Thursday, November 27, 2008

Anxiously Waiting for Infinity Blues

Ryan Adams if you don't know already has written a book apparently fiction plus works of poetry but who knows what to expect. Going by the standard and quality of the mans music i am sure the book will be great.
The book is due to hit the shelves in early April 2009. However the book company "akasic" offered fans a preorder of the book to arrive at home for the 19th of December. Nearly 5 months before it come out not only that but in Hardback and signed plus and an extra little book of poems called "sad American mythology" also signed!
Cant wait for a good Christmas read only 23 days to wait :)

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Fionn Regan - Upstairs Dolans, 23/11/2008 Review

A very cold Sunday night saw myself back upstairs for what was billed as an all seated event. Before going upstairs my vision was several small chairs laid out giving the usual sitting room atmosphere even more of a warm feel to it. However we were greeted with several badly placed high stools and all the nice low chairs and tables were taken out. I was dying with a cold and looked like death warmed up , so that didn't really help. The support act arrived on stage and the local pint sized singer gave us some great songs from her own collection. Jen Ronan gave us some serious songs about past boyfriends with great lines such as I sent all his porno to his mother and I put his vinyl collection in the microwave. You can check her out here http://www.myspace.com/jennyronan, Another great homegrown talent. By this stage the bar area was getting nicely packed, then madness ensued people just started standing right up by the stage. I was lucky to still have a view of some sort. The blizzards had a all ages gig in the warehouse early in the day and I think that's the reason there was so many teenyboppers of sorts , I heard "Give us a taste of Heineken ,never tasted it before, wow its lovely!" The gig should have been organised for downstairs as it wasnt fair for people at the back or even have the right chairs set out. Fionn arrived out to a huge roar and the clearly intimated singer got the show straight on the road. The set was just amazing and weaved in and out from his debut album "The End of History" to his new album TBC. The new songs sound so amazing and really cant wait to get my hands on the studio versions. While the teenyboppers had to be ssshed throughout the show however the music was just amazing. The effortless Regan got into the crowd spirit and had many a heckling session between songs even heckling himself at times. He said that wicklow is renowned for hairdressers as the singer's hair was quite the item. The set ended with a beautiful rendition of Be Good Or Be Gone and the crowd willed him into two more new songs the latter turning into an off the cuff song about the crowds hecklers. The Wicklow man has serious talent and the poetry in his songs are amazing and just so simple but brilliant. The last album received a mercury prize nomination and on hearing most of the new album that night , this new album will be one to watch out for. If anyone out there has the set list please e-mail it to me, thanks

Fionn Regan- Put a Penny in the Slot (Upstairs Dolans) Hardly no visual due to the darkness but the sound is perfect

Monday, November 17, 2008

Indiecater Records -compilations and lost indie albums for the digital age

mp3hugger is hard at work once again. The brilliant side project Indiecater Records has already provided us with 3 Volumes of great indie music from various bands.
Indiecater has also brought out several reissued album for people who never got a chance to hear them first time around or for some reminiscing. The four albums pictured above are part of this regeneration process of music.
Bands that were topped for big time success and just never made the grade but left us with a great first album. These are a fantastic look back to mid 90s bands and relive their greatness. The price is a key element to indiecater records the albums cost buttons and provide the listener with great quality records. You can buy online now at the website and keep checking back, who knows what band might come back to haunt us next.
Check out some samples and reviews here http://www.indiecater.com/

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Ryan Adams Live Ambassdor Theatre, Dublin 08/11/2008 Review

