Happy Christmas!

Kings of Dublin...

Still searching for a good photo of the O2 so this will have to do, courtesy of the good people over at State.
Hard to describe how impressed I was with the new O2 (still feels weird saying that), but considering they spent €80 million on it, plus the fact that it was a sh*thole to begin with, makes it less suprising that it is now a state of the art, all purpose music venue, unparalleled in this country.
Kings of Leon were good - very good even - and played for two hours, but like many others, I spent most of the first hour marvelling at the size of the room. 14,000 people I might add, and still very comfortable.
French electro-rock band M83 got things underway but seemed a little lost in the size of the venue. Saw them in Andrew's Lane recently enough and was rather more impressed.
KOL appeared on stage to thunderous roars around 9.15pm, and to the rather less thunderous and more atmospheric strains of Closer, following quickly with Crawl and My Party, the latter a particular highlight. The rather more up-tempo Molly Chambers followed and all thoughts of anyone sitting down was long forgotten.
That is the interesting thing with a seated gig, particularly one of KOL's ilk - you simply don't want to use your seat. Some interesting happenings took place beside the railing where the seats tapered to the floor, as the entire row were told to sit down for the first few songs. An almighty row broke out between one couple and the security guards when they refused to sit down, all of which took place in front of Hot Press editor Niall Stokes, who tried peering around the arguement, much to our amusement! The couple got evicted, and lo and behold another couple took their place, and proceeded to stand for the rest of the gig. Yes, I am as confused as you.
Anyway, the rest of the gig was a demonstration as to why this band are the biggest in the world today, mixing as they were old classics (Milk, 18, Four Kicks) and newer - admittedly more mainstream but still - potential classics (Use Somebody, Cold Desert, Knocked Up) finishing with a strong four track encore.
The highlight? The crystal clear sound. Superb. Roll on Dylan etc in the new year. Oh, and U2.

Living for the weekend

Loads happening at the weekend around town, here is a very quick run down, more detail to be had from the Limerick Leader website:

Fri:

Jack L in the Warehouse (not my cup of tea but the man can sing)

The Fewer The Better in Bakers (crash bang wallop, go on the lads)

Nu Killa Kru host an Xmas bash in the Underground

Sat:

Giveamanakick do Giveamanachristmas in Bakers (with Brian O'Brien of Roper fame)

Stone Roses Experience in the Warehouse

Sun:

Nick Carswell & The Elective Orchestra's Midwinter Xmas Xtravaganza, Upstairs in Dolan's (More detail on this to follow - free mulled wine and mince pies - I'm in)

In the meantime I'm off to Kings of Leon in the O2 tonight, woop! Pity about the name but I missed out on a media tour of the completely remodelled Point some time ago so can't wait to see if all the hype is justified. M83 play support (superb French electro-crazy outfit) and rumours still abound that U2 will feature at some point. Get in!

Sing for your supper...

Heading to Cathy Davey in Dolan's tonight. Alright, I've seen her three or four times at this stage but each time have been more impressed. An interesting performer and even more interesting in conversation, as I found out in June when I interviewed her.

She revealed plenty about her relationship with EMI and how she used to suffer from crippling nerves - plus the fact that her first record, Something Ilk, was a "confused" and "embarrassed" debut.

"I was never prepared with the last album, I always felt so rubbish on stage. I think I had to go through it to not be worried this time around. There was an awful lot of the unknown about it, which freaked me out immensely.

I had just signed to a major label who wanted to put a lot of money into it, because they presumed they were going to get a lot of money out of it," she says matter-of-factly.

Fancy studios, producers, bands and money followed, but she got "red-light fever" in front of so many people.

"I didn't know that I couldn't perform under those circumstances until after I had done it. I am a very private performer and I can't record anything with people looking. The result for me is an album that always sounded embarrassed. Like everything I sang I sounded embarrassed because I was embarrassed to be there and being, well, judged I guess by everyone."

Undeterred, she recorded the second album, Tales of Silversleeve, at home in her house, and finally enlisted Liam Howe (of Sneaker Pimps fame) to set up his computer in her front room to help with the recordings.

"He wasn't like a producer, and that was really important, that I didn't have anyone there who had grand ideas about my music. I don't think I'll ever be able to record in a studio again, for me, the torture side of making an album, I don’t really want that. "

She says she is pleased with the result, that she didn’t want to make a "dirgy, angsty-sounding album, but a happy one".

She should be pleased with what is possibly one of the finest Irish albums of last year. Songs like Mr. Kill, Moving or Reuben will get you dancing; Sing for your Supper, or All of You will break your heart.

"Music goes on. I am not writing music for anyone and the day that I am is a day that would be pretty depressing to think that you are. "

Cathy Davey plays in Dolan's Warehouse tonight, doors at 9pm.

Tap, tap, tapping away...

Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, dah.. brewing up a storm..

Etc etc. Heading along to The Stunning tonight, you might have guessed. It's sold out though, so anyone without a ticket, well, I can ring you at the required moment if you want?

Daghdha host their White Christmas Mamuska nights as well this evening. Free and all welcome, dance and fun in the fabulous St. John's Church. It's rare that there is a reason to go there so we would recommend a trip. Go on, brave the horrible night there.

Speaking of sold out, Franz Ferdinand's Dolan's gig sold out in about 30 seconds this morning. Well, maybe not that quick but quick enough. Good work by Mick and his crew down there, and we have heard snippets of other acts to be announced in the near future. Yes please is all we will say for the time being. Keep an eye out in the paper.

I'm expanding

What a week. I've expanded my creative abilities to the blogosphere, the world of video-journalism and to agricultural reporting. Yup, two lead stories - on our county and city editions - about the return of Irish pork products to butchers in Limerick. Check them out.

In my other role I have an interview with the Stunning in this week's Leader 2 that is worth a read (if I do say so myself). You'll have to buy the paper for that though I'm afraid. Go on, you know you want to.

Al

Eye catching photos from Alan Jacques

Some eye catching photos just arrived via email from Mr Alan Jacques of Live 95FM. Pictured is Aoife from electro-rock outfit the Moth Complex who are playing the ninth Green and Live Sessions gig that Alan runs every month Upstairs in Dolan's. Looks like they are probably worth checking out. See them plus Distractors and rock-tastic Limerick band The Fewer The Better on Sunday December 28.

In the meantime next Thursday's (Dec 18) Green and Live features The Funeral Suits, Walter Mitty and the Realists, Black Daisy and Supermodel Twins. Four bands, all for FREE. Good man Al (and thanks for the photos).

http://www.myspace.com/mothcomplex