• The Record: Abandcalledboy

    February 3, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of The Record, Brian Coney talks to Ryan Burrowes (below) from recently-expanded Belfast-based quartet Abandcalledboy about changes within the ranks, the writing and recording of their forthcoming new material and their plans for the rest of the year. Photos by Colm Laverty. You’ve been playing sets solely comprised of new material live recently. Why such a shift there? Basically the shift was down to how much we have changed musically, the older material doesn’t really fit with the tracks we have now. We used our last mini-tour (with 100 Onces) to say goodbye to the older…

  • Premiere: Darling – It’s Just One Look

    January 28, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of its release on Friday, we’re pleased to present an exclusive first look at the video for ‘It’s Just One Look’ by Dublin duo Gary Harding and James McGuire AKA Darling. Directed by Michael Kelly, the video is a wonderfully retro affair, capturing the band and their rousing alt-pop to a tee. In fact, their exuberance is perfectly tangible. The song is the follow-up to the band’s equally impressive 2014 singles ‘Echoes’ and ‘Sail Away’ and will feature on their new EP, also set for release on Friday. Pre-order it here. Darling launch the EP at Dublin’s Sugar Club on Saturday night.…

  • Start A Van

    January 27, 2015 - By 

    The follow-up to his introductory piece – Start a Band – And So I Watch You From Afar drummer Chris Wee continues his regular column with some of the more interesting, occasionally perilous tales of a touring band on the open road. Hello again and apologies for the delay on this follow-up installment of my column. My friends, family and colleagues will collectively attest to my gross misuse of such phrases as ‘sorry for the late reply’, ‘sorry i’m only getting back to you now’ and ‘sorry I just saw this’. In truth, I am awful at correspondence. I feel like my pre-disposition towards…

  • Deep Down South: Few Gigs There, Lads

    January 26, 2015 - By 

    Irish metal has been having a few years of exponential growth, with the rise of all-dayers like The Siege of Limerick and bands like Primordial, Murdock and Coldwar representing the island’s riff community on the world stage, and quality stuff materialising from the woodwork everywhere, from Ilenkus and Kawtiks to veterans like For Ruin and Mael Mordha. But at the forefront of all this has been Limerick prog-metal monoliths Shardborne, coming to the Cork Community Print Shop this Saturday care of PYRE Promotions, with Ealadha and Mannequin Republic in tow. Launching upcoming LP ‘Living Bridges’, the instrumental quartet’s combination of…

  • Track Record: Brian Cash (Halves)

    January 26, 2015 - By 

    Featured arguably the most eclectic choices to date (and there’s been quite a few of those) Brian Cash from Halves chooses and talks about his all-time favourite records, including Mogwai, The Redneck Manifesto and a Disney compilation. Photos by Aidan Kelly-Murphy. Super Furry Animals –  Mwng Tim from Halves, to his credit, got me into the Furries. I was always slightly confused by them before that. Pretty much all their records are amazing but I have a special place in my heart for Mwng (above): it’s the sound of a band doing exactly what they want to do without pandering to expectation. An…

  • Track Record: Brian Foley (The Blades)

    February 2, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Track Record, The Blades‘ Brian Foley gives us an insight into his record collection, featuring everyone from Hank Williams to The Clash. Photos by Shaun Neary. Hank Williams – The Very Best Of I love traditional country music as sung by Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Don Gibson and best of all, Hank Williams. Some people find his voice a bit jarring but I find it quite appealing and it adds to some of his more bleaker songs. The little yodel he sometimes uses blends in with the pedal steel guitar and the country fiddle. The lyrics are always…

  • Monday Mixtape: Claire Miskimmin (Girls Names/Cruising)

    January 26, 2015 - By 

    Following on from Aghagallon singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery and And So I Watch You From Afar guitarist Niall Kennedy, the latest willing subject of Monday Mixtape is Claire Miskimmin ofGirls Namesand Cruising. Traversing U.S goth rock pioneers Christian Death, Melbourne garage punk five-piece Total Control, Detroit post-punk quartet Protomartyr and more, the ten-track playlist is a half-hour sojourn of wonderfully doom-laden proportions. Cruising play Belfast’s Menagerie on March 14 as part of Sunglasses After Dark. Claire Miskimmin DJs at her night, Bad Vibes, at Belfast’s Woodworkers every second Thursday night. If you like what you hear below, make sure to hit it up this…

  • Pragmatic Greatness: The Continuing Saga of Echo & The Bunnymen

    January 27, 2015 - By 

    For one glorious moment, Echo & The Bunnymen stood on the precipice of the world, and it seemed like Mythic Glory was theirs for the taking. Then they had an extended holiday, released a commercial sell-out album, and broke up. About ten years later, they found themselves in a similar position, at the forefront of perhaps the most spectacular comeback in pop history, Doing it Clean. But what happened in the next fifteen years? “I know the reality of life, and where we are in the world. I’m not an idiot, you know,” Will Sergeant tells Steven Rainey. More than…

  • Cork Heads: F I L T E R

    January 27, 2015 - By 

    F I L T E R espresso and brew bar in Cork city has quickly become the go to spot for coffee lovers in Cork city. They are situated on Georges Quay and promote a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere with banging tunes and regular exhibitions promoting local creatives. In the latest installment of her column Cork Heads, photographer Brid O’Donovan captures an average day in F I L T E R and chats to owner Eoin MacCarthy and barista Alex Bruce. Can you blindly tell what kind of coffee you’re drinking? Alex: Maybe not the specific region but maybe the…

  • Rave New World (23/1)

    January 23, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Rave New World, the equally, exceedingly tasteful Antoin Lindsay and Aidan Hanratty delve into very best new electronic tracks and mixes of the week, as well as various unmissable upcoming nights and releases. Gigs Hydraulics at The Menagerie, Belfast Friday, January 24 Belfast’s best kept secret returns to The Menagerie tonight with residents Bloom, Jamie Nelson and Jamie Nevin providing the soundtrack. If you head down you’ll be treated to grime, garage and future sounds which is always relentlessly fun. Nobody else in the city is doing anything even remotely similar so treat yourself to this one. AL…