Kings of Oxegen

Kings of Leon have been announced as the first act to play the Kildare festival this year. What is with KOL? If you are a seasoned festival or gig goer you must have seen them like 8 times now. Come up with some originality MCD. Last year was the first year I didn't go to oxegen and it was a good decision instead I spent my money on checking out other gigs and acts I wanted to see on my own terms and time. Looks like it will be the same again this year. Oxegen same ole same ole, but having said that it still is a great place to start off your gig going career and discover new and exciting acts just steer clear of the main stage by the looks of this years line-up. Two other Oxegen veterans are rumoured to be playing there too, Snow Patrol and The Killers. Come on MCD put some life into the place, shake it up a bit. Book the Rolling Stones and lets have a real headliner!

Acoustic Fred in Limerick

Fred the five piece from Cork City are heading to limerick this Saturday to play an acoustic set. The setting for this intimate gig is the new Belltable Art Centre. The belltable has moved if you haven't already noticed as is now located at 36 Cecil St (Formally the Red Cross Hall). The new Belltable have provided us with fantastic acoustic sessions already in 2008 and keep an eye out for two more coming up in 09 shortly (Gig Listings on Sidebar).

Saturday seems to be a one off, one band affair as the corkonians take to the stage. With 3 albums in the bag this five piece are worth checking out. The price tag for the gig is only 15 euro and its sure to be a great night. Enjoy! Check out these : www.belltable.ie http://www.fredtheband.com http://www.myspace.com/fredtheband http://www.eightball.ie Fred Live in Cork

Uncut March 2009

I know its only February but the March edition of Uncut Magazine is already out and its a Neil Young bonanza once more.

This issue deals with the coming release of the Neil Young Archive Series. This release has been rumoured to be released for years and I think 2009 will be the year it sees the the daylight. 40 years of young's music on several disks and several formats (Blue-ray,Dvd and CD) plus pictures,books and sleeve notes. 1963-1972 is alot of music from the man and I'm really looking forward to it hearing it all.

The new Uncut magazine also has a free Album called Long May You Run (15 Tracks in the Key of Neil). Modern singer songwriters that have been heavily influenced by Neil appear on this album including Ryan Adams partner in crime Neil Casal. A song from Casal's new and superb album Roots & Wings is featured on it.

Get to the shop and buy!

Indiecater Records, the ball is rolling once more

If Mr.Kipling is said to have exceeding good cakes well Indiecater Records have exceeding good albums. The ever hard working Mp3hugger (Blogger of Genius proportions) just seems to churn out records as easy as we have breakfast.

The label has Ten albums on the go and many more to come. It started out with compilation albums then re-release albums and now brand new music. They all still hold the small price tag which is prefect for these R word times.

The latest re-release is Folklore - The Ghost of H.W. Beaverman and is only 3.50, 3 euro fecking 50! Cant go wrong. There is also news that the band the Very Most is set to release four EP throughout 2009 to coincide with the seasons. All amazing projects and really looking forward to this.

Another added bonus, indiecater records are offering a freebie album made up of tracks from all the albums released under the label. Go check out the site : http://www.indiecater.com/

Cheers Mp3Hugger and keep up the wondrous work!

The Doves, Album News and a Freebie!

The Doves are on the verge of a new album called "Kingdom of Rust". The album is out on the 6th of April but to whet the appetite they are offering the single "JetStream" for free on their site (http://www.doves.net/home/download). The Doves always deliver great albums and by the sound of the free download this 5th album will be no different. Hopefully they will play a few gigs over here, nothing listed as yet. Track List : 'Jetstream' 'Kingdom Of Rust' 'The Outsiders' 'Winter Hill' '10.03' 'The Greatest Denier' 'Birds Flew Backwards' 'Spellbound' 'Compulsion' 'House Of Mirrors' 'Lifelines' "Kingdom of Rust" live at Royal Festival Hall, 2008

Meteor Music Awards 2009 Nominations

They will be announced officially tomorrow but someone leaked them so here they are. Terrible list by the way. So many great irish acts just left in the gutter. Check out last years winners http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2008/02/meteor-award-winners-2008.html

