Their odd-ball sound is hard to pin down, but that hasn’t prevented indie rockers 8 Ball from becoming one of the most buzzed about Irish groups on the scene.
Having built up a solid reputation on the gigging circuit, blues outfit Ali and The DTs have just released their debut album. Harp player Christian Volkmann discusses the details of their unique sound with Colm O’Hare.
Horslips axeman Johnny Fean is honouring us with a masterclass at the upcoming Music Show in the RDS. Here, he talks about his formative influences and Horslips’ upcoming reunion
In recent years, Oxegen has made it easier than ever for fans to enjoy an ecologically responsible festival. This year organisers are raising the ante yet further with a host of green initiatives – as well as oodles of on-site entertainment for campers .
What better way for an indie musician to spend an evening than checking out the wares in one of Europe’s biggest and best stoked music stores? Welcome to XMusic, guys!
They’re the unsung heroes of plaintive Irish pop. Ahead of a new run of live shows, Saville talk guitars, pedals and Wurlitzers – and explain why musicians should be prepared for the worst whenever they go on stage.
A full-blown Irish language revolution is underway. And with DJ Ian Dempsey and Afternoon Show presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh as the new faces of Seachtain na Gaelige, our mother tongue looks set to go from strength to strength.
Colm O’Hare talks to Katie Larmour, presenter of UTV’s new music show Live At The Limelight, which will be showcasing the best young artists from around Ireland.
Barely out of school, Dublin sister duo Heathers are already turning heads with their melodic punk-pop. They talk about what it's like being one of the country's buzzing newcomers.
Declan Lynch's acclaimed account of an alcoholic coming to terms with his self-destructive past has been adapted for the stage and is proving to be a hit all over again.
Leeside took the honours at the recent PPI radio awards with Red FM's Red Rooster winning Best Breakfast Show. Co-host "KC" talks about the challenge of entertaining listeners.
Recent legislation creating a new offence of drinking to excess is just the latest of a campaign against the free consumption of alcohol in this country. Is it too late to stop the moral majority?
Some of the country's leading music industry figures joined thousands of people for the Music Show, a two-day celebration of all that's good about the recording arts in Ireland.
The Aftermath are the first rock band from Longford ever to hit the charts. But right now, they live in Mullingar, the new happening epicentre of rock’n’roll.
New York blues prodigy JOE BONAMASSA is making a name as one of the hottest young guitar-slingers in the West. With a Dublin visit on the way, he's foaming at the mouth at the prospect of visiting Rory Gallagher's home country.
He is widely regarded one of Ireland's finest singers. Now, by way of confirmation, Brian Kennedy has released a superb album, entitled Interpretations.
He was one of the first true trailblazers in Irish comedy. Now, a decade after his death, a host of his friends will gather to pay tribute to Dermot Morgan.
Pete Cummins, has just released his first album as a solo performer, from which the single ‘Flowers In Baghdad’ was picked up by Neil Young’s website chart
Following another spate of road deaths, the Government and Road Safety Authority may rush through legislation reducing the legal alcohol limit for drivers. This fails to get to the core of the problem, argues Colm O'Hare.
Producer, DJ and now a part of acclaimed dance/rock tie-in, Alloy Mental, Belfast-based Phil Kieran talks about his favourite mixing equipment and explains why we should mourn the passing of vinyl.
He helped invent synth-pop and is famous for his huge open-air shows. Now Jean-Michel Jarre is going back to basics to reprise his landmark Oxygene album.
When someone dies in a car crash, alcohol is routinely blamed. But a close look at the figures shows that, beyond the tabloid hysteria, the truth is sometimes very different.
"...with an album proper to offer this time around, it seems that Johnson is back with a vengeance – fans of his effortlessly laid-back acoustic fare will immediately warm to this strong collection of songs."
"Featuring a mix of classics and originals recorded to capture the band’s live strengths the performances are faultless and Mary’s voice is better than ever."
For many people it is U2's greatest album. Twenty years on, to mark it's re-release, Colm O'Hare talks to Daniel Lanois and reflects on the extraordinary background to a monumental album.
Izibor’s friendly stage persona adds to the intimacy of the show and she comes across as a relaxed, supremely confident performer with a refreshing lack of self-consciousness.
One of Ireland’s outstanding violin players, Steve Wickham is a long-time member of The Waterboys and respected composer in his own right. Born in Dublin, he’s a country boy at heart.
Home-grown acts more than held their own over the weekend, with the big names Christy Moore, Paul Brady, Hothouse Flowers and the ever-popular Mundy proving just as popular as the visitors.
Folk doyen Richard Thompson remains a singular presence in the roots music scene after four decades. Here he talks about “exile” on the US West Coast and his recent return to his electric rock roots.
Aimee Mann is one of the most interesting and distinctive songwriters of the past 20 years. Just don’t ask her what she thinks of the Mercury shortlist!
You have to hand it to Rod. Forty years on the road, and he still draws them in droves – two nights’ open air at the RDS is impressive by any standards.
Already tagged this year’s KT Tunstall, the Glaswegian 19-year-old is fast becoming a festival favourite on the British circuit with a slew of appearances lined up.
If ever a cause needed highlighting, it’s the ongoing tragedy in Darfur, Sudan, which in the recent words of Goal’s John O’Shea "the international community has all but abandoned".
Her beautiful lo-fi cover of a David Bowie song has made student Paula Flynn a sensation. Here she talks about her unlikely route to overnight stardom.
Ahead of his Dublin gig, Motown legend Smokey Robinson tells Hot Press what it was like running one of the greatest music labels in the history of pop music.
Welcome to the Irish summer, where monsoon-like rains transform Marley Park into a soggy wetland. But Crowded House cheered up the crowd with their quality tunes and Peter Gabriel's high-octane set sent the hoards home wet but happy.
Choreography and technology almost threatened to outflank the pop princess on this hot, hot night in Dublin. It could have been a triumph of style over substance, if it weren't for her powerfully impressive pipes.
Pale frontman Matthew Devereux’s Kilmainham pad betrays an '80s fetish, but he once served an Irish stew to Johnny Cash in Bad Bob's, so we’ll forgive him.
Recorded before an intimate crowd in the appropriately named Café de la Dance in Paris in 2006, this stripped-down all-acoustic affair showcases what is arguably Harte’s strongest point – her crystal-clear voice.
Elliot Smith was nothing if not prolific but it still comes as something of a surprise when, almost four years after his death, a double album’s worth of mostly unheard material is unearthed.
At first listen this doesn’t come across as all that remarkable – the vintage sounding keyboard riff is a ringer for a song from the ‘70s called ‘Glass Of Champagne’ by Sparks clones Sailor (it’s even recorded in the same key – so expect clever DJs to be mixing these two liberally). But like all the best tunes after a few spins it gets right under your skin proving that James Murphy’s genre-crossing talents have done it again.
With a sound located in the early ’70s, this laid-back, slice of bluesy rock from the Dun Laoghaire outfit (formerly trading as Porn Trauma) falls somewhere between Derek & The Dominos Layla and the Stones’ ‘Exile On Main Street’. Replete with vintage sounding guitars, liberal use of harmonica and soulful backing vocals, it certainly offers a refreshing alternative to the raft of copycat, post-punk pretenders doing the rounds.
The Dublin quartet go from strength to strength with each new installment. This opening cut from their terrific In Towers & Clouds album is characterised by a jerky syncopated rhythm, a mighty vocal from Dave Hedderman and more hooks than a school cloakroom.
More jaunty, happy go lucky, hummable noughties Brit-pop that in truth is nothing more than a clever blend of The Kinks/Hollies/Squeeze/Blur/La’s. So derivative is it in fact that it sounds like it was knocked together in half an hour before everyone went off to the pub. Still, it’ll probably score well.
Classic acoustic balladry of the sort that US radio loves but which might leave others a tad wanting from the German-based outfit fronted by Irishman Rea Garvey. They’re huge around Europe selling out wherever they go and it’s not difficult to see why. Without doubt the slickest production of this fortnight’s offerings
Their uncanny ability to blend pop, dance and disco styles with infectious, hummable melodies shows no sign of deserting them. This latest cut taken from their hugely popular Ta Dah album blends Hi NRG rhythms with big power chords and a damn fine tune to boot. Think Blondie’s ‘Call Me’ blended with Duran Duran’s ‘Rio’ and you’re not far off the mark.
No surprises that this was the one chosen for a single release by Phantom listeners in a recent poll. A belter of a number with a chugging pacey rhythm, the crawling, Cure-like guitars, a terrific anthemic chorus and an outstanding vocal performance at that. Quite possibly their best effort yet!
Blissful, wistful summery pop from the duo consisting of singer Inara George and programmer Greg Kurstin. George has the voice of an angel and the tune drifts along like a warm August breeze the only negative being the chorus which comes over a tad repetitive after a while. But taken in small doses this is gorgeous stuff.
Long a live favourite for the Monaghan 4-piece they finally give this guitar pop gem a proper single release. The guitars on the opening riff sound so much like Blur’s ‘Song No 2’ that it has to be some kind of in-joke. Luckily that’s where the similarities end on this sublime slice of teenage angst. Paul Finn has a terrific voice – sort of a cross between Bowie and Echo & the Bunnymen’s Ian McCullough and the band’s gift for an indie pop melody is impressive to say the least.
