Author Archives: Nick Kelly

Anyone?

The votes are in.

Last week, with a pulsating €25 Golden Discs voucher on offer, I asked for YOUR favourite underrated/obscure gem from the decade just passed (2010-2019)?

You answered in your dozens, creating another superb playlist of forgotten masterpieces. Thank you.

Alas, there could be only one winner.

Third Place:

Brighter by Cass McCombs

Ouch writes:

‘A beautiful songwriter…’

Runner-up:

Erase It by I’m Your Vinyl

Andy Pipkin writes:

‘incredibly catchy tune, this band should have been massive. Fantastic video…And a heads up for our fantastic homegrown talent!!’

Winner:

Strong (Judea remix) by London Grammar

SOQ writes:

‘London Grammar throw their raw work out and other creatives throw back with different ways of interpreting it- that feeds into the club scene and they have the best of the best to work with as their background. Win-win.’

Nick says: Thanks all!

Last week: Win Nick’s Voucher

Golden Discs

Hilary Bow – Don’t See Any Lines

Cork singer/songwriter Hilary Bow teamed up with Liam O’Maonlai in June to record this song for World Rufugee Day.

Now Cormac Porter has made a state-of-the-art video animation (above) that amplifies the message welcoming asylum seekers to these shores.

Nick says: Take a Bow.

Sons Of Southern Ulster – Polaris

The stars of the County Cavan.

David Meagher and Justin Kelly aka Sons Of Southern Ulster have put the border county on the map with their “punky space-folk”.

This video by Nicky Fennell is for a song from their second album Sinners And Lost Souls (top).

Nick says: Stars in their eyes.

Sons Of Southern Ulster

This afternoon.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (above) raised the prospect of the Army patrolling streets in England to enforce coronavirus rules.

Via BBC:

The Prime Minister said that the police will now have the ‘option to draw on military support where required‘ as he announced fines for breaking the rule of six will be doubled to £200.

Mr Johnson said the UK is at a ‘perilous turning point’ in the fight against the virus as he imposed a 10pm curfew on all restaurants, bars and pubs across the country from Thursday with the hospitality sector also being restricted to table service only.

A requirement to wear face coverings will be extended to include retail workers and customers in indoor hospitality settings, except for when they are seated at a table to eat or drink.

Coronavirus: ‘We’ve reached a perilous turning point’, says Boris Johnson (BBC)

Getty

James Shannon – Cross Faded

Everybody was kung fu fighting.

Welcome to the very entertaining new video by Dublin rapper James Shannon.

Cross Faded is the second single from the album The Night Before The Morning After.

James says:

“Set in 1970s Dublin, it tells the story of James Shannon as himself, in a feud with a gang of Kung Fu fighting pimps. (Video director) Cuan DeBúrca plays the lead Pimp and sends Jaysuz Hernandez, played by Dante Canale, to take care of Shannon.

“But the final fight scene reveals a twist as James Shannon breaks out his secret Kung Fu skills and fights off the pimps before himself and Bingo on the bike, played by Ciarán McGrath, walk victoriously into the sunset.”

Nick says: Oscars all round.

James Shannon

My Sweet Beloved – Infernal Fires

Smokin’.

There’s a palpable sense of foreboding about this new single from gothic rock four-piece My Sweet Beloved.

Ex-Skindive singer Danielle Harrison Byrne (top right) provides suitably atmospheric vocals to match guitarist (top right) Derek Byrne’s heavy chords.

Danielle also directed the video.

Look out for their self-titled debut album.

Nick says: Hell’s bells.

My Sweet Beloved