Best National DJ Tony Fenton – TodayFM Dan Hegarty – 2fm Alison Curtis – Today Fm Dave Fanning – RTE Radio 1 Ray Foley - Todayfm Rick O’Shea – 2fm Best Regional DJ Dermot, Dave & Siobhan – Dublin’s98 Keith Cunningham - Red FM Leigh Doyle – Beat 102.103 The Zoo Crew – Spin South West Mark Noble - FM104 Jon Richards – Galway Bay FM Best Irish Band The Blizzards Republic of Loose Fight Like Apes The Script Snow Patrol Best Irish Male Mick Flannery Damien Dempsey Duke Special David Holmes Jape (Richard Egan) Best Irish Female Enya Lisa Hannigan Gemma Hayes Imelda May Tara Blaise Camille O’Sullivan Best Irish Pop Act Boyzone The Blizzards The Coronas The Script Westlife Best Irish Album Fight Like Apes – Mystery Golden Medallion Snow Patrol – A Hundred Million Suns Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew Messiah J & The Expert – From the Word Go The Script – The Script Best Irish Live Performance The Coronas The Blizzards The Swell Season Fight Like Apes Republic of Loose

Inner City Pirates Gig Competition

The wonderful people at Lakota Records have provided us with tickets to go see Inner city Pirates in Dolans Warehouse next Wednesday night (4th of Jan).

The band are a bunch of punk-pop indie dance fun bunnies and are sure to guarantee you a great night of entertainment.

You might have heard the energetic crew without even knowing. The recent Guinness ad (The one with all the fridges flying towards the van full of cans) featured their single "Dedication"

Check out their wonderful sound here : http://www.myspace.com/innercitypirates

To be in with a chance to win tickets for you and a friend to see these guys just answer this simple question. Where in the UK are Inner City Pirates from? Send your answers to indielimerick@gmail.com please include the two names of who will be attending the gig and please be sure you will be around Wednesday the 4th of Jan. Winners will be announced Friday or Monday at the latest.Good Luck!

The Smiths/Morrissey Irish Tour Archive

Seeing as I went off to check out all the Irish dates Morrissey has played, I may aswell share them here, dont think this has been done before so here goes. 34 dates played over 24 years. Limerick has had the pleasure of two of these dates. Limerick Set Lists below.
The Smiths
1984 - debut album tour
May 18 - Dublin (Ireland), SFX Centre
May 19 - Dublin (Ireland), SFX Centre
May 20 - Cork (Ireland), Savoy
Nov 11 - Waterford (Ireland), Savoy
Nov 12 - Dublin (Ireland), SFX
Nov 13 - Dublin (Ireland), SFX
Nov 16 - Limerick (Ireland), Savoy
Nov 17 - Galway (Ireland), Leisureland
Nov 18 - Cork (Ireland), Savoy
Nov 20 - Letterkenny (Ireland), Leisure Centre
Nov 21 - Coleraine (Northern Ireland), Univ. Of Coleraine
Nov 22 - Belfast (Northern Ireland), Ulster Hall
1986 -Ireland mini-tour and benefits
Feb 10 - Dublin (Ireland), National Stadium
Feb 11 - Dundalk (Ireland), Fairways Hotel
Feb 12 - Belfast (N.Ireland), Queens Univ. Whitla Hall
Morrissey Solo

1991 -Kill Uncle tour

Apr 27 - Dublin (Ireland), Dublin Stadium

Sep 29 - Dublin (Ireland), Point Depot

1995 -David Bowie's Outside tour

Nov 24 - Dublin (Ireland), Point Depot

1999 -Oye Esteban tour
Nov. 24 Derry - Rialto
Nov. 25 Belfast - Ulster Hall
Nov. 27 Galway - Black Box
Nov. 28 Limerick - University
Nov. 30 Cork - Opera House
Dec. 2 Dublin - The Olympia Theatre
2002
Oct. 2 Dublin - Ambassador Theatre
Oct. 3 Dublin - Ambassador Theatre
2004 -You Are The Quarry tour
June 5 Dublin - Dublin Castle - "Heineken Green Energy" Festival
Dec. 20 Dublin - The Point
2006 -Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI
Apr. 13 Killarney - INEC
Apr. 15 Dublin - The Olympia Theatre
Apr. 16 Dublin - The Olympia Theatre
Aug. 22 Dublin - Marlay Park
2008 -Greatest Hits tour
June 26 Cork - Live at the Marquee Festival
June 28 Dublin - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
2009
28/April - INEC, Killarney
29/April - Leisureland, Galway (Review Here)
23/Nov - National Stadium , Dublin
2011
29/Jul - Vicar St. Limerick

Past Limerick Gigs -28/11/1999, UL - Set List and Bootleg can be found here : http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2009/01/morrissey-live-at-university-of.html -16/11/1984, Savoy, Limerick

Set List : William, It Was Really Nothing What She Said Nowhere Fast Reel Around The Fountain Rusholme Ruffians This Charming Man How Soon Is Now? Still Ill Barbarism Begins At Home I Want The One I Can't Have Miserable Lie Hand In Glove What Difference Does It Make? Jeane These Things Take Time Handsome Devil

-No Bootleg out there

Please feel free to review any of the concerts above!