Eight re-mixes of this track taken from the debut album of Ireland’s answer to Hot Chip might be seven too many for most people. But there’s no denying the skill and studio wizardry going on here especially if you like your tunes to come in different flavours. The ‘Corrugated Tunnel’ mix which is a kind New Order-meets-the Human League stands out among the bunch but with this much choice on offer there’s a version for everyone in the audience.
From her forthcoming Theology album, this version of the Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber classic from the Jesus Christ Superstar rock opera almost seems tailor-made for the controversial chanteuse. Originally sung in the musical/movie by Mary Magdalene (expressing her confused feelings for Jesus just before the crucifixion) it was seen as blasphemous in some quarters in its day and even now the lyrics would raise an eyebrow or two. Of course Sinéad sings it beautifully with no little passion while stylistically and sonically it’s the nearest thing she’s done to ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ in ages and could well prove a winner.
Don’t let the plaintive piano on the short opening track ‘Mierda De Tu Burro’ fool you; this is full-on guitar-driven rock, albeit with a strong melodic streak at the heart of it all.
Sybil Mulcahy might put on the glam as an entertainment reporter for TV3, but when it comes to house buying and furnishing, she’s the picture of prudence.
With the Cranberries no more (or at least on an extended sabbatical) it was only a matter of time before their crystal-voiced singer struck out on her own.
Half-Italian, half-English, Swiss educated and apparently discovered by Natalie Imbruglia’s manager, this hotly tipped troubadour ticks all the boxes in the singer-songwriter department.
Always at their best onstage, The Waterboys ‘07 incarnation is every bit as powerful as the collective that exploded onto the scene with the Big Music almost 25 years ago.
It’s a little long at 17 tracks, and hard to take in one sitting, but these songs present Americana in such an oddly compelling way that it’s almost impossible to ignore.
Just when you thought anger, frustration, despair and hopelessness were things of the past, along come Paranoid Visions, with their first new material since 1992, to shake us all out of our complacency.
A life-long Dylan devotee, the Roxy Music frontman has wanted to make this album for 30 years and here he finally gives us 11 Dylan songs, recorded live in the studio in a week-long session with his touring band.
He started out wanting to be Kurt Cobain. Then he went to New York, nursing dreams of emulating Dylan. Now Cork strummer Mick Flannery is resolutely charting his own course.
The Hearts’ return to the stage was always going to be special and there certainly was magic in the air as Donal Lunny, Davy Spillane, Eoghan O’Neill, Keith Donald, Matt Kellaghan, Noel Eccles, Anto Drennan and Graham Henderson took to the stage for the first of a four night stand.
Adored by fans of similarly inclined outfits such as Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Lift To Experience and Sigur Ros, this Austin, Texas four-piece return with their first long-player in four years.
What started out as a burlesque dance troupe in LA’s Viper Room and is now the biggest girl pop/R’n’B sensation on the planet certainly gives value for money.
Huge cheers erupted when he started into the familiar chorus of ‘On The Road Again’ and another classic, ‘Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys’.
He’s Ireland’s latest singer-songwriter sensation. But Colm Lynch is no mere Damien Rice clone. In fact, his debut album, A Whisper In A Riot might be the most exciting thing you’ve heard in years.
What was remarkable about his first Irish visit in 20 years was how most of the 7,000 or so in attendance all but ignored his tabloid persona, preferring to concentrate on his impeccable pop credentials.
Motherhood means that television presenter Sheana Keane does not exactly enjoy a whirlwind social life anymore – but she’s mastering the art of the quiet night in.
Hard to believe it’s almost ten years since the Belfast troubadour departed these shores for pastures new; first to live in rural Switzerland, followed by a more permanent move to Australia where he’s currently based.
It’s a sure sign of the healthy state of the indigenous scene and its standing internationally when American artists re-locate to Ireland in order to further their career.
Contrary to what you may have been led to believe it is not against the law to drink and drive. So why is there a concerted attempt to demonise those who do it responsibly? Colm O’Hare who’d had a few drinks before being breathalysed recently asks: what’s it all about?
This follow-up to his 2005 debut Wax & Seal was recorded on his ingenious Living Room Tour, during which he played at private homes throughout Ireland.
Venturing across the pond for his first London headline show since his days with A House Dave Couse was delighted, and not a little surprised, to play to a packed house. Might his stop-start solo career finally be gathering momentum?
Some of you will doubtless remember Rollerskate Skinny, who released a bone-fide Irish classic in Horsedrawn Wishes all of ten years ago. The band’s vocalist/guitarist Ken Griffin relocated to the US and now fronts this Brooklyn-based quartet who formed in 2004, when he teamed up with Philadelphia psych-poppers, Aspera. With major label backing they’re being tipped for big things across the water.
15-years after saying “no thanks” to the people who made a star out of LeeAnn Rimes, Luan Parle has made an album that should finally see her take her place among country’s elite.
Foburg, a concept album of sorts, features sections of Flannery’s Mounted Head, the song-cycle with visual elements he premiered last year in Cork, as part of the city’s European Capital of Culture celebrations.
Though he comes across like almost every other acoustic guitar totin’ soul who has graced a mid-week open-mic session, this Killiney troubadour’s years of relentless gigging have clearly paid off. For Lynch’s much-anticipated debut oozes with a confidence, passion and steely determination unusual in a first offering.
Already receiving rave notices in the UK where he is now based, this young Dubliner’s debut has long been anticipated thanks to his captivating live performances and a couple of EP releases which showcased his unique brand of acoustic melancholia.
This is the first album from the former ‘NSync frontman since his trillion-selling 2002 debut Justified, and back in the safe hands of hitmaker and producer Timbaland, he seems to be trying to come up with a latter day version of Marvin Gaye's ‘Let’s Get It On’. Only instead of recreating Gaye’s subtle mastery of sonic seduction, Timberlake goes straight for the main course.
On her third (independent) solo album, the Wexford-based Dubliner explores the mult-faceted nature of modern Irish life, tackling everything from the search for love to the Celtic Tiger and the destruction of the environment.
No, the name doesn’t refer to a local Corkonian wino legend; it derives from founder members Joe and Aoibheann Carey’s first names. Since forming the band just under 12 months ago Jodavino have gone from playing to just a dozen punters to feeding the 4000 at the Marquee.
Though she’s only 20, this hugely talented North Dubliner has been knocking around the local scene since her early teens, gigging relentlessly and releasing a well-received EP a few years back. For her full-length debut she’s enlisted a heavyweight producer in Chris Tsangarides (Thin Lizzy, Ozzy, Depeche Mode), and recorded it in a remote studio in North Wales (fans of Led Zeppelin IV take note).
This long-awaited follow-up to her acclaimed debut Poor Horse, the more hopeful sounding We’re Smiling was recorded in stolen moments over the past two years in various studios around Ireland and mixed in the famed Black Box in France.
Semi-officially, Modern Times is being touted as the third in a trilogy that began with 1997’s Time Out Of Mind and the follow up Love and Theft. Recorded with his current touring band and produced by Dylan himself, it treads very similar territory sonically with that raw, live feel and no-nonsense, almost 1950’s production that made his last two albums so compelling.
With a weight of expectation, it can’t have been easy to come up with a sequel. Wisely, they’ve chosen not to fix what ain’t broke; Ta-Dah sounds exactly as you'd expect, - though on first listen it doesn’t appear to have a single as irresistibly catchy as ‘Comfortably Numb’.
Moore was one half of the Stax duo Sam & Dave, who scored huge hits in the late 60’s with the likes of ‘Soul Man’, ‘Hold On I’m Coming’ and the sultry ballad ‘When Something Is Wrong With My Baby’. Here he duets with a host of big names on songs that range from soul and gospel to country and funk.
After an early string of synth-pop classics (‘Are Friends Electric’, ‘Cars’, ‘She’s Got Claws’) Gary Numan survived a two-decade slump and became a cult icon. Now he’s back in road-warrior mode.
Most people know Philip Lynott and Thin Lizzy as the swashbuckling rock ‘n’ rollers who produced hard rock classics like ‘The Rocker’, ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’ and ‘Don’t Believe A Word’. But there were other fascinating forces at work in Ireland at the end of the ‘60s, with poetry and folk music both influencing the rock scene hugely. Philip Lynott was at the heart of that development – a charismatic star in the making with a deep romantic streak and an innate lyricism that separated him from the crowd. Now, these qualities have been captured, as never before, on a remarkable CD, released for the first time, free with HotPress. Read on...
Kieran Hebden, aka Four Tet, chooses to open his addition to the DJ Kicks series with the twisted electronica of David Behrman, and follows that with the altogether funkier Syclops. Hearing those two tracks segue into each other is a reminder of how glorious mix albums like this can be in the hands of someone as skilled as Hebden.
Temporarily quitting their LA abode for a rare homeward trip Saucy Monky reveal that the Viper Room isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and explain how they’ve conquered US television.
