Author Archives: Nick Kelly

Merda.

Coronavirus, ragazzi italiani positivi bloccati a Dublino: seguivano un corso per assistenti di volo Ryanair (Il Messaggero)

The votes are in.

Last month, with a copy of Irish journalist David Diebold’s new flash memoir This Is How We Dance up for grabs, we asked you to nominate your favourite memoir.

You answered in your tens. But there could only be one winner.

Third place:

Just Kids by Patti Smith

Ger Siggins writes:

It’s a powerful story of love, art, music and death in 1970s NYC, told by one of the giants of modern music who knows how to tell a story. Can’t remember a memoir I ever wanted to read twice. Magic.

Runner-up:

Love Is A Mix-tape by Rob Sheffield

Catherine Vaughan writes:

A memoir of his relationship with his wife from first meeting, to her death, told through the mix-tapes they made for each other. Recommend by a friend, I expected a sort of real-life High Fidelity. I did not expect the level of snotty bawling while reading the last few chapters, as he described how Renee died suddenly in his arms from a brain aneurysm…

Winner:

Down and out in Paris and London by George Orwell

nicorigo writes:

In this two-part memoir, George Orwell tells us about his living in extreme poverty and squalor in the two capital cities between 1928 and 1929. Vividly sordid, full of bombastic characters, his truculent writing takes you from shabby hotels to miserable lodging houses, from sleeping rough in London to the dampest spikes. A compelling read.

Thanks all.

Previously: Win Nick’s Free Stuff

Ryan McMullan – In A Heartbeat

The snow must go on.

Portaferry, County Down native Ryan McMullan (top) braves the freezing winter for his latest video, which is the second single from his forthcoming Ruthless Cupid EP, due next month.

A slow-building power ballad, this is one for the Ed Sheeran fans among you.

Nick says: Ryan versus Jack Frost.

Ryan McMullan

La Feile Phadraig!

Last month, with a glittering €25 Golden Discs voucher at the end of the rainbow, I asked you to post your favourite song about Ireland by a non-Irish artist.

You answered in your tens

But there could only be one winner…

Galway To Graceland by Richard Thompson

Posted by ZeligIsJaded

Thanks all.

Without further ado, here is our Shamrockin’ St Patrick’s Day readers playlist. Enjoy!

Come Out Ye Black & Tans – Alan Partridge (Posted by Ghost of Yep)

The Galway Girl – Steve Earle (Cool_Hand_Lucan)

40 Shades Of Green – Johnny Cash (Paulus)

Give Ireland Back To The Irish – Paul McCartney & Wings (Scottser)

Belfast – Boney M (Bertie Theodore Alphege Blenkinsop)

Belfast – Orbital (Ben Madigan)

Mna Na hEireann – Kate Bush (Matt Pilates)

Bobby Sands – Meic Stevens (Stan)

Song For Ireland – Luke Kelly (written by Phil and June Colclough) (Posted by Joe cool)

Kathleen (Catholicism Made Easier) – Randy Newman (Gringo)

Clonakilty As Charged / On The Road To Tralee – Julian Cope (Otis Blue)

Danny Boy – The Leprechaun Brothers (Vanessa)

Cheese – The Irish Rodents (Vanessa)

The Luck Of The Irish – John Lennon (Jeremy Kyle)

Abigail, Belle Of Kilronan – The Magnetic Fields (Shosho)

The Magdalene Laundries – Joni Mitchell (Matt Pilates)

How To Disappear Completely – Radiohead (Smith)

Belfast To Boston – James Taylor (Shane B)

Les Lacs Du Connemara – Michel Sardou (f_lawless)

Kocham Cie Jak Irlandie (I Love You Like Ireland) – Kobranocka (Ben Madigan)

Danny Boy – Nana Mouskouri (f_lawless)

Dublin – Prefab Sprout (dylad)

The Fields Of Athenry – The Century Steel Band (Spaghetti Hoop)

Arthur McBride – Bob Dylan (CL)

Panic – The Smiths (Matt Pilates)

Sul-E-Stomp – Astralasia (Eamonn)

Iridium – The Sidh (Kolmo)

Note: YouTube have taken down Alan Partridge singing ‘Come Out You Black And Tans’ and there’s no video link on YouTube for Bob Dylan singing Arthur McBride.

Previously: Pot O’Golden Discs

John Blek – Death & His Daughter

These are Blek times.

But don’t despair. Come gather round and listen to Cork-born troubadour John Blek (top). On the third single from his new album The Embers, he spins a macabre tale with a true storyteller’s craft.

And the bone-shaking video is on point too.

Nick says: Skeleton blues.

John Blek

Meanwhile…

What a week!

With the music scene grinding unceremoniously to an almost complete halt, I thought it might be an idea to ask you to share your favourite album to self-isolate to and why.

The winning entry will receive a life-affirming €25 Golden Discs voucher.

And will be chosen by my cat from a safe distance.

Lines MUST close at 9.30pm.

Include video of favourite track on album where possible.

Golden Discs

Of course you are.

Thanks to coronavirus, there’s nothing to do and nowhere to go.

Or is there?

Barry Hartigan, the indomitable music promoter behind the Alternative Sunday Social Club in The Wild Duck on Sycamore Street in Temple Bar, Dublin 2, writes:

With gigs being cancelled all over Dublin this week Strand remain defiant and will push ahead with their show in The Wild Duck this Sunday afternoon from 4pm.

Come on down and enjoy an afternoon of lovely jangly guitar tunes for just €10….

We really want to let people know that this damn virus isn’t going to kill off quality live music so would appreciate your help in ‘spreading’ the word folks.

Strand

The Wild Duck

The votes are in

Last week, with a gorgeous Golden Discs voucher worth €25 on offer, I asked you to name your favourite video.

You answered in your tens.

But there could be only one winner

Third Place:

Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel

Barry The Hatchet writes

The greatest music video of all time. No contest.

Runner up:

Bohemian Rhapsody by The Muppets

Theo Kretschmar Schuldorff writes:

The Muppets are just effing brilliant, such consistency over many decades, I laughed when Beaker did his “Me,me,me, me” part!

Winner:

Frontier Psychiatrist by The Avalanches

Rosette of Sirius writes:

Because it’s plainly the most bonkers music video. Really really bonkers. I love it.

Last week: Win Nick’s Voucher

Golden Discs