• 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…

  • Dott’s USA Tour Diary: Part 2

    April 7, 2015 - By 

    In the second of a three part diary entry, our favourite Galway garage pop quartet Dott have high tailed it out of Texas and kick off this leg of the tour with Night School, bringing them from Oklahoma City all the way West to Reno, Nevada. Dott and Night School (from California) are releasing a split record called Carousel on Graveface Records especially for Record Store Day, April 18. Read Part 1 of the band’s USA Tour Diary here. March 23rd. Capital City Bicycle Company, Oklahoma City. We started our short stay in OKC in the best little old school diner called the Hungry Frog.…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (6/4)

    April 6, 2015 - By 

    This week saw the return of Late Night Art; contemporary art galleries in Belfast opening on the first Thursday of the month, from 6pm-9pm. Platform arts opened A Collaboration Monument, while the Golden Thread opened their project space with work by Robert Anderson. Platform Arts, Belfast April 3-29 2015 Örn Alexander Ámundason and Olof Nimar A Collaboration Monument Örn Alexander Ámundason and Olof Nimar explore the difficult sometimes authoritative nature of collaboration. The conjuncture of five different practitioners working on a single project makes for an interesting study of performance and sculpture. Artists Örn Alexander Ámundason and Olof Nimar worked with…

  • Monday Mixtape: Stefan Murphy (The Mighty Stef)

    April 6, 2015 - By 

    In this special Easter Monday installment of Monday Mixtape, Stefan Murphy of Dublin rockers The Mighty Stef (above, middle) selects and talks about some of his all-time favourite songs, including Neutral Milk Hotel, Echo and the Bunnymen, FIDLAR and the Strypes. Desireless – Voyage Voyage Decadent french pop from the 80’s. An abstract song about traveling eternally. Something of a personal anthem since I was young. I have reconnected with this track in a big way recently. I long to cover it.   Garland Jeffreys – Wild In The Streets This recreates the feeling of a New York summer. A hot sticky…

  • Deep Down South: Would Bes, Double Stars, and Limerick-Related Besiegements

    April 6, 2015 - By 

    Ireland is full to bursting of stories from its musical fringes. The Would Be’s have one of the most distinct in contemporary music; infamously turning down 14 major labels (remember when there were fourteen of those?) to follow up their debut single, praised alike by John Peel and Morrissey. Over twenty years later, brandishing a requisite amount of new tunes, the Would Be’s are back, having been coaxed out of retirement by rock scribe Tony Clayton-Lea. Cork label FIFA last week released their new single ‘Bittersweet’, backed up with a legendary John Peel Session in its entirety, and April 18th…

  • Independents in Paris: InFiné

    April 3, 2015 - By 

    Tucked away in a quiet district of Paris lies InFiné, one of the cities flag-ship independent music labels. With an old corner-shop now-turned office as the unlikely-headquarters for the label, they work mostly with electronic and dance music. Sitting down with Alexandre Cazac, we spoke about the origins of InFiné, and what it is like to be a part of their family. Photos by Tom McGeehan How did InFiné come to exist? The first time we (myself & Yannick) saw Francesco Tristano in 2005 playing classical music like Debussy, and then switching to a classic techno track like “Strings of…

  • You Are Not Spock: An Opinion by Seanán Kerr

    April 2, 2015 - By 

    When Leonard Nimoy died who was more sad people who watch Star Trek or people who didn’t? It’s a silly question, when obviously the answer is ‘people who watch Star Trek’. When Kim Jon Il died, who was more sad people from North Korea or people who aren’t from North Korea? It’s a silly question, obviously the answer is North Koreans, you probably saw the clips online, footage of North Koreans balling their eyes out over the death of ‘Dear Leader’ someone we all generally accept was a bit unpleasant, you probably though it was funny, I mean, “DUH don’t…

  • Track Record: Stephen McCauley

    April 2, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Track Record, Derry radio broadcast and bona fide music savant Stephen McCauley selects and talks about some of his all-time favourite records. Stephen presents Soundscapes – featuring a mix of contemporary classical, electronica, ambient and acoustic music – on BBC Radio Ulster every Wednesday night. Photos by Colm Laverty. The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) I was slow to mention this record because it’s popularity is almost a cliché in itself but it had a profound impact on me when I first heard it and it still does. I was 15 and…