• Holy Fuck @ Cyprus Avenue, Cork

    August 17, 2017 - By 

    The hipster set of Cork descend on Cyprus Avenue for a midweek dalliance with Canadian indie electronica outsiders Holy Fuck. After an opening slot from Limerick locals Van Panther who speed through a promising set of Smashing Pumpkins-esque rockers, the visually unassuming Holy Fuck take to the stage. It’s clear from the hesitance of the crowd that much of this audience aren’t quite sure what to expect from this live performance but that doesn’t stop Holy Fuck from blasting the half-filled room with the energy of an act performing a venue much larger. Holy Fuck’s set gives us an insight…

  • Aislinn Logan w/ Mark Loughrey @ Town Square, Belfast

    August 1, 2017 - By 

    Playing a stripped-back show in a limited capacity space on what is payday for some (presumably very thirsty) people is often a recipe for disaster. Usually it’s nothing personal: you could be Paul Simon or Joni Mitchell playing a pop-up show to a room full of dyed-in-the-wool aficionados and yet – due to some strange phenomenon that has somewhat corrupted live performance in public spaces since the dawn of time – people will often put loudly catching up above bearing witness to the artist they’ve parted money to be in the company of. Like, say, the Nazca Geoglyphs, the Bermuda Triangle and the…

  • Townlands Carnival 2017

    July 27, 2017 - By 

    Townlands Carnival 2017 rolls up to one of the rainiest days so far this summer but it doesn’t stop the party hardened masses who’ve made their way to Macroom. After the trials and tribulations of Garda checkpoints stopping all incoming public transport, this reviewer is sorely disappointed to miss Gash Collective’s opening showcase at the Subatomic but there are whispers around the festival of an excellent starting performance from these rising stars of the Irish electronic scene. Jamie Behan closes out the Friday night with his faithful brand of techno. Saturday is a brighter and busier affair with the sun…

  • Sunn O))) @ Limelight 1, Belfast

    July 18, 2017 - By 

    If comedian Martin Mull’s much-misappropriated saying “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture” holds any weight, attempting to sum up the equally ecstatic and obliterating experience of witnessing Sunn O))) at their most potent feels a bit breakdancing about brutalism or trying to riverdance about Mycenaean revivalism. Trickier still, trying to make anything resembling a few vaguely coherent mental notes for the purpose of this review (which, for this writer, proves an experiential trek veering between total oblivion and wildly fluctuating interior monologue) is a laughable prospect – the tripped-out, coeliac plexus-crushing equivalent of the tail trying to wag the dog.…

  • Longitude 2017

    July 18, 2017 - By 

    With an increasingly younger and more hectic audience, Longitude takes to Marley Park for its fifth year. Originally established as an indie pop festival drawing headliners such as Vampire Weekend and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, line ups have taken a sharp left turn over the last couple years turning Longitude into Ireland’s primary two-day hip-hop party with a Sunday addition of a folk day. The increased crowds and popularity of the festival cause serious issues on the Friday with entrance queues lasting hours and constant mini human landslides being led by the post-Leaving Cert demographic filing through the gates. Dua Lipa’s…

  • Alt-J @ Trinity College, Dublin

    July 13, 2017 - By 

    Alt-J return to Ireland having released their latest venture RELAXER, a somewhat submerged album in it’s approach and avoidance of the charts. Despite not having mass appeal, Alt-J continue to draw a young and devoted audience, most of which can be seen at Trinity College tonight. They begin their set with lead single from relaxer, ‘3WW’, and ‘Something good’ from debut An Awesome Wave, a reserved introduction if such a thing exists. There appears to be no hesitation from the crowd in joining the perpetually swaying atmosphere created by the onstage personas however, as the typical ‘warm up period’ for…

  • Two Door Cinema Club @ Trinity College, Dublin

    July 12, 2017 - By 

    Making their last Irish appearance under the alias “Tudor Cinema club” in 2016, Northern Irish Two Door Cinema Club make their way to Trinity College in Dublin brandishing new material in the form of their latest album Gameshow, an eccentric stab at both new and old audiences that didn’t quite hit the mark for either. As such, it comes as no surprise that there is a definite expectation in the air for the group to rely on their debut Tourist History rather than force feed the crowd their latest venture. Starting off the night are support act Circa Waves, an…

  • James Vincent McMorrow @ Trinity College, Dublin

    July 11, 2017 - By 

    It’s a strange experience to find oneself in the midst of Dublin’s most infamous crease, where many a can has been slugged back over the years, and feel as though one has been transported outside of these hallowed walls, such is the change in surroundings. As the crowd meanders between various food stalls and queue for the now ever familiar Heineken bar, All Tvvins put on a highly energetic set of synth pop laden tunes. Guitarist Larry Kaye and vocalist/bassist Conor Adams plus an accompanying drummer, try their damndest to get the audience in the mood courtesy of the infectiously…

  • Pixies @ Trinity College, Dublin

    July 10, 2017 - By 

    A Pixies gig always brings out a rather diverse range of fans be it those aging rockers, no doubt relishing in reliving their debauched college days, to those in their mid-thirties wearing reunion related Pixies shirts, and of course, the “kids” in their early twenties. And tonight is no different. As the clouds gather overhead, it seems as though the light drizzle that has been teasing the crowd may well turn into a grumpier blast of hail, but for now it holds tight and come 8:45pm Pixies stroll on stage with Joey Santiago leading the way, followed swiftly by Black…

  • Kamasi Washington @ National Concert Hall, Dublin

    July 3, 2017 - By 

    It’s over two years now since Inglewood native Kamasi Washington soundly and confidently delivered on the titled mandate of his debut record (and instant classic) The Epic. A three-hour behemoth of raucous, deft and daring jazz which took the world by storm and for a long time was all anyone could talk about. So it’s no surprise that tonight in the formal setting of the NCH that there’s an edge of excitement in the air. Not only that but the crowd is decidedly mixed; young and old, rolled up beanies and distinguished greys, distressed denim and well-pressed chinos. Kamasi’s sound,…