Lady GaGa-Bad Romance

I’ve already harped on ad infinitum about how amazing I think Lady GaGa is, but if you need further proof that she’s one of the best pop stars of the decade-take a look at this video-

News From The North Week 44

This fortnight’s Hot Press is on the stands now  so here’s a reprint of the previous issue’s NI bands column!

News

Words: Edwin McFee

This fortnight Two Door Cinema Club escape from the studio for a bit to play a very special home coming show indeed. The Mandela Hall in Belfast is the venue of choice, the date for your diaries is Nov 17 and the bash is curated by the folks at BBC Introducing. Two Door are keeping the Northern end up on the bill which also features Scotland’s Twin Atlantic, Wales’ Save Your Breath and England’s Pulled Apart By Horses and the show should be a belter. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s even better news if you’re financially challenged in the run up to Crimbo-it’s free in, so you’ve got no excuses.

Southern fried retro rockers (who also boast an impressive array of hats) Jackson Cage cross the border into parts unknown on Nov 24. Well, when we say “parts unknown” we actually mean Dublin and the venue they’re playing in is Whelan’s, but let’s not let the facts get in the way of a dramatic introduction. Aided and abetted by Ten Gallon Hat, Jackson Cage are highly recommended to those who are a bit partial to the likes of Crazy Horse and early Springsteen and you can listen to some new live tracks on their MySpace now-www.myspace.com/jacksoncageband.

Keeping it country for a second, Louisiana Joyride are offering free whiskey for everyone at the moment. What’s the catch, we hear you ask? Well, ‘Whiskey’ is actually the name of a song and not that sweet, sweet alcoholic nectar but hey, free songs are free songs. You can download the track by visiting www.nichart.com/downloads and as if that wasn’t enough, the band also celebrate the release of their debut EP ‘The Journey Through’ on Nov 13 with a gig at McHugh’s in Belfast. Captain Cameron are also on the bill and at the time of going to press admission is TBC.

They’ve been bubbling just under the radar since their inception in 2005 and now it seems that the mosh-tastic Exit Wound are ready to step things up over the next few months. On Nov 20 they play a gig at the Rugby Club in Limavady and are set to head into the studio before Christmas. The boys are also keen for Hot Press to let you know that they are well up for any gig offers, so if you prefer things a little on the heavy side (and we’re not talking about all you closet chubby chasers) then give them a shout on their MySpace-www.myspace.com/exitwoundni.

McThor

Well, it looks like Ken Branagh has found his actors to play the Warriors Three in the up coming Thor film (out May 2011). As it turns out, the film seems like it’s going to be a bit of an Irish love-in with the director being from Belfast, Stuart Townsend (who plays Fandral the Dashing) hailing  from Dublin, Ray Stevenson (who plays Volstagg the Voluminous) was originally born in Lisburn and Tadanobu Asano (who plays Hogan the Grim) lives on the High Walk in Newry (OK, I’m only joking about that last one…).

So-to sum up-we’ve got these dudes as Thor’s mates-

…and in the comics they look like this-

I can’t wait. Have a look here http://marvel.com/movies/Thor.Thor for more info!

The Stupids NME Review

And now, the end is near……

Yes readers, the thing I hate most about being a journalist  (compiling a ‘Top 20 Albums of the Year’ list for some of the places I write for) has reared its ugly head once more. Now I’m hopeless at this sorta thing. For some reason my mind always goes blank when people ask me my favourite (insert random word here). A  few weeks ago I got my Top 20 Albums and Singles outta the way for NME and this week I’m not only doing my Albums/Singles of the year for Hot Press, but I’ve also gotta put together a list for the decade too. EEP!

