Irishmuusic - 4:20 every Friday - Everybody welcome

[An Rí]

I do panic sometimes that I won’t be able to feature a band that I’ve caught live this week. But #irishmusic always delivers!

First band out tonight Myriad. Just caught the last two songs but what I heard of the lead singer’s passion was enough to have them included. Don’t think they’re on Spotify. Here’s their Insta page

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[An Rí]

Whelan’s are hosting their Summer Watch festival this weekend. A showcase for new and new-ish bands and songwriters.
Last night (Thursday) I managed to catch all 15 acts. If you head over to our YT Channel
please let us know which is your personal favourite.

 

[An Rí]

The Friday night at Whelan’s Summer Watch did produce a couple of bands I hadn’t heard before - Empty Internet and soul/funk/rock band that had a great energy about and Imbau - a noise band from Dundalk.

Another band there thatI’ve seen before a couple of times but they just get better and better is Kapayja

 

[An Rí]

It amazes me that there are still people here in Ireland who have never heard of The Scratch. Their music, while not mainstream, has been featured on GAA promos on RTE and The House of Guinness on Netflix. You’d think people would be curious about them. Maybe it’s just me then.

Anyways, I’ve been a huge fan for a couple of years. They even have their own thread on here.

They played their biggest headline gig last weekend here in Dublin in Iveagh Gradens. 5000 people paid to see them perform and we were not disappointed. The mosh pit was relentless throughout, including this classic. I was pinned to the front railing so it was probably the safest place to be.

The heartfelt appreciation the band showed the audience for our support was genuine. Such a decent bunch of lads.

Wishing them the very best for the future.

 

[An Rí]

Scouring the listings this afternoon, came across a band whose drummer went to school with my son. First time I’d seen them listed so I booked a spot. They were first up and lo and behold not the drummer I was expecting - he’d gone on holidays to France so they got a replacement in.
Anyways, next up came a band from Kildare called Punter who were totally excellent.

I love, love, love discovering new emerging Irish bands that have so much musical talent.

Don’t think they’re the Punter listed on Spotify. Here’s their Insta

https://www.instagram.com/punter.band

 

[An Rí]

It was a toss tonight between a Teenage Battle of the Bands in a community centre near me or four start-up bands in Sin É. Went to Sin É.

My favourite act of the night were the first band out Gutterfly. Lead singer had a great voice. Only one song released so far on Spotify so definitely one to watch.

A recurring theme that’s coming out in gigs more and more these days is how unacceptable it is for men to ‘touch’ women without their permission. Even worse is the violence perpetrated by men on women. Shmuu fully supports this - treat people how you would like to be treated, is one of our tenets.

 

[An Rí]

Friday night, Dublin town. We haven’t had a decent spell of rain in over a month, hose pipe ban nationwide. Six months ago we were drowned out. Anyways, rain is forecast for this weekend, the green, green grass of Ireland is currently brown so needs rain desperately. Bring it on.
The big gig in Dublin tonight at the 3 Arena is rebel song/trad band Wolfe Tones. On the way to my gig there were Celtic Football Club jerseys everywhere (a Scottish football club). It will be a gig for the patriots. I bet the majority of the audience don’t even realise Wolfe Tone, who the band are named after, was a Protestant.


Meanwhile just down the river Liffey there’s a gig in the Soundhouse.
First up were Cable Boy. A goth-disco outfit from Dublin. They brought a crowd with them and deservedly so.

 

[An Rí]

Next up we had Telekura. Musically described as the love child of Black Francis and Goldfrapp spinning at a neon-drenched arcade.
Another Irish band with members from diverse cultures playing music that would not be called traditional in their home communities.

 

[An Rí]

We’ve featured the next band up, Gag Reflex, here a few times. Billed as a German/Irish Grunge band, again we see diversity as a positive force and #irishmusic is the better for it.

 

[An Rí]

As a totally off topic observation……
The amount of band members who like to play without footwear is not insignificant.

 

[An Rí]

Bringing the best of live Irish rock music to the community is what I love to do.

So far this year I’ve seen about 300 Irish bands. You can see them all over on our YouTube Channel but this thread is dedicated to the ones I like best.

Bad Mothers Union played in the basement of a record shop last Saturday to an audience of about 10 people. It was like having them perform in your front room. Brilliant.

The intensity of the performance still blows my mind. It’s all about the music, the audience come second. What a privilege to be there. Thanks Conor, Mark et al

 

[An Rí]

We need to talk about Anseo.

One the main nightlife areas in Dublin is Camden/Wexford Street. One of the long established bars - Anseo - is a renowned drinking spot.
Upstairs the owner has dedicated the front room to entertainment either comedy or music nights. It’s just an empty room with some chairs, a desk light and AV equipment.
The bar does so well downstairs that I believe the upstairs is rented out for next to nothing. It therefore attracts some very avant garde musical acts.
Last night was a non-binary night. Managed to catch the last two acts - Pronoun Circle and SurgeryHead. The audience were so up for a good night dancing and moshing and the two acts certainly delivered.
Tonight so far we’ve had a couple of experimental acts - Otterans and Odd Sister. The audience are the musical equivalent of a poetry reading. Music nuts!

 

[An Rí]

When I last caught Luxury Mollusc a couple of years ago, I gave it my gig of the year. It was such a revelation.
This is music/noise at the very edge. What lies beyond?

Another thing I like is the majority of his instruments are recycled pieces of metal or organic like bone or antlers. Reminds me of here.

Please let me know what you think…….

 

[An Rí]

And to finish off an excellent evening of music, we have Nílim. What a fantastic sound you can make with a guitar, a laptop and a strong voice.

Thanks to https://nialler9.com/ for the heads up. Always a great resource for finding good gigs.

 

[An Rí]

We’re away on holiday with the family this week so no gigs. However, the sad news of the early demise of Glen Hansard has been headline news for the last week here in Ireland.
He wasn’t what I would consider a rock musician as his instrument of choice was an acoustic guitar but there is no denying the man’s passion for music.
RIP Glen, you did it!

 

[An Rí]

Beardfire Featival is running over three nights in Workman’s.
First night’s new revelation is a band from Ennistymon in Co Clare called The Gall. Gritty alt-rock sound and a front man with great attitude.

 

[An Rí]

Honourable mention to headliners on night one - A Dead Human. Looks like they’ve had a few member changes since we last saw them in January. Boy, they’ve got heavier. Great stuff!

 

[An Rí]

Out walking the dogs, was prompted to listen to the legendary Paul Robeson. Surprisingly his most popular track had less than 2million plays. I know he’s not Irish but he had a real love for Ireland and our rebel spirit. He performed here several times and his recording of Kevin Barry got him in trouble during the McCarthy witch-hunt era.

Paul Robeson – Singer, Actor, and Renaissance Man – Had a Love for Ireland

Christine Kinealy writes about African-American lawyer turned actor Paul Robeson and his love of Ireland.

www.irishamerica.com

 

[An Rí]

Cracking weekend of live music ahead of us here in Dublin. Getting very excited.

We kick off with an excellent band called Haunted Images who were playing in Anseo last night (Thursday). A shoegaze/alt rock band from Drogheda, they were supported by fellow Drogs Ergo Sum and Dublin band Henosis (who get an honourable mention due to their excellent guitar sound).

 

[An Rí]

Listening to a podcast with Rick Rubin this morning, he was saying he does what he does, day in, day out for the moments of brilliance that happen every now and then. I have to agree. I’m out at gigs three or four nights a week, searching for those moments and tonight I found another one in Workman’s at a CATU fundraiser.
Unique Freaks. What a great sound - psych/noise/rock. What’s not to love!