Reasons To Be Happy – And Sad

Let’s get the sad news out of the way first.

Stevie Scullion and Johnny Toman, the dynamic banjo-welding duo behind Cat Malojian, have, after a near decade of wonderful songwriting, decided to call it quits.
Our regulars will be aware of how highly rated these two were in this manor, In fact, when it comes to classic Neil/Macca chorus-mongering their back catalogue could go toe-to-toe not only with any other local acts, but with quite a few with a more global profile.
However, while indie folk pop always seemed like a diversion for Jonny, who had spent most of his life seeped in trad/bluegrass, Stevie is thick with the stuff – so it comes as no surprise to discover that the guy has decided to carry on merrily along that path. Early sessions with Barrett Lahey sound very promising and hint at a more contemporary, swaggersome sound, so we’ll catch up with him soon to find out more. Oh, and he’s calling himself Malojian. As you would.
General Fiasco’s debut album Buildings left us feeling a bit derelict. Their fantastic singles – ‘Ever So Shy’ and ‘Rebel Get By’ – aside, the record’s airless production values seemed to be operating less in service to the songs than to some craven desire for airplay. Radio friendly but personality free – those of us who had been initially won over by the lads’ uncanny knack for conjuring up an airborne melody couldn’t help but feel short-changed.
However, however... The band’s new single, ‘The Age That You Start Losing Friends’ is exactly the kind of hail and follow comeback tune that re-ignites belief and clears the decks for a new congregation. It’s a brilliant, rousing, re-statement of everything that made them so promising early on. And suggests that while their old sparring partners, Two Door Cinema Club, were fastest out of the blocks, our Bangor chums shouldn’t take their lead for granted: General Fiasco have a mean sprint finish.
The Wonder Villains seem to have emerged from Derry fully formed as a pop band. 2012 looks likely to be the year when things get really interesting for this lot, but their new single, ‘Zola’, is a great way see in the winter.
Peter McAuley’s Rams’ Pocket Radio have, similarly, been drawing quite a bit of attention to themselves of late. Longer and longer guest-lists at their shows, management deals, support gigs with Snow Patrol, slots at Glastonbury – it’s been a year of spectacular progress. As if to acknowledge 2011’s benign karma, Rams’ are planning a hectic run-in. A new EP, Dogs Run In Packs, is out now, while an extensive Irish tour will run through much of December, culminating in a Belfast gig at Stiff Kitten on December 23. They could be playing bigger barns before long, so take advantage of this opportunity to see them up close.
It would, of course, be remiss of me not to mention the big awards ceremony that Belfast recently hosted.
So here goes. An obligatory (maybe necessary?) pre-prandial bun fight did little to dampen the mood at the inaugural Northern Ireland Music Awards. A lifetime achievement nod for Stiff Little Fingers filled in some back-story to the night, but with the likes of Cashier No. 9, The Japanese Popstars, ASIWYFA, and the aforementioned Fiascos and Villains all in attendance too, the main celebratory focus was – quite rightly – on the here and now.
News that Robyn G. Shiels picked up ‘Best Solo Artist’ gladdened the heart. The consistency of the Kilrea man’s output (both tonally and in terms of quality) speaks of someone with a fierce independence of spirit. However, given the treacherous commercial conditions he and artists of his ilk are having to navigate, we shouldn’t be sniffy about the morale-boosting properties of a bauble like that.
And it will be a brave performer who tries to wrestle it off him next year.