Oxegen 2009 headliners- blandfest

According to NME Kings of Leon, The Killers and Snow Patrol are to be this years headliners. This is highly safe route for MCD to take, really playing to the festivals demographic.

Having a headliner play two years in a row (KoL) is downright pathetic in my opinion, I mean really is the country not sick to its stomach of them?

And as for the other two headliners....the will undoubtebly suck the energy from the punters with their back catalogues that instigate chronic snoring.

I went to Oxegen last year solely on the back of an outstanding line up. I know its early days with regards revealing the line up but I genuinely thought Oxegen was winning back the music lovers, obviously I was wrong.

Dj Scotch Egg tommorow night, Bakers Place

I am looking forward to this. Scotch Egg is bringing his crazy sounds and modified Nintendo Gameboys to Baker Place tommorow night (Thursday 29th)

And only a fiver in!

RTE's Other Voices

I am sitting down watching the second episode of RTE's Other Voices. Now in its seventh season, the stations only dedicated music programme continues to humble me with the notion of the power of simplicity.

It is such a simple concept. Have good musicians, both international and homegrown, playing in a quaint, rural town like Dingle. The calibre of musicians over the past two shows resonates the attractiveness of the concept. Elbow, Lisa Hannigan, Richard Hawley, Eric Bibb deliver concentrated and moving performances amidst the backdrop of an idyllic church (or pub, or bowling alley!)

The show reminds me of stories I hear about Sigur Ros playing gigs in the heart of their native Iceland, surrounded by the spectacular elements of nature the landscape bears. It is their way of sharing the landscape and music with the people.

RTE deserve a pat on the back for once

Heres Lisa Hannigan from last years show:





http://www.rte.ie/tv/othervoices/

Antony and the Johnsons-The Crying Light

The new album from Antony and co. is just as I expected...glorious. After a couple of listens it doesnt match with the calibre of 2005s Mercury Music Prize winning "I am a Bird Now" but it comes damn close.

Antonys voice is extraordinary, swallowing the peaks and troughs of the accompanying arrangements seamlessly and emmiting a voice regarded as one of the most unique and beautiful the world has heard to date. This is music that is medicine for the soul.

The Villagers

Conor O'Briens latest project is soon to get its official EP release. Nialler9 has been granted two tracks to wet the appetite:


http://www.nialler9.com/2009/01/19/premiere-villagers-hollow-kin/


If you saw the performance of "Pieces" on the most recent airing of RTEs "Other Voices" you will certainly have something to get excited about for the coming years homegrown music:


http://www.rte.ie/tv/othervoices/archive.html

Passion Pit- Sleepyhead

I am loving this tune right now. Its so joyous and boppy...really puts a pep in ones step....

Limericks Comic Revolution

Amidst the forboding closure of Dell and economic downturn in the area Limericks citzens are still capable of projecting a humourous light on the city. The recent performances of the now legendary pranksters The Rubber Bandits has proved the popularity of the duo, with their material being shared around the globe through the chatterings of the citys ex-pats.




The boys behind "Limerick Uncovered" are also making a name for themselves with their hilarious videos and attracting cameos from rugby player Jerry Flannery and comedian Joe Rooney.



Limerick laughs.

The Day The Earth Stood Still

Firstly Happy New Years to all-let your 2009 be as great and prosperous as you hope it to be.

I went to see the new Keanu Reeves film "The Day The Earth Stood Still" last friday and my oh my what silage it was. Apart from the whole deja-vu factor associated with all apocalytpic hollywood offloads there was also the hidden message that we are all the cause of the worlds demise. Throw is some blatant product placement from the cuddly Microsoft and McDonalds and you have yourself a film that makes you die a little inside scene after scene.

"Australia" was booked up in case you were wondering