opium which was released nearly a year ago. Mark is from Ireland but has settled in NYC since his Sin É days with the likes of Jeff Buckley and Katell Keineg. His three albums are amazng lovely albums full of great stories and beautiful melodies. You need to check Mark Geary live this month!

www.markgeary.com
http://www.myspace.com/markgeary



From the first season of Other Voices Mark is special guest of the adopted Irishman Josh Ritter.



Mark Geary singing with Liam O'Maonlai, Brendan O'Shea and Glen Hansard on a recent tour in Europe.

Something For The Weekend - Dave Couse & The Impossible

A House was one of Ireland's greatest bands of the 1990's and their cd's are still an aurel pleasure in this household. The frontman Dave Couse released an excellent album in 2005 with 'The Impossible' called The World Should Know. The band's website over at

http://www.davecouse.com/forfree.php

.... has a fair few free tracks including what looks like a free EP called Lokomotiv which can be found below:

Beautiful Music

Catalyst

Faith Avenue

Story

Visions of Karla

I absoluely love this version of A House's biggest hit Endless Art performed last year in Vicar Street by Dave Couse, Thomas Walsh of Pugwash, Duke Special and Neil Hannon on The Divine Comedy.

Great Gig 4 St. Paddys Eve

A Lazarus Soul and This Is How It Ends has been added to the bill for Butterfly Explosions headline gig in Whelans 16th March 2009. I won't expect a version of Raglan Road or The Foggy Dew but ya never know!


http://www.myspace.com/thisishowitendsdublin
http://www.myspace.com/butterflyexplosion
http://www.myspace.com/alazarussoul

2 U I Bestow on Internet Radio

Your favourite music blogger has been chosen by Break Thru Radio to become their Blogger of the Week. The week in question is March 9th to the 13th. On March 12th there will be an hour long radio show with tracks chosen by myself and a few clips of me chatting about this blog and the previous blog Mixtape4melfi. So go on over to ....

http://breakthruradio.com/

.... and add the above link to your favourites. Expect to hear tracks from the likes of:

Iron and Wine
The National
Gemma Hayes
Nina Hynes
Bell X1
Bill Coleman and many many more.....

Terry Sutton on YouTube

Terry was special guest of Damien Rice at his birthday gig on 7th December 2002 in the Olympia in Dublin. The bootleg is online somewhere with this description:

"Damien's infamous birthday gig, the first of a 3 night slot with the full band in the Olympia. Guest appearances by Terry Sutton & Declan O'Rourke. For those who weren't present, Damien consumes an entire bottle of wine during Cheers Darlin' - The collective gasp of the audience results from Damien throwing his birthday cake in Lisa's face at the climax of the song. There then follows a pretty drunken unplugged ensemble rendition of Heaven Belongs To You, featuring Lisa on lead vocal, Damien on ukelele, Vyvienne on Cello and the backing singers of Tomo, Shane, Terry, Declan and Kathryn Williams and her band (the support act)."

http://www.purevolume.com/terrysutton

In Motion Re-issued

When I write this blog I always get a sense of nationalistic pride especially when I write about great bands. I feel that now because I'm encouraging you go and get a lost album by one of the best Irish bands in the early 90s. The Indiecater gang bring us In Motion's 1994 The Language of Everything as a digital release for just €4. All proceeds from the sales are going to the charity Aware. So two excellent reasons to go get the album, for your aurel pleasure and to help a charity.

http://www.indiecater.com/

In Motion - Hollow Blow

In the early 90's In Motion were in the middle of a great indie scene in Ireland. Bands like Mexican Pets, Pet Lamb, Sunbear and Rollarskate Skinny to name a few!

Mexican Pets - Stigmata Errata





Sunbear - Sleepy Feeling

Delorentos do a Juniper!

I hate being the 20th Irish music blogger to pass on the news that Delorentos are calling it a day when they release their second album! Delorentos have been one of Ireland's most successful bands in recent years and released a great debut "In Love With Detail" in 2007. The following was press info released by the band:

"It's with a very heavy heart that we have to let you know that Ronan has decided to leave the band. He feels its best for him to move on and do other things. The three of us will still be making music and will let you know about what happens next.
As our songs always came from the four of us playing together we've also decided that it wouldn't feel right to continue "delorentos" without him.