Country music’s stock has never been higher. First Johnny Cash gained an entire new generation of fans, then Hollywood began to pepper its films with bluegrass and roots music. Now, everyone from Jack White to Van Morrison is waking up to the magic of country. Ireland's getting in on the act too, with the launch of the Midlands Music Festival, a two-day celebration of all things hatted and booted. Colm O’Hare traces the rebirth of a genre.
Melbourne born virtuoso classical guitarist John Williams is best known for a pair of unlikely chart hits, one with fusion outfit Sky, the other being 'Cavatina', the theme to Michael Cimino's The Deer Hunter. But beyond the pop spectrum he's enjoyed a long and distinguished career.
An all star line up featuring Mundy, the Violent Femmes, the Flaming Lips and the inimitable Bob Dylan successfully rocked the Source Festival in Kilkenny.
Canadian songstress Emm Gryner has toured with David Bowie and released a collection of Irish rock covers. Her new album might just be her most ambitious, and mysterious, yet.
Recorded in six days and rushed out – first on the ‘net and now as an album release proper – Neil Young’s 32nd album is without a doubt his most controversial. It certainly doesn’t get any more direct than ‘Let’s Impeach The President’ (“for lyin’ and misleading his country to war”), the key track here and the one that’s drawn him the most flak from predictable quarters in the US.
Wil Ardal O'Hanlon ever escape the shadow of Fr Dougal Maguire? If not, it certainly won't be for lack of effort - as his new stand-up show demontrates.
Meet the new Boss - not the same as the old Boss! Or is he? When you think about it, this is quite possibly the least surprising album of Springsteen’s entire career. Despite his glory days as a rocker beyond compare circa Born To Run/Darkness On The Edge Of Town, he has always been a folk artist, in spirit if not in deed.
His eight album in a decade sees the Toronto-based troubadour re-united with producer Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Costello etc), who helmed his first couple of albums.
The former Bowie backing singer and occasional member of The Cardigans is an award-winning solo star in her native Canada, but given her frequent visits here she seems doggedly determined to break out on this side of the pond. Following her eclectic take on a bunch of Irish classics on last year’s Songs Of Love And Death, she wastes little time in returning with this album of her own material recorded on and off over the past three years.
Hard to believe they’ve been around for over 20 years, but it was back in 1985 when former Depeche Mode/Yazoo keyboardist Vince Clarke first hooked up with ex-butcher Andy Bell for what would become a match made in pop heaven. 32 Top 40 hits later and they’re still capable of surprises, none more so than on this all-acoustic outing which sees them re-visit some of their finest moments in a radically transformed setting.
Say what you like about the Stereophonics – and let’s face it, the Welsh superstars have taken their share of flak over the years – but 10 years since they first emerged they’re arguably bigger than ever.
With trademark buzz-saw guitars and memorable tunes, their back catalogue is an object lesson in the power of the sub-three-minute pop single, with the added appeal of the subject matter – sex, romance, love and guilt. But despite the “maturity” of the audience, there was an edgy atmosphere in the packed Village tonight.
Depending on where you stand, this is either essential listening or something to be avoided like the plague, but if nothing else they make latter-day Oasis sound good – no mean achievement!
She’s one of the chief movers in the Cork music scene. But what does Cork Rocks’ founder Francesca Brown get up to when she’s back at base? Photos by David O'Mahony.
“Holy Shit!” Not the words you might expect to hear from the usually quietly-spoken Ballyporeen beauty. But that was precisely her reaction to the rapturous reception she received from a packed to the gills Vicar St. for what, I’m reliably told, was her biggest solo headliner to date.
Astonishing to think that Joan Baez has been making records since 1959, but at 65 the veteran folk-singer still releases albums and tours the world with all the energy of someone half her age.
While not strictly a fully-fledged follow-up, Sing-a-Longs… is to all intents and purposes a Jack Johnson solo album. Nine of the 13 songs are newly written and recorded by Johnson, in just a month, for the soundtrack of the animated movie.
Ex-Almighty man and sometime Dublin resident (he now spends most of his time in LA) Warwick has an impressive pedigree. Apart from his time with the Scottish punk-metallers, he’s played with New Model Army and even guested with his earliest inspiration, Stiff Little Fingers.
Maybe it was a combination of the post-Christmas blues, the freezing weather outside and the fact that the gig fell on a mid-week night. Or perhaps it was the unveiling of that magnificent statue of Philo late last year that dissipated the celebrations somewhat. Whatever the reason, this year’s 20th anniversary vibe lacked the atmosphere of previous years’ events.
They don’t come more unlikely than this long-distance collaboration between the Scottish-based former Belle and Sebastian chanteuse and the ever-versatile Screaming Trees/Queens of the Stone Age vocalist and LA resident.
With a couple of well-received EPs under their belts and a growing live following, the first full-length release from these Dublin contenders is keenly anticipated in some quarters. Pleased to report then that Stay is as good a local debut as has arrived on the HP reviews desk in many a month.
Hummingbird purvey a kind of guitar-based, proto-grunge that was all the rage a decade ago. To put it another way they sound pretty much like Pearl Jam circa 1991, albeit with more acoustic guitar thrown into the mix.
The Scottish singer-songwriter, unheard of a year ago, oozes the kind of charisma and girl-next-door charm that makes for a refreshing change from the wistful and mournful personas of most in the genre
Sticking to the template that has worked so well in the past (even the press release describes their approach as a “straightforward formula”) means it’s back to the soaring ballads with the odd mid-tempo dance pop-tune and the carefully calculated cover.
Canadian songwriter Emm Gryner has released a covers album of Irish rock classics. But what inspired her to tackle Horslips, The Undertones and Gilbeert O'Sullivan? And why didn't The Pogues make the cut?
It’s certainly the most energised and stylistically wide-reaching of all his solo albums to date, bringing together pretty much every musical direction he’s taken in a career that stretches back almost 30 years.
Not an official release in the strictest sense, this in-store sampler serves as a timely reminder – if one were needed - of the quality, variety and commercial potential of the current batch of homegrown releases.
Now 43, the former Michael Jackson backing singer shows little sign of giving up the territory she’s so successfully staked out for herself over the last decade.
Now 43, the former Michael Jackson backing singer shows little sign of giving up the territory she’s so successfully staked out for herself over the last decade.
On first listen, her latest outing offers yet more spiritually-inclined acoustic folk-rock, but it soon becomes clear that Where You Live is her strongest collection since her groundbreaking debut.
The sixty-plus former Velvet Underground lynchpin and producer extraordinaire has long enjoyed legendary status, his prolific solo output ensuring continued interest and sold-out live shows everywhere.
David Gray’s seventh studio album is called Life In Slow Motion. As someone who hasn’t ever fully understood the appeal of his music, that’s exactly what his concert experience felt like.
It’s unmistakably The Rolling Stones as we know and love them, down to the last chopped rhythm of Keith Richards’ telecaster, Charlie Watts’ snare crack and the mannered tics of Sir Mick’s white boy blues croak. Like The Ruttles’ clever pastiches of Beatles classics, the Stones appear to have perfected the art of parodying themselves to a point where you wonder if they might be having a laugh.
She earned her reputation on the road, supporting the likes of Ani Di Franco and the Be Good Tanyas. However, Erin McKeown has long since won her own audience.
Ten years and 30 million sales after she first burst onto the scene urging self-empowerment, the Canadian songstress returns to the album that made her an overnight star.
As frontman of Galway’s Toasted Heretic Julian Gough was an enfant terrible of Irish rock. Then he jacked in music to become a best-selling writer. With his old band preparing to reform, Gough reveals his loathing of television and explains why his home town is the cosmopolitan capital of Ireland.
Sandwiched between his Glastonbury triumph and his Live 8 appearance in Berlin, the former Beach Boy and pop genius came to Dublin for what surely must’ve been the most intimate show on his current tour.
Formed by Jonah Matranga and Mark Weinberg, from the ashes of two bands Far and Crumb, this eponymous debut pushes all the right buttons in the grungy guitar, catchy melody and harmonies department. Add some teenage angsty lyrics and it’s not difficult to figure out why they could be the biggest teen sensations since Limp Bizkit.
Though a Leeds native, Sally Crew looks towards the garages and high school gyms of America’s hinterland for her new-wave/power pop. Continuing the automobile theme of her last album Drive It Like You Stole It, tracks such as ‘Good Morning Aston Martin’, ‘My Heart’s A Motorway’ and ‘Rear View Mirror’ recall the economical guitar riffs and pop smarts of, er, The Cars.
Sweden’s premier female singer-songwriter, apparently, Miskovsky has already enjoyed success as co-writer of a Backstreet Boys hit. Here she demonstrates her talents on the breezy acoustic pop of ‘A Brand New Day’, the Shania Twain-like ‘You Dance Just Like Me’ and the melodramatic balladry of ‘Butterfly Man’.
Produced by Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon man Mark Kozelek, the highly-rated Washington DC folk/Americana singer returns after a seven-year hiatus. Cerbonne’s soft, clear voice is almost hypnotic, while the songs range from the pared-down acoustica of ‘Araby’ and ‘Beautiful Mess’ to the low-key, full band arrangement on ‘Ruthless Order’.
Like Staind and Nickelback this lot purvey a kind of generic, sub-Zeppelin post-Nirvana rock that Americans undoubtedly describe as “kicking ass”. The single ‘Let Me Go’ is momentarily memorable while ‘Father and Son’ recalls the southern style of Lynyrd Skynyrd but no album especially one like this should be 55 minutes long!
