I was definitely there.
Big September were definitely there.
Key West were there.
Delorentos were there too, (I think).
Walking on Cars were there, probably.
I'm told that the Rubberbandits made an appearance.
....................great gig, I assume.
Even the gig freaks among us go a bit mad at Christmastime.
After 15 years, 4 albums, numerous members and many good times; Fred the band have decided to call it a day. The decision was accompanied not by grief, but by a celebration of life. A 'fun'eral. A number of testimonials were held around the country; Dublin, Galway, Clonakilty and Cork City amongst them.
The Last Hoorah, as it was known, was a resounding success for the resigning band. I attended the second-last hoorah, December 27th (it has taken me so long to write this blog due to the cocktail of inebriation and poisonous hangover that is Christmastime) in the Pav, Cork. An early show, scheduled purely to accommodate the fan-girling, pathetic fans desperate to see the band perform one last time.
Songs were dragged up from repertoire lists long forgotten, albums of old and tunes of late. Band members down through the ages were summoned to the stage, and the nostalgia was roaring. The gig finished with all attributes of Fred on the stage (spilling over the edges) and the crowd, chanting 'Two Million People Can't Be Wrong'; a momentous moment.
It's hard to believe this Corkonian band that we're all so proud of have packed it in, for once and for all. All the same, a (reassuring) voice in my head says that this won't be the last of Fred the band.......
Little Green Cars are an indie rock band from (our very own) Dublin. Following the release of their first and ragingly successful album 'Absolute Zero' in 2013, they seem to be selling out pretty much every Irish date they announce.
With support from Gypsies on the Autobahn, who- despite the dodgey Dodgey DODGEY haircuts- had all elements required to make a decent alternative indie band. Perhaps dodgey haircuts are also included in those set requirements. They're a mishmash between Villagers and Two Door Cinema Club, and yano what else? I kinda like 'um.
Little Green Cars graced the stage not long after. Their music is totally diverse, fronted by Faye O'Rourke and Stevie Appleby. Songs alternate between leading man and woman, but quality certainly doesn't vary. With magical diversity accompanying each tune, I could have listened to their set for hours. Five part harmonies accompanied each melody, with personality shining through each member of the band. There was a tangible friendship in the group, which made their performance all the more mesmerizing.
They gave me goosebumps.
With this leg of the tour finished, they have already announced dates across Ireland in March. It's not too late to add another pair of tickets to your Santa list, is it?
Hotpress magazine hosted their Cork contribution of the annual Jagermeister Freezer sessions in Crane Lane, Thursday 28th November. The sessions take place in various venues around Ireland and showcase only the best of what our beautiful nation has to offer. I was shnakey enough to apply for tickets and, as luck would have it, was given a pair. The Freezer Sessions are yet to hit Dublin, Limerick or Waterford- so it's not too late for you to apply for yours. With acts like The Hot Sprockets, The Riptide Movement and O Emperor- I really can't see why you would want to miss out.
The line-up in Cork consisted of some real gems. Raglans (my new favourite band), Leaders of Men and the INFAMOUS Hot Sprockets.
(Crane Lane is one of those venues where the phrase "likeminded people" is used frighteningly often, and the Freezer Session was no exception. If you are unfamiliar with this terminology, you've obviously never strayed far enough from the mainstream to encounter these feral "likeminded people". Don't fret, they're all the same anyway.)
The Raglans are an up-and-coming indie band consisting of Stephan Kelly, Rhos Horan, Conn O'Runaidh and Sean O'Brien. Words just don't do them justice....
My money is on these guys.
Next up were Leaders of Men, described as the Irish answer to Kings of Leon stroke Stereophonics. I wasn't overly impressed, but still, I can see LOM going far in the Irish rock scene. Nothing on the Raglans though. And, alas, frontman Brian Ashe has a really distracting blinking-thing going on, that, unfortunately, makes their performance look like its inflicting horrific pain upon him.