We're all very proud of the songs we've written over the last year, we feel they're some of the best we've ever done, and as a result we're determined not to discard them or let them go.

Next month, the four of us are going to record this album together and plan on making it something we'll all be proud of. It'll be our last collection of songs as delorentos, and we hope you'll like them.

We want to thank everyone that's supported us since we started, we'd never have gotten this far without you. We hope to play a gig or two to say goodbye.
We'll be in touch soon with more details.

Ross, Niall and Kieran and Ro."

Maybe Delorentos will do a Juniper and become the new Damien Rice and Bell X1! Got to see a positive in the basis of everything!



Here is the apt lyrics for the Delorentos song 'Do You Realise'

I came to you the other day, to try and find out
You wouldn't listen but you always have something to say
A winning smile with airs and grace can help you ride out the stormy seas
You tease you always have something to say

Do you realise all you've done is cause a rift between us,
A rift between your heart and mine

You tread a line most wouldn't dare, and then you leave
But it's not over, no you've always got a game to play
And I can't stop you because I don't want to
It's much easier to turn and look the other way

Do you realise all you've done is cause a rift between us,
A rift between your heart and mine

Go here to their excellent Hangover Mixtape on the Egocentric blog!

Ruby Tuesday - Kiernan McMullan

I'm really excited about this week's Ruby Tuesday artist Kiernan McMullan. Hong Kong born Kiernan who grew up in Limerick is now making friends all over America plugging the debut album Perfect People Are Boring. In 2007 he released his first official single in Ireland called “Borderline” which went to number 3 on the Irish download charts and earned him spots on major radio stations all over the country as well as supports with the likes of Cathy Davey, The Blizzards, David Geraghty, The Coronas, and Delorentos.

In late 2007 Kiernan stepped into the studio with his band to work on a new full length record. They went to Grouse Lodge Studios which has seen the likes of REM, Muse, Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, and Paolo Nutini, record there. Keirnan's in not a typical singer songwriter. It sounds like Kiernan has been heavily influenced by the likes of Dave Matthews, Ben Harper and John Mayer which produces a John Butler trio sound. Kiernan is one of many irish artists at this year's SXSW in Austin, Texas.

Kiernan’s debut on One Eleven Records is available now on iTunes.

Little White Lie [recorded for PW Radio]

http://www.kiernanmcmullan.com/
http://www.myspace.com/kiernanm


There is nothing better than listening to live music. While I was writing this I listened to the following full solo concert of Keirnan here:

Free TV Show from Ustream

SXSW invasion by the Irish!

The Irish arrive in force to the SXSW festival during St Patrick's week in March. At present the following Irish bands are scheduled to appear:

Wallis Bird
The Urges
Sickboy
The Brothers Movement
Kiernan McMullan
Lisa Hannigan
The Mighty Stef
The Guggenheim Grotto
Fight Like Apes
Republic of Loose
Dirty Epics
One Day International
Beat Poets
Skibunny
Fighting With Wire
General Fiasco
In Case of Fire

Monday Under The Covers - I Love Don McLean

About ten years ago I went through a Don McLean phase and the man is a musical legend. His famous line "Day That Music Died" was in the news alot last week for the 50th anniversary of Buddy Holly's death. I found a version of 'And I Love You So' on Pauline Scanlon's website which fits into the whole loved up Valentine's hangover!

Pauline Scanlon - And I Love You So

And I love you so.
The people ask me how,
How I've lived till now.
I tell them I don't know.

I guess they understand
How lonely life has been.
But life began again
The day you took my hand.

And, yes, I know how lonely life can be.
The shadows follow me, and the night won't set me free.
But I don't let the evening get me down
Now that you're around me.

And you love me, too.
Your thoughts are just for me;
You set my spirit free.
I'm happy that you do.

The book of life is brief
And once a page is read,
All but love is dead.
That is my belief.

And, yes, I know how loveless life can be.
The shadows follow me, and the night won't set me free.
But I don't let the evening bring me down
Now that you're around me.

