• Interview: Dutch Uncles

    April 9, 2015 - By 

    Just under two months from the release of fifth album, O Shudder, and barely into a UK/Ireland tour, Dutch Uncles frontman Duncan Wallis chats to Joe Madsen about performing live, recorded ventures both past and future, and changes in band membership. So how are you guys feeling about the reception and feedback you’re getting on the new album? Interesting question.  I don’t think we’ve thought too much about it, really.  We’re very happy with the reviews.  We weren’t expecting to get so many 4/5’s and 8/10’s because that’s all we got straight across the board with our last album, so we didn’t…

  • Insert Coin: iDig International Games Music Festival

    April 13, 2015 - By 

    In the first of a new feature called Insert Coin, we discuss video games and people who make them possible. To kick things off, we attended the inaugural iDig International Games Music Festival at the convention centre in Dublin for plenty of gaming and a concert by Video Games Live. Photos by Isabel Thomas. It’s old hat now that video games are big business. We all know that they compete with films, music, theater, TV and pornography as the preeminent form of entertainment for the 21st century. There’s no sense arguing anymore whether video games are just for children now…

  • AAA Tour Edition: Jenn Grant

    April 13, 2015 - By 

    In this special tour edition of AAA, we set off around Ireland with Jenn Grant. Our first port of call is the Roisin Dubh in Galway with a review from Eoin Murray. Photos in Galway, Cork/Ballydehob and Dublin by Sean McCormack, Jason Lee and Isabel Thomas respectively. The upstairs of the Roisín has been converted into what could be mistaken for a cosy cottage living room – well, one with a bar – and the slowly gathering crowd sit at candlelit tables, chatting and laughing quietly, only feet from the microphone where the first act of the night, Nicholas Timothy is…

  • Q+A: Princess

    April 9, 2015 - By 

    One of our featured 15 for ’15 acts, Dublin noise-pop duo Princess are truly riding the crest of a wave at the minute. Ahead of shows at Belfast’s Woodworkers on Saturday, April 11 (free), Galway’s Roisin Dubh on April 16 and Limerick’s Kasbah Social Club the following night, we chat to Liam Mesbur from the band about their increasingly enthralling sound and direction. Hi guys. I remember featuring ‘Tortured Wings’ in a BBC Ulster radio segment two years ago. Your sounds has really developed since then. What do you owe that to? When we did that tune it was myself writing everything and…

  • From The Abstract to Reality: Reasons To Vote Yes

    April 9, 2015 - By 

    In the first of a three-part feature, Aidan Hanratty looks at reasons to vote Yes in the forthcoming marriage referendum. It’s hard to know where to begin on the topic of same-sex marriage (SSM). Between op-eds and letters to The Irish Times, it seems enough words have been written on the subject that any more might be considered a waste. When you see some of the ludicrous guff written on social media, however, it’s hard to ignore the urge to state your case. A friend recently told of how her five-year-old daughter was against SSM, since obviously boys should marry girls…

  • Front of House: Bernard Flanagan

    April 9, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Front of House, we talk to Belfast-based freelance sound engineer Bernard Flanagan about starting out, his typical work day and working with the likes of Biffy Clyro and Therapy? Photos by Liam Kielt. Hi there. Can you tell us about yourself? My name is Bernard Flanagan and I’m originally from Maghera. I have lived in Belfast on and off for 10yrs. I have also lived in London and Glasgow. How did you become a sound engineer and how long have you been involved in it? I have been in the music industry since I was 14-15.…

  • Track Record: Shane Serrano (Fox Jaw)

    April 9, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record we head to Limerick to hang out with Shane Serrano from Fox Jaw to have a rummage through his record collection from Boston to The Boss. Photos by Aaron Corr. Disclaimer: The music world is quite a serious place. Whether you’re a musician or just a music lover, it’s almost as serious as religion – you can be discriminated or laughed at for your beliefs, or in this case, your taste in music. But the truth is, pretty much every single style of music out there is good, it just appeals to some people’s tastes…

  • Screen/Play #3: Once, Begin Again and the Authenticity Problem

    April 8, 2015 - By 

    In Irish writer-director John Carney’s musical comedy-drama Begin Again, released last year, troubled New York music executive Dan (Mark Ruffalo) sees young songwriter Gretta (Keira Knightley) perform at a downtown open mike session and, smitten with her music, gives her his card. He promises that with a bit of production pizazz and a half-decent video (maybe a Norah Jones vibe) she could have a real radio hit. Gretta rejects his commercialising instinct. She just wants to be real – let the songs speak for themselves and all that. The haggard but good-hearted Dan finds her idealism endearing and naive. ‘Name…

  • Q+A: The Vincent(s)

    April 7, 2015 - By 

    It’s a gorgeous, sunny afternoon in Cork City and I’m about to interview a band that describe themselves as death pop and bleak drag. In person, they are far from bleak but some of the most uplifting people you could ever meet. Cork’s The Vincent(s) had me in stitches laughing. Tell me a bit about your musical background. How did you all start getting into making music? Marc: My mother bought me a four track, when I was really young – it was like one of those Fisher-Price four tracks with drums and stuff, I started messing around with that. It…

  • The Hefty Fog: Lars Ulrich Killing Your Buzz

    April 7, 2015 - By 

    Have you ever had a dream where you’re lounging about in your living room with a few good friends and a few good beers, only to hear a commanding knock on your front door? You peel yourself from the seat and on your way to answer you wonder who it could be, you only invited a few from Celtic Studies, this was supposed to be low-key and casual, a real red plaid affair. Before you know it the door starts pounding, the panel splintering with each violent smack, and then it swings agape. The blood stiffens in your veins and…