• Visual Arts Outlook (13/10)

    October 13, 2015 - By 

    Whilst this week sets in to be one of the quieter weeks in October we are going to see a whole wealth of events taking place towards the end of the month to get your creative juices flowing. This Saturday afternoon at 2pm Catalyst Arts Belfast is holding an Artist’s talk with Jacqueline Holt as part of the ‘Composition of Here’ show. Well worth a visit on your stroll around town. Next weekend from the 23rd to the 24th is the hugely anticipated “Open Studios” in Belfast. Hosted by Visual Artists in Northern Ireland and sponsored by Suki Tea, this…

  • Interview: Jacco Gardner

    October 13, 2015 - By 

    Having played Dublin’s Workman’s Club last month, baroque pop prince and Dutch producer/multi-instrumentalist Jacco Gardner chats to Brian Coney about his new album, Hypnophobia, the imprint of cinema on his music and the luxury of recording completely on his own terms. Hi Jacco. You released the wonderful Hypnophobia (the “excessive fear of deep sleep” I’ve just learned) back in May. Before touching on the recording and songwriting, what’s the significance being the title of the release? When I saw the word for the first time I immediately felt some connection. For me it’s a way of describing the unknown territory…

  • Exclusive: The Strypes Secret Gig @ Sweeney’s, Dublin

    October 13, 2015 - By 

    We had exclusive access to The Strypes secret gig at Retro Revival Club’s birthday celebrations at Sweeney’s in Dublin. William Murphy and Tara Thomas braved the crowdsurfing and cake throwing for what was truly a memorable night.  For any kind of nostalgia heavy gig, there are few venues in the city as good as Sweeney’s. Any place adorned with LP covers, including Crosby, Stills and Nash, If You Want Blood, You Got It and a rather sizable version of the Electric Ladylandcontroversial inner sleeve; is the perfect location for this kind of show. So it’s no surprise that the venue…

  • Track Record: Al Higgins (Le Galaxie)

    October 13, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, we call into to Al Higgins from Le Galaxie for a cup of tea and a chat about some of his most favourite and influential records from The Cars to Chromeo. Photos by Francisco Michel. Deutsch Electronische Musik – Volume 1 I bought this after watching one of those BBC4 music documentaries on Krautrock. That’s term that still doesn’t make sense to me and it’s also a bit offensive, but then I suppose it is easier to say than Deutsch Electronische Musik. This always goes down well at parties and I am constantly having to…

  • Monday Mixtape: James McNew (Yo La Tengo)

    October 12, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of their highly-anticipated return to Dublin at the National Concert Hall on Thursday night (October 15), Yo La Tengo’s James McNew reveals eight tracks “that roll through my head almost every single day of my life”, including Cornelius, Grateful Dead & El-P. EL-P – Deep Space 9mm  Every detail, and there are ones I’m still discovering, has gotten me to the end of every day since 2002. This guy somehow finds the exact humor/ humanity in the scariest of shit, just when you need it. Grateful Dead – Live on Beat Club   Like a dream where you discover new…

  • Inbound: The Cujo Family

    October 13, 2015 - By 

    The story of The Cujo Family is a familiar one. Since their conception eight years ago they’ve amassed a serious, almost fervent fan base through their poetic song writing and knees-up live shows. Yet despite wide acclaim, full widespread attention remains elusive. Then life does its thing, and nips at your time with work, children, the day to day. And though music may remain the centre of your world, it’s one that has to be shaped around the very real needs of being a normal human. Yet that doesn’t mean you should give up, because here they come again. With…

  • EP Premiere: Grassfight – Please Don’t Tell

    October 8, 2015 - By 

    With influences as downright venerable as Spacemen 3, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Spoon, New York quartet Grassfight meld cosmically-inclined indie-pop with a subtly anthemic moxie that’s positively strewn across their new EP, Please Don’t Tell – a release which we’re delighted to premiere in full ahead of its release tomorrow (Friday, October 9) Tempting the semi-inevitable Fleetwood Mac comparison (no bad thing in itself, surely), their new five-track EP documents the break-up between two of the band members. Naturally, then, a certain weight of import permeates the length and breadth of the release – the latter word faring pretty operative in the EP feeling not…

  • Lingo Festival Interview: Saul Williams

    October 7, 2015 - By 

    Saul Williams as an artistic figure is a force of unshakeable power. His ability over the course of his career to tackle social, personal and political issues with verve and master craftsmanship has been insurmountable and defiant of any possible pigeonholing. From poetry to music, from acting to journalism, William’s medium defying career has turned him into an artistic totem in the sphere of social commentary. I spoke to him about his recently published poetic commentary on the state of America, US(a.) – a work that began when he returned to the States having lived in Paris for several years…

  • Hyperbolex with Ray Wingnut: The Alternative Radio Times

    October 7, 2015 - By 

    “What do you mean you didn’t do much? You taught a generation of broadcasters that you needn’t be an asshole to be on TV!” This reassuring compliment to a self-deprecating Dónal Dineen hits me right in the sweet spot. The comment was by Ger Gilroy, host of the Saturday Panel segment of Newstalk’s Off The Ball sports radio show.  Dineen is on to talk about Kerry football but the subject has swung briefly to his days on the seminal No Disco music television show.  I’m loving all of this. The discussion has beautifully tied together three of my outspoken passions;…

  • Vault Lines: The Evangelists

    October 5, 2015 - By 

    ‘Jesus Is Dead, Long Live… The Evangelists’, so says the sticker on my old record box. It has been there for 13 years or more, and every time I look at it still evokes feelings of nostalgia for both the band and for the time when I first came across them. It was back in 2002, and my friend Cathy Wright and I had just started doing a weekly radio show and website, both called Alternative Ulster. The whole show and site were dedicated to covering nothing but Northern Irish music. At this time the local music scene was still…