Grope for Luna

Budget re-branding

2009-04-08T05:56:00.000-07:00

When did it become levys? have taxes been re-branded to such an extent that they'll use any word other than the 't' word.

We can expect for the next while to have to pay extra tolls, dues, monies etc. Maybe if they work on it long enough they can come up with a new word altogether!

Anyway, we shall survive

Parenthetical Girl - Upstairs at Whelans

2008-11-21T00:27:00.000-08:00

Anyone going tonight? i'm tempted to head along, as i do like some of the stuff on the new album, but i'm not entirely convinced! it might be a grower though. its certainly one of those difficult albums. Hmm. I'll make my decision later on i guess...

Album of the year?

2008-11-13T02:08:00.000-08:00

Starting my pre-lim work for my album of the year. I think it could be one of .... Elbow, The Walkmen, The Dodos, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, TV on the radio....

Aaaaaaaaaaaah.
That's not even ten yet.
I guess it needs more work.

Totenham 4 - Liverpool 2

2008-11-13T01:51:00.000-08:00

Rafa did the right thing! who cares? They've a chance at doing something in the league for the firs time in years (while admittedly, Chelsea do look stunningly good at the moment), so Rafa was right!
Only thing sad about last night's game was how poor the second team looked. El Zhar, Plesis and only or two others came out looking average, and everyone else looked pretty poor. I'm still worried about Dossena, could this be the first of Rafa's big signings not to work out? Is 7 million a big signing? Big enough i guess. Still, will give him time, and he does look very good going forward. Maybe he's a winger...

Liverpool versus Athletico

2008-11-06T04:14:00.001-08:00

Ok, Gerard dived, but there should have been other penos, right? Agger was pulled down, and a couple of hand balls and that. The ref bottled those decisions and only took the other one because the assistant referee gave it!

Showed in techni-colour liverpool's new problem though, scoring goals. They create really good chances and can't put them away. I'm hopeful that Torres will change that agains West Brom on Saturday, but we shall see....

Neon Neon

2008-11-05T01:46:00.000-08:00

Suprisingly a contendor for gig of the year! Yo Majesty started the night, and got the crowd going, which is more than you expect off the majority of support bands! They also revealed that Tripod charge them 40% for the merchandise sold. 'Hell to the no' as they said themselves.

Neon Neon played in front of three screens projecting great 80's style graphics, images of the delorean, production lines, Michael Douglas, Raquel Welch etc. which really added something to the night. Its rare to see a rock band do it these days! The album sounded much better live than it did on cd, or maybe i was just swept away by the atmosphere.

Anyway, a great night, and amost made up for missing the liverpool match!

Liverpool v Totenham

2008-11-03T08:39:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it finally happened. There was an amazing comeback in this game, but for once it wasn't the 'pool, but Totenham instead. I guess it was always likely to happen, as the Harry Redknapp factor came into play.

The real question that has to be asked is 'is this a once off?'

Did it expose a soft underbelly for liverpool? What exactly was Dan Agger doing for the second goal? What was Carragher doing for the first? Can they hold the defence together with Skertl? Can they score enough goals without Torres? When will Robbie Keane start scoring?????? hmm.

Here's hoping for an easy win against Athletico, and we can all pretend that saturday never happened. Can't we?

Chelsea are going to win the league anyway, so i'm not sure why i'm getting so worried about it. They seem to win 5-0 regardless of who is on the pitch, or the opposition they're playing.... (other than liverpool, obviously!).

Gig Guide!

2008-07-16T05:30:00.000-07:00

List of up and coming junk in Dublin. Did i miss anything?

19/7/08 Tortoise Analog Saturday
20/7/08 High Lamas Sunday
22/7/08 Jim White Tuesday
27/7/08 Daniel Johnston Sunday *

2/8/08 Pantha du Prince Andrew’s Sat
5/8/08 Jeffrey Lewis Craw Tues
10/8/08 Elf Power Whelans Upstairs Sundat

3/9/08 American Music Club Whelans Wed
7/9/08 Rich Hall Olympia Sun
9/9/08 Jimmy Carr Olympia Tues
19/9/08 Robert Forrester Button Factory Fri
20/9/08 Sun Kil Moon Academy Sat
29/9/08 British Sea Power Academy Mon

7/10/08 Bon iver Tripod Tues
24/10/08 M83 Vicar Fri

1/11/08 Why? Andrew’s lane Sat
2/11/08 Mercury Rev Vicar Sun
2/11/08 Dr. Dog Whelans Sun
7/11/08 Okkervil River Academy Fri
10/11/08 Built to spill Academy Mon

9/12/08 Wedding Present Andrew’s lane Tues
20/12/08 Sultans of Ping Sat

Death of a Grope

2007-05-09T02:29:00.000-07:00

I think i'm giving this up. Slightly becasuse i can't actually be sure that anyone other than myself actually read these. Its kind of a pain to think i'm 'wasting my sweetness on the desert air' so to speak. Just makes it all a bit pointless. I know these things take a while before they get going, and people start to sit up and take notice, but i'm just not prepared to wait!

anyway, if there is anyone out there, do say hello. If not... goodbye to no one!

hugs to all.
m.

Mahler versus the machines

2007-04-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

I've been broadening my musical horizons of late. Last week i went to the national symphony orchestra's version of Mahler six. There wasn't a lot of reason i picked this, other than i was at a lose end. The only thing you might remember this symphony from is the zanussi, the appliance of science adds, where they had a tuba or some other wind instrument playing a short piece from it.

this week i went to the i & e (improvised and electronic) festical in trinity college. Admittedly i did have a vested interest in this, as one of my friends performed on the night. i didn't know anything they were playing that night, and i doubt any of it will every be used for a popular advertisement!

The first was so much more structured than the usual i type of gig i go to, with some many people in the audience highly aware fo the slightest variation from the norm (although i wouldn't have noticed a tot!), the second was the exact opposite, with most of the musicians without an idea of what they were going to do, seconds before playing it!

Of the two, obviously the symphony orchestra had a much higher level of professionalism, and in some ways, its very unfair to compare them. The sound of an orchestra is so fully developed and demanding on all levels. The electronic show had an air of unpredictabiliy that gave it an edge also though, at moments pieces really came alive, and could just as easily slip away.

The orchestral night did edge it for me, but i'm possibly more likely to go back to the electronic nights. Possilby because i feel less like a duck out of water, being the only one there under 60! Still, its always interesting to hear new sounds...

