Author Archives: Nick Kelly

Last week, music editor Nick asked YOU to name the band Holly Johnson fronted in the 1980s.

On offer was a pair of Nick’s Free Tix™ to the Forever Young Festival in Palmerston House, Naas, County Kildare on July 5-7.

You answered in your nostalgic dozens.

‘Speedy’ was the first name out of the hat to correctly identity Frankie Goes To Hollywood, adding:

‘Frankie blew my mind in the 80’s at my 1st ever gig. Help me recapture my squandered youth with free tickets pleeease!!!!

God Speedy.

Thanks all.

Forever Young

Last week: Win Nick’s Free Tix


Calling all Kate Bush fans.

Dubliner Sean Twomey has recorded a special podcast on the iconic video to Kate’s 1980s hit Cloudbusting.

Last month the song was re-released as a limited edition picture disc yet still topped the charts.

The video stars Hollywood favourite Donald Sutherland (top left) and the song was based on a book written by the son of psychologist Wilhelm Reich. The podcast is available  above and at the KB fan site katebushnews.com

Sean says he recorded the podcast on Father’s Day because Cloubusting is “one of the most beautiful songs ever written about the love between a child and their father.”

Nick says: I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

MORE: Our new fan podcast episode is a Cloudbusting special! (KateBushNews.com)

A Lazarus Soul – Long Balconies

The second single from A Lazarus Soul’s stunning album The D They Put Between The R&L is a love letter to the resilience and dignity of the Dublin working class, while also being full of righteous fury at their shafting by hostile housing authorities.

The video features priceless archive footage of O’Devaney Gardens near the Phoenix Park – the spirit of the residents of the “long balconies” shines through.

You can read a revealing in-depth interview that singer Brian Brannigan (top right) gave to music writer and shrink Niall Crumlish at Niall’s blog here

Special mention must also go to Joe Chester, who produced, mixed, mastered and played stellar guitar on the album.

A Lazarus Soul support Damien Dempsey at Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 2 on Saturday July 6.

Nick says: A Lazarus Soul are all heart

A Lazarus Soul

Rock the sabbath.

Niall Toner Jr (top left)has been a stalwart of the Irish music scene for many years (The Dixons, Hank Halfhead & The Rambling Turkeys, Those Handsome Devils) and his current band Strand are another feather in his rock’n’roll cap.

Niall and the lads will be playing songs from their warmly received album Can’t Trust The Rain at The Alternative Sunday Social Club in The Wild Duck, Sycamore Street, Dublin 2, on Sunday at 4pm.

Nick says: Do the Strand!

Strand

Via north county Dublin title Skerries News:

It’s been 45 years since this incredibly brave Skerries woman took on the Irish courts system to fight for her rights to use contraceptives in Ireland.

Mary McGee‘s 1973 case helped to change our laws.

Full interview with Mary and Seamus McGee in the current edition of Skerries News…The current edition is in shops later today and online now (at link below behind small paywall)

McGee, My Choice.

Skerries News

McGee versus Attorney General?

Constant Supply – Treehouse

This is the lead single from Donegal band Constant Supply’s third album Isn’t Life Great (out on July 5).

Fans of Modest Mouse will admire the dreamy, freeflowing feel of Treehouse, centred around James Gillen’s soulful voice.

The video is also an object lesson in how to make small budget go a long way – the band and a few friends larking about a castle in slo-mo.

The album launch is Upstairs at Whelan’s, Dublin on July 5.

James writes:

“A recurring theme is mental health and some of the means by which we mask our problems – be it through humour, drinking, or never leaving the house.”


Nick says: Constant Supply should be in great demand

Constant Supply

Ah here.

The DC Experiment – Dona Ignez (Has The Last Laugh)

Dave Conway (top) is the man behind The DC Experiment, and the lead single off their forthcoming new album is based on a story that his wife Regina told about her mother.

The Dunboyne, County Meath-based musician (who has a sideline running new talent showcases in the capital via the Gigonometry moniker) then took a recording of the tale and challenged himself to write a song with the spoken word as a backing track.

The result is that you hear tantalising snatches of the story underneath layers of expansive guitars and Conway’s confident vocal that bring to mind ‘Infected’-era The The.

The launch gig for the single is at Dublin’s Underground, 64 Dame Street, Dublin 2 on Saturday July 6, supported by Lady Landscape and Jamie O’Reilly.

Nick says: A very successful Experiment!

The DC Experiment