And I love you so.
The people ask me how,
How I've lived till now.
I tell them, "i don't know."

http://www.paulinescanlon.com/

Here is Pauline Scanlon singing with Damien Dempsey on the song The West's Awake.

Sunday's Seven Degrees of Gratitude

I had a text conversation with a close friend yesterday where he stated he was busy with the whole Valentine's thing and his quest to show his girlfriend how special she is to him. It got me thinking about the value of the Hallmark sponcered holiday of Love. All I hope for is that this day encourages folks out there to become people of love and make the principles of Valentine's their objective for life.

The Fat Lady Sings - World Exploding Touch MySpace

Armoured Bear - Dance With Me MySpace

Steafan Hanvey - Love's A Decision MySpace

Sinead Lohan - You're In My Love MySpace

Thomas Kitt - Run Away With Me MySpace

Autumn Owls - Love Is Just A Place MySpace

Alphastates - Kiss Me MySpace

If you like what you hear make sure you support the artists in whatever loving way you can!

Free Damien Rice Track in The Independant Newspaper

Readers of The Independent On Sunday will receive an exclusive War Child CD collection for free with every copy of the newspaper which includes Damien Rice's Cross Eyed Bear. The exclusive 'From Help to Heroes’ compilations will feature a selection of brand new tracks from the upcoming War Child album 'Heroes’, ahead of its hotly anticipated release on 16 February.

01. Estelle – Superstition
02. Hard-Fi – Help Me Please
03. Massive Attack – Fake The Aroma
04. Faithless & Dido – Dub Be Good To Me
05. Orbital – Adnans
06. Magic Numbers – Gone Are These Days
07. Starsailor – All Or Nothing
08. Manic Street Preachers – Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
09. Damien Rice – Cross Eyed Bear
10. One World Orchestra – The Magnificent

UrMusic.com Launch Night Tonight

UrMusic.com is having their launch night tonight which should become an important online resource for the music industry. Based in Belfast the site will be aiming to take the best of MySpace, YouTube and Last and blend them together to become the best online resource for all bands.

http://www.urmuzic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/urmuzicnow

urMUZIC Launch Promo

Irish Bands on YouTube - Ruby Sessions

I do love the Ruby Sessions night on a Tuesday evening in the cosy venue of Doyles in the middle of Dublin. The problem is being a father, the chances of getting out on a Tuesday night is slim but when I go, I absolutely love it! I have seen Duke Special, Katell Keineg, Terry Sutton, Ann Scott, Bill Coleman, Jenny Lindfors, Aortal and The Bottom Floor Band. The €6 cover charge goes straight to The Simon Community. Here are some performances from The Ruby Sessions!

Una Healy - Sorry



Ray Heffernan - Stardust



Royseven - ATM

One For The Road Records

There is now a pleasant good news rumour that Road Records has been saved and will continue in some shape to aid the Irish music scene. Apparently people are financing a possible re-branding of the company in the hope of making a profit in the future. Andrews Lane Theatre is the place to be on Saturday 14th March for the wonderful line-up of Jape, The Jimmy Cake, Andrian Crowley and Colm Mac Con Iomaire. Tickets are just €20! http://www.tickets.ie

Something For The Weekend - Butterfly Explosion

Friday's feature has me looking around the internet trying to find the best of free music on the net. This week I want to bring to your attention Butterfly Explosion. The indie band were making seismic waves both here and abroad around 2006/07 for their shoegazing style of melodic tunes. Their influences included Slowdive, dEUS and My Bloody Valentine. They have been recently ressurected and ready for Whelans on St Patrick's Eve in the main venue. Should be an amazing night! Sophie comes from their 2006 EP Turn The Sky.

Sophia

From 2005's Vision EP

Comfort of the Dark
Vision

http://www.myspace.com/butterflyexplosion

Music News Round-up

Lots of news for ya now.....


