Having hibernated through my first Irish winter I’d resigned myself to watching Home And Away for my dual fix of sunshine and home. The construction of The Spire offered a sense of progression as I trudged through the last vestiges of an Arts degree so protracted in time and space that it ended only with a cultural exchange to Glasnevin. But crossing over into the real world of full-time work and AM awakenings was made easier – alas possible – by landing a most fabulous internship at hotpress.
My first interview with a well-stoned D12 was not so fabulous, but was redeemed a few months later during a charming meeting with 50 Cent. The Witnness weekend resulted in both my first Irish sunburn and hotpress by-line. As an Antipodean, there were plenty of stumbling blocks – pronouncing Irish names, distinguishing the Damiens from the Davids within the fraternity of Irish singer-songwriters, as well as deciphering the accents of interviewees from such exotic destinations as Glasgow (Kosheen) and Donaghmede (The Things).
Gig-wise it’s been a mammoth year. Highlights included a legendary Paddy’s day with Lee Scratch Perry, a popalicious day in the park with Robbie Williams (and 135,000 others), plus notably spine-tingling nights with Nick Cave and Massive Attack. Meeting personal heroes Cut Chemist, Michael Franti and Manu Chao – though not simultaneously – was also a first. The Mor Festival made it’s own debut, with a bang-up weekend party at Tullamore’s Charleville Castle, while the DEAF events and Fringe Festival-sponsored Spiegeltent provided more cultural treats of the envelope-pushing kind. 2003 also saw me joining a freakshow for an afternoon (The Circus of Horrors) and, more recently, touring with the Future Kings of Spain for a weekend on-the-road in Yorkshire. As for recorded highlights – song and video of the year goes hands-down to Fannypack for raising Cameltoe awareness and producing the funniest slice of electro I’ve heard this century.
All in all the best Year of the Black Sheep in my memory. May the Green Monkey bring peace and sunshine and musical merrymaking for all.