Morrissey Live at The University of Limerick, 28/11/1999 Bootleg

9 years ago Morrissey was in this very city to play a packed out UL full of students and Morrissey fanatics.

In anticipation to seeing the man this year in galway I was checking out the places he has played in Ireland before. After seeing the Limerick gig in the Moz archives I went in search of a bootleg to the Limerick gig. As I didn't get to see the show back in 99 it is really interesting to tap into the gig in bootleg form. Moz at the start of the show introduces the band as Irish band Big Tom and The Mainliners. The quality is a good as you would get from a 9 year old recording and well worth a free download. If you did have the pleasure of seeing Moz that night feel free to write a review. Enjoy! Now to source the second time Moz was in Limerick as the Smiths back in 1984. The 16th of November Savoy show doesnt seem to exist so dont hold out for anything and again if you were at that show please let us know how it all went down. Cheers!

Set List :

You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side The Boy Racer Alma Matters Tomorrow Hairdresser On Fire Is It Really So Strange? Billy Budd Break Up The Family Sunny Trouble Loves Me Meat Is Murder Now My Heart Is Full Reader Meet Author The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Pupils November Spawned A Monster Speedway Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

Download for Free Here : http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7UGNELQ7

Whiskeytown Reincarnated?

Discovered a band called Band of Annuals and their sound is strangely like Whiskeytown of old. With the news of Ryan Adams taking time off from music and that yearning for a whiskeytownesque album this just sorts you right out!

Band of annuals 2007 album "Let Me Live" just has this serious Caitlin Cary/Ryan Adams feel to it. Jay Henderson/Jeremi Hanson vocal reincarnation of whiskeytown is just magic. This Utah band are one to check out (www.myspace.com/bandofannuals ).

Band of Annuals - "Blood On My Shirt"

Joy Division For One Week Only

On Pitchfork (http://pitchfork.tv/?p=one-week-only) as i have stated here before show a music film every week for one week only, there have been some great movies so far. This week they have a Joy Division Documentary.

The Film is Directed by Grant Gee, it is a detailed look into the origins and growth of monumental post-punk band from Manchester, it includes interviews from the remaining members (who went on to form New Order) and others close to the band. Best thing is its all for free every week!

Bell x1 to play yet another Limerick date

They had originally set out to play one night in dolans for Friday the 27th of march, tickets for that show sold out in 3 hours!

Another date has been added for Saturday the 28th, Go and get them before their snatched aswell.

Meet The Villagers

I first heard of this project through the band One Day International and have been fancinated ever since. I have heard 6/7 songs from them through the medium of youtube, Other Voices,nialler9 and myspace. The ex-front man of the Immediate just has you begging for more. On February 9th Conor J. O’ Brien is set to release a 4 track EP called Hollow Kind. I can see this calming the thrist for more for only so long. The villagers tour dates are for galway and dublin, I am holding out for a Limerick appearance and holding out for a full album aswell hopefully. One can only hope.

Conor or Cathy Davey's guitar player has obviously been around the Irish music scene for quite some time as the line up of the villagers seems to be people interconnected in this countrys music scene. The ever changing line up is as follows : -Byrne, James (Owns the record label they are putting the ep out on) -Curran, Cormac (From One Day International and also in Cathy Daveys band) -McLaughlin, Tommy (Ex Immediate and in a Band called Berkely) -O'Brien, Conor (Ex Immediate and in Cathy Davey's band) -Snow, Danny (From One Day International)

Really looking forward to the EP and whats next for the villagers. Keep an eye on them (http://www.myspace.com/wearevillagers) Villagers solo performance - 'The Meaning of the Ritual' (Bathroom Session in a bedroom) Villagers solo performance - 'On A Sunlit Stage' (Bathroom Session)

Irish Festival Awards

Irish Festival Awards for 2008 is to take place in February, Cois Fharraige won the best newcomer last year and now have been nominated for the best small festival 2008. Check out the my site for my review of this majestic festival here http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2008/09/cois-fharraige-2008-weekend-review.html

you can also find some individual band review from the festival on the sidebar under the heading gig reviews.

I am really looking forward to what 2009 holds for the festival. There was many rumours of the festival being moved to silgo but for now it looks like it is staying in Kilkee!

Apart for Cois Fharraige I am looking forward to the festival season and keep your eye here as I will once again atempt to give you a pre review of the festivals under the heading of festival conundrum.

Go vote for last years festivals here : www.irishfestivalawards.ie

Best of Luck!