Heritage Centre are a good band on their way to being an excellent band who have set up a big Friday gig in Whelans to launch their EP. Go and give your support...

http://www.myspace.com/heritagecentre

15 Feb 2009 20:00 i105-107 Fm Radio Session Westmeath
19 Feb 2009 1:15 Phantom 105.2 Fm Radio Session Dublin 1, Dublin
20 Feb 2009 20:00 WHELANS EP Launch of The City The Tree and The Fox Dublin
26 Feb 2009 20:00 Dolans Limerick
5 Mar 2009 20:00 The Spirit Store Dundalk, Louth
6 Mar 2009 17:00 Tower Records In-Store Dublin
12 Mar 2009 20:00 Eclectic Picnic @ Limerick Art College Limerick, Limerick
13 Mar 2009 20:00 Gleesons Clonmel, Tipperary
28 Mar 2009 20:00 Bar Ritz Castlebar
4 Apr 2009 20:00 Lethean Bar Portlaoise, Laois
28 Apr 2009 20:00 NUI Galway Nutbush City Limits, Galway





Foy Vance is taking time off recording album number two and album number three [with David Holmes] to play a Mayday gig in Dublin. I think I'll pop along to this gig. I seen Foy support Joseph Arthur in Whelans a few years back and he was outstanding. He blew me away with his cover of Crosstown Traffic. Also on March 14th he is playing in New York with the Fairplay Collecive in the Mercury Lounge. The Fairplay Collective are Mark Dignam, Jenna Nichols, Michael Brunnock and Brendan O'Shea. The Dublin date in the Academy2 is fully-seated, with tickets on sale today and priced €17.

http://www.myspace.com/foyvance
http://www.myspace.com/fairplaycollective





From 10pm tonight I'll be listening to the best of Irish music playing an intimate gig in Whelans for loved up couples on Today FM. One Day International, Ann Scott and Duke Special will be performing the invite only show live on Alison Curtis' show and can be found .....

Alison Curtis

Mark Dignam Whelans 8th Feb Review

Mark Dignam & Very Special Guests Whelans 8th Feb 2009

Mark Dignam's friends Glen Hansard of The Swell Season and Liam O'Maonlai from The Hothouse Flowers were the special guests for Mark's first headline gig at home in about 6 years. Glen arrived on stage, checked the guitar amp which wasn't working, then sat at the front on the stage about 4 feet from me and sang completely acoustically. It was amazing to be so near to such a talent and Oscar winner! The short set included Leave, Plateau, Finally, Revelate and Raglan Road. The atmosphere was so pleasant especially after Glen asked for the music level in the bar to be lowered. Liam O'Maonlai gave a special guest four song set showcasing his amazing range of musical talent. He sang in the old Irish Séan Nós style, played a traditional Mali hand instrument as well as playing a contemporary song. Liam took his seat next to Glen at the front of the stage and after a few minutes got the sizable crowd to call for Mark to appear.



When Mark Dignam arrived on stage he introduced Cellist Kim Porcelli who accompanied him on many songs during the night. Mark's set was mainly taken from his last album Box Heart Man and the new album which he is in the process of completing. The second song was introduced by Mark as being about great sex but got a bit embarrassed when it dawned on him that his mother and sister where in the audience. When the song finished Glen asked if he could play that song about 'riding' again? Mark's main set consisted of the songs Divine, Build, Hope, Jane and Deceiver.



The special guests joined Mark and Kim for the encore of Mark's song Stormy Summer, Bob Dylan's Forever Young and The Waterboys Fisherman's Blues. The second encore was John Martyn's Over The Hill which then morphed into New England.



I have often complained about the renovation of Whelan's which I believed ruined the snug atmosphere of the place. Mark's gig totally disproved that theory with a heartfelt performance of humble folk music. I can best describe a Mark Dignam gig as food for the soul that gives weeks and months of nourishment.

I AM Not Lefthanded Competition

Not so much a competition as a giveaway as seen over there --->>>> I am giving away three sets of guest list passes for any of their three Irish gigs. Just get in touch with me if ya wanna see this new exciting band live! Leave a comment, send an email or get in touch with me on MySpace!

