Tag Archives: Ireland

0008289018_10

So Cow – new album Lisa Marie Airplane

What you may need to know…

01. So Cow is the nom-de-plume of Galwegian Brian Kelly, who rattles out a pretty nifty line of indie-inflected garage-rock.

02. Coming to life in 2005 as Kelly’s recording project while over in Seoul, South Korea (where in 2009, he briefly gained mainstream attention for naming a song after a local actress/model), the band eventually swelled to a three-piece over the course of four full-lengths and a rake of singles/splits.

03. Streaming above in its entirety is fifth album Lisa Marie Airplane Tour. Recorded solo in Kelly’s new home of Spiddal, Co. Galway, the album reflects heavily on the little malaises of rural life with a warm smirk.

04. It received possibly the best album launch in recent times. The following happened last Friday:

Between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m., I’m going to drive my increasingly dangerous and belovedly shitty ’02 Volkswagen Polo around Galway. I’m going to start at THE SMALL CRANE, right outside the Bell Book and Candle (should point out now that they are not official sponsors and should not be subject to any complaints from what may follow).

I’m gonna welcome 4 people who may wish to purchase the album into my car. SEATBELTS MUST BE WORN. I’ll be playing the album on cassette. I’ll drive ye out to Salthill and back. The drive should take 10 minutes. I’ll answer any questions you have about the album. I’ll drop you back at the Bell Book and Candle. You may purchase the album in whatever format if you are so moved. I shall then bring the next group off.

VERDICT: The sound of someone going not-so gently into that good night, but perhaps not wanting to cause a fuss either. Equal parts hilarious and presciently crafted.

So Cow

13876133_1768478663424981_8420967274272394786_n

Partholón – releasing debut single Hunt

What you may need to know…

01. Leeside progressive/sludge-metal five piece Partholón are named for a semi-fictional character of Irish history and mythos, said to have won the first battle on Irish soil and created a peaceful settlement thereafter, before slaying his wife and her lover after tasting him on his lips. The settlement succumbed to plague a week after this violence. “No God, just life, and then, Death”, as the band says in its bio.

02. While the band’s own story is nowhere near as lofty, they emerged from among the wreckage of local bands, notably the late Five Will Die. Live excursions have been few, numbering among them appearances at the Siege of Limerick festival and several shows in Cork, but expect this to change.

03. Streaming above is debut single Hunt, a heavyweight slab of post-metal weighing in at over the ten-minute mark. Grab a tay.

04. It’s taken from their upcoming E.P., Follow Me Through Body, recorded by Shaun Cadogan at Last Light Recordings in Dublin, and mastered by Marcus Lindberg of Cult of Luna. Physical copies and such are impending.

VERDICT: Maintaining the glacial pace and heft of projects past, and marrying it to atmosphere and dynamics, Partholón have put together something exceptionally promising.

Partholón

10409683_1092020657478811_686465131023814681_n

Starters – final show tonight in Dublin

What you may need to know…

01. Dublin emo/pop-punk five-piece Starters say farewell tonight, after seven years together.

02. Releasing a demo in 2010, the band quickly followed up with extended-player Reasons to Stay, which received separate vinyl and CD releases. A split with Second to Last preceded a self-titled EP, released last summer.

03. Streaming above is the band’s debut album, A Picture Fading, released online via the band’s Bandcamp two weeks ago as a parting shot, after three years in the making.

04. The band’s final show is tonight at eight bells, at Fibber Magee’s in Dublin. Free in, with support from Over Being Under (reunion show), Hollow Truth, January, and Versive.

VERDICT: Earnest, relatable and heartfelt stuff, sans some of the genre’s usual aesthetic trappings. Get out tonight to see them off if you can.

Starters

13876695_2306842079454706_9027723167908648055_n

Soulé – video for Love No More, appearing at HWCH

What you may need to know…

01. R’n’B singer Samantha Kay, aka Soulé, has made waves with her first single, as well as a packed house for her debut solo show at the Workman’s in Dublin last month.