Anyway, while I’m trying my best to remember a pretty odd decade, here’s a review of an album that won’t make the list…

 THE STUPIDS

THE KIDS DON’T LIKE IT

(BOSS TUNEAGE RECORDS)

5/10

Sometimes things are better left in the past. Whether it’s Pat “Funhouse” Sharp’s hair or MC Hammer assuring us we can’t touch him, certain foibles should just be forgotten about. For all its obvious charms, punk rock is no different, but ever since Johnny Rotten pissed on the memory of the Pistols by jumping on the reunion bandwagon, there’s been a host of pretenders following suit. The Stupids are one such band and ‘The Kids Don’t Like It’ is their first record in 21years. In many ways they’re like those old dudes in 80s movie Cocoon-their mind is willing but their body is weak. Songs like ‘Hate Hate’ may bleed with the same bravado of old, but ultimately we’re left feeling it’s about time they changed the record. Edwin McFee

DOWNLOAD: ‘Feel the Suck’

http://www.nme.com/reviews/the%20stupids/10669

Big Gig 8-Friday, Nov 27

Hot Summer, What A Bummer Part 3

The final festival I was at this summer was the much talked about Glasgowbury in County Derry. According to the ramblings of some internet user names, this bash is the best thing to happen since Fonzie stuck his boot up the jukebox in Arnolds’ hole and while I appreciate the spirit of the event, I wasn’t quite as spell bound as others.

Still, a fun day was had and here’s the reprint of my review that ran in Hot Press.

Glasgowbury

Eagles Rock, Co. Derry

Nestled in between some mountains, Glasgowbury might be a bit scarce on bogs and burger vans, but it more than makes up for the lack of facilities with the amount of talent on offer. Featuring a veritable truck-load of NI acts plus one Free State interloper the Mighty Stef (more on them later) the festival is more of a statement than anything else-telling the major labels and mainstream bands to get screwed, in the nicest possible way of course. With literally dozens of performers filling up four tents, it’s impossible to see everyone, so here’s a brief taster of the cream of the crop.

New kids on the block We Are Resistance put in an encouraging performance during the afternoon as did Furlo, who packed their tent out, but things really kicked off once the Black Bear Saloon arrive onstage a little bit later on. Despite a shaky start (and by “shaky” we don’t mean they played a cover of ‘Green Door’) the four-piece find their groove three songs in with the phenomenal ‘Face The Future.’ Frontman Aaron is clearly relishing the chance to perform outside of Belfast for a change, promising free blowjobs for all and bigging up guitarist Peter’s, er, unique skills. By the end of their hook-laden, groove-fuelled set the tent fills up just in time for the singer to successfully encourage everyone to push themselves against the barrier so he can “have a Joe Dolan moment and touch everyone’s hands” during ‘First Against the Wall.’ Classic stuff.  Hopefully this show will mark the rise in the ranks of the Black Bear Saloon, as frankly they’re getting far too good to be ignored for much longer.

Dutch Schultz put on a tight as hell performance too with Willy clearly in his element, shaking a bottle of Buckfast at the crowd, bemoaning the fact that they don’t make good porn anymore and generally blowing the heads off the front row with ‘LA Cumfucker.’ Sadly the usually impressive Mojo Fury don’t quite click today though. We’re not sure whether it’s the newer material or their lack of life onstage that’s hampering the set, but by the time we see frontman Mike in his other incarnation as singer of the weird and wonderful Clown Parlour, he seems much more at home playing odd, vaudeville-inspired songs than with his day job so maybe he just needs a break.

The Beat Poets on the other hand just seem to get better with every show. New song ‘One By One’ gives us an excellent teaser for the long awaited new album, ‘Ghosts’ has a nasty bassline and a filthy chorus and final song ‘Bloodline’ is now a bona fide fist in the air anthem. The great acts just keep coming too, with The Mighty Stef’s brand of booze-inspired shanties making a believer out of this writer, Here Comes the Landed Gentry charming everyone with their mash-up of blues and rockabilly and sounding like Satan’s house band (they even play an encore) and LaFaro bludgeon the crowd with their utter sonic violence.