20 Feb 2009 The Pavilion - Audio Ill BELFAST, Northern Ireland
21 Feb 2009 Sky Venue PORTLAOISE, Laois
23 Feb 2009 Whelans [upstairs] w/ Vitruvius & Kitty and the Can Openers DUBLIN, Dublin

Ruby Tuesday - Carosel

Carosel are a folky pop duo who make decent uplifting music. Think along the lines of Tara Blaise, The Corrs or maybe an Irish Feist! Carosel release their debut album Kaleidoscope on February 27th on Reekus. Kaleidoscope is a contemporary blend of pop/folk with a touch of jazz, bossa nova and flamenco rhythms, layered with infectious catchy melodies. The opening track, ‘Easy as it Flows’ has already made the soundtrack of hit Canadian television series ‘The Best Years’.



10 Feb 2009 20:00 The Ruby Sessions Dublin 2
14 Feb 2009 20:30 Nighthawks at the cobalt Dublin
19 Feb 2009 20:00 KFM Radio Kildare
26 Feb 2009 20:00 ALBUM LAUNCH GIG - WHELANS Dublin 2
15 Mar 2009 19:30 Dublin City Fm - Radio Session Dublin
20 Mar 2009 20:00 The Purty Loft Dublin
26 Mar 2009 20:00 The Stables Westmeath



http://www.myspace.com/caroselmusic
http://www.youtube.com/caroseltv

Monday Under The Covers - Pt 2: Call Me Juno Falls

Do you remember that cool video for Paul Simon's You Can Call Me Al with the brilliant Chevy Chase? I love this song and posted a version of it on the old Mixtape4melfi blog by Noah & The Whales. This live version is by the brilliant Juno Falls who are busy recording the second album with a view to a release date before the end of the year! So enjoy the amazing harmonies:

Juno Falls - Call Me Al

http://www.myspace.com/junofalls

http://www.junofalls.net/

http://www.last.fm/music/Juno+Falls

Monday Under The Covers - Pt 1: Forever Young

Part 1 of this weeks Monday Under The Covers feature is the beautiful Bob Dylan tune Forever Young. Up until a couple of weeks about I was ignorant of the song's existance but it has recently come to mean so much to me. Forever Young was the closing song to the The Swell Season Charity gig last Thursday night and was sung last night with Mark Dignam and guests is an awesome gig at Whelans! More to follow on that gig in future posts. Here is Sharon Shannon performing the song with Mike Scott of The Waterboys. Sharon Shannon is being honoured on St Patricks Day with a Lifetime Achievement award at this year's Meteors.

Sunday's Seven Degrees of Spring

The challenge for Ireland and many millions around the world is to sharpen our senses and focus in on the wonder of this world. Spring arrives amid massive emotions of depression, embarassment, shame, sadness, pain, darkness etc ....

Favourite Sons - The Tall Grass MySpace

Wallis Bird - Blossoms in the Street MySpace

Jeff Martin - The Promise MySpace

Shaz Oye - The River Wild MySpace

Barry McCormick - After This Low MySpace

Foy Vance - Shed A Little Light MySpace

The Very Most - April Is The Kindest Month MySpace

..... maybe this recession will makes us see beauty and inspiration in our world.

Irish Bands on YouTube - The Swell Season & Friends

Any regular reader of this blog would see I'm a massive fan of all things Glen and Mark Dignam. I knew that The Swell Season charity gig would be special, but it was so much much more important for those in attendance. It almost felt like a mini cultural uprising. Not a revolution but the seeds of a badly needed cultural revolution in these parts. Not only are Glen and Mark planting seeds but we have Sean [Dr.] Millar playing gigs and planning releases, the Ruby Sessions back in full swing and with the recent gigs by Terry Sutton the cultural outlook for Irish music has massive potential.

Onto the gig...... I sent Ronan from Swear I'm Not Paul the set list which can be found here The gig had everything from wonderful special guests to great covers to weird and wonderful instruments to laughter and smiles! I managed to get a good vantage point and took some decent clips!

The gig kicked off with Glen & Mar doing a brilliant version of Buzzin' Fly by Tim Buckley with a couple of lines from the song Grace by Jeff Buckley. Glen then introduced the first of the special guests Carly Sings. Carly was followed by two singers who I didn't catch the name of.... [if you know can you add to comments?]. Next up was Mark Dignam singing two songs from his new album out in late spring. The second song was called Stormy Summer:



Joe and Steve Wall from The Stunning arrived onstage next to play two tunes from their next album and it was my first time seeing them play live. I was massively impressed with them. Here is a minute from the song Stop the Lights.



