Tonight I finally got down to Bourkes bar to witness the place in full gig mode, The bar has been hand picking some great acts of late and their Thursday night gigs are now firmly on the local gigging map.
Tonight saw the third annual instalment of The Certain Three Tour come to town, The last two occasions took place in dolans and each year brings some great unheard music to limerick and all around Ireland thanks to the booking agency "Word of Mouth".
This would be my first live listen to all three acts tonight, The bar was packed from early on as they had transformed the back bar into a gig cave, complete with black curtain covering the walls and a make shift wooden stage. The seating plan could have been better as they need to change from high stools to low seating all round, well for these acoustic gigs anyways to give people a chance to view the acts. Swiping a small stool from the bar below helped me out anyways.
First up on the bill was Puzzle Muteson, This is the alter ego of singer songwriter Terry Magson. The isle of Wight native accompanied by his guitar played a nice set of dreamy thom yorke esque songs. His haunting vocals filled the room now with bodies strewn about the place all at weird angles trying to catch a look at the stage. Terry has just brought out his debut album En Garde on the Bedroom Community label, you can hear more over at his bandcamp page here www.puzzlemuteson.com
Next up were The Lost Brothers, The duo OisÃn from Navan and Mark from Omagh played a super set to a much enthralled crowd. They offer effortless guitar playing and super tales of their travels intertwined with superb harmonies with a hark back to alt county American style genre. They probably get this a lot but they compare a lot to the Everly Brothers, it was quite funny to hear them play "All I have to do is Dream" in a tribute to Phil Everlys 73rd birthday that night. Having said that you could draw comparisons with alot of acts from that era including hints of Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and also a comparison to an indielimerick favourite The Guggenheim Grotto They certainly look the folk part with eschewed hat and buddy holly glasses and tailored suits among them.
It was great to witness them live and I can see why in this months Hotpress they were tipped as one of “The 50 Irish Acts You Have To Hear”, I managed to pick up their two studio albums including their latest release "So Long John Fante". Looking forward to delving into their sound a bit
more.
Last up was Katie Kim, I had heard a lot about this girl and all good things let me tell you. Her last outing in Limerick was at the now not in use St.Johns Church (Daghda Dance Space). By all accounts Katie Kim stole the show that night in the church with Donal Dineen providing a superb plethora of visuals as a backdrop to her vocals. Tonight saw Katie minus band and visuals. Just a chair, Guitar , loop pedals and a glass of wine. It was nice to see such an intimate performance, She has a very haunting quality to her voice or should I say the microphone effect pedal has. I could see a duet with the first act working out really well as the comparisons were quite similar. I like that she throws in the odd quirky tone into her vocals and she has a super talent on the guitar. She informed us that she had special cassette versions of her album on sale, but being someone who as crossed into 2012 I didn't see any point in purchasing. I Really enjoyed her experimentation with the looping vocals, look forward to catching her again with a full band on tow.
The night was a great success, For me the Lost Brothers made the night. It was great to witness these great acts in a bar in town for free. Thanks very much to Bourkes, Looking forward to the next gig!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Senakah Unveil New Video
Superb local outfit Senakah have just released a video for their new single Human Relations. The four piece have had a few changes of late including a name change from Seneca to Senakah, The excellent quality of music staying the same.
The official release date for the single is the 17th of February and the lads will be doing a hometown show in Dolans to coincide with the release. 2012 promises to be a great year for the band, looking forward to hearing the full album in due coarse, Keep an eye on them here.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Certain Three Tour is Limerick Bound Again
The first Certain Three tour took place back in 2010 (I think) in dolans, Its a tour made up of excellent artists signed up to the Word of Mouth Agency. It showcases 3 acts and is a great opportunity to catch new bands. The 2010 tour (Review Here) introduced me to the brilliant O Emperor and Alessi's Ark both of which are still regulars on the indielimerick ipod.
Last year saw the tour head to Dolans once more showcasing The Ambience Affair, We Cut Corners and local band Windings.
2012 see the tour take in a new venue in the form of Bourkes Bar, The line up this year is Katie Kim, The Lost Brothers and Puzzle Muteson. Thursday the 19th of January will hopefully be a chance to witness some new bands. Looking forward to it!!