2007-03-29T02:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is pretty similar to the last gig update, other than.... Julian Cope! Wow, i've oftern wondered what he would be like live. I've heard that he's as mental as you would expect. I haven't bought his last four or five albums, but i guess that doesn't really matter.

I'm sure he'll be doing his typical druid inspired show, with lots of dancing around and casting of positive love spells and the like. I can only imagine.

Maybe he'll come out and won't talk to the crowd at all, and play his songs, but i doubt it!

Scott Mathews, Fionn Regan, Willy Mason, Low, Cat Power ( i hear she's sober this weather, so she won't be as shocked as she was last time at Whelans, sounded an odd gig!). They're all relatively miserable, so I might go to Peter, Bjorn and John to kick off on a happy vibe. I'd say they'll be great at Tripod (where i've yet to see a bad gig!).
Besnard Lakes have been recommended to me, so i'll have to investigate before the gig. El-P also sounds interesting, but don't kow a lot about him.

12/4/07 Scott Mathews - Village Thurs
13/4/07 Amusement parks on fire - Whelans Friday
14/4/07 Joanna Newsome - Olympia - Sat --- Sold out
14/4/07 Peter, Bjorn and John - Tripod - Sat
15/4/07 El-P - Crawdaddy - Sunday
19/4/07 Fionn Regan - Whelans - Thurs
20/4/07 Fionn Regan - Crawdaddy Friday
21/4/07 Cansei De Ser Sexy- Ambass Sat
24/4/07 Cold War Kids - Whelans Tues
2/5/07 65 days of static - TBMC Wednesday
3/5/07 Jesse Malin - TBMC Thurs
9/5/07 Low - Village Wed
24/5/07 Julian Cope - Tripod Thurs
26/5/07 Willy Mason - TBMC Sat
10/5/07 Suburban Kids with ... - Whelans Thurs
10/05/07 Cat Power Tripod Thu
20/5/07 The Besnard Lakes - Whelans Sunday
23/5/07 Simple Kid - Village Wednesday26/5/07 Nouvelle Vague Tripod Saturday.

Sunday in the park

2007-03-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

As Morrissey himself once said 'Every day is like Sunday, everyday is cloudy and grey'.
One of my friends once told me 'Organise your Sundays, you can leave ever other day to chance, but organise your Sundays'. Wise words indeed, as there is something inherently crappy about them. its like you just sit there waiting for Monday, and its world of pain to arrive.
I generally just go to the movies on a sunday, but for once, there was nothing i could enjoy on any level on. So, when coming up with a list of cheap days out in dublin on a Sunday, what would you suggest?

A walk in the park? Window shopping in Brown Thomas? (who exactly can afford to buy junk there!) Picking on the junkies on Talbot street? Dodging the pools of vomit from last nights stag/ hen parties in Temple bar?
Last sunday, I went to the Hugh Lane, for one in a series of concerts they've been having every sunday at midday. Admittedly, it is very poorly advertised, and even the guy on the front desk didn't seem to know what was on. I thought it would be a string quartet, and i might just slip away after the first movement/ song or whatever!

I was pleasantly surprised. The emphasis was on contempary and folk music. The first part was a solo violin, which was played wonderfully. The second was a dodgy poet, who has poems about crackling chestnuts on an open fire, that i really shouldn't mention in this sequence, anyway, they were short! The third was a guy playing middle eastern folk music on a lute and saz (strange shaped guitars to most).

Afterwards, I continued to wander through the various exhibitions. Tacita Dean's two video pieces, at one hour and forty five minutes respectively, killed another few hours. There was also a lecture on, on her work. There have been various lectures over the last few weeks, on a variety of topics. Admittedly, these are only for the hard core amongst you! Anyway, check it, chek it out....

Any other ideas for Sundays?

Shake it, shake it, shake it, Salome

2007-03-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

This production of the Oscar Wilde play has been adapted to feature the feel of the decadent 20's in America. The style and clothes of the actors correspond to that. It is a reprisal of the Stephen Berkoff version from around 10 years ago, which is often mentioned in hushed tones, and featured the late dice man as the executioner.

Some other members of the cast have also changed, most notably Salome herself, as the new actress (Fiona O'Shaughnessy) is somewhat of a weak link in the piece. Her voice grates, and sounds like a children's tv presenter, but she does look the part, and moves with the grace that you would expect.

Generally well acted, especially by Alan Stanford (not an actor i generally enjoy) and Barbara Brennan. The the set, while being somewhat barren, and the music that is played through add to the silent movie or mime feel of the whole play. The minor characters form a chorus at the back of the stage, singing or repeating lines that the main characters have already spoken. This device works better than you would imagine, and adds to the drama of the piece.

I wasn't in any way familiar with the play before seeing it, and it is a pity to see it first time, in the re-constructed staging that is evident in this, but having said that, it did work. While i would be somewhat reserved about my recommendation of the play, mainly due to Salome herself, it is still a worthwhile event, and deservig of your time.

3/5

Current Exhibitions

2007-03-27T04:26:00.000-07:00

IMMA is back to full speed at the moment, with three exhibitions recently opened, and according to the curator, has had some of its largest attendances ever, in the last couple of weeks. This is down to the quality of the shows on display, and long may it continue. It may be on the outskirts of town, but is well worth a visit at the moment.
Thomas Demand - This is an exhibition of photographer Thomas Demand, showing work from various stages of his career. These gigantic works, show a world not unlike our own, but obviously something is different. If you look quickly at the work, it would appear nothing different from an office scene or apartment block, but it is only when you take your time to view in detail what it is showing, that it begins to reveal itself.

He creates models of the world to photograph, but they have subtle differences from reality. Phones appear without buttons, doors without knobs, the complexity of every situation has somehow been removed, to focus on the form and the long fluid lines, that he is fascinated by. Even the photo of a clearing in a forest is somehow unreal, and it is almost impossible to tell what is real and what he has created.

IMMA

Alex Katz - This was the least interesting of the three shows, in my opinion, but still had something of value within. They are naive painting of people, sometimes poets and friends, sometimes group scenes of everyday life. Largely with a solid black or grey background, so you can focus on the individual and not on what is around them. They almost seem to float, living in a void, and removed from their every day life.
He is at his best, in the few scenes he paints of people and their surroundings, which are very evocative of a period and a location. (One of stockbrokers in New York in the 80's particularly stands out). I was slightly disappointed, due to the reputation that proceeded this artists work, but still did enjoy some of it.

