What better reason to form a band than a shared love of Pavement, Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth, Flaming Lips, Fugazi and My Morning Jacket. Story Of Hair blew my socks off when I saw them supporting We Should Be Dead last year and the release of debut EP, The Ho! Ho! Ho! Stamp confirmed my suspicions that they are indeed an exhilarating sonic experience.

Consequently, I’m delighted to inform you, dear readers, that the band are now preparing for the release of their debut album, Cheap Rate, on October 30. The opus was recorded with Steve Shannon at Experimental Audio and features 14 sparkling new tracks of pop-inflected alternative rock.
There are a slew of live dates over the next few weeks so make sure to check hotpress.com for details.
Cork songstress Jennifer Clarke has been invited to join Michael Bolton as special guest for his upcoming shows at The Royal Albert Hall on October 27. Jennifer has spent the past four months in Nashville collaborating with the crème de la crème of the country song-writing world including the Grammy Award-winning Marcus Hummon (The Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts) and Emmy Award-winner Victoria Shaw (Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill). Jennifer has also piqued the interest of several major labels and publishing companies in Music City and will be returning after her London dates for showcases.
Robotnik fans will be delighted to hear he’s released new single ‘Weird Road’ backed by ‘I Found Jesus In The Year 2027’, both culled from acclaimed debut album Pleasant Square. Chris has been gaining quite a following since the release of the wonderful longplayer and recently supported Crystal Castles and Laura Marling. You can catch him live upstairs in Whelan’s on October 25.
In other single news electro rockers Le Galaxie release ‘You Feel The Fire!’ on October 31. Over the past 12 months the combo have wowed the crowds at London Calling, Bud Rising and Electric Picnic. The same day launch takes place in Crawdaddy and will feature a live set from Deadbots as well as Antics DJs kicking out the jams with Italian horror/sci-fi movie/Demolition Man visuals!
Your Arch Enemies’ debut single ‘Step Up’ will be available for download only from iTunes and all good online music stores from November 14 and will be launched in style the previous evening in Dublin’s Boom Boom Room. Comprising Conor Ryder on vocals, Damien O’Brien on bass and vocals, John O’Connor on drums and Dara Ryder on guitar you can catch the lego-inspired video for the single at myspace.com/yourarchenemies.
Mail Order Messiahs release their debut EP Par Avion on November 25 in Dublin’s 4 Dame Lane. (Love the press release on airmail paper lads!) The alternative electronic combo made up of Mike Liffey and Dar Fahy wrote the songs whilst living in different parts of the country-sending lyrics, demos and mixes back and forth in the mail. The offering was produced by Jimmy Eadie of Jape, Redneck Manifesto and Si Schroder fame. You can also catch them live at DEAF in Thomas Read’s (October 26) and at Club FEAR in Pravda (November 12).
South Dubliners The Hot Sprockets release the MC5/CSNY/delta blues-influenced Country Dirt EP on November 7 Recorded in the idyllic surrounds of Donabate Beach the opus is being released on The Firstborn Is Dead Recordings, home to the the dizzyingly talented Mighty Stef. The band perform an instore in Tower on November 7 and launch the EP that evening in the Button Factory. A must for any iPod!