• Cian Nugent, Nap Eyes & Cryboys @ Whelan’s, Dublin

    May 16, 2016 - By 

    It’s a diverse crowd of music heads both old and young here at Whelan’s for a night of straight-up good music, untethered to current trends for what’s a homecoming show for Cian Nugent who has been gallivanting across America with main support Nap Eyes recently; this night kick starts the European leg. Opening the show are one of Nugent’s numerous side-projects, alt. country-meets-power-pop of Cryboys. Their 3-4 minute nuggets evoke early Wilco in what appears to be their first outing in some time with the group. It’s a strong set, scattered with the kinds of nostalgic hooks one would expect…

  • Jeff Lynne’s ELO @ 3Arena, Dublin

    May 11, 2016 - By 

    While Jeff Lynne sure knows how to make a bold statement by suggesting he is Alone in the Universe, tonight’s show and the previous string of dates in the UK that sold out in minutes certainly suggest otherwise. Apart from long time keyboardist and collaborator Richard Tandy, Lynne has an ensemble of relatively new but seasoned musicians to recreate and reinstate his cosmic vision of Electric Light Orchestra for his first tour in over 30 years. This particular gig at Dublin’s 3Arena was originally scheduled for the previous weekend but due to illness Jeff had to postpone and apologised fervently…

  • Steve Mason @ Black Box, Belfast

    May 4, 2016 - By 

    It’s a Saturday night in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter and Steve Mason is in good form. Recent interviews in support of his new album reveal a musician re-invigorated by the simple creativity of human interaction. Inside a buzzing, sold-out Black Box he is throwing catalogue shapes for photographers and sardonically re-naming songs. ‘A lot of Love’ is introduced as a love song from Chris Martin to Gwyneth (it’s too good for that), and the soulful tambourine-driven ‘Seen It All Before’ is re-christened “Slide On Fat Jesus.” He looks sweltered on stage in a full anorak but tries to…

  • Ciúnas: An Evening Of Quiet Songs @ Connolly’s of Leap, Cork

    May 4, 2016 - By 

    We arrived in early to Ambiguous Fiddle’s curated Ciúnas: An Evening of Quiet Songs’ at Connolly’s of Leap, catching a spin over with the night’s opener Chris McDonald. There’s a saying: the easy ease. Where everything comes together, eased into place. It’s when you nod and smile because you feel the vibe you’re after is right there, coming together, heading for the sweet spot. We arrived in and there it, the sweet spot, was: the artists – McDonald, Pine The Pilcrow, I Have A Tribe and Sam Clague – soundchecked, the Connolly’s crew set up; the candle-lit seating, the meet and greet and the room temperature.…

  • Richmond Fontaine @ Voodoo, Belfast

    May 4, 2016 - By 

    There’s no room for sentiment during Richmond Fontaine’s last ever Belfast show. The band from Portland, Oregon have been regular visitors to the city since the release of the critically-acclaimed Post To Wire in 2004, and tonight their final album You Can’t Go Back If There’s Nothing To Go Back To gets some serious attention from the setlist. You Can’t Go Back is a summary of all that’s great about this much-loved Americana band so it’s fitting that most of the record is showcased this evening. ‘I Got Off The Bus’ – a song about the worst homecoming ever, alternates…

  • Shonen Knife w/ Leggy @ Black Box, Belfast

    May 2, 2016 - By 

    Japan’s Shonen Knife are currently celebrating their 35th anniversary with an extensive tour, which took in Belfast’s Black Box as part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. After a number of Japan-only releases in the early 80s, the Osaka group’s brand of infectious pop-punk eventually won western admirers including Sonic Youth, John Peel and Nirvana, and the band’s 90s peak saw them serve as an opening act for the UK leg of the Seattle band’s Nevermind Tour, as well winning gaining regular MTV airtime and slots on the Lollapalooza tour. Now on album number 20 and buoyed by the return…

  • Andrew Bird w/ Beating Heart Pigeons @ Vicar Street, Dublin

    May 2, 2016 - By 

    It’s been far too long since Andrew Bird last graced our shores with his violin-led quirky take on indie folk but after a triumphant night in Vicar Street, it feels like he never left at all. Before Bird takes to the stage, procedures are kicked off by Limerick natives, Bleeding Heart Pigeons. The four-piece aren’t an obvious match for the whimsical sounds of the headliner and their raw indie rock is mostly lost on the small crowd who’ve wandered in early. Despite sound issues, they reel out a good enough set filled with cuts from their recent debut album, Is.…

  • The King Khan & BBQ Show w/ September Girls @ The Workman’s Club, Dublin

    April 26, 2016 - By 

    One of the main attributes that is often associated with King Khan and his partner in crime Mark Sultan – AKA The BBQ – when they perform is that the crowd are never left wanting. As a band they are an incredibly tight combo, who not only take huge pleasure in emphasising their die-hard passion for old school rock ‘n’ roll, doo-wop and punk, but are driven to put on a show that will reside in their audience’s memory for some time after they leave the stage. As a result it’s no surprise to learn that their appearance in the Workmans Club…

  • Ought w/ Autumns @ Voodoo, Belfast

    April 25, 2016 - By 

    Ought are somewhat of an anomaly on Constellation Records, a label known more for post-rock bands like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, but then they’re also an anomaly in that they’re a Canadian band without any Canadian members, their personnel having moved to Montreal from various US states and, in one case, Australia. Still on the touring trail for last year’s sublime second LP Sun Coming Down, their second European trek since its release sees them make a much anticipated return to Ireland and a Belfast debut. Derry’s Autumns kick things off, fast becoming Belfast’s support-band-in-residence, which is no bad thing.…

  • Mission of Burma @ Opium Rooms, Dublin

    April 21, 2016 - By 

    In this day and age, it’s more surprising when old bands don’t reform than when they do, but very few bands have returned as gracefully as post-punk legends Mission of Burma. Having broken up in 1983 with just one album, an EP and a couple of singles to their name, due to their notoriously loud live shows taking their toll on guitarist Roger Miller’s hearing, 2004’s long overdue second LP ONoffON actually seemed to pick up exactly where they left off, and follow up The Obliterati was bafflingly even better. It’s been four years since they released their fifth and…