• Irish Tour: Weird Al Yankovic

    October 8, 2015 - By 

    Vicar Street, Dublin Weird ‘Al’ Yankovic doesn’t really make sense. A parody artist, whose satirical swipes at popular culture have mostly revolved around food, who has somehow not only managed to survive over 30 years in the business and score a number 1 album on the billboard charts, but has also been a constant presence in a plethora of cultural touchstones. Although he is mostly a fringe player or is the butt of a joke. How has someone like Al managed to survived longer than probably 80% of the groups he has pastiched? If last night’s performance in Vicar Street…

  • Bell X1 @ The Opera House, Cork

    October 7, 2015 - By 

    There’s an atmosphere of excitement through Cork Opera House when Dublin indie pop heroes Bell X1 take to the stage before a sold out Saturday night audience. Frontman Paul Noonan and his talented bandmates have always inspired a devoted fanbase with their accessible yet mildly obtuse indie rock and their crossover appeal is highly apparent in the eclectic set of gig-goers waiting on baited breath for the band. This is a particularly anticipated evening due to the acoustic nature of the show, a special chance to see one of Ireland’s most entertaining live acts completely stripped back. The show succeeds…

  • Sufjan Stevens @ The Helix, Dublin

    August 31, 2015 - By 

    Once impressively prolific, new music by Sufjan Stevens comes along at a much slower pace these days, so the anticipation for tonight’s show, the first of two sold out shows at The Helix and the opening date his European tour, has been building for a while. After an support set from bluesy mother and son duo Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, Sufjan and his unassuming looking band take to the stage, and it’s immediately clear that we’re in for a very different show from when he last visited these shores four years ago. For a start, we’re all seated,…