02. Love No More, originally penned as a ballad, is a statement of intent for the young vocalist, who spoke recently to District Mag of her desire to work in dichotomies, “to make tracks that people can dance to, but might have the complete opposite theme in the lyrics”

03. Streaming above is the video for Love No More, directed and produced by Diffusion Lab.

04. Appearing next at Hard Working Class Heroes festival, on October 7th at Tengu, as part of the Word Up Collective’s stage. Kickoff at 8.10.

VERDICT: Ambitious, and in possession of serious potential, Soulé is one to keep an eye on.

Soulé

screen-shot-2016-09-14-at-13-39-10

This morning.

At the European Parliament.

A direct appeal to the President of Ireland Micheal D Higgins from German satirist MEP Martin Sonneborn, of parody party Die PARTEI (“Party for Labour, Rule of Law, Animal Protection, Promotion of Elites and Grassroot-Democratic Initiative”) – in relation to the Apple tax ruling.

From around 45 seconds, Mr Sonneborn said [in English]:

‘Dear Mr President of Ireland. If you still believe that Apple will create some jobs in Ireland, forget it. Apple only ever had one Jobs. But he is dead. He will not come back. So, please take my advice: take the money and run. 13 billion euro will buy you many, many iPhones. This will generate more tax income for Ireland. Then you can buy even more iPhones. It’s a win, win, win situation. Think it over with a good bottle of whiskey, sláinte.’ “

In addition, Mr Sonneborn said [translated from German]:

“The EU has changed. When I took up this job I wanted to fight for a core strong Europe. And we now find the numbers committed to that have gone down after Brexit and the current situation in Hungary, we now see other people being shown the door. A government which actually refuses to take the taxes from the Apple firm, for example, could actually give the impression that what we’re really talking about is a Europe of business and not of citizens.”

Thanks Simon M

14088523_10154026438217872_729015186109471910_n

The Redneck Manifesto – playing new songs at Clonakilty Guitar Fest this weekend

What you may need to know…

01. At last, an excuse to talk about veteran Dubland instrumentalists The Redneck Manifesto.

02. Coming together in 1998 from other bands on the Dublin scene at the time, they self-released numerous singles before dropping their debut full-length, Thirtysixstrings to massive acclaim. Companion piece Cut Your Heart Off From Your Head surfaced the following year. Third full-length I Am Brazil released in 2004, recorded in France’s Black Box Studios.

03. Streaming above in its entirety is the band’s most recent full-length, Friendship, released in March of 2010 via the sadly-missed Richter Collective.

04. Appearing live this Sunday in their only date this year at DeBarra’s in Clonakilty, as part of the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival. New material has been promised. Tickets available NOW.

VERDICT: One of the finest bands in the land, and one that’s stayed DIY all this time, to boot. Word of new stuff is most encouraging also.

The Redneck Manifesto

1473842940821

Painted Clans writes:

You have grown up in Ireland all your life. You have wore your county crest with pride. You have navigated this small island with the help of old road signs but have you ever wondered what the Irish language of the county names actually mean?

Ireland’s long rich history of ancient kingdoms, which were imported by Viking and Norman invaders has had a profound effect on the country’s place names. We’ve put together a list of english translations of Irish county names.

Antrim / Aontroim
Ulster – Established c. 1400, the name translates to “lone ridge” or “lone dwelling.”

Armagh / Ard Mhacha
Ulster – Established c. 1584, the name means “Macha’s height.” Macha was a Celtic goddess said to have given birth to twins after racing a horse.

Carlow / Ceatharlach
Leinster — Established c. 1306, the name translates to “place of cattle.”

Cavan / An Cabhán
Ulster – Established in 1584, the name translates to “the hollow.”

Clare / An Clár
Munster – Established in 1565, the name translates to “plain.” The county may have been named after the Norman de Clare family. Before 1565, Clare was known as Thomond, which means “North Munster.”

Cork / Corcaigh
Munster – Established c. 1200, the name means “swamp” or “marsh.” (But don’t tell anyone from Corcaigh.)

