• Hyperbolex with Ray Wingnut: Giveamanakick and Naive Ted

    September 23, 2015 - By 

    ‘Hello, we’re called Giveamanakick and we’re from Limerick.’ Steve Ryan’s hushed tones from under a peak hat, no eye contact, only to his comrade with the sticks. It has a vibe of menace. It feels to me like he wants to grab everyone, punch them in the gut and then fuck them out the window of the pub. This was serious. This band had such brutal force. When they played brains were shredded, lungs were sore and adrenal glands jacked. When Ryan donned a fighter-pilot mask, all of a sudden it was like Hannibal Lector and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre…

  • Smalltown America All-Dayer: American Clay

    September 22, 2015 - By 

    Having already featured the likes of Scottish headliners Carnivores, Derry punk outfit Lost Avenue and hotly-tipped duo Rosseau, the latest in our series of videos looking back at Smalltown America Records’ Sixth All-Dayer features  quartet American Clay and their track ‘Gutted’. Quintessential indie-rock stylings, this. We approve. Check out Paul Martin Brown’s video below and buy the STA All Dayer #6 live album here.

  • The Countless Other Gangs of Four

    September 22, 2015 - By 

    Having recounted some exquisite tales for us in his previous alias of Meb Jon Sol last year – and with the release of his new single, ‘Pilgrim’, on Friday – Omagh songsmith Michael McCullagh AKA Son of the Hound returns for a new string of columns for The Thin Air. Photo by Tom Nicholl. The train shook the window as it passed. The fixings of the steel bunks shuddered and cream paint flaked from the wall, falling quietly as the noise of the train faded into the Dublin hum. ‘That’s why the room was so cheap’ I said. I heaved my guitar case on…

  • US Tour Diary: And So I Watch You From Afar

    September 22, 2015 - By 

    Hello from Philadelphia! As I write we’re at tonight’s venue the Union Transfer, waiting for our soundcheck slot while the mighty The Fall of Troy are doing theirs. We’re on tour with them and a great NY based band called Slothrust at the minute, both serving up masterclasses in their craft each night, keeping us blow-ins from Ireland very much on our toes each night. After this we part ways to meet up and do the rest of the tour with our Sargent House label mates Mylets and Blis. We’re two weeks into the five week tour, having journeyed from…

  • DIY Dublin: Mish.Mash

    September 21, 2015 - By 

    In the latest instalment of DIY Dublin, Joe Donoghue chats with the guys behind Dublin cafe and gallery Mish.Mash. Photos by Abi Denniston. So tell us a bit about how Mish.Mash got started? Who’s idea was it? Had either of you worked in service or hospitality before? The idea for Mish.Mash was always somewhere in the air. We both knew what atmosphere we would like to have in our café and what kind of café culture we would like to show and sell. Our experience was more than enough to start finally something without a “boss”. How is it running…

  • Album Premiere: Best Boy Grip – Best Boy Grip

    September 21, 2015 - By 

    Four years on from utterly bewitching us with singles including ‘Monster and Me’ and ‘You’, Derry singer-songwriter Eoin O’Callaghan AKA Best Boy Grip is on the brink of unveiling his highly-anticipated, self-titled debut album via Amelia Records. Having trailblazed the PledgeMusic campaign to see its release, we’re delighted to present an exclusive first listen to the release; eleven truly majestic, genre-warping tracks brimming with O’Callaghan’s inimitable flair of conviction, heart and extraordinary musicianship. With a full review of the album to come very soon, check it out – as well as forthcoming Best Boy Grip tour dates – below. October 1: Bad…

  • Monday Mixtape: Lee Ranaldo

    September 21, 2015 - By 

    The folks at The Thin Air have asked me to provide an eight song mixtape. I’ve been in the studio at the moment working on ‘that difficult third album’, as Clinton Heylin calls it, and so most of what I’m listening to at the moment is the stuff we are making. But within that activity is the acknowledgment of a host of previously-made music – references, riffs, textures, emotional tones – so the following selections reflect some of these various influences we have been obsessing over at the moment. In no particular order. Something From Pet Sounds or Smile We…

  • Rave New World (18/9)

    September 18, 2015 - By 

    Aidan Hanratty and Antoin Lindsay preview all the very best electronic gigs, mixes, tracks and releaes of the week. GIGS Mvestle ‘Poultice’ tape launch with Roslyn Steer, School Tour, Flash Moderne at TenterHooks Gigspace Friday, September 18 Mvestle marks the release of their new tape Poultice on Fallow Media with a small gig in Dublin’s TenterHooks. The tape is a thrilling work of twisted electronics, and they’re supported by the wonderful Roslyn Steer, whose Still Moving I raved about on these very pages last month, alongside School Tour and Flash Moderne. An evening of unusual sound no doubt, but one…

  • Smalltown America All-Dayer: Clanns

    September 17, 2015 - By 

    Set to release a new single, ‘Korova’, next week, Letterkenny ambient post-rock quartet Clanns delivered a sublime set at Smalltown America’s recent All-Dayer. Capturing the band at their most alchemical and suitably anthemic, check out Paul Martin Brown’s video of the band performing ‘Moriarty’ below and  buy the STA All Dayer #6 live album here  

  • Interview: Pan Narrans Theatre Company

    September 17, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of Culture Night Belfast 2015 (Friday, September 18), Gavin Turtle speaks to Pan Narrans Theatre Company about their upcoming street performance of How these Desperate Men Talk, starting a theatre company in Belfast and Culture Night. Pan Narrans is a Belfast based theatre company started by actor Michael Patrick and director Oisin Kearney. Stills from How these Desperate Men Talk Hi guys. How did you start working together? Oisin: We did 4 Samuel Beckett plays in Cambridge which went well. We were surprised how easy it was. This was 2010. The next year we said “let’s put on a…