Following his massively successful Cuban odyssey, which yielded albums such as the Buena Vista Social Club and its various solo offshoots, Cooder turns his attentions to his own Los Angeles backyard for inspiration.
Hip/hop R&B from this Philadelphia crew who scored with cuts like ‘Friday Night’ and ‘Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop’ from their debut (Tough Love). Nothing here to set the world alight although ‘Set It Off’’ is undeniably catchy while ‘Grown Man Pt 2’, featuring Kanye West and John Legend, has a backing melody that recalls the '70s soul of Stevie Wonder's Innervision era.
‘Winter Notes’ – a song from their last album – was used on the soundtrack of television series 24 but this Toronto quintet headed up by vocalist/guitarists Liz Hysen are unlikely to have Hollywood queuing to use their bleak, lo-fi post-folk.
Former Gripewater Blues guitarist Mooney is a respected blues/jazz player who has worked with many of the greats, including Louis Stewart, Ritchie Buckley and Georgie Fame. His singing and playing recalls BB King. Here he presents six originals and three standards, including the title track, an adaptation of the old Robert Johnson tune.
The second album from the Derry duo is a pleasant collection of acoustic, folk-based songs replete with laid-back melodies and lush harmonies. Think Simon & Garfunkle and you’re not far off the mark, though the country-ish ‘Faults And Gains’ might appeal to Americana fans. A tad too downbeat at times but a real grower.
An English teacher and acoustic troubadour Chris Gavin writes songs that are full of slice-of-life vignettes and wryly observational lyrics. ‘School Trip’ describes a childhood jaunt; the title track celebrates the glories of swimming at the Forty Foot in Sandycove in Dublin. The record is exquisitely arranged with angelic backing vocals, strings and flutes.
Another welcome dose of Scottish miserablism on this second solo outing from the Arab Strab man. Here he ropes in bandmate Aidan Moffatt as well as members of Mogwai, The Delgados and The Reindeer Section. All you need to know about this is contained in the line from ‘Monday Night Nothing’: “On A Monday Night I’m nothing/On A Tuesday night I’m Nobody/On a Wednesday, Thursday Friday, Night I’m Sad.” Endearing in an odd way.
Styling himself “the dark prince of pop” is some claim to live up to but this relentlessly uncompromising Dublin singer-songwriter is nothing if not modest. His 20th release apparently, this 17-tracker (which in truth is an elaborate demo) showcases his multi-faceted talents and singular approach, which recalls Pierce Turner.
You have to hand it to Beyoncé, Kelly and Michelle. Despite a three-year hiatus and burgeoning solo careers, the massive popularity of the Texas trio trio hasn’t dimmed one whit, although there was the definite sense that this could've been their last date as Destiny’s Child.
She’s not the worst singer in the world and this isn’t the worst collection of dance pop tunes ever released but somehow it’s hard to believe in the former Ginger Spice. The jazzy Norah Jones/Katie Melua influenced title track and the Kylie-like ‘Superstar’ are all that remain in the brain after several spins of this entirely unnecessary release
Although he views bass players as "the ugly step-child in any band", Chris Hillman was one of the longest serving members of both The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, and 40 years on his music career shows no sign of retiring. Colm O'Hare meets the legendary Hillman ahead of his Dublin visit.
Of the dozen or so Springsteen shows I’ve witnessed over the years, this was without doubt the most memorable, and certainly the most emotionally intense of them all. Shorn of the formidable might of the E-Street Band, the man-they-still-call-The-Boss arguably had to work harder than ever. That he pulled it off so successfully in the acoustically-unfriendly environs of The Point was a testament not only to his talent and experience but to his willingness to experiment.
One of the most iconic Irish musicians ever, Rory Gallagher died ten years ago, on June 14 1995. This month, he is commemorated with a comprehensive retrospective, Big Guns – The Very Best Of Rory Gallagher. His brother, Donal Gallagher, who was both manager and mentor to Rory, talks to Colm O’Hare about the work involved in compiling the album, the guitarist’s legacy – and the fascinating story of how he nearly joined the Rolling Stones.
The father of Strokes-man Albert Hammond Jnr has written more hits than almost anyone on the planet, penning hits-to-order for artists like Tina Turner, Celine Dion and Aswad as well as having success in his own right (‘It Never Rains In Southern California’). His first album proper in 23 years has hooks aplenty but the MOR arrangements and his shaky singing make it an acquired taste at best.
This compilation of 16 Ballyfermot College artists varies widely in quality but on first listen Anthony Tester’s vocal performance on the sublime ‘Where Are You Now’ is hugely impressive, as is the Hi-Fi Junkies' dissonant ‘Come Again’. Also worth hearing is Anthony White’s ‘Faith In Love’, the Handles' jangly pop ballad ‘Pieces’ and Double D’s Dub rap on ‘For What It’s Worth’.
The Australian born pin-up boy has racked-up 5 US no 1’s and a heap of Grammy nominations over the past couple of years with his country-inflected pop/rock. This European introduction to his undoubted talents compiles his two previous albums Be Here and Golden Road. It’s all very impressive stuff with Urban’s appealing voice matched with catchy songs. The undoubted highlight is the big-production ballad ‘Raining On Sunday’.
Five years after their Hi-Lo debut, the former Stunning Brothers return to the fray with their strongest calling card to date. Recorded largely in the famed Black Box studios in France with the ubiquitous Dave Odlum at the helm, New Dawn Breaking is an immediately impressive record on almost every level (and very nicely packaged it is too in gatefold digipak!)
The Australian born pin-up boy has racked-up 5 US no 1’s and a heap of Grammy nominations over the past couple of years with his country-inflected pop/rock. This European introduction to his undoubted talents compiles his two previous albums Be Here and Golden Road.
Taken from their 1996 tour, this belated live outing showcases the Donegal musical dynasty at the height of their powers performing material from throughout their career. Includes early material like ‘Down By The Sally Gardens’ and ‘Nil Se ‘n’ La’ as well as the hits: ‘Robin of Sherwood’, ‘Theme From Harry’s Game’ and ‘In A Lifetime’ with Brian Kennedy ably tacking the Bono-part.
Based in Glasnevin and founded by producer Mark Hadfield, businessman Chris Hehir and Brian McFadden, Chilli Studios proves that home digital recording hasn't yet usurped state of the art commercial studios.
Currently on sabbatical from The Cranberries, Noel Hogan has recently been spending time working on a new project, Mono Band , in his large period house in Limerick. Though not without keeping abreast of developments in The Sopranos and 24, of course. Photography Liam Burke
Born to a teenage mother, brought up in a succession of trailer parks and working in bars age 14, Nashville-based country-rocker Gretchen Wilson has had to earn her fame and success the hard way. And with even the great Tony Bennett high-tailing it from his own shows to catch her performances, it looks like the singer’s popularity is set to grow and grow.
First outing for Morcheeba – aka Ross and Paul Godfrey – since their greatest hits collection Parts Of The Process came out two years ago, this is also their first release on a new label and the first to feature new singer Daisy Martey (formerly with Noonday Underground) who replaces Skye Edwards.
The former wife of the late Notorious BIG, Faith Evans has forged a highly successful career for herself, and on her fourth album she showcases her soulful take on the rather narrow R&B genre.
Kate Rogers has been called the Canadian Dido but that description does her little justice – Aimee Mann and Beth Orton are far more apt comparisons. Her unforced vocal style and canny choice of tracks makes this a quietly enjoyable record and the perfect summer soundtrack.
Niall Toner has been flying the flag for bluegrass and country music in Ireland for over thirty years now both as a broadcaster/journalist and a tireless live performer. This superbly recorded album features a collection of songs he has written over the years, many in collaboration with top American writers.
According to many, the best thing to come out of Canada since Neil Young, Edwards is the complete artist – a great songwriter with a distinctive, slightly ragged voice, a damn good guitar-player and she looks very cool onstage. One thing is certain – she’s unlikely to be appearing at venues this intimate for much longer.
This London quartet have been making good old fashioned muso-rock since the late ‘80s with growing success. Their eighth studio album sports an impressive array of influences, which range from the prog-rock (Marillion/Genesis style) of ‘Lazarus’ to the Radiohead-meets-Pink Floyd textures of ‘Melletron Scratch’.
Irish jazz releases are rare enough and this one (recorded in Kinsale of all places) looks and sounds the real deal with artwork to match the classic Blue Note house style.
While the band have the requisite break neck speed and manic energy the songs are a bit lacking and they ultimately come across (to these ears) like a less talented Placebo.
The New York based Lorson makes gorgeously
understated music which truly deserves to be heard. The combination of her
mellow, slightly ragged voice, her engaging melodies and low-key production
make this a must for Americana fans.
Yet another young jazz-influenced singer (she’s just 15) Olstead tackles the Great American Songbook with impressive ease on her debut, produced by David Foster who has worked with Celine Dion and Michael Buble.
This bunch of anonymous San Francisco parodists have been deconstructing pop music for well over 30 years with mixed results. While their avant-garde approach makes them an acquired taste at best you have to admire their longevity and refusal to conform. Personally, I hated this!