Between The Walls and The Swell Season we had the amazing Liam O'Maonlai perform four amazing songs ranging from the Hothouse Flowers to traditional Irish to ancient Aborigine folk song using what looked like an empty industrial gherkin can. [All employers of Burger King know what I'm talking about!] He was followed by Sinead Hansard the niece of Glen singing on stage for the first songs by Snow Patrol and Leona Lewis. Next up was Paul Noonan who sang Bell X1's new single The Great Defector and Rocky Took A Lover!



In December when we seen The Swell Season in the Olympia I was urging them to play some Frames tunes and I was wondering if I'd ever hear early Frames tunes live again. The best thing about the gig was the amazing set of tunes the band played. They included tunes from the movie Once, non album tracks, new tracks and amazing covers.



One of the new songs is the Marketa sung I Have Loved You Wrong which shows the bands future remains bright despite the end of the Glen & Mar love story! Also the band has an online venture of selling concert recordings using http://www.playedlastnight.com/ and a number of months ago the site allowed me post a sample mp3 from a show in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. I chose a great tune called Low Rising:





I was mostly pleased with hearing old Frames classic tunes such as Star Star, Lay Me Down, Fitzcaraldo and Seven Day Mile. I read an opinion once that Seven Day Mile should have done for Glen what Fallin' Slowly eventually did and shoot the band to the heights of international recognition. I can't help but get emotional at the line "hold your head up" and Colm's violin makes the hair on your neck stand!



The highlights of the show were the full band sessions with the special guests. The Walls performed their hit To The Bright & Shining Sun, Paul Noonan performed I Fought The Law and there was another new Mark Dignam tune sung with The Swell Season. However it was Heyday sung before the encore which was special. The next clip is found on http://www.youtube.com/user/deekster2



Update I found a better clip....

Something For The Weekend - Emmet Scanlan

Emmet Scanlan & What the Good Thought are an Independent music act whose music veers away from the usual yet is embraced by the majority of those who hear it. The sound is the closest I've heard to an Irish version of the John Butler Trio.

Emmet formed the group 'Emmet Scanlan & What the Good Thought' in the Summer of 2004. With a head full of song ideas upon returning from a bit globe trekking, Emmet decided to set up camp in Galway and gather a band to showcase some of these ideas.

It was across the bar counter of Galways Tig Neactain that Emmet gathered his diverse line-up. He was and still is working there and the folk that are now make up 'What the Good Thought' frequented the spot from time to time. The band are all from different countries and the instrumentation is a tad unusual, but it seems to do the trick. They are as follows

Emmet Scanlan - Guitar/Vocals (Ireland)
Alan Preims - Percussion (Italy)
Peter Akerstrom - Classical Guitar/ Bass (Sweden)
Nicola Geddes - Cello (Scotland)

The upcoming single “Under The weather” is available from all good online digital sites and is released on Feb 6th. With an Album release date set for March 6th, 2009 begins with the band embarking on a full nationwide tour, visiting radio stations around the country for live sessions and also set off for the States to perform at this year’s American Folk Alliance festival. The following songs can be found on the official website:


Helicopter

Superstar Flowers

http://www.myspace.com/emmetscanlan

http://www.emmetscanlan.com/



Tour dates:
March 6th - Crawdaddy (Album Launch) 10 euro doors at 8pm March 7th - Roisin Dubh 10 euro/7.50 members doors at 8.30pm
March 8th - The Roundy, Cork 10 euro Doors at 8.30pm
March 10th - SU sessions, NUI, Galway Free 7pm
March 12th - The Yukon(Stables), Mullingar Free 9pm
March 13th - Whispers, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick 10 euro 10pm

Global Warming?

Apparently so......... according to the un-inaugerated 43rd President of the US Al Gore, the extra tasty cold snap might be a result of fresh glacial run-off water from Greenland into the Atlantic which is causing the warm conveyor belt of currents to weaken! It gives us something to take our mind off Brian Cowen!