Arriving in Dublin Saturday was like arriving into the center of a Gail force storm. Found myself a warm pub adjoining the ambassador, away from the elements. Watched my home town host a training game for Ireland against Canada as they hockeyed them 55 nil. It was so inspiring to see local man Keith Earls have such a brilliant game, his first touch gaining the young man his first international try. After a nice warm up of pints, we were ready to brave the rain to the ambassador. Inside we were greeted by an oval time warp and it just brings you back to old time dance halls and cinemas. A t-shirt and beer later, I found myself at the front gazing at the impressive stage props. Two huge neon Cardinal Roses and a drum kit area that would make Keith Moon excited beyond belief. The Cardinal Peace Bird rising above the set, holding in its wake an oversized Gong. Also among the many amps was a novelty over-sized amp with working lights, quite the sight. Ryan arrived out accompanied by his friends the cardinals, No support act which provides for over two hours of cardinal bliss. Unlike last years Dublin show Ryan seems quiet and not talkative instead opting to express myself through extended amazing guitar solo jams and flawless music. I thank you Ryan for that. No diet coke, no talk of spiders and no ramblings were heard from him just pure and utter music. That’s what we came here for and that’s what we went home with. Ten songs from their new album may have made the casual fan annoyed with their moneys worth but who can argue with a 27 song bonanza. Which included two from Neal Casals pocket and a delightful cover of Oasis Wonderwall. My highlight was “Off Broadway” and I have a video of it below. This cements the fact that this band are just in a perfect time and place right now. The comfort factor between them is so visible and they are really enjoying it and that’s exactly what you feel when you hear their new album “Cardiology”. It oozes this tight knit band feeling and warmth of comfort in their music; they can produce any song on Ryan’s back catalogue live with just an unreal intensity. The cardinals have brought Ryan back in love with music and back in love with some old songs and that’s why gold and heartbreaker songs are seeping back into the limelight. To hear “La Cienega Just Smiled” live was just so amazing and unforgettable. The amount of times the hair stood on the back of my neck that night was countless. The difference between this gig and the gig in Dublin last November is amazing(Review of that gig here http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2007/11/ryan-adams-national-stadium-dublin-28th.html), it’s like they are a different band, and they look fresh and sound it. This band is one of the best live bands in the world today and it’s a must that you see them while they are this electric. The transformation from the studio to live is staggering and leaves everyone there just gasping for more. The bootleg in the post below
must be downloaded and checked out, the quality of the music and recording are astounding. Met some Ryan Adams Archive members at the gig and it was nice to put a face to a name. Cheers for a great night, see ya next November hopefully. Looks like we might have a new album on tow very soon from the ever working Adams and crew. Check this out posted this week on their blog: “Neal and i and brad sat around last night and kind of tried to remember what should be on the work-list- which helped me greatly- we have enough for a new album already but it is Neal who spiritually guides us (me) to keep that process calm, let things grow at their own rate, as he has pointed out “our songs only ever get better as we play them” “ Also a rumor of a bigger euro show is to happen in the spring maybe a change of city this time, hopefully cork. Either way ill be there, Looks like its back to listening to old live recording til then. Setlist: Cobwebs Everybody Knows Born into a Light Please Do Not Let Me Go Fix It Natural Ghost Goodnight Rose Off Broadway (Video Below) Wonderwall I Taught Myself How to Grow Old (Video Below) Sun Also Sets Come Pick Me Up Grand Island (Neal singing) Go Easy Sink Ships Crossed Out Name Whe the Stars Go Blue Let it Ride Desire Evergreen Cold Roses Encore Freeway to the Canyon (Neal) Like Yesterday La Cienega Just Smiled (Video Below) Stop Two I See Monsters Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Off Broadway (My own Vid)
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - I Taught Myself How To Grow Old Ryan Adams - La Cienega Just Smiled

Ryan Adams Live Ambassdor Theatre, Dublin 08/11/2008 Bootleg (Live Recording)

This is an amazing Live recording. It is taken from the soundboard and is of the highest quality live recording you will find out there. My review is here http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2008/11/ryan-adams-live-ambassdor-theatre_11.html This is show is a must for download. My full review of the gig will follow later today. I would like to thank all involved in recording this.
DOWNLOAD HERE : NEW LINK http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2NYVS1Z6
Track List : Disc I
1. Cobwebs
2. Everybody Knows
3. Born Into a Light
4. Please Do Not Let Me Go
5. Fix It
6. Natural Ghost
7. Goodnight Rose
8. Off Broadway
9. Wonderwall (Oasis)
10. I Taught Myself How To Grow Old
11. The Sun Also Sets
12. Come Pick Me Up
13. Grand Island (Neal Casal)
Disc II
14. Go Easy
15. Sink Ships
16. Crossed Out Name
17. Stars Go Blue
18. Let it Ride
19. Desire
20. Evergreen
21. Cold Roses
22. Freeway to the Canyon (Neal Casal)
23. Like Yesterday
24. La Cienega Just Smiled
25. Stop
26. Two
27. I See Monsters
Ryan Adams (Vocals / Guitar / Piano) Neal Casal (Guitar / Piano / Vocals) Chris Feinstein (Bass / Background Vocals) Jon Graboff (Pedal Steel / Guitar / Background Vocals) Brad Pemberton (Drums / Background Vocals)
FOH: Paul Massaro Taped: John Carlin Mastered: Joel Swaney Source: SBD Matrix (w/ 2 onstage mics) Lineage: M-Audio Microtrack(16/44.1) > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CD Wave > FLAC(8) Thanks to Ryan Adams, Cardinals, crew, and everyone else you made this recording possible. Please give support by purchasing official merchandise. 
THIS RECORDING IS NOT FOR SALE - DO NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN! DO NOT REDISTRIBUTE IN A LOSSY FORMAT - KEEP THE RECORDING PURE!
Brought to you by http://www.ryanadamsarchive.com/

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Albums Listening to in November 08

Elton John to Play Live in Thomond Park

Elton John has just announced he will perform live at Thomond Park Stadium, the magnificent Munster Rugby Ground in Limerick on Saturday 6 June 2009. Elton, who has a career spanning more than four decades and boasts global record sales of over 250 million, will make his triumphant return to Ireland and perform live for the first time in Thomond Park, Limerick next summer. This is a rare opportunity to enjoy one of the most respected and successful artists in music history. Tickets will go on sale Monday 10 November at 09:00.