After Dark Dreams

The Ronson is coming

2010-10-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

It's only a couple of days until dj/producer Mark Ronson & the Business Intl land in the Clarence Sligo. I'm very very excited about this. The novelty of seeing one of my musical heroes in my hometown.......turbo deadly!

It's a strange world we live in......

2010-10-25T03:33:00.000-07:00

I heart photography!

xSpell

Time for a re-vamp!

2010-10-25T03:28:00.000-07:00

So I've decided once again to rejoin the blogosphere. But this time brings change.....

New layout.....new content.....new reading!

Enjoy.

xSpell

It's been a while since I've blogged!

2009-03-07T04:07:00.000-08:00

I've had a busy week this week. Have been getting ready for our college radio station which will be streaming live at 12 mid-day on Monday the 9th of March. Check out our Facebook.

Anyhoo apart from that I've had alot of fun with the social aspects side of life! ;)

I went to the Choice Music Prize in Vicar Street on Wednesday night. Such a fun night.

Jape took home the Irish Album of the Year 2008 prize, for his album "Ritual".

It was a great night of live music from Jape, Fight Like Apes, Halfset, RSAG, Mick Flannery, Messiah J & The Expert.

Two highlights of mine were Messiah J & The Expert playing "Jean Is Planning An Escape"

and Fight Like Apes tearing up the stage during "Jake Summers"

Also can't forget to mention Mick Flannery, he's like a young Tom Waits.

Mick Flannery - Tomorrows Paper

Where Was Your Mind??

2009-02-22T19:02:00.000-08:00

It's strange the things you'll randomly find on youtube, like this Ballet Recital to The Pixies, "Where Is My Mind"!!

Ballet Recital.

Shake it like a ladder to the Sun!

2009-02-22T18:28:00.000-08:00

Oh yes!!!! Yeah Yeah Yeahs are back with a bang!

"So get your leather, leather, leather on on on on"

I have been eagerly awaiting YYYs to release something since "Show Your Bones" and now the time has finally come.
YYYs new single "Zero" is bursting with Karen O's distinctive vocals. Allegedly the band are trying to steer their music in a new direction but this track is dosed with elements of classic YYYs that we love to hear.

YYYs new album "It's Blitz" will be released on the 13th of April 2009 and the trio will also be appearing at this years Oxegen Festival in Punchestown, Co. Kildare.

Also here's a very unique cover of "Maps" for all you YYYs fans.

It's all about Fever Ray.

2009-02-22T17:56:00.000-08:00

Karen Dreijer of Swedish band "The Knife" has just released a self-titled solo album under her moniker "Fever Ray".

Her vocals are as stunningly eerie as they ever were with "The Knife" especially on her break through track "When I Grow Up"

Another great track to look out for is "If I Had A Heart", especially Familjen Remix

Myspace: Fever Ray

Fever Ray are definitely going to be huge in 2009.

Fever Ray Album is due out on March 18th 2009.

2009-02-18T09:27:00.000-08:00

This Monday, Feb 23rd, School of Seven Bells will be playing their first Irish gig in Whelans of Wexford Street. The New York based trio were formed by Benjamin Curtis of "Secret Machines", together with identical twin sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza formally of "On! Air! Library!"

School of Seven Bells are named after mythical South American pickpocket training academy.
Their 2009 tour sees them supporting the like of White Lies, Bat for Lashes and Fujiya & Miyagi.

Tickets are only €12.50 and can be sourced from Whelans itself www.whelanslive.com
or on www.ticketmaster.ie

Check out SOSB on Myspace
or the bands website SVIIB

School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep

LADYHAWKE, Feb 5th

2009-02-18T08:50:00.000-08:00

New Zealand

born Pip Brown, brought her 80s-tinged synth popband LADYHAWKE to the Academy in Dublin on February 5^th. Ladyhawke gained an early sympathetic vote from the crowd for turning up. The bands flight was diverted to Belfast due to adverse weather but luckily were offered a lift to Dublin just in time to make their gig.

The very shy Pip quietly welcomes the crowd and applauds them for coming out on such an icy cold night before they kick into their set. You can sense the enjoyment coming from the crowd as Ladyhawke belt out “Magic”, “Love Don’t Live Here”, “Another Runaway” and “Back of The Van”. When it comes to the bands latest single “Dusk Till Dawn” the crowd are jumping around to the extra long intro until the backing track skips and the band are forced to abandon their most popular hit. “Danny and Jenny” a b-side is introduced to an audience who have no clue as to what a b-side is.