Poet, actor, philosophy graduate and rap lyricist Williams’ main shtick is to utilise unorthodox backing on his spoken word diatribes. On this follow-up to the Rick Rubin produced Amethyst Rockstar he brings in everything from chamber music, lush orchestration and heavy rock riffs. Like much hip hop, it can come across as repetitive and overly angst-ridden but there’s no doubting his skills with textures.
BBC 4 & 6, Gardener's Question Time, The Guardian crossword... comedian Colin Murphy's Belfast home is a veritable hub of bacchanalia. Photos by Amberlea Trainor.
John Spillane has remained a stalwart of the traditional scene for close to two decades. With his excellent new album Hey Dreamer having just hit the shops, Spillane sounds off to hotpress about his long and eventful career, his enthusiasm for younger artists such as Damien Dempsey and Juliet Turner, and why the organisers of the European Capital of Culture events in his native Cork have gotten things spectacularly wrong. words Colm O’Hare photos Mick Quinn
Helped by guests of the calibre of Snoop Dogg, Nelly and Twista, with production assistance from The Neptunes and Kayne West the original pop diva returns with a strong collection of mainly R ‘n’ B based songs
The Donegal songstress has long been a live favourite and this Dutch-recorded concert offers the ideal introduction to her writing and singing talents.
Hailing from Boston, this hotly-tipped, stylish-looking outfit have built their reputation on spiky, punky anthems. Their first major label release sees them fine-tuning their raucous sound somewhat but it’s still strong, fist-punching stuff.
This Hawaiian-born former surf-movie maker might have divided the critics but there’s no denying the instant appeal of his feelgood, acoustically-strummed ditties.
This excellent outfit (who’ve toured recently with The Zutons) blend a full-on rock assault a la The Faces, Black Crowes, Zeppelin etc., with Rolling Stones’ (Exile-era) country rock - all deftly performed by what sounds like a bunch of seasoned bar-band musicians.
Veteran 2FM DJ Larry Gogan was honoured by IRMA earlier this month, in recognition of the forty years he has spent at the top of his profession. To mark the occasion, Hot Press catches up with the presenter to discuss the beginnings of his career during the showband era, how Irish music has changed down through the years – and the time he earned Larry Mullen's thanks for playing U2 records despite the protestations of station chiefs.
Rolling Stone's most promising artist of the year and Dylan/Stones endorsed songstress Kathleen Edwards tells all about her acclaimed new record Back To Me, life on the road in the US and why she just might make the move to those shores in the not-too-distant future.
[open all night DVDJoe D’Urso is a Jersey Shore musician much loved by Springsteen fans and with a similar street-corner sound and approach. As the title states this is a concert video shot during a recent Italian tour. However, the low production values make this barely watchable and does him no favours at all.
Colm O'Hare talks to boy-girl sensation The Kills about their adoration of the US underground, touring with Franz Ferdinand and Primal Scream, and why those White Stripes comparisons are totally wide of the mark.
Not quite fitting into the classic singer-songwriter mode Lee blends a kind of quirky pop-folk-country with all manner of unusual but complementary studio doodles.
Uncompromisingly quirky and at times downright odd, Turner has always been refreshingly honest and true to his skewed musical vision. His brand of artisitic singularity has come with a price and though he has been churning out album after album to growing acclaim, commercial success has eluded him.
Their combined backgrounds, great songs, production by Jayhawk Gary Louris and stellar backing from a host of Americana notables makes this a sure-fire alt. country winner.
Maher fills the John Lennon role in the hugely popular tribute band The Classic Beatles so no great surprises that his debut solo album displays plenty of Fab Four influences.
Dublin-based electronica/roots outfit throw everything but the kitchen sink into the mix on this highly experimental exercise. In the main it’s blips and bleats, blended with more conventional instruments and textures including banjos!
Older listeners will detect more than a hint of 80’s outfits like A Certain Ratio and Gang Of Four while the razor-sharp guitars and syncopated rhythms will evoke comparisons with the likes of Franz Ferdinand
Follow-up to the superb Filth & Fire album sees the Louisiana-born singer-songwriter (pronounced go-shay- y’all) once gain explore the underbelly of life. With sparse production and atmospheric backing, her half sung, half spoken lyrics conjure up a world of sinners, losers and doomed lovers - Southern Gothic at its very best in other words.
Social diarist Amanda Brunker is so high-maintenance even her paper plates are designed by Damien Hirst. Colm O'Hare joins the TV presenter, model, actress, budding novelist and loose-tongued Eamon Dunphy guest in her comfy sea-front residence in Clontarf. Photos by Cathal Dawson.
Debut album from hip-hop R&B singer/songwriter/producer sounds to my ears like a dozen other like-minded artists. True, he hasn’t a bad voice but the subject matter and the song titles (‘Gangsta’, ‘Ghetto’, ‘Gunshot’) are clichéd in the extreme while on the sleeve notes he even thanks the people who continually bailed him out of jail.
No surprises then to discover that the fourth album from this long-time Dublin punk collective sounds exactly like you expect it to. Cue blood curdling vocals, fuzzy speeded-up guitars and car-crash drumming. But despite their “stuck in a time-warp” musical ambitions the production here is pretty impressive and they remain unrepentantly faithful to the genre
Their self-titled debut back in ’95 was the perfect antidote to the all-pervading angst of grunge while their cover of the Buggles ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’ was inspired. Here the newly reformed PUSA (they split in ’97) come up with another collection of smart, tuneful ditties in a similar vein.
Though he styles himself as a singer-songwriter, this English Son and former squaddie (who served in Kosovo) comes across as one of those earnest, Pop Idol pretty-boy types with acoustic guitar and floppy haircut – you know the kind!
When not touring with Republic Of Loose, Mick pyro is free to kick back in his basement pad in a 1960s Swedish-style Terenure house, where he indulges his love of CDs, books and movies – and ponders the aesthetic similarities between Shakespeare and hip hop.
Championed by the likes of Giant Sand’s Howe Gelbe and Granddaddy’s Jason Lyttle, M(att) Ward successfully recreates the sounds and textures of old-time American radio. The result is a beguiling tapestry of organic, lo-fi, folk, country and Americana - some of which sounds like it was recorded on a gramophone.
Second album from the multi-award winning chart-topping Canadian singer-songwriter who has yet to break big over here. Many will be familiar with her US number one ‘Complicated’ from her debut, Room With A View. That and other key tracks are included on this European only release. Despite possessing a powerful voice and no shortage of catchy songs, the backing is predictable and unadventurous, rendering this indistinguishable.
This Chicago based outfit used to be called the Blackbirds and formed when they backed a singer-songwriter who subsequently ditched them. In truth they’re more of an art ensemble than a band proper and are involved in all manner of design work. The music comes across as an avant-garde blend of freeform, bass-heavy, piano-led tunes with not much to grab onto melodically.
Very impressive debut from Mocrac - aka Maurice Ferriter – who rallies an impressive roll-call of home-grown musicians on this clever blend of electronica/acoustica.
Highly-rated alt. American singer-songwriter whose re-location to London has seen him transformed into a kind of post-modern Goth- revivalist. His second album certainly reveals a passion for dense 1980s textures and echo-laden vocals with strong hints of The Cure and The Bunnymen. Some of the material descends into bombastic stodge but songs such as the Smiths-like ‘Sacred Heart’ and the indie-pop of ‘City of Brotherly Love’ are well worth hearing.
This quirky, experimentally-minded Chicago based violinist/guitar player has apparently been churning out albums like this for years with growing critical acclaim. As the title might suggest it’s an unclassifiable hybrid of styles, though at times he comes across a bit like Elliot Smith or Iron and Wine with close-miked vocals punctuated by plucked violin strings and the odd distorted electric guitar.
Hoot Press talks to the perennially busy Ed Byrne about his hectic schedule, partying hard at comedy festivals, sexing up his audience and why he won’t be doing a McDonald’s voice-over any time soon.
The new musical based on Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane’s infamous bust-up in Saipan, I Keano, aims to bring closure to one of the most divisive conflicts in the nation's history. Colm O’Hare talks to the play’s writer Arthur Mathews and lead actor Risteárd Cooper.
There can’t be too many young home-grown jazz-based vocalists plying their trade out there. But here’s one, and a fine voice Kenevey has too, as this stellar collection of Rat Pack-style stompers and croonsome torch ballads demonstrates – all backed by a bevy of top Irish jazz players to boot.
Blessed with the pure-as-ice vocals of Jenny Lewis and the searing guitar lines of Blake Sennett this LA four-piece are one of the hottest-tipped bands of 2005. And with good reason too! Lewis’ Dusty Springfield-meets-Debbie Harry vocals are truly mesmerising while the songs are replete with memorable hooks and a range of influences while sounding wholly distinctive.
First album in four years from the flaxen-haired boy wonders who briefly tasted stardom in their early teens (their debut Middle of Nowhere sold a staggering 6.5 million copies!) Now in their early 20’s they’ve “matured” into a competent guitar-based outfit capable of well-rounded songs with impressive harmonies.