Nominations List for Irish Blog Awards (Best Music Blog)

We were nominated! Thanks to the people who nominated us. This list will be broken down into a long list then a short list. I was longlisted last year lets hope for the same again. Thanks again. The list below is a great way to find new music sites aswell. Enjoy! Best Music Blog - Sponsored by DownloadMusic.ie Tenacioust: http://tenacioustimothy.wordpress.com/ Ken Mcguire: http://kenmc.com/ Music Roadmusic Road: http://musicroad.blogspot.com/ Musical Rooms: http://musicalrooms.wordpress.com/ Mp3hugger: http://mp3hugger.com/ Kilkennymusic.com: http://kilkennymusic.com/ Fireworks And Mash: http://fireworksandmash.com/ Indie Limerick: http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/ 2 U I Bestow: http://2uibestow.blogspot.com/ Asleep On The Compost Heap: http://onavery.blogspot.com/ Cheebah And All That: http://cheebah.net/ Circa: Now!: http://ciarandryan.blogspot.com/ Nick Thinks: http://nickthinks.wordpress.com/ Swear I’m Not Paul: http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com/ Nialler9: http://nialler9.com/ Egoeccentric: http://egoeccentric.blogspot.com/ Off Her Rocker: http://wordpress.hotpress.com/offherrocker The Indie Hour: http://indiehour.wordpress.com/ Jackandthe-news: http://jackandthe.com/ Stuart’s World!: http://stuartlawler.ie/ Frmckenzie: http://frmckenzie.wordpress.com/ Weareie: http://weareie.com/ Stuart Bailie: http://bbc.co.uk/blogs/stuartbailie The Red Scrapbook: http://theredscrapbook.blogspot.com/ Smoke/less/fuels: http://smokelessfuels.blogspot.com/ State Magazine: http://state.ie/blog Analogue Magazine: http://analoguemagazine.com/ Guess List: http://guesslist.ie/ The Torture Garden: http://thetorturegarden.blogspot.com/ Unarocks: http://unarocks.blogspot.com/ Unreality Music: http://music.unrealitytv.co.uk/ Those Geese Were Stupefied: http://thosegeese.blogspot.com/ On The Record: http://irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord Drop-d Music Journal: http://drop-d.ie/ Cheebah And All That: http://cheebah.typepad.com/

Living for the City

Living for the city is a new project set up by the Limerick Youth Service. The projects aim is to raise money for good causes throughout the city and also raise the profile of Limerick city. The project aims to showcase the talents of limerick over the year with five main events. All money raised goes to the organisation. Here are the various events. January 24th Dolans Warehouse hosts : The Outfit The Hitchers Giveamanakick Walter Mitty & The Realists Size2Shoes *Only 15Euro February 20th FISH GO DEEP (Greg Dowling & Shane Johnson)with djs: Paul Webb, Niall Colgan, Tom Frawley,Johnny Hammond, Erick & Mac 3 (back 2 back) All in Trinity Rooms, The Granary, Michael Street, Limerick March 28th LIMERICK BALL: An Evening with GEORGE HOOK, BRENT POPE& THE IRISH RAT PACK + MAGICIAN STEPHEN O’MARA In the Strand Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick April 22nd IRISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA + Special GuestsUniversity Concert Hall Limerick, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick May 3rd Triatlon Weekend UL Sports Arena, University of Limerick, Casteltroy, Limerick

Looks like a great line up for the year, Saturday looks like the one to get to. For more info check out their website http://www.livingforthecity.eu/

Arlo Guthrie plays Dolans this Wednesday

The legend Arlo Guthrie is gracing the city wednesday night. Dolans will host the son of the ledgendary Woody Guthrie. A legend now in his own rite Arlo will play the warehouse for a fee of 30 Euro. Below are some clips down through the years. This guy has been around music his whole life , started performing at 13 and never looked back. From Woodstock to the Newport Folk Festival Arlo has played them all. Now he plays this new tour dubbed The “Arlo Guthrie Solo Reunion Tour- Together At Last”. This will be worth a trip to the warehouse. Check him out here: http://www.arlo.net/

Arlo Guthrie - Coming Into Los Angeles - Woodstock 1969

Arlo Guthrie - Motorcycle Song (1975) Arlo Guthrie - City of New Orleans (1978)

Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant

Fork in The Road

Looks like a new Neil Young album is on its way. The title track below seems to be a bit of a tongue in cheek song, neil just having fun. The air guitar at the end of the video is priceless. On the European tour just gone he has played several new songs listed below. I would presume these will form the basis of the new album. His archives series is supposed to come out in March but it looks like we are going to have to wait around a bit longer for that. Fair play to Neil still raring to go, looking forward to the new record.