Any old excuse to watch a great video from the amazing singer from The Prayer Boat Emmett Tinley.

Snow Dome

Charity Gigs Galore Update

Tomorrow night kicks off a season of Charity Gigs in the Capital. In light of the recession this may well be the best way to see your favourite bands in the future. Lets face it, going to a great gig is much better than signing up to a direct debit for life! Fair play to the bands taking part!

Thursday 5th Feb: The Swell Season, Paul Noonan, Carly Sings, Liam Ó Maonlaí and Mark Dignam!

Jack L, Munday and The Waterboys have been added to the following gigs for Gaza!



Ham Sandwich and The Kinetics have been added to the following gig!



Expect a rendition of Knocking On Heavens Door by Ham Sandwich!

Congrates to my Fellow Music Bloggers!

Best Music Blog - Sponsored by DownloadMusic.ie

Asleep on the Compost Heap
Nialler9
On the Record
The Torture Garden
Drop D
Indiehour
Kilkenny Music
Guess List
Unreality TV
frmckenzie
theredscrapbook
mp3hugger
Those Geese
Analogue Magazine
Off Her Rocker
State Blog
Swear I’m Not Paul
Unarocks
Stuart Bailie
Musical Rooms
Nick Thinks

Now after you check out all these great blogs go over to indicater records for the first installment of The Very Most seasonal EP for just €2.50. The Very Most are from Idaho but anything released on an Irish label is good enough for this blog. I'll have a sample mp3 from the band on the blog real soon or go to http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com/ who has the mp3 on the blog.



Incidentally, Number 1 in the Downloadmusic.ie chart at the moment is the brilliant talent of Padraig Rushe who might just be huge!

Padraig Rushe - Gonna Be A Change

New Tour clips of Damien Rice!

I spent the whole of last weekend looking on YouTube for new Damien Rice clips from his recent solo tour of South America. From the looks of things he is having a great time and really engaging with the audience!

Damien Rice 9 Crimes & Volcano including audience participation!



Sand



Childish

Ruby Tuesday - The Kybosh

This is a Mixtape4Melfi repost!


Last Thursday, Dublin band The Kybosh released their debut seven track mini album entitled Until We Are Lost. The band state that they are influenced by Dante's The Divine Comedy and the drawings of Gustave Doré. I have three songs here linked from their website offering a taster of the album. I think The Kybosh have massive potential but they need something to distinguish themselves from the run of the mill rock bands out there.

The Kybosh - Out Of The Shadows, Into The Sun

The Kybosh - Decent

The Kybosh - Until We Are Lost

MySpace
Website

The Kybosh - Rubicon

Doctor Millar is Back

I'm loving Ireland at the moment. Yes I know people are losing their jobs, negative equity is real and despair is everywhere but if it means the return to the live scene of one Doctor [Sean] Millar then bring it on!

Taken from Sean's MySpace bulletin:

"hi
after a break of three years i'll be performing live in:
bewleys cafe theatre,grafton st, dublin
on:
wed 11 th and wed the 18th of febuary

this does not mean a return to full time performing and i'm not sure if i can play again this year.

i have a new album ready to go (ish) and the first five tracks will be available to buy on the night,in tape cassette form - yep thats what i said "tape cassette form".

they will also (very soon) be available as pay for download.

on the night my band will be:
dj sam kay,decks ,guitars vox
daragh o toole guitars, vox, niceness
gerrard farrely cello,drums,keyboards
dj cf meister programming ,samples,vox,percussion

there will be gracious guest appearances by the lovely miriam ingram and the wonderful neil watkins both of whom will be performing my songs

if you havent been to bewleys cafe theatre recently,
i can recommend it. the atmosphere is perfect for my material.

they sell beer and wine, tea ,coffee and soft drinks

I should also mention that as it's a theatre license younger people can attend

i'd love to see you there
i'd love to play you my new songs

the show starts at 8 30
first set is mainly newer stuff second is mainly old stuff,
and yes i will be performing st stephen and happy can be

yours in music
sean millar ,songwriter"

http://www.myspace.com/doctormillar
http://www.doctormillar.com

For anyone unsure of who the Dr is, go and explore his sites above..... but he was the bank manager in Once!