IMMA

Georgia O'Keefe - A small collection of the artists work, including paintings and sculpture. A few commentators have suggested that her painting of flowers were actually that of a females body, and that seemed evident to me. He has a strong understanding of colour, and at their best, they are quite beautiful

Hugh Lane -
Tacita Dean - This is a collection of video art, paintings and sculpture by the English contemporary artist, and turner award nominee, Tacita Dean. The few that really caught my imagination were two video pieces, one of a plant producing camera film. It dwells on the strange machinery and processes involved in the production process. Sometimes, the reams of glowing film seem almost like abstract paintings, as the shimmer and glow, almost rainbow like, sometimes it focus on the rugged machinery, and its arms, wheels and cogs.

The other video piece is of a convent in Cork, and in contrast to the other piece, focuses on how slow and steady life is in these places. The long corridors at sunset, set alight as the sun comes through the stain glass windows, and other images to capture the mood of their life styles. It reminded me of the 'into the silence' film, currently showing in the IFI.

Dorothy Cross

2007-03-22T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'll nail my colours to the mast, I'm a fan! Her work is haunting, it probes at something deep with us, and can cause feelings of unease and discomfort. Her images stay with you for long after you've left the gallery. As one of the very few Irish artists to be recognised internationally, she definitely deserves your time. Her recent show in IMMA, which featured pieces such as the virgin shroud (on loan from the Tate modern), was the highlight of the year for me.

She pokes around at the Irish psyche, on ideas deep within us around religion and our views on feminity and sexuality. Some of her work can be a little hit and miss, but when she gets it right, there's few better.

Some of my favourite of her images include an old bible core drilled through the centre, the virgin shroud, a statue of the virgin Mary covered in cow hide, with a crown made of udders, which looks like something from a Japanese horror movie, as it looms in the corner of the room.

Another of her pieces 'Ghost Ship', she covered a disused boat in Dun Laoghaire harbour with luminous paint and then shown an intense light on it. When the light was extinguished, the boat glowed in the bay. Something i'm annoyed i missed.

Her new show in the Kerlin gallery opens today. Go have a peek, it should be one of the more interesting shows in town.

Kerlin gallery includes images and biography

There's also Brigid Flannery in the Cross gallery at the moment, with some beautiful abstract pieces. I've only seen them on the net yet, but was very impressed! Its a good time for the ladies!

Cross Gallery

This is not a theatre blog!

2007-03-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

Honest.

It just seems that way.
Hmm.
Maybe i've found a niche. The four people that go to the theatre in dublin, when its not disney on ice or Mama Mia can visit this site regularly to find out what i liked and didn't like.
I think its working like this. I go to the cinema loads too, but i'm always behind the times. I'm aiming to go to inland empire this week, and i'm going this week as i think it finishes on thursday! Its always the same, i go to things with panic for fear that they'll close before i see them.
I buy a decent amount of music also, but its generally being posted from Hong Kong, or somewhere, so by the time its arrived, the critics have already all had their say, and it all seems old hat. I guess i need to convince to give me stuff for free before it comes out. That should be easy enough!
With the theatre, i'm just being cheap. Previews are cheaper, so I go to them. Then when i'm thinking of what to chat about on this site, it always seems obvious enough.
Anyway, here's a review of things i've generally liked in the last while, but haven't mentioned as they're hopelessly out of date!
Music

Fionn Regan - Yep, he arrived. They're lovely songs, very melodic and just canter away, with great plucked guitars. I'm not sure i'm completely convinced by his lyrics. Maybe i'm just being stoopid, but things like 'I have become, an aerial view of a coastal town, that you once knew' just dont' mean a lot to me. Is he trying to suggest that he's become a distant image as he fades from her world, or... god only knows. Anyway, I've a nagging doubt that they're just lyrics, words, that don't have huge meaning. Anyway, i'm enjoying it none the less, just slightly less than i though i would! 3.5/5

Arcade Fire - Another small let down. It all sounds like I've heard them before. Even the lyrics seem strangely familiar, i'll have to research it better, but i think they're covering at least one of their older songs, or maybe i just heard it on the internet somewhere before i got it!
They've made their sound slightly bigger, using church organs and choirs and the like, which does seem quite impressive. The slow songs lose me completely though. There's more than enough on it, to make me happy i bought it, just a few too many songs i skip, if i'm near the cd player! 3/5.

Kristin Hersh - Ok, if you've ten or twelve albums from her already, this will not shock you! Its got some interesting arrangements, with strings in almost every song., Violin and Cello to augment the three piece rock band of 50ft wave! Its definitely the best album of her last few in my mind, and varies between fast and slow songs to give the album some variation and depth. 3/5.

Cinema
Venus - I like that he's a horrible nasty character, not a sweet gentle old man. I real old Lech, who is disgusted that he can't pull like he once did. Its well acted throughout, but there's a lull after an initial high. It starts incredibly, but loses its pace and humour slightly after the initial half hour or so, and falls away. The end is slightly sentimental, but still, made me laugh more than once and is worth it for the performances alone. 3/5

Kicking a dead horse

2007-03-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

Kicking a Dead Horse at the Peacock

By Sam Shepard

Its a real pleasure to see something of this standard on in Dublin. The complete run is almost sold out, other than for some of the matinees, and i'd recommend anyone that can, to get one of the last tickets.
Although, having said that, it isn't for everyone. A few of the people I went with, had mixed feelings about it. It is quite cerebral, and as most monologues do, lacks movement or a dynamic on the stage.
The play starts with the main character digging a hole for his horse, in the middle of an unknown desert! The Horse has died near the start of his soul searching trip through the land he knew as a young man. He searching for 'Authenticity'.
It has the feel of a Beckett play and deals with some similar subject matter. Indeed, some of the plot devices used in 'waiting for godot' can be seen in this. Stephen Rea is great throughout. To hold the attention of an audience in a monologue such as this, must be difficult, but there was never a moment he wasn't commanding on the stage.
I'm off to London tomorrow, and don't expect to see anything better than this on the stage over there! Nice to see Sam Shepard at the back of the theatre at the end of the show also. He seems to have put a lot of time and effort into this production, and it shows!
4/5

2007-03-13T02:12:00.000-07:00

Don Carlos - Rough Magic - The Project.
This staging of the Schiller play has a great feel of size and power about it! As you enter the theatre you are met by an actor playing a bouncer, who stops you and only lets you in, in fours and fives. You are then let inside and one of the actors takes you to a seat. A small touch, but a nice one.
The theatre itself is set up with seats on all four sides, with doors set up at each corner. This allows the actors to leave the stage and one side and emerge at another! It gives the play good movement and you're never sure which door will be flung open or who is listening from what side of the stage.