Possible Track list 01 Just Singing A Song (first: Helsinki 2008/08/07, 4th song that night) 02 Sea Change (Goeteborg 2008/08/09, 15th) 03 When Worlds Collide (Coburg 2008/08/23, 17th) 04 Light A Candle (Toronto 2008/12/04, 11th) 05 Fuel Line (Auburn Hills 2008/12/07, 18th) 06 Cough Up The Bucks (Worcester 2008/12/13, 12th) 07 Hit The Road (Worcester 2008/12/13, 14th) 08 Get Behind The Wheel (Worcester 2008/12/13, 19th) 09 Off The Road (NYC, 2008/12/15, 19th) 10 Get Around/You Don't Need A Map (NYC, 2008/12/16, 15th) 11 Fork In The Road (Neil's Garage debut 1/7/09).

Other Voices is Back!

The seventh series of RTÉ Two's 'Other Voices' is back since last night. 11.20pm last nigh saw the likes of Elbow, Liam Finn, Jape, Steve Reynolds and the Villagers take to the stage in St.James Church, Dingle. It was amazing to see Elbow in this superb setting. The villagers are going to be huge after this, they are comprised of people you will recognise from being in and out of Irish bands. For example the guitar player with Cathy Davey and so on. Watch out for them. If your new to Other Voices you can check out all the previous shows on their site. http://www.rte.ie/tv/othervoices/. There is a Ryan Adams other voices session there. Here is the program of events for this year : -Programme 1: Wednesday 14 January 2009 Elbow, Liam Finn, Jape, Steve Reynolds, Villagers. -Programme 2: Wednesday 21 January 2009 James Morrison, Lisa Hannigan, Eric Bibb, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, 'Other Room' R.S.A.G. -Programme 3: Wednesday 28 January 2009 Duke Special, Emiliana Torrini, Hugh Cornwell, Mick Flannery, 'Other Room' Chequerboard. -Programme 4: Wednesday 4 February 2009 Billy Bragg, Richard Hawley, Kila, Grainne Duffy, 'Other Room' MJEX. -Programme 5: Wednesday 11 February 2009 Christy Moore with Declan Sinnott, Imelda May, Noah & The Whale, Halves, 'Other Room' Si Schroder -Programme 6: Wednesday 18 February 2009 Viewers' Choice

The Choice Music Prize 08

The shortlist 08 :

Fight Like Apes “Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion” (Model Citizen) Mick Flannery “White Lies” (EMI) Halfset “Another Way of Being There” (Casino Gravity Records) Lisa Hannigan “Sea Sew” (Own label) David Holmes “The Holy Pictures” (Canderblinks) Jape “Ritual” (Co-Op) Messiah J & The Expert “From The Word Go” (Inaudible) Oppenheimer “Take The Whole Mid-Range And Boost It” (Fantastic Plastic) R.S.A.G. “Organic Sampler” (Psychonavigation) The Script “The Script” (Sony Music)

The winner will be announced at a live event held at Vicar Street, Dublin on Wednesday March 4. How One Day International and Mark Geary are not above I do not know, it's not like they couldnt make room, two words THE SCRIPT! If Lisa doesn't win it, its a crying shame.

More info : http://www.choicemusicprize.com/

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals Call It A Day I Think

Looks like according to the bands blog http://cave.cardinology.com/ that Ryan has said he is to step back from music altogether when the band finish this latest tour of the states. He continues by saying the cardinals have been good to him and that they are to finish. His reasons are for a break and his hearing is gone to the point of serious pain and he wants to concentrate on his writing. Infinity blues is out in April , i have the book since December and it is a great read, he now talks about two more books in the pipe line. I would say one is called bug. At the end of the day why we like Ryan is down to his music, he could write hundreds of books but all we want is music Ryan! On the back of his new book infinity blues it states that Ryan has moved to Paris. I presume he will move there when the tour is over. Become a Parisian recluse and write a series of books and maybe some solo material down the line. As far as I know their is one more Cardinals record to go. Hopefully this isn't the end of Ryan and his music. Some notable quotes : "i am excited to finish this wonderful time i have had with the cardinals and whatever new adventures may come after march. atlanta will be my last venture with the band and i am grateful for the time we have had and maybe someday we will have more stories to tell together"

"maybe i will play again sometime but this is the time for me to step back now, and i wish everyone peace and happiness and if music is your dream, or if just dreaming is your dream, may you find your way through the rough patch with ease and i hope you let go and it takes you all the way there- loving kindness to all. R"

The last date of the tour is March 20th in Atlanta at the Fox Theater.

Now That You're Gone by Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

The Cranberries in Bootleg Form!

As a Limerick blogger I wouldn't be doing my job if Iwasn't talking about Limerick music. The Cranberries were one of the most successful acts to come out of here and played many a great gig. Over on a bootleg site you can sample five great live gigs from the band for free. Check it out here http://theultimatebootlegexperience.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Cranberries. This site is great, have a good look around there is something for everyone.