Derry / Doire
Ulster – Established in 1585, the name “Doire” means “oak wood.”

Donegal / Dún na nGall
Ulster – Established in 1584, it means “stronghold of the foreigners” (Vikings). It was also known by some as Tir Chonaill, which means “the land of Conall.”

Down / An Dún
Ulster – Established c. 1520, the name means “the fort.”

Dublin / Áth Cliath / Dubhlinn
Leinster — Established in 1185, the “Áth Cliath” part means “hurdled fort” and the “Dubhlinn” part means black pool.”

What do Ireland’s county names mean? (Painted Clans)

Thanks Brendan McCarey

12662727_10156512158275710_5747619216017640280_n

By Any Means – touring Ireland this weekend with Raging Speedhorn

What you may need to know…

01. Hailing from Belfast, By Any Means are a hardcore four-piece plying chunky, spiky riffs in the genre’s tradition.

02. Founded in 2009, the band released its debut E.P. early the following year, and followed up with their debut full-length, Built on Respect, in November 2012.

03. Streaming above is the band’s most recent release, the Bearcat Sessions E.P., recorded at Bearcat Studios in Belfast.

04. Catch them this weekend in support of returning UK metallers Raging Speedhorn. Friday sees them hit the Crane Lane Theatre in Cork, on Saturday they’ll be at On the Rox in Dublin, and proceedings finish on Sunday at the Voodoo in Belfast. Dublin metallers Dead Label are also opening each night.

Verdict: Good, honest, no-nonsense hardcore. Not for everyone, but plenty there for fans of the genre.

BY ANY MEANS

crevice-press-4

Crevice – improv electronic/ambient from Cork

What you may need to know…

01. Irene Buckley, Elaine Howley and Roslyn Steer are Crevice, a collective of electronic improv performers.

02. Each with a background in Irish independent & avant-garde music, the outfit specialises an atmospheric ambience. In their relatively short time together, they’ve come in for critical acclaim, winning the IndieCork Music Award in 2015.

03. Streaming above is Sludge Gore, a live take that forms part of their limited publicly-available output to date.

04. Performing next at Cork County Hall this Friday night for Culture Night, with Rory Francis O’Brien in support. Kickoff 8.30. Roslyn Steer also has a solo performance as part of TEDx CorkSalon’s #Cork Loves Music event, Wednesday night at Coughlan’s.

Verdict: By their nature difficult to discuss beyond vague descriptors and moods, Crevice are a compelling proposition, but must be experienced live to be fully understood.

Crevice

becky-lynch-620x420

Irish wrestler Becky Lynch

More scenes of Irish success from the world of sports-entertainment last night.

Dubliner Rebecca Quin, formerly of independent promotions NWA Ireland, One Pro Wrestling, Queens of Chaos and more, was of one European wrestling’s brightest prospects before a head injury sustained during a match in Germany necessitated a long hiatus, including missing major independent shows in the US.

Returning to the States in 2011, as an on-screen manager for Shimmer Women’s Wrestling, Quin signed with industry leaders WWE in 2013, becoming Becky Lynch in the process.

After a questionably Oirish on-screen debut for their NXT brand, Lynch settled into the brand’s nascent women’s division, becoming one of its mainstays and embracing her own sci-fi/fantasy fandom in the process.

Heading to the WWE’s main roster in 2015, Lynch has been a massive part of the company’s Ronda Rousey-inspired push for women’s pro wrestling and, in the wake of WWE’s on-screen roster split, has settled into the top women’s role on the SmackDown brand.

Last night, at WWE’s Backlash event in Richmond, Virginia, Lynch won a six-woman elimination-rules match to become the SmackDown roster’s inaugural women’s kingpin.

Chants of “you deserve it!” greeted Lynch’s in-ring celebrations from the thousands in attendance.

Meanwhile, later that evening…

Fight!

Mmf.

Becky Lynch

Previously: Irish Wrestling on Broadsheet