The ensemble cast of 13 characters, some bit parts, but many more important to the script, were in general impressive with Darragh Kelly (as the malevolent voice of Rome) and Fergan McElherron (as Don Carlos' closest advisor) particularly standing out .
The script itself felt slightly convoluted and you did have to pay attention to follow who knew of who's letters and how was on who's side! At three hours, it was slightly long, and there was no comic relief or sub plot to break up the flow. The plot took many twists and turns, with Don Carlos struggling for truth and an idealistic better world against his tyrannical realist father, and also, with his impossible love for his step mother the Queen, who had been his childhood sweet heart.

It is a tough, long night, but quite rewarding
4 / 5

Project

The Gods of Football are tired!

2007-03-08T09:25:00.001-08:00

Well, another round of the Champions League has passed, and Arsenal are the team that most are surprised to see being knocked out. It does raise one question though. How exactly the Gods of football work? It was the most predictable occurence in the world that once Brazilian defender Alex, having scored an own goal, would then head up the end of the pitch and head one in at other end of the pitch.
'Oh, from villain to hero in minutes' says the commentator.
I'm not claiming to be some kind of a soothsayer, but I did actually say exactly that before the free kick he scored was taken. 'Bet Alex gets his head on this'. Its not even unusual, I can remember five or siz instances of it, off the top of my head. I think Niall Quinn did something ridiculous like score at each end and save a penatly at one point in his career, i'm sure he's alone on that stat!
Football's gods are a predictable bunch. Actually it rarely has more surprises than the wrestling, If a player leaves a club, especially when there is some bad circumstances over his departure, he will then score every time he plays that team from then on! This is the one fundamental rule.
If a teenager makes his debut, he'll always score the winner, even if it goes in off his butt or arm, with him having absolutely no knowledge of the event. The same thing stands for an expensive import on their debut, but if they do happen not to score, they'll then go on a 15 game streak where they won't score.
I guess the script writers need to work 'outside the box' so to speak. It really is becoming far too predictable...

I am not a number, I am a free man

2007-03-01T04:53:00.000-08:00

A Number - Peacock Theatre

The London version of this play had Michael Gambon and Daniel Craig. One version in America had Sam Shepard playing the father. Unfortunately, in Ireland, we got two relatively unknowns. This was not always meant to be the case. In fact, Tom Hickey was meant to play the father, but after 'artistic differences' with the director, pulled out with two weeks to go. I'm sure this lead to a huge amount of panic, and meant that the guy they did end up with, was unfortuately, someone who was not working at this time. I think this may have been with good reason. He was a plank!
The other actor involved was much more up to speed. He had the more difficult role of the two, having to play three differect characters in the one piece. Each as clones of the other, each fundamentally different from the other!
There did seem to be some basic quality in the writing, but it barely escaped from what was on stage. The main device, used throughout the play, is of having one actor finish the other's sentences for them. It showed how under rehearsed the play was, as there was clear gaps between when one stopped and when the other actor started talking! There was be a brief pause from when one stopped talking before the other picked up on the thread, which felt bizarre, like dead air on the radio!
It was a pity as the play may have been good, but with this leaden performance, was never destined to make the grade. The night I went to it, there was a secondary school year at it. I'm sure they got reduced price or free tickets to fill up the space. The Peacock will have to do a heck of a lot better before the crowds will come back to its doors.

Will be interesting to see how Sam Shepard does with his new play. Going next week. Should be fun anyway....

Arcade Fire and Prawn Sandwiches

2007-02-27T07:33:00.000-08:00

I got a ticket to the match on saturday. Ireland versus England. History and all that! Have to say i really enjoyed it. There was a great atmosphere inside the ground and it was amazing to see Ireland beat England at a sport they really care about! We have beaten them before in Football and Rugby, but never to my recollection anyway, by such a convincing margain. We completely out classed them, and looked superior at nearly every facet of the game.
I generally don't have much interest in Rugby. Having gone to a Rugby school, you can go in one of two directions, love it or hate it. I took the second, and paid no attention to it for my formative years. This was re-doubled by the fact that my brother was good at the sport and every coach in the school figured that i was an undiscovered talent! I remember being pinned against the wall by one teacher, who was gently requesting that I give rugby a go. I did for a few weeks, but it was never for me.
My opinions on the sport have long since mellowed, but i don't generally watch it on tv, or pay that much attention to it.
My Dad offered me a ticket for the French match and I resisted, on the basis that there must be someone more deserving of the ticket. I'm sure there was, but my sister went instead, who doesn't even really know the rules of the game. My Dad offered again for the England, after someone else had cancelled on him, the day before. I didn't refuse the second time!
I am one of the very many people that didn't get tickets for Arcade Fire's incredibly expensive (thanks MCD!) gig in the Olympia. I didn't log on till five minutes past nine, and it was sold out by then. I'm a fan of Arcade Fire, but would never feel that i'm entitled to a ticket for it, just because i am. Why isn't it the same for sports? Why do people feel entitled to the tickets, even though they're not prepared to pay huge sums for them? Same as Roy Keane's complaining about the corporate whores with their prawn sandwiches. Doesn't mean he'll resist his 60 grand a week pay cheque. People that support sports teams feel linked to that team in a strange way, and therefore feel entitled to something from that team. In reality this isn't the case. Its just another bunch of entertainers playing a venue. Ok, i'm just justifying going to a match where loads of people 'woulda given their right arm to go to', but i do have a point, somewhere!

Fionn Regan and Irish Music

2007-02-27T02:05:00.000-08:00

I have eventually just purchased the Fionn Regan album, after much consideration for the last couple of months on the topic. I'm not sure why I hesitated to the degree that i did! I really liked what i heard of him, but admitedly i didn't hear it where i normally hear new music. Ian Dempsey played it on his morning show on Today FM. I listen sometimes, in the way you watch morning tv on a saturday, in a blind stare, not really taking in anything that happens, letting it wash over you.
He described him as a new Irish artist, and i guess i reacted with as much reluctance as i always do to those words! I generally assume that they're gong to be crap, and the only reason they're on the radio is that they're Irish. This clearly wasn't the case with Fionn.
One of my friends recently asked the question, what i would have thought if he had come from Idaho, would he be cooler then? I've written before on the variety of folk style music i like, with Micah P Hinson and M Ward being two of my favourite albums from last year, so why was i hesitating with Fionn? He's also on Domino records, the home of many of my favourites.
I also noticed something on reading various blogs on music, is people's reactions to Snow Patrol, Damien Rice etc. People hate them so much, much more than their bland inofensive music would generally dictate. You have to ask the question, would these people generate this type of reaction if they weren't Irish? Do i secretly dislike or mistrust music simply because it is Irish? Maybe.
I could argue that its just fear of hype. Generally anything even half way decent that is Irish, is hyped beyond all recognition. Bands like Aslan continue to amaze me by how everyone gets so excited over them. They have played the point depot in the past, and I couldn't name one of their songs.
The list of Irish bands i like is very short, but generally if i do like them, they've a fond place in my heart. From my past i did enjoy Rollerskate Skinny, An Emotional Fish, even Something Happens had their moments. Modern day bands include the Redneck Maniffesto and the Jimmy Cake, but i don't own an album by either of those last two bands.
Good luck to Fionn in the Choice Music awards, and done with my prejudice! I need an open mind from now on...