Doloras O' Riordan was recently inducted as an honorary patron at the Philosophical Society in Trinity College, Dublin. On January 9th, 2009 Dolores, Noel and Mike reunited and performed at the University. Maybe a reunion is on the cards? Hopefully. Not this year anyways as May sees Doloras bring out another solo effort by the name of No Baggage?

Unsigned Music Snippets # 7 - Tenaka

Name : Tenaka
Hails From : Limerick/Galway
Music Sound : Air, Radiohead, Röyksopp esque
About :
Tenaka just released an EP for free on their myspace page (Link Below) and have givin a nice relaxing sound to January 09.
This local act comprising of one man Ronan Carroll has been making waves throughout the land. From BBC radio to websites galore the praises seem to flood in. One listen to the new free EP "EPonymously Titled" makes you understand the hype.

The EP oozes a sense of chill out happy factor and transports you to this ambient place full of beats and psychedelic fun. Ain't Nobody the opener of the four tracks on the EP is just great, it sounds like Radiohead being backed by Air just a great sound.

The four track ep seems to be just an appetiser and I am sure we will hear more from the local lad very soon. Hopefully a gig a tow and a full album! Keep an eye on this one
GO CHECK HIM OUT HERE : http://www.myspace.com/tenakadrifting

Years of Refusal

I cant praise this album enough. From start to finish its unreal and a must buy. Go get it your ears will thank you! This album will be in the top ten slot at the end of the year. Really looking forward to hearing it live in April.

Yet Another Shameless Plug

2009 Irish Blog Award Nominations are in full swing. I was nominated last year even when the site was in its baby steps. The awards will take place in Cork this year and who knows i might end up going.

The nominations form can be found here. Nominate your favourite blog in each of the categories.Nominations close in two days on 14th January. Go On!

Bands You Must See Before You Die Revisited

I said I would revisit this post again firstly to tick off some I have seen and also to revise the list. Check out the original post here for June 08 :http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2008/06/bands-you-must-see-before-you-die.html

The Original List :

-Radiohead (Saw them on the 07/06/2008 - Review here http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2008/06/radiohead-live-malahide-castledublin.html) -Ryan Adams(Saw him twice on the 28/11/2007 - Review here http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2007/11/ryan-adams-national-stadium-dublin-28th.html& also the 08/11/2008 - Review here http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2008/11/ryan-adams-live-ambassdor-theatre_11.html) -Neil Young (Saw him on the 26/06/08- Review here http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2008/06/neil-young-malahide-castledublin-290608.html) -Travis (Saw them on the 07/09/2008 - Review here http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2008/09/travis-live-at-cois-fharraige-7092008.html) -Bob Dylan (Will see on the 5/5/09 in the 02 Dublin) -Morrissey (will see on the 29/April/2009 - Morrissey, Leisureland, Galway) -Oasis (will see on the 20/June/2009 - Oasis, Slane Castle)

The Rest still remain unheard -The White Stripes ( Nearly Did at Oxegen but they pulled out at the last minute) -Led Zeppelin (Doubtful) -The Rolling Stones (Who Knows Maybe One Day) -David Bowie (Nearly Did at Oxegen but he pulled out at the last minute) -Pink Floyd (Doubt that will happen) -The Libertines (Surely the comeback will happen one day) The New List! From the old list -The White Stripes -Led Zeppelin -The Rolling Stones -David Bowie -Pink Floyd -The Libertines (More likely now that both pete and carl aren't tied down with side projects, any day now I reckon) The Newbies -Bon Iver ( Meant to see him last year but never got around to popping up to Dublin, there were too many gigs last year as it was) -The Flaming Lips (Never heard a bad live word about them! A must see) -Bright Eyes ( Should have seen him in 2007 at Oxegen, wont miss that opportunity again) -Bruce Springsteen ( After getting into the earlier stuff I think its time to see this master at work) -Elbow -Badly Drawn Boy -Wilco -Modest Mouse -The Doves +I Will keep adding to the list so keep an eye out. If I keep adding to it ill never finish but on the other hand I never want to be finished. I have nearly seven knocked off the original list, which is great going, hopefully ill have another seven gone this time next year.

Black Cab Sessions

I really like this website http://www.blackcabsessions.com/. It offers videos of artists singing a song of their choice while being driven around london in a black cab. It features hundreds of artists and I like to drop in from time to time. Ryan Adams is the newest edition to the black cabs offerings. Neal Casal and Ryan play a version of Sink Ships from the cardinals new album. The version is just fantastic! Check it out above better quality on the actual site.