They toured the world throughout the ‘70s, earning rave notices from Bono, The Edge and Melvin Bragg, upsetting the clergy, terrifying the American public in the company of Blue Oyster Cult and the J Geils Band and out-glamming even Bowie with their flamboyant sartorial taste. With a new DVD on the way and much speculation about a possible tour, legendary Celtic rockers Horslips here talk to Hot Press about a decade of adventure, decadence and great music.
Solo project of Stéphane Garry, member of Domotic and Davide Balula (Active Suspension). Inspired in equal parts by folk and electronica, Pokett mixes acoustic guitars, singing and various instruments with laptop generated FX.
According to my calculations, Paul Brady celebrates forty years as a professional musician this year. You certainly wouldn’t think so – looking at the fresh-faced (and decidedly blonder than usual) chap staring out from the cover of his first album since 2001’s Oh What A World. And if his gruelling touring schedule is anything to go by (he treks around the US in Feb followed by an Irish/UK tour) the man from Strabane shows little sign of slowing down.
Just in case you’re wondering, this Glasgow outfit’s moniker apparently means, “the man in the suit” and they claim influences as diverse as The Minutemen and Charles Mingus (I’d also add in Gang of Four). Syncopated, bass heavy with crisp clean guitars and odd time signatures, it’s a tad heavy going but well executed nonetheless
Despite sharing a home with fellow troubador Paddy Casey, singer-songwriter Declan O’Rourke isn’t one for late-night acoustic sessions. You’re far more likely to find him kicking back with a Coen brothers box-set and musing on the early exploration of Antarctica.
With the huge success of his sophomore album and a brand new masterwork in the offing, 2004 has been a capital year for US singer-songwriter and adopted son of Eire, Josh Ritter.
A very impressive collection of songs from this quirky and highly polemical Cork outfit who come across as a tantalising blend of Talking Heads, The Doors and The Cure.
From the multi-talented genius who brought us dancefloor favourites like ‘Horny’ and Tom Jones’ ‘Sex Bomb’ comes an album featuring a dizzying plethora of styles with multiple collaborations.
No great surprise then that tonight’s audience was overwhelmingly female (average age early 30-something) and clearly out for a good time as they sang along to virtually every word of every song on Gabrielle’s hit-heavy set-list.
A heady brew of metal, punk, glam ‘n’ grunge with Brit-pop melodies to boot, Philadelphia three-piece Burning Brides appear to have all the elements of a great band.
The combination of Doyle’s warm, fragile voice and the appropriately low-key arrangements on songs like ‘The Flower Of County Down’ ‘Henry Joy McCracken’ and ‘The Shores Of Lough Bran’ make this a highly enjoyable collection.
As rock’n’roll’s finest get ready to remake ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ Colm O’Hare talks to the man who kickstarted it and numerous other hits, Midge Ure.
Just short of a quarter of a century since they last blitzed the nation’s ballrooms, Ireland’s most fondly-remembered and (lest we forget) culturally influential outfits finally return to the studio.
Without wanting to be cruel, there really are a good deal things that the world needs more right now than a solo album from the singer in the Lighthouse Family.
Impressive follow-up to their eponymously- titled debut, One sees the South London collective move even further away from their clubby roots towards a more indie-pop sound.
While the voice isn’t quite what it used to be Bennett is still capable of weaving nostalgic magic as this collection of candlelit dinner friendly love songs demonstrates.
Thirteen Irish singer-songwriters recorded in Loughrea, Co. Galway proves conclusively that there is plenty of talent out there just waiting to be discovered.
Having established their cult credentials with Turn On The Bright Lights, Interpol are back with a new album that looks like earning them a place at rock’s top table. New York City fop Sam Fogarino tells Colm O’Hare how they’re sharp-dressed for success.
Backed by musicians from the Wallflowers and Pete Yorn’s band, she has made a highly impressive debut best described as contemporary pop blended with a bit of folk and alt. country.
Eyebrows were raised in the Irish rock community at Dave Fanning’s appointment as a panellist for RTE’s next series of You’re A Star. Colm O’Hare gives him a chance to explain why he doesn’t care.
An old acoustic release from the legendary West African singer and kora player who topped the charts back in ’88 with ‘Yeke Yeke’. On Sabou (The Cause) he goes back to his Guinean roots combining ethnic harmonies, melodies and instruments with his own inimitable songwriting style.
Smile, as every amateur rock historian knows, is the great lost Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks project, abandoned after the commercial failure of Pet Sounds and Wilson’s descent into drug-induced paranoia.
The offspring of California pop legends Brian Wilson and John and Michelle Phillips (Mamas and the Papas) record a batch of West Coast classics with mixed results.
Music Review | Album
4 Oct 2004
Colm O Hare
Return of the Sean “Puffy” Combs’s protégé, after a long lay-off (presumably to get his house in order for a visit from the MTV Cribs crew).
A highly regarded American roots guitarist and singer who is influenced by blues and country in equal measure, Whitley’s albums have been consistently good.
The 11th album from the original and arguably the most versatile of rap superstars, this features the Timbaland- produced hit ‘Headsprung’ and ten other hip-shaking, beat-driven cuts.
Exhausted following her prolonged spell on tour, Bic Runga is keen to make it back home to New Zealand for some well-earned r’n’r. but not before she discusses the vagaries of life, love and pop stardom.
Having befriended Joe Strummer before the Clash man’s untimely death, artists such as Adam Duritz, Ryan Adams and Shane MacGowan are also now lining up to give kudos to New York singer-songwriter Jesse Malin.
Selling out six nights in a venue this size is impressive by any standards and usually the preserve of the Christy Moores and Mary Blacks of the this world.
Her debut album, released a few years back revealed this talented County Clare native to be a gifted songwriter and a single-minded live performer, with a pleasantly distinctive voice.
Once unfairly derided as a second-rate Oasis, it looked for a while as if the McNamara brothers and co might be swept away in the great Britpop clear-out which saw off even more successful outfits like The Verve.
If you like your Americana on the impressionistic side with broad, widescreen textures then Shearwater are for you. Frontman Johanthon Melburg’s choirboy vocals blend with layers of guitar, violins, Wurlitzer organ and glockenspiel to create a heavenly soundscape which is not a million miles from outfits like Calexico. This has been described as the perfect music for a rainy Sunday morning – and they win the song title of the week award thanks to ‘Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine’.
Once regarded as the singer-songwriter’s singer-songwriter, Mitchell’s influence seems to have faded in recent years, presumably down to nothing more than the passage of time.
Like all great songwriters you could always rely on Paul Weller to come up with a good cover version – for his 10th studio album he’s gone the whole hog and recorded an entire album of covers.
Despite the hype and controversy surrounding ticket sales in the run up to Slane 2004, on the night it certainly looked as near to a sell-out as made no difference.
Debut album from the former Rialto frontman sees him focus his talents as a singer-songwriter in a Ray Davies mode, with shades of Beck and Elliot Smith.
Signed to Warner offshoot 14th Floor Records by the man who also signed David Gray and Damien Rice, things are looking good for the Luton DIY star who gatecrashed the charts with his home recorded single ‘Fly’.
Unusually but helpfully the first track on this debut from the New York City born identical twins is a spoken word explanation of who exactly Nina Sky is (are?)
American supergroup featuring former Flying Burrito Band stalwart “Sneaky” Pete Kleinow, The Band’s Garth Hudson and Jeff Davis from The Amazing Rhythm Aces with vocalist Carlton Moody and top Nashville drummer Rick Lonow go for broke.
Treading similar country/folk territory to Alison Krauss and Shelby Lynn, Smith’s style is less structured in the traditional sense and more quirky and personal.
The combined talents of chief songwriter Wayne Murray and Icelandic chanteuse Thorum Magnusdottier makes this a real grower – fans of Air should snap it up!
On first acquaintance, this young Limerick-born chanteuse comes across as yet another jazz-inspired vocal stylist of the kind that the world doesn’t really need many more of.
The mother of Philip Lynott has seen her home in Dublin double as a place of pilgrimage for fans of the Irish rock legend – and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
If last year’s line-up (Shania Twain, Pretenders), seemed a little below par following previous appearances by Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, the fourth Source Festival was very much back on track with a much stronger bill.
While her Barbie Doll looks are clearly her main asset, Simpson’s voice is surprisingly muscular and she shines particularly on the big ballads which make up the bulk of the songs here.
Music Review | Live
5 Jul 2004
Colm O Hare
The 2004 version of The Radiators presented an intriguing prospect to the full-house, which was made up of long-time fans, ex-punks, scene-makers and assorted Horslips, not knowing quite what to expect. But they needn’t have worried. After a wobbly start, the band, which included original members Phil Chevron, Pete Holidai and Steve Rapid, quickly found their feet and proceeded to tear into their hallowed legacy with a renewed vigour.
The producers of choice for everyone from Justin Timberlake to Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are also earning plaudits for their rock and hip-hop influenced side project, N*E*R*D
Colm O’Hare talks to local indie heroes Saville, the acclaimed quartet determined to make their inspired blend of ’60s pop and rock heard above the din of their hipper contemporaries
It can’t be easy trying to establish a distinct identity for yourself as an artist when you happen to be married to one of the world’s biggest rock stars, but for now at least – she’s The Boss!