Last on stage were the headlining Hot Sprockets. The HS's are on everyone lips at the moment. They seem to have an attribute of some kind that grants eternal popularity upon you if you publicly admire them. Five friends from Dublin; Wayne Soper, Timmy Cullen, Joey Lynch, Frankie Kelly and Andy Sutton; that are forever going to shake it down and do-see-do in the ripe old days of Rock'n'Roll. Their rocking blues put me right into festival spirit, and I can't wait to catch them live again over the summer.
As one would expect, Hotpress selected only the best Irish acts for this marvelous showcase of Irish musical elitism- 'coz let's be honest, we are elite- and they certainly didn't disappoint.
'Bombay Bicycle Club', an indie chat up line, almost.
But don't let the cardiganed, tophatted, Bleach(with a capital B)haired fans turn you off. That crowd generally tend to know what they're at.
BBC are an English indie/alternative/hipster(we were all thinking it) band based in London.The band is composed of Jack Steadman, Jamie MacColl, Suren de Saram and Ed Nash.
On November 21st, 2013, the INEC hosted Bombay Bicycle Club, with support act Soak, as a part of their 'Acoustic Club' initiative. The 'Club' is laid out with candlelit round tables, surrounded by chairs that all (awkwardly) face the same direction. It creates a cosy, intimate atmosphere; but disallows raucous displays of enjoyment. And makes the evening most unpleasant for poor Johnny-No-Mates that only ever wanted to blend in.
Soak, the supporting act, while not my cup of tea entirely, filled the room with harmonious, soft melodies that had us sipping our Coronas with raised pinkies. Her distinctive voice, tangible emotions, creative lyrics and soothing guitar accompaniment simply COULD NOT distract me from the fact that she is just merely SEVENTEEN- and has more than likely already achieved more than you or I ever will. Yes; that means you.
Not that I don't support those that overachieve wholeheartedly but.... Well. Who does?
Bombay Bicycle Club graced the stage not long after. Between the four band members and their novelty lady for the evening, their equipment, instruments and dodgey dancemoves; the majority of the performance was spent just nearly spilling over the edges. Their setlist was wonderfully varied, with hints of new material, right up to their classic hits, and songs from their acoustic album 'Flaws'. I've never seen such diversity in a band- they could go from headbanging drum solos and heavy guitar riffs to indie scha-waps and synth loops- with no friction or resistance. It just worked. With up to three drummers and up to four guitarists playing at any one time, you can't deny that these guys are courageous. It seemed that is no end to their comfort zone; a quality that I, as a regular 'connoisseur' of live music, really appreciate.
They effervesced enthusiasm, and their energy was catching. They brought so much fun to the stage that it would have been difficult not to enjoy it.
Apart from Johnny-No-Mates, who had to endure the entire gig sitting at an unused table surrounded by empty chairs. Poor guy.
The last performance of his intimate, selective tour of Ireland, Glen Hansard played in Cyprus Avenue, on October 28th; neatly coinciding with the final day of the Cork Jazz. (for more info on the Cork Jazz read my review of Hermitage Green.)
Glen Hansard is one of those artists who has gigs in small venues with limited ticket numbers; and it's left to the hardcore fans to fight to the death in a Hunger Games scenario for said tickets.
What can I say, the odds are ever in my favour.
Lisa O'Neill, the absolute legend, had the room packed, hanging on her every word; a quality rarely found in supporting acts. Her tangy, sean nos voice and quirky lyrics had me hooked the second she opened her mouth. As Glen Hansard himself put it; it's a rare thing these days when new music makes you stop in your tracks- and that's pretty much what Lisa O'Neill is all about.
Glen Hansard's set list was smattered with all things good; from his newest albums to the oldest, and from songs taken from the Once soundtrack to The Frames' back catalogue. He chatted with (with, not to) the crowd- and even pulled up a friend to tell a couple of stories. The evening was spent with as much emphasis on the music itself, as upon sharing background and context to each melody, imparting wisdom that touched the heart.