Download the actual song here : http://www.sendspace.com/file/9myysx

Coldplay Live The 02, Dublin 21/12/2008 Review

It has been nearly three weeks since the gig so sorry for the delay but I just didn’t know how to attack this review. The three weeks have been good as I was able to reflect on the performance much better. If you had asked me right after the gig I would have said I didn’t like any of it and walked off. I think the best bet is to break this gig down into headings of some sort (Bear with me on this one). Before I do this I have to let you know I am a huge Coldplay fan purely down to “Parachutes” their debut album. This album guided me through several adolescent years and I still have a real affiliation with the album and the band. I first saw Coldplay live at the Witness festival in 2003. The show blew me away and still does when I think about it. They were at their peak “A Rush of Blood to the Head” was a few months old and the band were oozing with excitement. Their third album “X & Y” stank of stadium rubbish but all and all it still had some great tracks but is their worst effort as an album to date. Brian Eno stepped in for the fourth and latest album “Viva La Vida or Death and all his friends”. Brian offers something fantastic on this new album and really pushes the boundaries of an album. If Viva was an album from an unknown artist it would have topped most "best of 2008" lists for sure. It made it to many lists anyway including mine. The album is a great all round grower and the follow up E.P. Propekts March is a must to make the full package work. The "sell out factor" with bands is a constant argument. Maybe it’s when you are that big and have such a big Record company on your back you get pushed into this sort of commercial prostitution. The album/E.P. thing was the first look at a money making racket. The big sound of “X & Y” was another commercial venture, in my opinion if Coldplay had full control we would have completely different albums to date. Maybe I have got it all wrong but it’s just how I feel. I suppose if their new albums are still making top ten lists its cant all be bad. Guess I better get onto the actual gig at hand. The 02 Point Firstly I will talk about the new “Point theatre”. Coldplay were the third act to ever play this new commercial driven “02”. I for one hate the name and will continue to use the point but I guess I like the old names for things I still called “Brown Thomas” in limerick “todds” in all fairness. The venue I must say is spectacular and in terms of music halls it’s up there with the best in Europe. Before I rant about my seat I would just like to point out that I am one of those people who likes to be right in front of the stage and I have been privileged throughout my gig going that I have got this. I got tickets in the presale which in my mind would pick out the real fans and get them savage seats. It was the complete opposite. The seats we got were in the clouds. There was a disclaimer about the o2 that wherever you sit you are alway only 60M from the stage. I would just like to point out that this is complete horse shit. I may as well have been watching the gig on my TV. Well I practically was because I spent most of the night glued to the big screen. Having said that the people I was with really enjoyed the view maybe I was just being fussy due to my usual gig going standards. All and all the venue is amazing and I am really looking forward to returning to see Bob Dylan (This time with a standing ticket, right in front of the stage). The Support Acts Thoughout the Viva la Vida tour Coldplay have had amazing support acts. I was really looking forward to hearing what was on offer for the European dates. Albert Hammond Jr. of Strokes fame and now savage solo albums was announced and I was delighted. When researching his own site it didn’t mention anything for Ireland. Therefore I was once again in the dark about the support. On the night itself I heard names of Kasabian and the enemy bandied about. However what we were treated to was a London Based band by the name of “The High Wire”. Their sound on the night was never right, you could barely make out the vocals and the bass and drums were crazy loud. The sound man got it all wrong. It was unfortunate as they showed potential but never got going. Listening to tracks on their myspace gives an insight to a bands that are able to be much better than what we saw and heard. Check them out here http://www.myspace.com/thehighwire. One support act down one to go. Again Chinese whispers started and all sorts of bands were about to play next. DJ decks were brought out including a large screen. A guy by the name of Jon Hopkins appeared on stage. I knew the name from somewhere and realised he had contributed to both Viva La Vida and Propekts March EP. It was some serious trance/techno/electronica craziness that ensued with backup crazy ass visuals that made little or no sense. It looked like a series of cartoon boobs and willys to me. Check him out for yourself http://www.myspace.com/jonhopkins. Not my cup of tea, so I guess I wont be finding any gems with the support acts then, on to the main show. The Main Act I was concerned after hearing the support acts sound that this would not be fixed but as Coldplay began it was pitch perfect and remained that way until the end. The band pulled out all the stops and it was a real Broadway show more than a gig. We had huge yellow confetti filled balls rolling through the crowd for yellow (Can be seen in the video