100 Bullets

2007-02-23T03:01:00.000-08:00

100 Bullets, First shot, Last call.
I've had a quiet week, mostly due to the re-emergence of the champions league, which generally means the closing of my social life!
One thing i did read was the First graphic novel in the 100 Bullets series. I'd heard about them for a long time, and was always interested in them, having read and enjoyed some of writer Brian Azzarello's early work.
The first story tells the tale of a young woman leaving jail to start her life once again. While in jail, her husband and son were killed in a supposed drive by shooting. She has long since decided in her own head, that she is responsible for these deaths, as retribution from God for her earlier life, and is determined to 'go straight'. The mysterious Agent Graves meets her and offers her a suitcase containing a gun, 100 untraceable bullets and evidence of who really shot her husband and son.
The stories deal with vengence in its purest sense. What would you do to someone who has hurt you, if you knew that there would be no retribution against you, for your efforts. While they don't delve too deeply into the psyche of the characters, they do create an interesting world and set of dilemmas for the characters to deal with.
The art of Eduardo Risso is perfect for the series, and is reminiscet of Sean Philip's Hellblazer's work. Largely monotone, with strong blocks of colour throughout. Each panel is a delight, with huge attention to detail in backgrounds and street scenes.
I'm hooked anyway! The best crime comic book i've read since stray bullets, and not far off being as good. I'm off to e-bay to see how i get the whole series.

Gig Guide

2007-02-21T06:10:00.000-08:00

Gig Guide: Not that many new ones on the list really. Willy Mason will be good to see, but that's months away!
Think i'll make it to Kirsten, Scott Mathews, Peter, Bjorn and John, Fionn Regan (been meaning to see him for months now!), Low and Willy Mason.

There's a few interesting sounding things on in crawdaddy, but i'm not vouching for anyone i don't know! Still, lots of delights ahead!

25/2/07 Field Music - Whelans - Sunday
27/2/07 The Holdsteadys - TBMC - Tuesday

5/6/3/07 Arcade Fire Olympia - Sunday/ Monday -------.
12//307 Kirsten Hersh TBMC - Monday *
25/3/07 Cathal Coughlan Sugar Club - Sun
12/4/07 Scott Mathews - Village Thurs
14/4/07 Joanna Newsome - Olympia - Sat --- Sold out
14/4/07 Peter, Bjorn and John - Tripod - Sat
19/4/07 Fionn Regan - Whelans - Thurs
20/4/07 Fionn Regan - Crawdaddy - Friday
21/4/07 Cansei De Ser Sexy- Ambass - Sat
24/4/07 Cold War Kids - Whelans - Tues
9/5/07 Low - Village - Wed
26/5/07 Willy Mason - TBMC - Sat

Champions League

2007-02-20T07:29:00.000-08:00

Champions league is back. I'm using this as a way to teach myself never to bet on football, as its a mugs game. Impossible to predict.

EUROPE
Lille 1 v Man Utd 1 - Lille are a very fluid team, with some good players. I think they'll give Man united a fair run for it. United are probably playing to well to be beaten over two legs though! First to score, as i can only name about two of their players, and both are in midfield, i'll go for .... Larsson
Celtic 2 v AC Milan 1 - A big win for Celtic! maybe... Milan are a bit of a mess at the moment, they seem to be getting it together slightly, but Ronaldo can't play for them in the Champions league, so.... i think i'm going to go for Celtic to be roared home. First to score... Craig Beattie
PSV Eindhoven 2 v Arsenal 1 PSV should be good at home. Thought they looked good against liverpool earlier, but got shocked by an early goal. Who knows... First to score ... Kone
Real Madrid 2 v Bayern Munich 1 Real Madrid are mid slump. Bayern aren't much better. I'm going for the home team! First to score. Ruud.
Barcelona 2 v Liverpool 0 Head versus heart time. I'd have to go with Barca as they're just so much stronger on paper. I'd say liverpool will play deep, but Barca have too much invention around goal, they should break through. Maybe Bellamy will be as deadly on the break as he is on the golf course! chance of that.... First to score. Ronaldinho.
FC Porto 1 v Chelsea 2 Chelsea have Terry back and Porto are no great shakes anymore. First to score Drogba.
Inter Milan 1 v Valencia 0- Inter are trotting along in the italian league, but is that because they have no real competition at the moment? Possibly. First to score. Adriano.
Roma 1 v Lyon 0 - Lyon are dropping points all over the place at the moment. Roma are good at home. First to score. Totti.

Micah P Hinson

2007-02-20T00:30:00.000-08:00

Micah P Hinson in Crawdaddy.
Well, he wasn't what i expected. I'd only heard the albums, with his rich deep voice, and imagined with the person connected to it would be! For some reason, possibly my lack of creativity, i'd come up with someone who looked like Mark Kozeleck, Tall, dark and brooding, with rock star hair. This wasn't the case!
He's small and squeaky and reminded me a lot of Vic Chesnut, although obviously upright! He was raised half as a hillbilly, as he says himself, which comes through straight away. If we were playing on stereotypes in movies, he'd be the son of the guy who owns the services station that your car broke down five miles outside of! Small, squeaky and almost rodent like, although his sense of humour comes through from the start! He attacks anyone he can, the strokes (my new e.p is four songs, 20 minutes long, only slightly shorter than the strokes first one) the libertines (i don't trash my rooms back stage, i like to save my money, for hand jobs later), non english speaking gigs (i asked the people from napoli if they were called Napoleans, they didn't like that!) etc.
Musically he has a great voice and is excellent on the guitar. My only complaint was the lack of a back up band, he had one guy with him who moved between drums and slide guitar with ease, but soetimes the set missed a fuller sound. Travelling from texas to play gigs in venues the size of crawdaddy, it may not be economical!
He was warm and humourous throughout, and even if you wouldn't like him for one of your friends, its an interesting insight into his world! Worth checking out if he's ever in town....

