HWCH 2010 – Thursday – Photos

  HWCH 2010 – Sleep Thieves So it began. The 2010 Hard Working Class Heroes festival, notable mainly for its notable absentees, began presenting their showcase of the new breed while I was still at home. That didn’t matter though, I had a list and it started at 8pm and, by god, I was going to make it. Arriving at Filmbase to pick up my pass, the place was already... Read More

The Commitments – Reunion Tour Announcement

  The Commitments   Jimmy Rabbitte’s merry band of chancers, The Commitments, are getting back together for a handful of live shows next year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of the best-loved Irish films of all time. Today, the original cast/members (well, most of them at least) gathered in Dublin’s Liberty Hall to announce their grand reunion. The... Read More

Joanna Newsom – Grand Canal Theatre

Joanna Newsom - Grand Canal Theatre Possibly the most popular harpist of our generation, the incomparable Miss Joanna Newsom, returned to Dublin on Tuesday evening for the first time since she kindly played a few tunes at a little birthday party I had in the Olympia a few years ago. Continuing her upgrade through the city’s fully-seated, tiered theatres, she was welcomed by... Read More

State Photography Exhibition

State Photography Exhibition Let reasonably normal service resume. This one has been a long while in the pipeline. Given the startling amount of talent crammed into the digitised pages of State Magazine, it was only a matter of time before it became necessary to let some of it’s richness burst out into the physical world where images can be enjoyed in long-forgotten sizes... Read More

The Tallest Man on Earth – Whelan’s – Photos

The Tallest Man on Earth - Whelan's If two loved-up Tallest Man on Earth fans had conceived a child on his last visit to Whelan’s, the little baby would be due today. As a sign of what a stand-up guy he is, Kristian Matsson returned to Dublin last night to check on the potential new-born and play a few songs. I don’t think that actually happened, but here’s... Read More

Sam Amidon – Whelan’s – Photos

Samamidon - Whelan's “Lovely stuff!” – that’s what I heard someone shout out at the end of one of Leif Vollebekk‘s songs. It was delivered with the kind of aggressively supportive tone of a football fan on the terraces. It seemed strange given Vollebekk’s gentle style of music and the calm, seated arrangement in the venue. We were just walking... Read More

The Joy Formidable – Academy 2 – Photos

The Joy Formidable - Academy 2 In all my years of gigs, I’ve never worn earplugs once. I didn’t even take the ones they gave out at My Bloody Valentine‘s set at the Picnic in ’08. That’s how hardcore my ears are and/or how stupid I am. I would, however, have gladly used ear plugs on Friday night while watching The Joy Formidable tear through their short,... Read More

Wolf Parade – Vicar Street – Photos

Wolf Parade - Vicar Street Arriving into Vicar Street after being slightly delayed I caught the prolonged final tune from support band Joensuu 1685. Apparently their previous songs were quite normal but this last one was absolutely mentalcakes©. The band hung lifelessly still while banging out a never-ending thudding beat and droning synth while the scattered crowd looked on calmly,... Read More

Cathy Davey – Olympia Theatre – Photos

Cathy Davey - Olympia The last time I saw a frontman/frontwoman start their gig behind the drum-kit was when I saw Lenny Kravitz in 2004. I think it’d be best for everyone if I just stop right there and never mention that gig again. Cathy Davey also chose to take a seat behind the kit for the first song of her gig in the Olympia last Friday. The beat she was banging out belonged... Read More

Bank Bailout Protest – Photos

Bank Bailout Protest I read a good few articles yesterday about the anti-bank bailout protest march and subsequent scuffle and attempt to “storm” the Dáil. Having observed the whole thing, I found many of these articles and some people’s statements to be largely untrue. Early reports from Sky News greatly exaggerated the event while RTÉ’s account initially... Read More