Bon Jovi – Fairytale Of New York
Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any worse…
The New Jersey rockers have only gone and recorded their take on the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl classic. Pandemonium in the comments section under the YouTube video ensued, such as…
“The last person to assault the Irish like this was Oliver Cromwell.”
Some things really should be left well alone.
Nick says: Pogue mahone.
Nomos – I Am Going To Set You Free
Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, reader Eamonn would like to draw our attention to Cork trad upstarts Nomos who shone brightly in the 1990s.
Led by Eoin Coughlan (vocals and bass), the line-up was completed by Niall Vallely (concertina), Vince Milne (fiddle), Frank Torpey (bodhran) and Gerry McKee (bouzouki).
This is a live version of the title track from their second and final album released in 1997 on Green Linnet Records.
Nick says: It’s a very, very trad world.
Yung Shakur – Swing
Lovely hurling.
On the eve of the All Ireland Senior final in Croker, Waterford rapper Yung Shakur (top) drops some heavy beats and slick rhymes in support of The Deise in their historic battle against The Treaty county this weekend.
We love the namechecking of Waterford legend John Mullane too.
Will Limerick take the L? Watch this space.
Nick says: Swing when you’re winning.
Thanks Clampers Outside
Fight Like Apes – Jake Summers
Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, reader Nicorigo is all in for Dublin punk-pop ruffians Fight Like Apes, led by MayKay (top).
Jake Summers is a single from their 2008 debut album Fight Like Apes And The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion.
Nicorigo writes:
“Jake Summers features the feelgood flavour of FLA’s signature sound. Included in the package are the witty and hilarious lyrics delivered with urgency by MayKay. These guys should have been big.”
Nick says: Special Kay.
Top pic: Mark Nixon
Martin Leahy – A Song For Kirsty MacColl
She danced on the corner and sang through the night.
Cork songsmith Martin Leahy has penned a heartfelt ode to the late, great singer.
Martin writes:
“I’ve always loved Kirsty MacColl’s music and this song is a tribute to her on the 20th anniversary of her tragic death in December of 2000. I hope you like it.”
Nick writes: And the bells are ringing out for Kirsty MacColl.
The Revenants – Scott Miller Said
Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, we salute Dublin guitar gods The Revenants who rocked the joint in the 1990s.
Led by Stephen Ryan (top left today), formerly of The Stars Of Heaven and currently of The Drays, this stream-of-consciousness meditation on life, death and fat white geese begins with the singer taking a leisurely stroll while listening to cult indie icon Scott Miller (Game Theory and The Loud Family) on his Walkman.
It’s still breathtaking after all these years.
“Still we’ll have time enough to remember the ones who leave
Though they hardly care to go
To the garden, the garden of moraine
Under the cedar tree.”
The hanging guitar chords come courtesy of Conor Brady with the line-up completed by Ryan (vocals and guitar), Don Ryan (keyboards), Naeem Bismillah (bass) and Chris Heaney (drums).
The song appeared on the Revenants’ second album Septober Nowonder in 1999.
Nick says: Miller time.
Gerr Walsh – A Town Called Forgiveness
Everybody walk the dinosaur.
Dublin singer/songwriter Gerr Walsh (top) uses footage of the scary scaly beasts from Harry Hoyt‘s 1925 silent movie The Lost World to complement his new single which he wrote during lockdown.
Additional musicians include Naimee Coleman (backing vocals), Max Greenwood (keyboard) and Tom Portman (lap steel).
Gerr’s new album will be released in 2021.
Nick says: We’re off to see the lizards…
Sinéad Lohan – Sailing By
Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, reader Slip Digby would like us to put some respect on the name of Cork troubadour Sinéad Lohan (top).
The dreadlocked singer/songwriter emerged onto the national stage in the mid-’90s thanks in part to her inclusion on the A Woman’s Heart tour.
Sailing By is from her debut album Who Do You Think I Am (released in 1995 by Dara Records and produced by Declan Sinnott).
Slip writes:
“It’s perfection.”
Sinéad’s follow-up No Mermaid was recorded in New Orleans and came out on Interscope Records in 1998.
She then quit the music industry to focus on raising her children.
Nick says: The South will rise again.
Bantum and Loah – NGLA
Collaboration once again.
Irish/Sierra Leone singer/songwriter Loah (above centre with, from left: Stephanie Dufresne, Fresh Princeeera and Angel Hart) teams up with Cork-based producer Bantum for this new single from their Sweet Sorrow EP.
The video was directed by Ellius Grace.
Loah describes her aethetic as “artsoul”.
She writes:
‘”NGLA’ is a Sad Banger – one of those Robyn-esque tunes that you can dance all night to while your heart is breaking.”
Nick says: How Loah can you go?