below). Several stages, one just left of the main stage were the band converged and blasted out techno versions of “God Put A Smile Upon Your Face” and “Talk“ and then left tinsel adorned Chris to play solo piano versions of “The Hardest Part” and “Postcards From Far Away”. It was cool to hear the techno versions and it seems like they themselves were really enjoying it. Chris and the band really put everything into the show. Chris used the full size of the stage. Performing Bonoesque type moves up and down the walkway. After two more Viva songs they went half way up the 02 crowd to a small platform and played “Green Eyes” and jingle bells acoustic before Will the drummer made one of the best moments of the night come alive. Fairytale of New York was blasted out with a backing choir of 10,000. It was just amazing cheesetastic but amazing. Two great encores later which included a butterfly confetti fest for Lovers in Japan(unreal stuff) and the gig was over and I found myself walking around Dublin trying to get a damn cab. As I said earlier if you had asked me straight after I would have said I didnt enjoy it but in hindsight it was a really great gig. Apart from a few songs from the new E.P. the crowd were enthusiastic throughout. The mix of people was actually funny, you had your hardcore fans from back in the blue room EP days to the west coast cooler/ flashing zogabon type, and the kids who just bought “Viva la Vida” with their parents and couples out for the night, a strange mix but that’s what the media and the band have appealed to. There isn’t a radio station in the country that has an hour go by when Coldplay aren’t on it so I guess that’s the reason. I am at fault too, I am holding on to the Coldplay of old, I need to let go and let the new Coldplay happen. My third time seeing the band and I was happy to hear the new album being played live and almost all of it. One of my favourites from the new album “Cemeteries of London” was never played unfortunately. Only one song from parachutes was performed, which was a real bummer. Everything’s not lost would have been amazing when Chris did the piano solo thing, but no one gets their ideal set list. I am just happy I heard them do their early stuff back in 2003 and 2005. The set lists are below who could argue with either. 12/7/2003 - Witness Festival, Fairyhouse Racecourse Politik God Put A Smile Upon Your Face A Rush Of Blood To The Head Daylight One I Love Don’t Panic Everything’s Not Lost Shining Light (Ash Cover) Moses Yellow The Scientist What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong Cover) Encore Clocks In My Place Amsterdam Encore Lips Like Sugar (Echo & The Bunnymen Cover) Gravity (full band version) 22/06/2005 - Marlay Park, Dublin Square One Politik Yellow God Put A Smile Upon Your Face Speed Of Sound Low Warning Sign Everything's Not Lost White Shadows The Scientist 'Til Kingdom Come Don't Panic Clocks Swallowed In The Sea ----- What If In My Place Fix You Conclusion Looking back on the gig as a whole I would have liked to hear old material but that’s in the past , if you didn’t see them then well tough. Like the Radiohead gig last year they played mainly “In Rainbows” sure aren’t they right. It was my stupidity I didn’t see them when “OK Computer” was just out. I guess I can just count my self lucky with what I have seen in terms of Coldplay. I doubt ill be seen at the Phoenix park gig next September but stranger things have happen. I will say if I do go ill be right up the front. Its getting harder to be a Coldplay fan these days, Chris does us no favours with take that covers , jay-z helpings and sugarbabe supports but as long as the band are churning out albums that deserve a top ten album of the year slot, ill be a fan. Cheers! The Actual Set List 1. Life In Technicolor 2. Violet Hill 3. Clocks 4. In My Place 5. Speed Of Sound 6. Yellow 7. Chinese Sleep Chant 8. 42 9. Fix You 10. Strawberry Swing 11. God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (partial techno remix) 12. Talk (partial techno remix) 13. The Hardest Part (Chris solo piano) 14. Postcards From Far Away (Chris solo piano) 15. Viva La Vida 16. Lost! 17. Green Eyes (acoustic) 18. Jingle Bells (acoustic) 19. Fairytale Of New York (acoustic - Will lead vocals) 20. Viva La Vida (remix interlude) --- 21. Politik 22. Lovers In Japan 23. Death And All His Friends --- 24. The Scientist / Back For Good 25. Life In Technicolor ii 26. The Escapist (outro) Coldplay - Yellow Coldplay - Fairytale of New York Coldplay - Lovers in Japan Several Video's from the show here : http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48379 No Bootlegs yet but im sure one will surface at some stage. A guy has put most of the youtube clips to mp3. This file has all the songs except :Speed Of Sound, Chinese Sleep Chant, GPASUYF/Talk, Politik and Life In Technicolor II. Download Here : http://rapidshare.com/files/177422500/CO2D21.22.DEC.2008.zip.html

Albums Listening to in January 09

A slow start to 2009 already and can only show you a handful of albums I'm listening to already. The album above burning codes is once again another great release from indiecater. This time its a re-release effort and can be bought for 4euro and checked out over at www.indiecater.com. Sorry for the lack of posts over the Christmas and up until now. The flu is still hitting hard and I haven't got much time on my hands so far. I will hopefully put up the review of coldplay soon and there are a couple of great gigs coming up, so watch this space