Science of Sleep

2007-02-16T09:28:00.000-08:00

Daily Mail 1/5
Daily Telegraph 4/5
Independent 2/5
The Guardian 4/5
The Times 3/5
The Sun 2.5/5
The Mirror 4/5
Financial Times 2/5
A good indication of how the Science of Sleep is splitting the critics right down the middle! its the second feature film from Michael Gondry, and has almost as much heart and beauty as his first 'eternal sunshine of the spotless mind'.
I was wary of his new effort, as it was almost impossible to do better than his first in my mind. Its a perfect 'break up' movie, and captures that traumatic time with great realism even withint the strange world he creates and sees it for what it is. The Hollywood ending does remove some of the charm, but its one of the few films i've sat in meeting house square in the rain to watch. Guess that makes me a big girl!
His new movie treads similar territory with a disfunctional love affair. It is seen through the eyes of a young man who's mother describes as 'always having difficulty defining dream from reality'. This allows Gondry an open pallet to create a complex world that makes sense within itself. It relies heavily on stop motion animation, another thing that has never lost its charm, and is clearly owes a debt to jan svankmajer. The best parts of the movie are in the dreams themselves, where no rules of normal world confine and Gondry's imagination can run wild.
Go see it. It'll give you the warm fuzzies, if you have half a heart at all. Honest!
4/5

American Buffalo

2007-02-16T05:03:00.000-08:00

American Buffalo at the Gate.
I think my only problem with this production is amazingly enough with David Mamet's script! Its a well written piece as ever, and has the usual level of interesting banter between the various players, but it never really moves above it!
It was possibly the only major piece of his work that i was not familiar with, and i had expected quite a bit from it. It has the feel and general structure of Glengarry Glenross, but lacks a few of the twists that draw the viewer into the story, as they try to peice together what really happened.
In fact, there is very little plot at all to the piece. A robbery that never happens is the jist of the story, but i guess that isn't as important as to why it never happens and the dynamics between the characters involved.
The three main actors are all worthwhile, and the gate has done its usual trick of drawing in a big name, in this case, our own Aiden Gillen (star of Queer as folk and starting to make a name for himself in the states) is the main draw.
The set is a convincing version of a curiosity shop from the mid 70's, other than a few pieces that don't look quite old enough!
It is certainly an entertaining piece, and a worthwhile way to spend an afternoon or night, just lacks some depth.
3/5

Blackbird

2007-02-16T04:06:00.000-08:00

Blackbird. - An interesting tale that dances the line between love and abuse of a minor, which had us talking about topics and plot upon leaving the theatre. Unfortunately, none of us could say that we really enjoyed the play. It was flawed in many aspects, Stephen Brennan had the near impossible talk of making a paedophile seem likable and making it seem like it was more than abuse. He did not achieve either of those things, and didn't give the viewer any discernable reason for why the young girl was captivated by him.
Similar to Fausten (the Dogma movie and play that was recently produced in the Gate Theatre), the abuse was carried out a long time in the past, and we are not directly asked to go through any of these experiences. It lacks the impact of Fausten and also the humour.
The world of theatre is throwing up a lot of similar discussions on child abuse, with Fausten (mentioned above) and Doubt in the abbey. It does seem to be a hot topic, but personally feel it generally makes for a difficult night at the theatre.
The play only has two actors, and does not move even remotely from its topic at hand. It tries to keep the viewer on an emotional high, which is near impossible for a play of two hours. It needed some break from the relentless revelations and the story is slowly revealed to the audience.
The play is not without its positives, a stunning set, and the lead female's role was quite powerful. Maybe it was just one to many on a similar theme.
3/5

65 Days Of Static

2007-02-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

Nearly missed history Last night! Glad San Marino didn't get the draw, as i'd be disgusted if I'd missed it!
65 days of static played crawdaddy last night, with back up from Parhelia and both were pretty cool actually.
Parhelia had the grumpy guy from sound cellar (Dublin based rocker record shop) on bass. In the shop, he will not smile regardless of situation, but on stage, he just couldn't stop! Beaming from ear to ear. They are a four piece, two guitars, bass and drums, no vocals being the theme for the evening. Nicely layered music, with a definite heavy rock rock vibe.
65 days of static are another Sheffield, but judging on the amount of albums they have out, they've been there for a while before their better known relations! They sound quite like Mogwai, but with heavy use of samples, drum machines in places and piano. They seem nice lads also, and had a bit of humour to them.
There was moshing at the gig (is moshing back? seems to be) but I didn't get involved. Nearly deaf after it! At one point had my fingers in my ears, looked up and all those beside it had their fingers in their ears too! I guess they're not suited to so small a venue!
Gig season contines...

The Decemberists

2007-02-06T02:53:00.000-08:00

The back up band The Crayons (are they really the first to use that name?), are a three piece from Dublin, to the best of my knowledge. An interesting group with a bit more umph than your average support act! I was also impressed by how many times the lead singer used the word 'deadly'. 'You're a deadly crowd' and 'This is deadly'. Its a word that has slowly disappeared in recent years, but I think that through work by people like the lead singer of the Crayons, it'll be back in regular usage in no time at all!

The Decemberists took the stage a little after 9, and were much better than I expected! The front man, Colin Molloy, (good Irish name, eh) really knows how to work a crowd. Split the crowd into two halves, claiming there was a pit of lava and snakes down the centre of the room. He then had each half sing the chorus..... and then would return to the other side and say 'the other half were louder', half way through the concert he stopped the music for half time calenetics! He also had everyone down on the ground, and up pogo-ing. Its all silly fun, and I enjoyed it. Sometimes its nice to be treated like a nine year old in p.e. class! They were good musically as well!

65 days of static on Wednesday. Missing football for it, so it had better be good! Gig season continues...

Elvis has left the building

2007-02-02T03:18:00.000-08:00

Just had to put this in, as its kind of fascinating. He was the first support at the Clap your hands gig last night, liked his music, and some good lyrics. Fun instruments too, accordians, double bass etc. Worth checking out.

I'm sure marketing execs would love him. He's got a very odd back story...
from wickipedia.com

"Elvis Perkins (born 1975 ) is a folk-rock singer He is the son of actor Anthony Perkins and photographer Berry Berenson. He was raised in Los Angeles and New York City.
Perkins' melancholy songs reflect the personal tragedy he's experienced over the years. His father died of AIDS in 1992. His mother, photographer was on board a flight that was flown into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.His debut album, Ash Wednesday, a chronologically sequenced album of songs written before and after his mother's death, has been a work in progress since 2002. Its expected for release in February 2007 by XL Recordings with a lead single called "All The Night Without Love.........."