Albums Worth Listening to in January 2012
L-R
The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient
The Staves - Mexico EP
Fuerteventura - Russian red
The Black Keys - El Camino
Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo
We Cut Corners - Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards
The Staves - Mexico EP
Fuerteventura - Russian red
The Black Keys - El Camino
Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo
We Cut Corners - Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards
As Always Suggestions Very Welcome!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Brad Pitt Light Orchestra live at Dolans 28/12/2011 Review
BPLO seem to be having an annual bash in dolans to see out the year, Its been 2 years since I last caught the band live and its always a pleasure,
Tonight saw local young band Moscow Metro join them on the billing as the support act and also Mister Justin, The upstairs in dolans was mobbed with people and with still 2 hours to go before the gig. BPLO clearly have a great local following and the numbers tonight proves just that.
The first act Mister Justin played a handful of songs that I couldn't really hear due to the mass of people and their "How'd the Christmas go" conversations and then came Moscow Metro, This time with added drums which made the crowd sit up and listen a little. This band are going from strength to strength and tonight might not have been the clientele that would usually sample their type of music but they got a great reception. I am really looking forward to seeing how 2012 goes for Moscow Metro.
Setlist:
headlights
black honey
skinny love (Bon Iver cover)
westerberg
tunnel vision (Tuesday Blue cover)
venus
where it all ends
spirit of the city
BPLO clambered on stage to great applause, The blake siblings joined by a pletera of local talent on various instruments gave a great night of entertainment. Delighted they put in a seasonal song in the set in the form of an East17 cover :)
When you go to a BPLO gig you really get a performance, It is almost like witnessing a play and I love the theatrical nature of a lot of their tracks, The last time I saw them was the night they released their 2010 album Lowering the Tone(Review here), 2012 promises a new record from them, so fingers crossed. Cheers for another great night.
SetList:
Summit
We Walked On
Talking
Alibi
Grace Jones
Wake Up
Four out of Five
Soon
Tractor
Last of Me
First Dance
Stay Another Day (East17 Cover)
New Miracle
December
Millionaire
Devil & Me
All I Want Long
Time Rouge
Friday, December 23, 2011
Jagermeister Freezer Sessions, Dolans 09/12/2011 Review
This review is only about two weeks late but better late than never I guess, Hotpress and Jagermeister have been putting on these freezer sessions for a number of years now and long may they last. We were treated to another great line up of talent and a late night of drinks and music.
It was great to see the young local act Animal beats start off proceedings, These guys seem to step it up a notch everytime I see them now. There sound and quality is really high at the moment and I am really looking forward to seeing something produced by them in 2012. A great live act!
Next up were Dublin trio El Hombre Jokes, The lads played a nice set after the crowd were well warmed up from Animal Beats and test tube shots of Jagermeister.
Túcan Silgos answer to rodrigo y gabriela with a splash of Kila up next on stage, The crowd were well on form and well on it throughout their set.
R.S.A.G was the next act up on the bill, Kilkenny native Jeremey Hickey was practically living up to his moniker in these parts until tonight, For me the one drummer mumbling into the mic trick is slighting fading away but then you hear some familar tracks that are good but all in all the set seem to drag.
Next up were the main act Fred, Once again an awesome night of tracks from the band who in my opinion brought of one the best albums of the year in the form of Leaving my empire. Tonight they were joined on keyboard by the excellent Cormac Curran. The set was getting the crowd going no end and had two jagerbombers invade the stage twice before being horsed off.
Great night as always , Cheers Hotpress!! Thanks Jagermeiser and yes its your fault this took so long to write.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Gig of the Month Tonight!!!
Its very exciting times in Limerick at the moment, as lots of pubs are turning into mini music haunts. Bourkes are king pin in the city at the moment and are really reeling in the top acts.
Jape is one of the best Irish acts out there at the moment and plays Bourkes tonight for Free!!! Enjoy it.
Reviews of some of his past Limerick gigs:
Jape Dolans 24/09/2011
Jape supporting Bellx1, Big Top 02/12/2011
Jape, Dolans 22/09/2011
Jape is one of the best Irish acts out there at the moment and plays Bourkes tonight for Free!!! Enjoy it.
Reviews of some of his past Limerick gigs:
Jape Dolans 24/09/2011
Jape supporting Bellx1, Big Top 02/12/2011
Jape, Dolans 22/09/2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Top Ten Albums of 2011 from Indielimerick
Another year down and what a year for great gigs it was, 21 gigs reviewed for indielimerick. Gig of the year goes to Ryan Adams live at Glasgow back in June, An amazing night of 27 songs from my favourite artist. Review here.
