Author Archives: Nick Kelly

SOAK – Purgatory

There’s a ghost in my house.

Derry’s indie star Bridie Monds-Watson (top) aka SOAK has collaborated once again with video director Ellius Grace for the latest single from new album If I Never Know You Like This Again, out on Rough Trade on May 20.

SOAK writes:

“‘Purgatory’ is about the weight of time and the perpetual fear of reaching the end of your life, unsatisfied with how you’d spent it. The song came out of a slump phase, I wasn’t really a fan of myself and honestly just felt rather lost.

“In ways that felt like its own purgatory. I was trying to figure out how to make myself feel better, become a ‘better version’ of myself. So I guess whilst this song is about panic, it’s equally about the pursuit of change.”

Nick says: Heaven can wait.

SOAK

Cat Dowling – All That I Can Do

Cat power.

Kilkenny singer Cat Dowling (top) channels her inner PJ Harvey on the fourth single from her album Animals, released on the FIFA label.

Cat writes:

“Love is the greatest we can offer anyone and that includes ourselves.”

The video was shot in Bray, County Wicklow, by Louise Myler with Paddy Jordan as Director of Photography.

Nick says: Feline groovy.

Cat Dowling

This morning.

Via ‘Reclaim Ireland’:

Protect the Irish Peoples right to own their own Home: We oppose the current Bill before the Dail that will remove a citizens private Property Rights.

Protect the Irish Peoples right to Bodily Autonomy: We oppose the new WHO Treaty, this could result in Mandatory Vaccinations in the future.

Protect the Irish Peoples right to Free Speech: We oppose this Government new Hate Crime Bill, we see this as a major threat to our Democracy.

Protect our Neutrality: We oppose this Governments efforts to undermine Ireland’s long Established Neutrality

Protect the Irish Peoples right to live Free: We will seek to review this Government’s so called Climate Action Plan, as we believe it is causing significant hardship to communities around the country.

Fight!

Reclaim Ireland

Roll up.

This morning.

Via RTÉ News:

The Health Service Executive has said it is finalising plans to begin the second booster vaccination programme…

…It said it expects the programme to begin very soon, “in the coming days“.

….Earlier this month, NIAC recommended a second booster (a fourth dose) for everyone over 65 years, to be given generally six months after the last vaccination.

It also recommended a second booster for everyone aged 12 years and older who has a weak immune system,

NIAC is currently looking at what it should recommend in terms of a second booster for other groups.

Covid-19 booster vaccination programme set to start ‘in the coming days’ (RTE)

Meanwhile…

Gulp.

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Anyone?

Yesterday.

Ahead of this weekend’s voting, President Emmanuel Macron and rival Marine Le Pen held an acrimonious telly debate where they clashed over relations with Russia, the Islamic headscarf and the jab.

Via France 24:

The most explosive clash came when Le Pen confirmed she was sticking to her controversial policy of banning the wearing of the Islamic headscarf by women in public, describing it as a “uniform imposed by Islamists”.

Macron responded: “You are going to cause a civil war if you do that. I say this sincerely.”

She also vowed to put an end to “anarchic and massive” immigration into France, claiming it was worsening crime which she said was becoming “unbearable” for people all over the country.

Macron, Le Pen in final poll campaigning rush after bitter debate (France 24)

Meanwhile…

Fight!

France 24

Choice Music Prize nominees Saint Sister

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ News:

The Covid support scheme for the music industry supported 318 artists alongside 817 music industry professionals, according to figures released by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

The Music Stimulus Scheme, worth €1.7m gave 185 artists recording grants, creating employment for 694 musicians, while 56 artists were supported to release new music.

Among the artists receiving funding were Denise Chaila, Saint Sister, Kojaque and Elaine Mai.

A number of recipients went on to be nominated for awards including the Choice Music Prize and the RTÉ Radio One Folk Awards…

In fairness.

185 artists given recording grants under Covid scheme (RTE)

 

Floor Show – Come Home

Shoegazers of the world unite.

Irish dreampop acolytes Floor Show build quite an atmosphere on their recent single.

The band are: Jessi Howell, Sean McGinley, Andrew Kelly and Sean Day.

The press blurb says:

“Come Home layers dreamy guitar and soft vocals over a smooth bass line, creating strong juxtaposition with the song’s darker theme, telling of someone oblivious to their controlling partner’s influence, despite attempts from outside parties to bring attention to this. Ultimately, the ‘Home’ in ‘Come Home’ is somewhere that isn’t a safe place but the protagonist is blind to this.”

Nick says: Home truths.

Floor Show

Daniel Kinahan (left) and Tyson Fury

This afternoon.

Via Irish Mirror:

Fury claims being photographed with Kinahan does not mean he is “a criminal” and he tried to play down his links with him. The Gypsy King said: “A picture doesn’t mean I am a criminal? I can’t control who is in the building. There could be a criminal in this building now. It doesn’t mean I am involved in his criminal activity does it? It’s none of my business. I keep my own business to myself, that’s it.”

Fury also distanced himself from co-promoter Bob Arum’s admission that he paid Kinahan for some of his last fights. Arum, who is not in London this week because he has coronavirus, jointly promotes Fury with Frank Warren and the Traveller claimed who he chose to pay was his business.

“That’s Bob Arum’s own personal business what he does with his own money, he can spend it all on gummy bears if he wants to,” said Fury at Tuesday’s pubic work-put at BoxPark. “What someone does with their money is out of my control.

Tyson Fury and Frank Warren discuss alleged links to Daniel Kinahan and Bob Arum claim (Irish Mirror)

This Saturday is Record Store Day.

Are you free?

Lily Finlay writes:

Hen’s Teeth welcome the seminal German record label, Analog Africa, this Record Store Day at their Blackpitts [Dublin 8] space.

Representing Analog Africa will be Label Manager, dj & digger Volkan Kaya Aka Afreekaya. Joining them for the day will be local selectors and labels, bringing a choice of their own collections and back catalogs for sale.

The event is free admission and will run from Midday until 6pm and followed by a DJ set in Hen’s Teeth HiFi till late…

Hen’s Teeth