"This is a song about having a friend, and they...well, this is a song about having a friend fuck off on you. And...yeah, that's really it."
"It seems to sound like I lie to people that I love a lot. I don't. I just...tend to tell the truth about things that never happened."
"When you share a day that's so fantastic with someone who's side you never want to leave, and then realise that you love her, and that maybe you should have told her that you have a girlfriend."
His good humoured performance was interrupted briefly by moments of genuine sadness; raw emotion that was so sincere that it was frightening to stand so close to. "Lamb to the Slaughter", as the name suggests, is a pretty goddamn grim tune- and it was played on the ukelele, which kind of made it even more eerie. The crowd stood in uncomfortable silence, when he proudly announced: 'A friend of mine bet me that I couldn't write a sad song on the ukelele. I fuckin' showed him-' and we were laughing again.
When he had finished the set list, it being the final night of the tour, he politely asked the bar staff if it would be okay to play a few more. They kindly agreed, and the hour and a half show somehow morphed into an almost four hour long masterpiece. Lisa O'Neill returned to the stage, and together they played a few Elvis numbers- (we all did the high-pitched schoo-wap bits when appropriate.)
Everybody, from the sound guy, to the lights guy, to 'you, in the pink cardigan', to some guy called Mick that I think drove them around- EVERYBODY was called up for a tune. The crowd was packed like a mine field with explosively talented friends of Glen's. The whole tech team was dragged up on stage for a rendition of The Auld Triangle, a tribute to how feckin' great being Irish is.
They finished up, for the fourth and final time, with 12 people on stage, singing Leonard Cohen's 'Passing Through'. It had been such a personal gig that towards the end, it became simply a session between friends.We left feeling as though we had witnessed something majestic. Hansard surpassed my wildest expectations, and he is number 1 on my 'See Again' list.
Hermitage Green are an unsigned, Limerick bred, Irish acoustic rock band. They certainly have an 'I'll bate ya' look about them, and they probably met in a rugby club's changing room, but still; I reckon they're one to keep an eye on.
The Cork Guiness Jazz Festival, (running this year from October 25th to 28th), prides itself upon bringing as many bands as possible out of the woodwork; and bringing as many people into as many venues as adhereable; all while boycotting any non-Diageo products, including cornflakes and toilet paper.
Personally, I don't give a rat's pajamas about Diageo's ingenius marketing ploys. Here's to Arthur, as far as I'm concerned. And since they're supplying our city with upward of 1000 bands, a lot of which have free entry, albeit once a year, I don't think you should be too hard on the poor aul' billion-dollar-industry either. The dotes.
Since their definition of 'Jazz' is so majestically broad, pretty much everything from opera to heavy metal is shoehorned into the weekend. Who's complaining?
Hermitage Green are a fine example of a band that people are only gagging for an excuse to see. They sold out two performances, both in Cyprus Avenue, within a few hours of each other.
I saw their first gig. But, judging by the size of them, I doubt a couple of hours of performing affected their second show. Have I mentioned how buff these lads are?
Guitar, banjo, djembe, bodhran; the whole nine yards. Stunning harmonies and solid beats- they're kind of like a decent, Irish version of Mumford and Sons. Their cover of Florence & the Machine 'Cosmic Love' brings the bands talents together; a rare mix of sheer brute power, and (well, not 'delicate' but close enough) almost angelic vibes.
If you like an auld Irish power ballad but similarly fancy yourself as a fan of the bongo, then these are the lads for you. I was particularly impressed by Dermot Sheedy, the bodhran-ist. Who knew an Irish frame drum could be made to sound like an ENTIRE drum kit?? While the rest of the band left the stage for their encore; he remained soloing his beaut of a bodhran, wielding huge respect from the crowd.
Hermitage Green do what they say on the tin. A decent band, they'll keep a crowd going, and leave you wanting more. Their album, 'Hermitage Green- Live at Whelans' will be released Friday, November 22nd.
Watch this space.
