Fresh off the release of their debut EP This Is How I Sleep at Night via Blowtorch, rising Kildare’s quartet Blue Slate take us on a guided tour of their all-time favourite tracks—from Elliott Smith and Nine Inch Nails to Death Grips, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and beyond.
James:
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – The Devil May Care (Mom & Dad Don’t)
It’s a sad song. Stripped back and raw. That’s probably why I like it so much. It evokes a strong sense of do it yourself – where all you need is a guitar and a microphone. But there’s also interesting elements to the song, like the instrumental section where it takes on a surreal aspect (I can envision a rustic cabin with an old man atop a wooden stool pulling at the accordion), and harmonies that further emphasize Anton’s rejection from his homelife. It’s really interesting musically given that it stems from a few open chords. But it’s the power of the overall piece that has led me to listen to it repeatedly.
David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust
It’s so simple and yet so iconic. One of those riffs I’ll always wish I had written. I love the driving chorus and the escapism of the lyrics. I’ll always remember learning the opening riff – truly awe-inspiring. There’s something about Bowie’s music that’s timeless and the fact that it is possible with just a few instruments will always be incredible to me.
John:
Elliott Smith – No Name #3
This song was very influential on my songwriting and guitar playing. When the band was starting up, I learned a lot about structuring music in general from listening to Elliott. I don’t really find his music depressing, I find it honest. That’s why I love it.
Manic Street Preachers – Motorcycle Emptiness
This tune is one of my all-time favourites. I think it’s really ballsy lyrically and the riff is so catchy. It really reminds me of good times when I was growing up. My walking song to be honest. I have a lot of time for anything the Manic Street Preachers do.
Tim:
Nine Inch Nails – Only
I found this song when I was 14, and would listen to a downloaded mp3 of it every day on my way to school. I didn’t know who Nine Inch Nails were and it would take a few years for me to properly discover them, but this song really spoke to me during the miserable time of being a teenager. The discovery of NIN marked a massive shift in my music taste and approach to creativity. Their simple yet memorable drum parts became a fascination of mine, and I’ve been using this band as a constant source of inspiration ever since.
Death Grips – Beware
I hold this song really close to my heart. Right before getting on stage at almost every gig, I listen to it as loud as possible. Everything about this song is just perfect for getting into ‘the zone’ for a show. Its unique intensity is something I try to channel in every performance. I was lucky enough to see them live, I’ll never forget it. Red static lights the whole time, no opener, not a word said to the crowd, and 29 songs back-to-back. They put everything into the performance, and disappeared as soon the last song ended. Unreal.
Pierce:
Kings of Leon – Holy Roller Novocaine
I was introduced to Kings of Leon at a very early age, upon the release of their debut album Youth and Young Manhood in 2003. I would have been one year old at the time but my dad got a hold of it and played it all around the house and in the car ever since I could remember. I saw them live at Oxygen in 2008, when I was five or six years old, and that was my first realisation that I wanted to be a musician. I used to take my dad’s walkman and listen to that record for hours and always imagine myself playing that song on a stage as if I had written it, so without that record and this song in particular, I don’t think I would be doing what I do or have found as deep a love for music and performance.
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bad Moon Rising
Similar to Kings of Leon, Creedence was always played around our house and in the car. It’s the sort of music that sounds like it’s been there forever, yet each time you listen it gets better—there is never a time I would turn them off. I also think that John Fogarty is one of the most prolific songwriters of all time; having written, recorded and released six of their seven studio albums in a two year time period is astonishing to me when you consider the music on each of those records. All of their work has a beautiful raw sound and a completely unique voice to tell the story, so it’s impossible to not mention them as a major influence for me .