Performing in front of a stage set that Cecil B. De Mille would’ve been proud of, it was clear from the off that Britney was just one element (albeit an important one) in what was an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza, almost old-fashioned in concept. Themed around the “Onyx Hotel”, it owed a good deal to the Moulin Rouge movie with hints of Lisa Minnelli’s Cabaret and almost every other classic Hollywood musical of the last 60 years.
In between attempts to appease her one-year-old daughter, Angeline Ball talks to Hot Press about her part in Bloom, Sean Walsh’s ambitious adaptation of James Joyce’s Ulysses.
Four years is a hell of a long time in pop music – the fact that The Corrs could afford to lay low for such an extended period is a testament to the band’s confidence in their audience...
Bell X1’s transformation into one of the big bands is already in process, with only an all-conquering run of festival appearances left to complete the picture..
Faithless return with their oddest single to date. Gone is the standard anthemic dance vibe, replaced by punk guitars, brass, pounding drums and even handclaps.
With lyrics like ‘I know where the fascist lives, I’m gonna take a knife around his house’, Welsh trio My Red Cell’s first full blown release is an impressively intense affair.
One of the most disturbing developments in the Middle East over the past number of years has been the rising number of female suicide bombers. Colm O’Hare talks to Barbara Victor, the pulitzer prize-nominated journalist who examines this alarming trend in a compelling new book, Army of Roses.
Most people slow down a bit when they turn 60, but not trad legend Andy Irvine. Colm O’Hare hears about his latest collaboration with Donal Lunny, the Planxty reunion and the perils of being stranded in small German towns.
Is there any other artist in the history of pop music who has used the words “I”, “Me”, “My”, “Mine” with such regularity? No wonder one UK critic was recently moved to describe Alanis Morissette as “the Queen of self-absorption”.
Isn’t Loretta Lynn the country veteran who sang all about being a coal miner’s daughter and the pill back in the early ’70s? What the hell is she doing up here – you might well ask. Well, this unexpected gem was produced, arranged and mixed by one Jack White..
The opening track of this EP from the ‘Kings is pretty damn good – all chugging guitars, an irresistibly memorable chorus which comes across as sort of Ash-meets-Blue-Oyster-Cult. The rest ain’t half bad either.
Sting isn’t the first person who comes to mind when it comes to extolling the virtues of joyriding but on this third single from his surprisingly successful Sacred Love album Sting gets down and funky with the help of someone called Twista..
A fine version of George Michael’s soulful ballad from the former punk siren and now Wicklow resident, this is a more commercial offering than much of her more folk-inspired output of late.
The title track and one of the better numbers from the Winning Days album this song is a game of two halves. It starts out with a languorous laid-back melody before speeding up in tempo on the back of Beach Boys-style harmonies and jangly guitar textures.
Not immediately recognisable as a Mundy song, this up-tempo taster from his forthcoming Raining Down Arrows album rolls along like a summer breeze on a hot dusty day.
The long awaited first single from the forthcoming album – her first in three years – finds Polly Jane as uncompromisingly left-field and abrasive as ever.
With her rich velvety vocal style, consummate piano playing and – let’s be honest here – her stunning good looks, she came on like a breath of fresh air in the mid-1990’s
Taking his cue from a wide range of left-of-centre practitioners – from Billy Bragg and Ray Davies to Jonathan Richman and Ian Dury – this Dublin singer-songwriter has come up with a hugely engaging and highly tuneful collection of numbers. As debuts go, this is a hell of an arrival.
Sonically ambitious and not afraid to stretch the possibilities of the form, you imagine them sitting around and thinking deeply about arrangements, mixes and beats even before they pick up an instrument.
Given the generally high quality of her output since 1986’s Control, you really have to wonder why Janet Jackson felt the need to resort to such gimmicks as the recent Superbowl “wardrobe malfunction” incident.
He plays guitar for Springsteen, plays The Clash on his radio show and plays it fast and loose as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos. Colm O’Hare meets the three-in-one Steven Van Zandt
If your image of a jazz session is one of goateed middle-aged men, all listening intently to complex, impenetrable music with modal scales and syncopated rhythms, then it’s time to think again.
Her last album, 2001’s Yola, saw Eleanor McEvoy move away from the electric pop rock of her major label days to the more rootsy, acoustic approach of her earlier work. It was a wise decision...
The death of John Entwistle and Pete Townshend’s troubles haven’t stopped The Who reconvening for another tour. Colm O’Hare got to see the warm-up show ..
Their first all-acoustic album since 1990’s Allegria, the excellent Roots sees the Gipsy Kings music return to its Flamenco/Gipsy origins without the studio embellishments of their more recent output.
Another instalment in this highly successful monthly songwriters’ showcase, this was the first to be held in a brand new facility at the Holiday Inn. The Green Room is an impressive live space by any standards and offers every possible creature comfort, matched with superb sound and a warm, lively atmosphere.
Forty years since she belted her way to the top of the charts with a raucous version of the Isley Brothers’ ‘Shout’, the former teen soul singing sensation somehow manages to stave off the ravages of age.
Releasing just one album of original material in 14 years is not exactly the mark of a prolific artist. But when you’re a star of the calibre and reach of George Michael it almost beggars belief.
Me and Mr Johnson features Clapton renditions of 14 of the 29-song legacy of Robert Johnson, mythical Mississippi bluesman recorded during his brief career in the 1930s.
Hector Ó hEochagáin is from Navan in Co. Meath. He learned Irish by attending summer colleges in the Gaeltacht and later studied Irish in Trinity College He has presented several popular Irish language programmes on TG4, including the acclaimed Amú series of travel documentaries, which last year won three awards at the IFTA’s.
While some concern has been expressed about the future of Irish, all the current indications are that the enthusiasm of the people – who are learning the language now with greater gusto than ever – will ensure that it not only survives but thrives.
Galway based, Dingle native Pauline Scanlon has a lot going for her on this impressive debut, not least of them a distinctive, occasionally beguiling voice, which seems to soar several miles above the varied arrangements on offer here.
With her raspy voice and big shouty delivery, Etheridge has always sounded like a female Rod Stewart or John Cougar Mellencamp. Since releasing her self-titled debut in 1988 she has more or less followed the same stylistic path – a mix of mid-western bar-band rockers and ballsy ballads.
There are no guarantees of success in the music biz, but if you have what it takes there is plenty of expert help available to ensure you give it your best shot.
Not many bands with zero recorded output to their name could draw a packed house, mid-week, on what turned out to be the coldest night in over two years.
It’ll doubtless go down as the most anticipated (and long awaited) re-union in Irish music history. More than thirty years after they first transformed the possibilities of Irish music forever, the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young of trad/folk finally decide to re-convene for a series of gigs.
The unusual story of how Dubliner Erica Jennings found success in the Baltics.
Music Review | Live
5 Feb 2004
Colm O Hare
With nostalgia all the rage these days it comes as no great surprise that the 1960s ballad boom is currently enjoying a healthy revival among younger tykes.
With nostalgia all the rage these days it comes as no great surprise that the 1960s ballad boom is currently enjoying a healthy revival among younger tykes.
Talent will always be the most important prerequisite for a career in music, but you’ll find the going a lot easier if you understand what makes the industry tick. Colm O’Hare looks at the specialist music courses which have helped the likes of Sinéad Lohan, The Thrills and Mundy to steal a march on the competition.
The latest LA outfit to cause a stir on this side of the pond (in the pages of Kerrang! at any rate) The Bronx come with all the right booze, puke ‘n’ drugs credentials to make them instantly appealing to their demographic (i.e. 13-year-old males).
She’s been hailed in some quarters as the new Norah Jones and the heir to Eva Cassidy’s throne. With sales of her debut going through the roof, things are looking bright indeed for the Russian-born, Belfast-bred daughter of a heart surgeon.
This particular Northern light has lent his distinctive guitar and vocal style to a host of collectives and collaborators over the years –from Snow Patrol and The Reindeer Section to Juliet Turner and Ursula Burns.
He may have his critics among the academic literati, but Belfast singer/songwriter Brian Kennedy insists that his move into the realm of fiction is a natural artistic progression.
A police raid on a dublin record store has led to intense speculation that the Gardaí are about to commence a serious crackdown on the retail of bootleg CDs.
Lunar Records supremo Brian Molloy has enlisted the help of such luminaries as Bertie Ahern, Eamon Dunphy and Bono in the making of voices and poetry of Ireland, a one-off CD being released to benefit the homeless this Christmas.
A quarter of a century since they topped the album charts and ruled the airwaves with their distinctive brand of West Coast pop/rock, not much has changed in the Fleetwood Mac camp.
In a special hotpress feature Colm O’Hare investigates how the music business is attempting to deal with the single biggest threat facing the industry today – piracy.
From pioneering ambient-trad with Clannad, through to her brand new concept album 'Two Horizons', Moya Brennan can now look back on 30 years of lending her voice and harp to some of the most distinctive music ever to come out of Ireland.
You can tell how highly regarded she is by the number of top stars who want her to sing with them. But for Emmylou Harris such collaborations are a two-way street.
The guitar is back – and how! Instrument sales are healthier than they’ve been in years. but that’s not the only good news from Ireland’s music equipment shops.
A sister group whose family name begins with ‘C’ – little wonder that The Conways are being compared to you-know-who. Find out what’s different about the Sligo foursome.