 Local indie pin-ups General Fiasco also put on a hell of a show with the normally soft-spoken Owen maturing into the consummate frontman. There are definitely a few songs you could describe as filler in their set (‘First Impressions’) but the sheer pop suss of ‘Rebel Get By’ and ‘Ever So Shy’ mark the boys out to be next year’s potential headliners. Finally it’s left up to And So I Watch You From Afar to close things in style. Their take on instrumental punk rock has made them one of the most exciting Irish bands on the scene right now and ‘Clench Fists, Grit Teeth, Go!’ and ‘Set Guitars To Kill’ are fast becoming as essential as oxygen. In a perfect world ‘A Little Solidarity Goes A Long Way’ would be the NI national anthem, but for now, we’ll settle for it being the unofficial soundtrack to Glasgowbury ’09. See you all next year.

Edwin McFee

More photos from Glasgowbury can be viewed here-http://www.hotpress.com/photos/photo_st.php?id=5718749

More Skinny Man!

Fuck it, I enjoyed that ‘Replacement Man’ video so much, here’s a few more. Honestly-if you’ve any shred of good taste, get your arses to this gig.

 

 

The Night Marchers/Dan Sartain

It’s been a bit of a mad one today. Two phoners, one written interview and two columns and I’ve more to do later on. Tomorrow when I’ve a bit of free time I’m gonna post up my interview with Brody Dalle from the summer, but for now I’m putting up a video of the insanely under-appreciated Dan Sartain, who plays the Black Box in Belfast next Wednesday.

Tin Pot Operation Interview

Despite having a tendency for being disorganised so and so’s, the Tin Pot Operation are easily one of my favourite NI acts and have been for the last few years. We’ve got them playing the Big Gig 8 on November 27 at the Spring and Airbrake Belfast and here’s a reprint of a recent interview I did with their singer/guitarist Anto O’Kane…

Tin Pot Operation

Loved by the likes of the NME and lauded by mainland Europe, Belfast’s rabble rousers the Tin Pot Operation have kicked against the pricks since their inception. In November they play the Big Gig 8 and we caught up with singer/guitarist Anto O’Kane to hear about their current album ‘Human Resources,’ as well as how Katie Melua robbed their idea and why modern pop stars have no soul.

 

OK, let’s start at the start-how did it all begin for the TPO?
“Way, way back in the later Triassic period there was a little rehearsal studio/ meeting spot in Marquis Street called the Music Box, run by the Welsh busking legend and songwriter Mike Doyle. We were all in bands that used the room at the time [Nixon, Jasper, Babylon by Bus] and after these efforts split up we just happened across each other and started chatting about the sort of music that needed to be made. We all had a strong conviction that saying something was far more important than a polished sound or commercial potential. We started working and right away a very unique kind of sound started coming together. Choosing to sing in our own accents for example seemed to give the music a special rhythm and voice all of its own. We’ve been working on perfecting it ever since. I still get surprised at how much possibility there is when we get together to work on a new song. I love it.”

 Right from your inception you’ve put noses out of joint both online and (sometimes) at gigs. Do you enjoy winding people up?
“Absolutely. Some people think there are ‘rules’ to making music and what sort of bands should be popular. It’s an utter load of sh*te and I absolutely adore it when these smug, tiresome little bores are taken down a peg or two. Now more than ever we’ve got asinine, safe, vacuous music is piped into every part of our lives and once music is used to sell you something it’s utterly worthless. A lot of people still persist in thinking that commerciality is king but they’re wrong.”

 The Tin Pot Operation has had some great press over the last couple of years-how do you feel about it?
“I have to say I’m a sucker for a good review! Stuff in NME, Hot Press, AU and all over the blogs has been great. People recognise that we are doing something unique and even if it’s not precisely to their taste they appreciate it for being different at least. The other thing is journalists and bloggers must get bored to f*ck with these bands and artists terrified to say anything that might spoil their safe, commercial image, so they have a lot of time for anyone with something to say. I suppose if we were a bit more organised or media savvy we could be milking it a bit more, but we just don’t have those genes.”

We love the video for ‘Sitting There.’ Can you tell us a bit about the filming?
“It was good craic. I love videos with simple ideas and since I’m the bossy, preening, up-himself member of the TPO, we (well THEY) thought it would be funny to pretend to give me a beating in the interests of art. I think there was definitely some catharsis going on when Raymie [Lawlor, guitar/vox] stood on my head! I was utterly gutted when I saw the video for ‘Nine Million Bicycles’ by Katie Melua and she’d ripped off our idea of being dragged along the ground by the feet. She must have a time machine… I’ve been hiding outside her house a fair bit to see, but so far she has been careful not to reveal anything.”

