Broadsheet contributor and fountain of all things musical Nialler9, spinning discs in Dublin’s South William Bar tonight from 9.30.
And doing so every fortnight.
Tag Archives: music
TUSKS – Doom-metal from Belfast
What you may need to know…
01. Emerging from a rich scene for various amounts of musical heft, TUSKS fall somewhere between Sabbathesque riff worship and spiky punk noisemaking.
02. The band’s debut album Embers, released in August of last year, on Larne-based metal label Freak Flag Recordings.
03. Streaming above in its entirety, it’s available for download, and on limited 12″ green/”beer” vinyl.
04. Next seen live at the Eglantine in Belfast next Thursday, with support from Elder Druid and Black Market Thieves.
VERDICT: TUSKS have a lash off doom-metal’s tropes and rituals without directly aping same, adding a bit of piss and vinegar to proceedings.
We Come in Pieces – Limrock math trio in final gig of the year tonight
What you may need to know…
01. Math-punk three-piece We Come in Pieces have traipsed around the continent a few times over the course of their six years of existence.
02. Garnering attention for 2010’s full length Before the Chains and steadily touring for 2012’s Land of the Living, the band has been back in studio, finishing their third full-length.
03. Streaming above is the video for 2012’s single release, Sexy Rouge.
04. Catch them tonight in Limerick, in their last gig of the year, with local lads Cruiser and Cassavetes in support. Dolan’s, 9pm.
Verdict: A staple component of Limerick music at this point, this upcoming record of theirs ought to be a treat.
Last Friday, with a 25 euro-packed Golden Discs voucher on offer, we asked YOU to complete this sentence:
‘To my mind the finest example of a guitar solo would have to be________________________by_________________’
You responded in your dozens.
But there could only be one guitar god.
‘Kevin’ wins the voucher with this inarguable choice and reasoning:
To my mind the finest example of a guitar solo would have to be Prince’s 3 minute masterclass on ‘While my Guitar Gently Weeps’ when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, because it is the perfect example of just how disgustingly good the man was. It’s not like they couldn’t have asked Clapton. Seriously, watch it, from 3:15 on is pure filth. Not a note out of place.
Runners up
Liam – “To my mind, the finest example of a guitar solo would have to be Marquee Moon by Television – I’m talking about the second solo in the song by Tom Verlaine, rather than the earlier (still excellent) solo by Richard Lloyd. 3 minutes+ of meandering melodic soloing that is stunningly technical without being flashy or fast for the sake of showing off. Starts at 4:50.”
DominoDub – “To my mind, the finest example of a guitar solo would have to be Impossible Germany by Wilco – an experimental Nels Cline Solo into a Thin Lizzy style Duel Guitar Solo – listen to any live version for that extra pure life affirming joy.”
The Walsh – “To my mind, the finest example of a guitar solo would have to be In Bloom by Nirvana, it’s bleedin’ mental.”
Harry Molloy – “Tattoo’d Lady by Rory Gallagher, Irish tour recording.”
Billy TwelveTrees – “Freebird”
Thanks all
Mares of Diomedes – Belfast sludge/doom metal
What you may need to know…
01. Brothers Shea and Jordan make up both halves of Belfast sludge/doom-metal duo Mares of Diomedes.
02. Fuzzed-out, apocalyptic doom is the order of the day, with the band’s debut extended-player emerging midsummer of last year.
03. Streaming above is the band’s new split 12″ release alongside Danish doomlords Dreich. Available for streaming, download and physical purchase from the band’s Bandcamp.
04. On the road next weekend: Thursday December 1st in Belfast’s Voodoo, Friday December 2nd as part of promoters Burning Metal’s launch at Fredz in Cork, and on Saturday 3rd at the Roisín Dubh in Galway.
Verdict: Good, thick guitar tones and suitably substantial riffs. That’s the one.
Robocobra Quartet – jazzy hardcore from Belfast
What you may need to know…
01. Despite their designation as a quartet, sax-laden spoken-word hardcore outfit Robocobra Quartet call on any of fourteen members for their incendiary live excursions.
02. Having gigged on the regular since 2014, the collective have done the festival grind, including Electric Picnic and Brilliant Corners Jazz fest, as well as having released a limited lathe-cut 7″ via Smalltown America.
03. Streaming above is the band’s debut album in its entirety, Music for All Occasions, recorded in studios and venues around Belfast city.
04. Available now in various formats from their Bandcamp. Having finished the UK/NI swing of their album launch, more UK/IE dates are likely for next year.
Verdict: Dour, downtuned, swaggering post-hardcore as a framework for world-weary spoken word broadsides.
Malojian – Belfast singer-songwriter
What you may need to know…
01. Malojian is the brainchild of Belfast man Stevie Scullion, aided on occasion by collaborators Mike Mormecha and Joe McGurgan.
02. New album This Is Nowhere finds Scullion ruminating on middle-life, from parenthood, to marriage to grief, and was overseen by none other than Steve Albini, he of Big Black/Shellac, and the DIY recording gatekeeper behind some of Nirvana, the Breeders, and the Pixies’ finest work.
03. Streaming above is the video for I’ll Be Alright, taken from the record. Video directed by Colm Laverty.
04. Catch him on the road at Whelan’s in Dublin on the 26th, DeBarra’s in Clonakilty on the 27th, Coughlan’s in Cork on the 4th of December, and on the 9th at the Washerwoman in Ballina. Full tour details and more dates here.
Verdict: Scullion’s dichotomy of wringing sunny tunes from sober situations has seemingly met its match in Albini’s barebones recording work.
This Side Up – Sligo hip-hop
What you may need to know…
01. Myster E, Shaol and DJ Noone are This Side Up, a Sligo hip-hop collective.
02. Emerging from a live rap cypher at a regular vinyl night of the same name, in the town’s McGarrigle’s pub, the trio have been quietly gaining momentum in Irish hip-hop the past few years.
03. Streaming above is the trio’s debut album, Full Fat, the follow up to last year’s 3075 EP. Featuring appearances from Spekulativ Fiktion, MC Muipéad and Verb T and Moreone.
04. Catch them tomorrow evening at Liquid Lounge in Cork for the Cuttin’ Heads Collective’s birthday, and on the 26th at the Grand Social in Dublin.
Verdict: A big, boisterous offering that not so much touches on, but lands a big elbow drop on, everything from mental health in Ireland, to world politics.
We Cut Corners – video for new single Of Whatever
01. Indie/alt/folk duo We Cut Corners have been busy this year, putting the finishing touches on third album The Cadences of Others.
02. Hefty shoes to fill: previous long-players Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards and Think Nothing were both Choice Prize nominees.
03. Streaming above is the video for Of Whatever, directed by Jon Hozier-Byrne. Evoking the sense of panic that 2016 has neatly been enveloped by, it features model Megan O’Malley sleeping through life/drowning in a shallow bed. Fun for the whole family.
04. Catch them tomorrow night in the Roisín Dubh in Galway, and on Saturday night in the Button Factory in Dubland.
Verdict: A lush, densely-arranged take on the band at their more usually considered bodes for a big-sounding LP.
The Music Capital Scheme, administered by Music Network, is back open, with a reserve of €210,000 available for instruments for skilled, professional musicians, and community music groups.
Write Music Network:
The Music Capital Scheme, established by the Arts Council, supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and managed by Music Network, comprises two distinct awards that provide funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups and to professional musicians.
The Music Capital Scheme has funded 227 musicians, groups and organisations, benefitting up to 30,819 people throughout Ireland since its inception in 2008.
The scheme opens for applications on November 30th, deadlines January 25th, with clinics from Music Network around the country in the second week of January.