Over the past number of years, Today FM has consistently supported Irish music, playlisting records by local artists and doing in-studio sessions on a regular basis. in the process the station has played an important part in the increasingly impressive chart and sales achievements of irish acts.
18 months ago Travis weren’t sure if they wanted to be a band anymore. Then their drummer was told he’d never walk again and their whole outlook changed.
With cork set to become european capital of culture just over a year from now, Colm O’Hare reports on the cultural attractions punters will be treated to by the lee in 2005
Whilst the biker culture has retained it aura of outlaw glamour and leather-clad allure down through the years, it’s nonetheless a mode of transport not without its dangers.
The encores began with the crowd chanting the opening bass riff of ‘Dancing In The Moonlight’ while the band nailed it with a killer version of ‘Suicide’.
The extravagantly monikered Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab of Oz crazies Machine Gun Fellatio assures Colm O’Hare that they’re a bit more Las Vegas than the Virgin Prunes
An Irish band who don’t entirely fit in at home, Relish can console themslves with a great new album Karma Calling, and an international fanbase that stretches from the U.S. to Japan.
An Irish band who don’t entirely fit in at home, Relish can console themslves with a great new album Karma Calling, and an international fanbase that stretches from the U.S. to Japan.
She certainly gave them what they’d come to hear and like her or not, Twain is a seasoned performer with more than enough hits to carry a major event like this.
An increasingly popular platform for emerging and established talent, this monthly showcase (run in conjunction with IMRO) has been hanging the “House Full” signs of late.
By now one of the most esteemed events on the Irish cultural calendar, the Galway Arts Festival 2003 will once again bring you the best in contemporary theatre, literature, comedy and music
While some might have had them marked them down as a poor man’s Portishead or a less credible Massive Attack, this collection convincingly proves otherwise.
When the Dixie Chicks came out against the Iraq war, they were accused of being "un-American”. Colm O’Hare hears how the country rebels survived their own desert storm
Like almost anything Reed has ever done, it’s a mixed bag, but what emerges in the end is a fascinating, compelling portrait of one of the most important artists of the last 30 years.
You’ve never seen them like this before. Now available on DVD with extra features and footage, the new edition of The Beatles Anthology is as close to a definitive visual tale of the band as we’re ever likely to get. Producer Chips Chipperfield tells Colm O’Hare how it came together
But what about the music? If it did feature what was described recently as the “usual suspects” there’s no denying the popularity of the current class of 2003.Short sets from Lisa Bresnan, Bellxi’s Paul Noonan, Leya and Nina Hynes got the show on the road with Bresnan in particular impressing everyone present with her knock-out voice.
It’s hard not to be reminded of The Levellers in their crusty, polemic prime, the bombastic 1980’s textures and a lyrical obsession with the elements adding to the overall dated feel.
Singer Dmitri Coats – aside from having one of the best names for a frontman in existence – is a self-professed wannabe rock star and something of a publicist’s dream, while poster girl and female bassist Melanie Campbell is apparently not averse to vomiting during gigs.
With no frills or gimmicks, what you get is Bloom’s impassioned singing and distinctive guitar style, along with what sounds like a 1,000-strong audience lapping up every minute of it.
Such is the all-pervading influence of Hendrix, Marley, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder et al, that you wonder why he doesn’t abandon these pastiches and opt for a covers album instead.
Back on the road again with a famous band name and his classic Forever Changes songs, Arthur Lee of Love recalls the golden psychedelic era of Hendrix, Morrison and Young.
Live, it’s even more dazzling; backed by sundry acoustic instruments including guitars, accordion, violin and a low-key rhythm section, the effect is both pastoral and hypnotic.
Though soaked in the musical culture of Southern California, female-fronted indie quartet Saucy Monky say there’s an undeniably Irish strain to their music.
Elegantly crafted songs like ‘Ease Your Mind’, ‘With Me It’s Down’ and ‘It’s Over You’ reveal a strong folk sensibility with a hint of psychedelia apparent in some of the off-kilter chord progressions.
Though not the darling of the critical fraternity, NYC-based singer-songwriter John Mayer has had the last laugh courtesy of a top 20 album and a Grammy nomination.
And while there’s no shortage of faux teenage angst on display here, there are a handful of numbers that make this more than the empty cash-in it might otherwise have seemed.
Though their new direction has been described by the duo themselves as, “Alanis Morrissette meets Sheryl Crow,” there remains an inescapable girl-band sensibility running through most of the songs here.
For their tenth studio album Vince Clarke and Andy Bell go the whole hog, pouring forth a dozen mainly well-known covers candidly entitled Other People’s Songs.
Aspiring John Cassavetteses, Sam Mendeses and Martin Scorseses take note: Lights, Camera, Action - a seminar on video editing and production organised by Apple Computers - comes to the Music Centre on January 29
Dave Caplice is a man with a knack for being in the right place at the right time. So far, he’s recorded with Wizardz Of Oz, played at Washington’s White House and signed a five-album deal with Telstar, and he’s only just begun
Five years after the death of singer Michael Hutchence and with the release of the greatest hits compilation Definitive INXS, the biggest Australian rock outfit of the ’80s and ’90s are about to re-enter the live arena
While the word pop currently raises the hackles of anyone who considers themselves a music fan, Pugwash’s Thomas Walsh, whose music is influenced by the move, XTC and the Kinks, is attempting to set the record straight
Though Beth Nielsen Chapman's latest album deeper still was created when she was mourning the death of her husband and battling breast cancer, the result is an uplifting collection of life-affirming songs
Paul Weller has a reputation as one of the most truculent men in pop, with a deep-seated dislike of the promotional process. But with the release of his latest solo album Illumination, the man who once led The Jam and the Style Council agreed to put himself in the firing line. Looking back over a career that's studded with success, he's reflective and forthright - but the anger that inspired much of The Jam's finest output still burns
Rather than fashion her undoubted talents into something genuinely original she has chosen the now well-trodden path of the angst-ridden, overwrought fem-rocker
From the biggest international names to the most dynamic local creations, festivals make Ireland a good place to be in summer, even when the sun refuses to put in an appearance
From 15-28 July 2002 Galway city hosts one of the most comprehensive of this year's arts festivals with esoteric offerings from the genres of visual art, music, theatre, comedy and lots, lots more
Consisting of 13 self-penned tracks, ranging in style from jaunty, mid-tempo pop songs, to more reflective ballads, In'shallah more than lives up to the claims being made on their behalf
Aided and abetted by a host of session musicians it consists largely of extended pieces with dreamy, atmospheric textures, ambient dance rhythms and choral-like vocals
Aided and abetted by a host of session musicians it consists largely of extended pieces with dreamy, atmospheric textures, ambient dance rhythms and choral-like vocals
The finalists, chosen from the hundreds of entries received, were all winners of the regional heats that had taken place up and down the country since January
The penultimate heat of this increasingly tense battle for a coveted place in next month's grand final saw five more contenders fight it out at this fine venue on the banks of the Shannon
He certainly couldn't be accused of mellowing over the years as solid, guitar driven numbers like 'The Queen of Indecision', 'Liberty Hall' and 'The Ghost of Christmas Past' are delivered with no little passion
The third Dublin heat of this year's increasingly interesting battle saw five very diverse acts slugging it out for a coveted place in April’s grand final
While extremely impressive and effective in bringing extra dynamics to the singer songwriter format, the novelty wears off after a while and occasionally takes away from the songs, which certainly struck a chord with the entranced audience
Colm O'Hare meets radio DJ and presenter Ryan Tubridy who has forsaken the hallowed halls of RTE Radio 1 for the rough and tumble that is 2FM's Breakfast Show
With rarely a dull moment over almost two hours, the Atlanta based duo entertained and thrilled a lively audience with songs from their 15-year career and a handful of teasers from their upcoming album
It’s Christmas in the drunk tank and The Pogues have reformed, featuring the classic line-up of Shane MacGowan, Jem Finer, Darryl Hunt, Philip Chevron, Terry Woods, Spider Stacey, Andrew Rankin and James Fearnley. Who wouldn’t raise a glass to this momentous occasion?
With a deft five-piece band in tow, Geldof, nattily dressed in pinstripe suit and red polka-dot shirt, kicked off with his last real hit, ‘The Great Song of Indifference’ – a good start!
While it's probably true that he was never likely to repeat his groundbreaking early years, the Popes have their moments, particularly in a live context where MacGowan often seemed more in control.
For an arena-filling band like Beautiful South it was an unusual departure but the lack of a full compliment of musicians was more than made up for by the intimacy of the performance.
If at times it felt like a heat of Come Dancing, the quality of the playing and the dynamics created by the large brass section was infectiously entertaining.
On this sprawling, ambitious double album mostly recorded live in her home town of Philadelphia, she proves she’s got the voice, the songs and the personality to go with the reputation.
with a higher profile internationally than at home, and the support of heavyweight friends, The Devlins have recorded an impressive third album. COLM O'HARE reports
And what a fine collection it is too. All the hits and more are here, with a pair of previously unreleased tracks, including the current single, ‘Would You Be Happier’ and a trio of live cuts culled from their hugely successful Unplugged album.