Satan ... said dance...

2007-02-02T02:54:00.000-08:00

It was all a bit surprising actually! Before the gig there was a tingle in the air. I wasn't sure if it was just me, but i certainly felt it. Anticipationi! Excitement. Its been ages since i've gone to a gig like that, but for some reason, i had it last night!
Clap your hands, say yeah, were playing the Tripod, the newly renovated Red box, in the pod. Newly renovated as in they put in a bar, and a balcony, and maybe cleaned it up a bit! The floor was still sticky as i was leaving last night, some things don't change!
The Claps started with a country version of one of their new songs, and the crowd were very laid back! They got absolutely no reaction to their new stuff at all, which was kinda funny. I suppose no one has the new album yet! It is possibly one of those difficult second albums you hear so much about. Its good without ever reaching great. There's a few great songs on it, Satan said dance, and Some loud thunder (which is slightly messed up by an effect on the vocal), but it lacks a couple of real clinchers to make it as good as their previous effort.
About four songs from the end, the started playing a few of the really good ones from the old album, and the place erupted! Pogo dancing, crowd surfing.... it was odd in the extreme. My friend there said he hadn't seen the like since 'Alice in Chains' at the SFX waaaaaaaay back (93 ish).
I got a flying elbow in the back of the head, got beer spilled on me, got stood on a hundred times.... sigh. Just like the good old days! Still feel a bit bouncy just thinking about it. Some kinds you just gotta dance (when the dark lord, satan directs it!).
Actually think they stopped early because of how rowdy the crowd was! they only played an hour, but I can't complain as we had two really good supports.
Cold war kids - Lead singer is very Greg Dulli, if he was in the O.C. Clean cut, amazing voice. Think he'll do well, if he drops the rest of his band, who are ugly! Not that interesting musically though.
Elvis Perkins - My kinda stuff really. Laid back with interesting lyrics. Double bass, some horns, some accordions etc. He was pretty normal though, not sure what I expected, but he wasn't it! Still good though.
Decemberists on Saturday. Gig season continues... hope they're as good!

Steam Boy

2007-01-30T07:56:00.000-08:00

This one passed me by for some reason! its the second feature by the man who brought us Akira. Its also the most expensive Manga movie ever made, so i suppose it is surprising that it did!

Set in an alternative 19th century, where steam power has advanced beyond anything realised in our own world. This allows the makers to show their creativity in relation to the amazing new creations that could have happened. Including a steam powered tank, and a variety of flying machines!

It doesn't bother too much with a plot, which is slightly surprising as Akira is one of the better written sci-fi or manga genre movies of recent years. Suffice to say that one side has the steam ball (a device of great power) and the other side want it!

The animation is amazing in places, and some of the ideas and concepts within are dazzling. Worth checking out, if its your sort of thing. It definitely is mine!

Babel

2007-01-29T08:36:00.000-08:00

Babel is the three stories, vaguely linked together on a vaguely similar theme!

I had read a number of reviews of the movie, that were not very excited by it, but still i felt that i would be different, and that i would really like it! i've seen the director's other work, and while not being blown away by them, i've always enjoyed them.

This was by far his worst work to date. two of the three stories were dull in the extreme. Brad Pitt seemed to be cast for his ability to run around and look confused! He cried on the phone to his son, and acted kranky with most everyone else!

The second story to the mexican woman who got lost in the desert... i mean really, scenes of her looking exhausted, wandering, kicking a bottle to see it there was water in it. One cliche after another! Second awful story.

The third story was the saving grace of the three. A well written piece about a mute girl in Japan who is coming to terms with the death of her mother. If they had kept it as just this one segment, i could have been in and out of the cinema in under and hour, and i'd have been much the happier for it!

Not the worst thing you'll see at the cinema this year, but certainly not the best! Probably one of those movies to leave for a went night on dvd!

Transfer Windows

2007-01-25T07:22:00.000-08:00

Every year i get excited about a few weeks of madness after Christmas where Premiership teams and in particular Liverpool spend stupid money on Footballers i haven't heard of, but this year there's a difference! No one's moving!

Sure there's the Ashley Young saga, the Gareth Bale saga, etc... but really, who the hell has heard of, or even cares about these yocals! I'm dazzled that Ashley Young has gone for the price he has, he's hardly set the premiership alight with his four goals this season!

Slightly sickened that Martin O'Neill got his 'big man' in the form of John Carew from Lyon. Expect the high balls to start flying once more! Awful to watch, but damn effective.

West Ham are panicking away, trying to buy anyone and everyone with their biscuit money. They're major achievement seems to be Lucas Neill.... I mean really. A little annoyed the stole him from the grip of the 'pool, but only as a reserve for Mr. Finnan. He's not that good. 60 grand a week sounds tough to resist, and i know i would have done the same thing!

Anyway, here's hoping the Italian, Spanish etc internations start moving and no more of this 'Good youngster from Crewe' nonsense.

2007-01-23T08:31:00.000-08:00

I'm off to the bookies to put the house on Martin Scorsese winning best director! Amazing he hasn't won it up until now.

There's talk of him doing all three of the infernal affair movies that 'the departed' is based on. I haven't seen the originals, but if they are as tightly written as the first, they should be interesting. It is a bit sad to see one of the more original film makers in America's history doing remakes though.

Happy and sad to see 'Little Miss Sunshine' doing as well as it has. Does it really deserve the hype? I much preferred Junebug, the Squid and the Whale and Little children, which are similar enough movies. Still, good to see something that's a little off centre get a nod.

Oscar Junk

2007-01-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

Best Film: Babel; The Departed; Letters From Iwo Jima; Little Miss Sunshine; The Queen.

Best Supporting Actress: Rinko Kikuchi (Babel); Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Sandal); Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine); Jennifer Hudson (Dream Girls); Adriana Barraza (Babel)

Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine); Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children); Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond); Eddie Murphy (Dream Girls); Mark Wahlberg (The Departed).

Best Actress: Penelope Cruz (Volver); Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal); Helen Mirren (The Queen); Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada); Kate Winslet (Little Children).

Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio (Blood Diamond); Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson); Peter O'Toole (Venus); Will Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness); Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland).

Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel); Martin Scorsese (The Departed); Clint Eastwood (Letters From Iwo Jima); Steven Frears (The Queen); Paul Greengrass (United 93).