The band leave the stage implying that the gig is over until Pip reappears giggling into the microphone “Oh, I always feel silly coming off when I know it’s not actually my last song.” When the band start into “My Delirium” the whole crowd are simultaneously rocking out and dancing around to the vocals of the leading lady. Ladyhawke thankfully decide to give “Dusk Till Dawn” another go. This time the intro is much shorter but luckily they make it through the song avoiding any mess ups. The gig ends abruptly, like most gigs do when the artist only has the one album, but it was obvious by the audience that Irish fans will be anticipating Pips next visit.

The Support Band Rocks!!!

2009-01-26T08:14:00.000-08:00

Last night in the O2 (formally The Point), Dublin based band C O D E S took to the stage supporting English "piano rock" trio Keane.

Keane are officially one of the most boring bands around at the minute. From word go their debut album Hopes & Fears (2004) was an embarrassment to my music collection. The only bit of entertainment I got from them was when I heard that lead singer Tom Chaplin was admitted into Rehab in August 2006. Obviously listening to his own depressing music induced his Alcohol & Drug addiction.

C O D E S are made up of Daragh Anderson, Paul Reilly, Eoin Stephens and Raymond Hogge.
I would recommend everyone to head out to Tower Records and buy C O D E S single "Guided by Ghosts". I can sense that 2009 will be a great year for these four!!

03/04/09???
Could this be the date for C O D E S debut album?

Things to do on a Rainy Day.

2009-01-24T17:41:00.000-08:00

Check out a cool exhibition. I'm definitely going to try and head along to "Bodies" in the Ambassador at some stage.

Exhibit hours are Sunday through Monday 10.00 am - 8.00pm., and Friday and Saturday 10.00am – 10.00pm.

Ticket prices are:
Adult €20.00 each.
Senior (65+) €16.00 each.
Students (12 years of age and older) €16.00 each.
Kids (4-12 years of age) €12.00 each.
Kids under 4 go free

Discounts for 15 tickets or more.
Schools aged 12 and under €10.00 each.
Students groups aged 12 years and older €14.00 each.
Adult groups aged 18 years and older €16.00 each.
Log on to www.bodiesdublin.com

Go in search of a bargain or something unique or handmade.
Visit The Loft Market in Powerscourt Townhouse.

Or head to Cows Lane Market in Temple Bar.

Cows Lane Fashion and Design Market is the largest designer market in Dublin offering handmade one off original designs. The market sells everything from silk custom made underwear to art prints to funky clothing. The market is open every Saturday from 10-5.30. Found outdoors on Cows Lane and indoors in the old Viking Centre. This market is not to be missed!

Music from Ads.

2009-01-24T16:53:00.000-08:00

I love coming across new music from television ads. Apple are renowned for using new music for their ipod ads. Feist became huge after allowing Apple to use 1,2,3,4 for the nano ads.

Some good ones i've come across lately are: (Click on links to watch videos)

Chairlift - Bruises. (Apple iPod Nano)

Lisa Mitchell - Neapolitan Dreams. (Surf)

Born Ruffians - Hummingbird (Orange Pay As You Go)

Erika Eigen - I Want To Marry A Lighthouse Keeper (Marks & Spencer)

Devendra Banhart - Little Yellow Spider (Orange Mobile)

Wallis Bird - Just Can't Get Enough (The Sun)

Laura Izibor - Shine (Hibernian Insurance)

First post of 2009 has to be a round up of the musical greatness of 2008.

2009-01-24T10:43:00.000-08:00

Albums of 2008
(in no particular order)

TV on the Radio – Dear Science

Dan le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip – Angels
The Kills – Midnight Boom
Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology
Santogold – Santogold
Hot Chip – Made In The Dark
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Bruce Springsteen – Magic
Okkervil River – The Stand Ins

Laura marling – Alas I Cannot Swim
Dr Dog - Fate
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy – Lie Down in the Light
M83 – Saturdays = Youth
AC/DC – Black Ice
Snow Patrol – A Hundred Million Suns
Beach House – Devotion
Lykke Li – Youth Novels

Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
Beck – Modern Guilt
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
Dirty Epics – Straight In, No Kissing
Kings of Leon – Only By The Night
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Neon Neon – Stainless Style
Ladyhawke – Ladyhawke

Mystery Jets – Twenty One
Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
Albert Hammond, Jr. - ¿Como te llama?
Alphabeat – This is Alphabeat
Portishead – Third
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
The Black Keys – Attack & Release
The Gaslight Anthem – 59 Sound