Author Archives: Nick Kelly

The Cranberries – Never Grow Old

This morning.

Just ‘dropped’.

Celebrating what would have been Dolores O’Riordan’s 50th birthday.

The band wrote on Facebook:

“In order to celebrate all that she inspired and the joy that she has given on her 50th Birthday, her bandmates, friends and family, have pulled together a brand new playlist called ‘Remembering Dolores’ which is available now on all streaming platforms.”

The Cranberries

Cat Dowling – Freedom

If you go down to the beach today…

Kilkenny-born, Dublin-based songsmith Cat Dowling spoils us with yet another cracking alt.rock tune that brings to mind the halcyon days of PJ Harvey. It’s her first single since signing to cult label Forever In Financial Arrears (FIFA).

Cat says:

“Sometimes we think big. Sometimes we think small. Sometimes we think with all we have got. When we have limited access to other humans, the humans closest to us are the most important humans of all.

“This video was filmed on a bitingly-cold December afternoon when light was sparse, winds howled and the skies randomly opened. We managed to find the sun, fell in love with the wind and forgot about the camera. It was mainly filmed on Donabate beach and Dollymount Strand in Dublin. Freedom is best explained and expressed in childhood when there are no limitations, everything is possible and we are free to be truly ourselves.”


Nick says: Cat power.

Cat Dowling

Thank Fungi it’s Friday.

Never mind the long gone voucher, feel the sense of conviviality, congeniality and community. What more could a Broadsheet reader want? (Don’t answer that).

This week, I want to know: What’s your favourite song whose title or lyrics mention animals?

Here’s mine.

Lines MUST close at 10.45pm.

Please include video link if possible.

Nick says: Good luck!

Pic: Steamboat Vinyl, Limerick

Meanwhile…

Last week, we asked you to name your favourite song whose title or lyrics refer to royalty.

Bertie Blenkinsop won my esteem with this fitting entry:

“UB40 – King. For the week that’s in it [UB40’s sax player extraordinaire Brian Travers died last week].”

Last week: Win Nick’s Esteem

The Irish Chamber Orchestra

Free next Thursday?

Via The National Concert Hall (NCH)

The National Concert Hall will re-open its doors to audiences on 9th September at 7pm with a performance by the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the Libra Ensemble and pianist Finghin Collins, following the recent Government announcement on easing restrictions.

This momentous reopening concert takes place forty years to the day the National Concert Hall opened on the 9th September 1981.

In fairness

NCH

Paul Callan – The Chesty Crow

This bird has flown.

Lo-fi Louth-based songsmith Paul Callan continues his ambitious monthly musical journey with a spell-binding strum that evokes memories of early Elliott Smith.

Paul writes:

“This year I will release one song per month. All songs are produced by myself in (or around) my one-room cabin buried deep in the woods of Ireland’s North East . This will then be compiled, along with some other songs, into an album which will be released when the year is over.”

The previous months’ entries are all available at his bandcamp page.

Nick says: Fly me to the tune.

Paul Callan

Abba – I Still Have Faith

Andy Pipkin writes:

Janet will be over the moon with the news that Abba are to release a brand new studio album called Voyage – and will perform digitally in London next May. Recorded together at Benny’s studio in Stockholm, Voyage will be released worldwide on November 5. Above is the new single….

This morning,

Manhattan, New York city, New York.

Via New York Magazine:

The New York City metropolitan area was struck by sudden disaster on Wednesday night as the remnants of Hurricane Ida flooded subways, roads, and homes across the city and beyond. At least nine people were killed after intense flooding inundated many areas of the city, Long Island, and Northern New Jersey. Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and has asked for federal help for what appears to be the worst natural disaster to strike the city since 2012’s Superstorm Sandy.

Ida Turns New York Area Into Disaster Area With Catastrophic Flooding (New York)

Pic via Twitter

Meanwhile…

Ah here.

Ida triggers massive flooding across Northeast (CNN)

Four In The Morning – Keep It Together

In the wee small hours…

Led by Kevin Dolan, this new four-piece have created a brooding and intense ballad for the sleep-deprived as the lead single from their new EP Stress Dreams.

Kevin writes:

“I didn’t really notice until the record was finished how many references to sleep and dreams there were across it. The songs are obsessed with family, longing, stress, depression, love, and how we make sense of all of it. They’re fragments, feelings, and a means of coping.”

Kevin is joined by fellow musicians Kiran Srinivasan, Dan Walwyn and Alex Lees and they honed their songwriting craft over the first lockdown.

Nick says: Insomniacs on the loose.

Four In The Morning