Best Original Screenplay: Babel; Letters From Iwo Jima; Little Miss Sunshine; Pan's Labyrinth; The Queen.

Best Adapted Screenplay: Borat; Children of Men; The Departed; Little Children; Notes on a Scandal

Best Animated Film: Cars; Happy Feet; Monster House

Best Foreign Language Film Of The Year: After The Wedding; Days Of Glory (Indigenes); The Lives of Others; Pan's Labyrinth; Water.

2007-01-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

Where does he get such wonderful clothes!

My favourite one liner: 'My husband listens to me like you do to an announcement at a train station, enough to know whether there's an emergency or not!'

Infamous

2007-01-22T06:16:00.000-08:00

Stranger than strange how this movie was made. Hard to believe Hollywood is so hard up for ideas that they have to do the same movie twice in as many years! Still, it was a worthwhile effort. Well acted throughout (even Sandra Bullock tried hard, god love her) and still enough in the story to keep you questioning Capote's motives and actions.

The movie takes a very different slant from the other effort, adding an unexpected love story (James Bond kissing Capote will live long in the memory!). It felt a little like two kids in the school yard telling the same story, with their own slant on it, the facts getting more distant with each telling. I guess the truth of what happened in the time Capote was working on the book will never be known for definite, as all those involved are now dead, and even if they were still alive, the movie is strong to suggest that Capote's relationship with the truth was fragile at best, and he was more interested in what sounded best than what really happened!

This movie does focus on Capote's life in New York more than the other, and the 'swans' (the elite females of new york he befriended) are some of the more interesting things about the movie.

I can't help but wonder what my opinion would have been of this movie if I hadn't seen the other one so recently. I think I would have enjoyed it much more, but the simple fact is that the other does exist and is a superior movie on most levels. Having said this, it is worth while for his clothes and one liners alone! Go enjoy...

Jon Ronson

2007-01-18T09:12:00.000-08:00

Jon Ronson, Writer and Documentary maker was in the IFI last night. He was promoting his new book (out of the ordinary). Strangely, he didn't read that much from his new one, only one small piece concerning Johnaton King (who is indeed a lovely man).

He seems like the Woody Allen for the X-files generation, and it did feel like every conspiracy theorist in Dublin had arrived, with their bad pony tails and dodgy beards. I have a slight feeling he's wasting his talent talking on some of the topics he does, that it might leave him marginalized, but I guess its got him this far.

He told one story of a young girl mistaking his impression of someone eating soup quickly, for an impression of someone giving a blow job, that was the highlight of the night for me. Also talk of himself and Louis Theroux being conjoined twins, and for one to succeed and grow the other must die, was quite amusing!

He's worth checking out, if you haven't discovered him before.

The Men Who Stare at Goats by Jon Ronson
The Call of the Weird: Travels in American Subcultures by Louis Theroux
Out of the Ordinary: True Tales of Everyday Craziness by Jon Ronson

Steven Hawking

2007-01-18T08:41:00.000-08:00

Heard the bold Steven on the TV last night, he was talking about global warming being a bigger threat to the world than terrorism, and that there should be a war on global warming instead of a war on terror. All good points, i like it as it has a go at Bush, and helps to save the planet in the one statement, but couldn't help wondering why he won't change his voice.

That freaky computer voice is very 80's sci fi. They really have come on leaps and bounds since then. I've a voice simulator at home that will do everything from little girl to truck driver.

I figure with him hanging around with science type people, he's sure to know this. So why the hell doesn't he change it!

Maybe that's what he's comfortable with at this stage, or figures its part of his image. Maybe he has a 'home' voice and an 'interview' voice. Much to mull over...

Gig Guide

2007-01-17T08:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, tell me if i've missed something. Think this is everything worth seeing on in dublin for the next couple of months!

I'm all happy i've a second chance with Micah P. I got lazy last time he played and have decided he's great since then! Other complete winners are Kirstin Hersh (she'll be back with more stories of her kids, she'll make you glow inside quicker than any breakfast cereal), Clap your hands, and probably Arcade Fire (who sold out before i realised they were on sale! argh)

17/1/07 Scott Mathews - Whelans - Wednesday
26/1/07 Jesse Malin - Whelans - Sun
28/29/1/07 Lloyd Cole - Whelans - Sunday and Monday
31/1/07 Psapp - Whelans - Wednesday

01/02/07 Clap your hands say yeah Tripod - Thurs
3/2/07 The Decembberists Vicar - Saturday
7/2/06 65 Days of Static Crawdaddy - Wed
10/2/07 The Bluetones TBMC - Saturday
11/2/07 Micah P Hinson Crawdaddy - Sun
13/2/07 And you will know us TBMC - Tuesday
16/2/07 Richmond Fontaine - whelans - Friday
17/2/07 Crash Ensemble - Vicar - Saturday
25/2/07 Field Music - Whelans - Sunday

5/6/3/07 Arcade Fire Olympia - Sunday/ Monday
12//307 Kirsten Hersh TBMC - Monday
25/3/07 Cathal Coughlan Sugar Club - Sun

21/4/07 Cansei De Ser Sexy- Ambass - Sat

9/5/07 Low Village - Wed

Big Brother

2007-01-17T08:23:00.000-08:00

Ok, they're all being racialist (as Ali G would say) in the big brother house. I'm sure this is very important. I'm sure at other times in my life it would have concerned me, just at this point it doesn't.

Why is this?

I've watched nearly every Big Brother, in some sense, since the begining, so why not this one? So far i've seen about five minutes, i've no idea who's been kicked out or is living in the house next door or any other junk.

The easy answer is that i don't have a tv! I'm continuing to fight the good fight, waging the unwinnable war... but this has been the case for years, and no matter where I go, i always seem to end up seeing the last five minutes of it, or at least having a vague idea of the story line. Is it that i've reached a level of maturity, and look back on such childish things with disdain? No, i think the truth of it is that Channel 4 reception has been really poor on my parents tv for weeks now!

Sort it out NTL!

Where to start.

2007-01-17T08:09:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon Dublin.

I'm not sure this will last. I'm mostly just goofing off... hmm...
anyway, things i'd like to waffle about...
cinema, books, comics, art, theatre....

things that will be different from other sites...

I'll tell it like it is! nah, everyone does that.

I'll tell you what you want to hear.. that's probably not true either.

I'll tell it like i think it is. That's the one.

ok, so this blog will be the same as all the other blogs in town. that's why it'll probably die. who will mourn its passing? No one...