• Premiere: Callum Stewart – Gold

    We’re pleased to premiere the latest video by hands down one of the most promising pop singer-songwriters in the country at the minute,  Callum Stewart. Released via OLD FANG, ‘Gold’ is a stripped-back, piano-led distillation of the hotly-tipped songsmith’s craft. Where strings and percussion very nicely lend to the song’s allure – name its impassioned climax – Stewart’s vocals are, without a shadow of a doubt, the focal point here. Familiar without sounding commonplace, earnest without veering soppiness, it sets the young artist apart from many of his peers – and several of his contemporaries. Supported by Jamie Neish, Stewart places the latest OLD FANG…

  • Classic Album: ‘Corndogs from Pedro’ – Minutemen’s Double Nickels On The Dime

    Punk rock – as a movement, as a mindset, and as a musical rebellion against the status quo – has always had a tendency to slide into an unusual conformity all its own. In the birth of any new scene – after the initial spark of originality – codes are established, styles become uniforms, and common mantras unite bands and fans alike. Perhaps no lyric can define the punk scene in Southern California in the early 1980’s like those of the Minutemen on the track ‘The Glory of Man’: “I live sweat, but I dream light years.” Big ideas that…

  • …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – IX

    Texan group …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead transgress a variety of genres with their latest release IX, once again showcasing the bands ability to remain an enigmatic force. IX, the follow up to 2012’s Lost Songs, presents the listener with a jigsaw of melody and harmony, indicative of Trail of Dead’s ability to challenge all genres. Opening track ‘The Doomsday Book’ is uplifting, repetitive rock with no set vocal structure, which fans will certainly be accustomed to. The transition between ‘The Doomsday Book’ and second track ‘Jaded Apostles’ is a strange one, perfectly illustrating the…

  • Track Record: Gugai

    Booker, promoter, DJ and all-round good guy Gugai – formally known as Eoghan MacNamara (or ‘Google’ if you’re drunk enough) is somewhat of a legend around Galway and if you’ve ever graced the Roisin Dubh venue you’ll know of his overwhelming love and support of the music scene here first hand. We’ve asked him to kindly flip through his entire record collection and select some of his favourite releases, with special guest appearances from Pope John Paul II and his dotey son Osgur. Photos by Sean McCormack. Pope John Paul II – In Ireland I think It’s really hard to choose your favourite record…

  • Luke Abbott, Somerville, Subplots @ Pepper Canister Church, Dublin

    Arriving at the Pepper Canister church on Dublin’s Mount Street last Saturday evening one was met with seemingly incongruous signage screaming Hidden Agenda. Truly esoteric, casual bystanders might have suspected a hijacking, an unsubtle protest at the church in modern Ireland. The fact of the matter was something less overtly political, yet just as exciting. The Dublin venture whose name adorned these signs was putting on a thrilling concert in this venue, an evening of music grounded in folk that gazed ever skyward.Stepping inside, the mood was one of quiet wonder, as smoke softly drifted through air and rich, thick…