Indielimerick is 5 years old this year and I finally brought out a compilation album of limerick acts/bands. The Charity album was great fun putting together and I am absolutely delighted with the response it has been getting.
The New Reindeer Age was limited to 500 copies and a few are still left and are currently on sale around Limerick and also online here. (Shops stocking the album : Limerick Self Storage, Learning Hub Limerick, Beats Working Foxes Bow, Dolans Warehouse and the Curragower Pub.)
The album features on my top ten albums for 2011, yes I'm extremely biased but the album has a seriously good tracklist, If you get a chance pop out and buy a copy! more info here.
The list of albums below are in no particular order as always. They are just albums I have kept going back to over the year. Hope you all have a great Christmas and a great 2012, Thanks for reading throughout the year.
Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
The New Reindeer Age
Radiohead - The King of Limbs
Lisa Hannigan - Passenger
Fionn Regan - 100 Acres of Sycamore
The Hot Sprockets - Honey Skippin
Fred - Leaving My Empire
Bellx1 - Bloodless Coup
Wilco - The Whole Love
Notable Mentions to these gems :
Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit, Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues, Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know, Bon Iver - Bon Iver, The Decemberists - The King is Dead, Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters –The Devil In Music, Okkervil River - I Am Very Far
Indielimerick is 5 years old this year and I finally brought out a compilation album of limerick acts/bands. The Charity album was great fun putting together and I am absolutely delighted with the response it has been getting.
The New Reindeer Age was limited to 500 copies and a few are still left and are currently on sale around Limerick and also online here. (Shops stocking the album : Limerick Self Storage, Learning Hub Limerick, Beats Working Foxes Bow, Dolans Warehouse and the Curragower Pub.)
The album features on my top ten albums for 2011, yes I'm extremely biased but the album has a seriously good tracklist, If you get a chance pop out and buy a copy! more info here.
The list of albums below are in no particular order as always. They are just albums I have kept going back to over the year. Hope you all have a great Christmas and a great 2012, Thanks for reading throughout the year.
Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
The New Reindeer Age
Radiohead - The King of Limbs
Lisa Hannigan - Passenger
Fionn Regan - 100 Acres of Sycamore
The Hot Sprockets - Honey Skippin
Fred - Leaving My Empire
Bellx1 - Bloodless Coup
Wilco - The Whole Love
Notable Mentions to these gems :
Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit, Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues, Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know, Bon Iver - Bon Iver, The Decemberists - The King is Dead, Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters –The Devil In Music, Okkervil River - I Am Very Far
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Albums Worth Listening to in December 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
The New Reindeer Age Launch Night, Dolans 03/12/2011 Review
Moscow Metro
The New Reindeer Age was finally launched on Saturday to a packed upstairs in Dolans. After a few months of planning this album, all the hard work paid off on Saturday and everything went according to plan.
Seven amazing acts gave their time to play a super night of music for the worthy cause that is the Learning Hub Limerick.
Randolf
Keith Forde
A quote from the sleeve notes on the original 1990 Reindeer age album stated :
The Reindeer Age: Is a product of goodwill and friendliness which exists between Limerick bands.
21 years on and this is still true today as ever, Its was great to see all the band that were not playing on the night show up to support it. Would really like to thank all the people who made their way down to dolans to witness the event and ultimately buy an album for charity. We sold a great number of the albums on the night which only cost €10 for 22 tracks of limericks finest bands.
Dead Red Light
The 500 limited album will now be available in various places around the city and this week I will be distributing them. Currently Limerick Self Storage and The Learning Hub have copies for sale, Keep an eye on the facebook page and updates page on the blog for more venues selling it.
Protobaby
Below are a few videos from the launch night in Dolans
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The New Reindeer Age - Album Launch
A free event upstairs in dolans for a great cause, where else would you be of a Saturday. A stellar line up is in store as it kicks off at 8.30 with bands such as:
Protobaby
Dead Red Light
Moscow Metro
Eamonn hehir
Keith Forde
Randolf
Siobhan O'Brien
Tell your friends and spread the word, The cd will be on sale for €10 bob on the night. TEN EURO for 22 Tracks!!!!
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-New-Reindeer-Age-Limerick-Charity-Album/178004538946779
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