Author Archives: Nick Kelly

Billie.

Andy Pipkin writes:

Thought you be interested in this documentary that ‘dropped’ on Friday about one of the greatest vocalist of all time…’In 1971, journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of Billie Holiday. Over 8 years, she tracked down and tape-recorded over 200 hours of interviews with the extraordinary characters that populated the iconic singer’s short, tumultuous life. However, Linda’s book was never finished and the tapes never heard until now’.

Billie review – a truer, historical spin on the great Billie Holiday (The Guardian)

Thank Frank it’s Friday.

With all eyes on the election in America, the question this week is: What’s your favourite song whose title features an American state?

Here’s mine.

Reply below to be in with a chance of winning a star-spangled €25 Golden Discs voucher.

The winner will be chosen by my gun-totin’ Trump-votin’ Yankee cousin.

Please include video links if possible.

Lines MUST close at Saturday 10am.

Nick says: Good luck, y’all!

Golden Discs

An Emotional Fish – Grey Matter

Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, reader axelf pins his colours to the mast for An Emotional Fish – one of many bands dubbed “the next U2” in late 1980s Dublin.

Signed to U2’s Mother Records, they toured with Bono and the lads and Simple Minds.

Singer Ger Whelan (above second right) went on to transform into the consummate showman Jerry Fish.

Grey Matter was a single from their debut eponymous 1990 album.

Axelf writes:

“A lovely ’80s video of a snowy Dublin and lyrics like ‘I drilled a hole in my head to let the sun shine through’. What’s not to love?”

Nick says: Thrills, gills and bellyaches.

What is that?

A vintage tape echo machine from Dynacord.

Emmet Ó Briain writes:

I’m looking to get this beautiful piece of audio equipment restored.

If anyone knows (of) anyone in the UK or Ireland who repairs valve/vintage audio equipment (or knows someone who might know), let me know!

It powers on and the tape loop plays, just doesn’t amplify or echo…

Anyone?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Etc.


Sorcha Richardson – The Starlight Lounge

Get yer skates on.

The new video by cult Dublin songsmith Sorcha Richardson (top) is a skater’s dream.

Co-produced by James Vincent McMorrow, the single is quintessential Sorcha.

She says:

“Sometimes life’s biggest changes occur through a series of very small and intimate moments. This is a song about joining the dots between them, surrendering to the knowledge that something pivotal is happening, and taking a leap of faith when you’re still not sure which way the story is going to go.”

Nick says: Lounge wizard.

Sorcha Richardson

That Petrol Emotion – Creeping To The Cross

Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, reader Eamonn high-fives Derry/Seattle politically engaged rock quintet That Petrol Emotion (who included the O’Neill brothers from The Undertones as well as charismatic frontman Steve Mack).

Eamonn chooses a song from their second album Babble (1987).

He writes:

“The last time I got a bloody lip in a moshpit was leaping around like a lunatic to this lot in a venue in The Angel, London.”

Nick says: It’s a gas.

That Petrol Emotion

Soda Blonde – Love Me World

It begins with singer Faye O’Rourke ( top second right) cleaning house before transforming into a brilliantly staged epic live performance of both released and unreleased songs.

The band say they have been influenced by Jonathan Demme’s iconic Stop Making Sense (1984) live film and Lila Avilés’ The Chambermaid (2018).

Nick says: Blonde ambition.

Soda Blonde