Monday Under The Covers - John Martyn R.I.P.

I was a massive John Martyn fan and I regret that I never got to see the man live. He wrote some of the best folk music ever produced and should be remembered as a legend. Here he is with Ireland's Paul Brady singing a song my another of my favourite artists Ben Harper in 1998.

Excuse Me Mister

Whelans Listing

MON 02 FEB
Audio - NEW
+ Royseven
FREE
www.myspace.com/audiotheband

WED 04 FEB
I Draw Slow
€10
http://www.myspace.com/idrawslow
LATE BAR WITH DJ ALASTAIR FOLEY

THUR 05 FEB
Murmur + Richter Collective presents
This Town Needs Guns
+ Adebisi Shank & And I Watch You From A Far
€10
www.thistownneedsguns.com/
LATE BAR WITH SPECIAL GUEST DJ

SUN 08 FEB
Mark Dignam
€15
Mark Dignam is an Irish born, US based songwriter who began as a busker on the streets of Dublin. Dignam’s songs are always intelligent and insightful, balanced with an infectious sing-along quality and that irresistible Irish wit... His sound draws comparisons to Van Morrison, Dylan, Elvis Costello, Billy Bragg, and Sun Volt.
www.myspace.com/markdignam
LATE BAR


FRI 13 FEB
Doris
€10
Dublin band Doris has just finished recording their debut album The Working Title which will be released in early 2009. Since they began in 2005 they have had two top 30 singles, including Will I Ever Learn. With a growing fanbase and their debut album due for release, 2009 looks bright for the Doris lads.
www.myspace.com/dorismusic
LATE BAR WITH DJ KOOL DROOL

SUN 15 FEB
Love Life - NEW
Fundraiser for Jenny
Featuring Hal, Mircea Petcu & many more
€26.50
Expect some renowned Irish musicians and some very special guest as part of a cancer fundraiser for Jenny Brady. Expect high profile Irish trad/folk artists to be named closer to the date, see listings. Come and support a very worthy cause which will also include a Burlesque act & a raffle!
www.whelanslive.com
LATE BAR


This Jan/Feb Upstairs @ Whelan's presents:

Mon 02 Crystal Antlers
Fri 06 Ponyclub
Sat 07 Scott H. Biram
Sun 08 AM O’Grady
Tue 10 Matt Taylor
Wed 11 Wavves
Thu 12 The Alison Curtis Show Valentine’s Day Special
Fri 13 Ponyclub
Sat 14 Robotnik
Sun 15 Buddy Mondlock



********************************************************************

COMING SOON:
WHELANS MAIN VENUE:
25-Feb Le Galaxie
26-Feb The Headline Agency presents Luka Bloom
05-Mar Aiken presents Mark Geary
11-Mar Foggy Notions presents Ponytail, Adebisi Shank & Jogging
13-Mar Halfset + Adrian Crowley
16-Mar Club AC30 presents Butterfly Explosion
20-Mar Crayonsmith + Giveamanakick
28-Mar Aiken presents Fred
03-Apr Independent Records presents One Day International & The Hedge Schools
18-Apr Foggy Notions presents David Kitt + Somadrone
23-Apr Aiken presents Mundy
24-Apr Aiken presents Mundy
25-Apr Aiken presents Grainne Duffy

Hal - I Sat Down



Royseven - Crash

Sunday's Seven Degrees of Girls

This post is partly inspired by a mixture of good news for the Irish Music scene. Angel Pier's gig was great fun last night. There's the news that the reformed Butterfly Explosion is back and as good as ever. It also looks like Codes had a ball supporting Keane in the O2.

Butterfly Explosion - Sophia MySpace

Kerbdog - Sally MySpace

Q [Colm Quearney] - Carol MySpace

Angel Pier - Emily MySpace

Codes - Edith ySpace

Gary Dunne - Jennifer MySpace

Eleanor McEvoy - Sophie MySpace

Remember to support the artists by checking out their MySpace, attending gigs and buying their music!