We heard you got nominated for an award in Italy in April. Can you tell us a bit about it?
“It was all thanks to our friends the Rosenkrantz over in Italy. We’ve toured with them over here and they submitted the video for these awards. I think we managed to get through to heat stages or something, but I kept having to translate the emails on Google and stuff, so I was never quite sure! ‘Right and Wrong’ made it to the Semi-Finals of the UK Songwriting Competition too which was a nice bonus.”

‘Human Resources’ is out at the moment-how do you feel about it now?
“‘Human Resources’ to us represents exactly the sound and atmosphere we’ve been aiming for since starting the band. Recording live in a single room made a real difference to the vibe and energy of the record, we’re all really proud of it.”

What’s your favourite track?
“That’s a hard one. I adore Raymie’s vocal performance on ‘Tell the Kids.’ I sometimes choke a wee bit when I get caught up in it. So powerful. It was one of those moments where me and [producer] Pete Pratt at Blueroom Studios just looked at each other and went ‘YESSSS.’”

Any plans to make a follow up?
“Absolutely. We never rest from writing new material and could easily fill another album twice over. The addition of Daithi on mandolin has given us a much broader palette too and at the moment TPO HQ is a hive of energy with lots of new stuff being tested out.”

 

Tin Pot Operation play the Big Gig 8 at the Spring and Airbrake, Belfast on Friday, Nov 27. Admission is £4. www.myspace.com/.tinpotoperation

News From The North Week 43

This fortnight’s Hot Press is on the stands now (more details here http://www.hotpress.com/2893481.html) so here’s a reprint of the previous issue’s NI bands column!

News

Words: Edwin McFee

This fortnight this writer has been playing the new album from NI’s finest punk rock band the Lobotomies in almost constant rotation. Entitled Big Bang Hangover it features 17tracks in around 30minutes and it’s pretty much one of my favourite records of the year. Why am I telling you this, you ask? Well the four-piece launch their album on October 23 with a gig in the Pavilion, Belfast and you should all be there as it’s only £5 in. There are plenty of highlights on the release, but the smashmouth sounds of ‘Freedom,’ and the savage ‘Bloodsports With Lapdogs’ get our recommendation and if you can’t get to the gig don’t fret, as Big Bang Hangover is released vie EHC Records. Visit www.myspace.com/thelobotomies for more details.

Congratulations to the Panama Kings who not only ruled the school at their first ever Mandela Hall headline gig a few weeks ago, but they’ve also bagged the hugely coveted support slot on Ash’s up-coming UK and Irish tour. The boys will hit the road with the band from mars (see what we did there? No? Alright, please yourselves…) throughout the months of October and November and these include dates at the Button Factory, Dublin on Nov 25 and the Spring and Airbrake, Belfast on Nov 26 so check Ticketmaster and the usual suspects for ticket details.

Sludge worshipping heavy hitters Slomatics have released their latest slab of wax this fortnight and it’s a split CD with the mighty Selaah. The band contribute three songs to the record (while Selaah recorded a 17minute long improve piece. Jazzy!) and it’s strictly limited to 200copies, so get ‘em while you can. At £4 it’d be rude not to. More details are available at the link http://slomatics.bigcartel.com/.

Delirium Tremens (who are currently beavering away in the studio like, er…beavers) have posted up two demos for their forth-coming debut release on their MySpace page (www.myspace.com/deliriumtremensrock). ‘Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil’ and ‘Requiem’ are currently available for streaming and even in this rough format, it’s pretty clear that the record will be nothing short of monstrous once it sees the light of day in the New Year. The boys are also in the process of booking a tour south of the border and although some shows are to be confirmed, the trek runs from Nov 27-Dev 7. As if that wasn’t enough, they also support American post rock types Junius in Belfast on Nov 27 and once we have the final dates, Hot Press will of course keep you up to date.