Month: October 2013

AVANT GARDAI

Avant Gardai burst on the Dublin music scene in 1988 with their brand of sceptabilly straddling the crap with ponytail and crap without ponytail era. 20 years later they remain committed to their irreverent and idiosyncratic view of all things Irish- particularly Irish rock.

TICKETS

AFTER THE GIG

BRONAGH GALLAGHER

After a very successful year gigging with her second album Bronagh and the band will be going on touring again this Autumn before returning to the studio to begin work on her 3rd Album. Bronagh is a deeply soulful artist with a unique gift for singing and storytelling, and has created a fascinating new world of songs and stories through her own personal experiences. The listener is somewhat seduced by the songs the stories and their characters and we take flight on a journey from Ireland to Dorset England, Paris to Berlin and then onto California, we become submerged into magical nights unfolding wonderful stories in the ‘City of Angels’ finally leading us into the darkness and ganglands of Mexico City.

Following her Meteor-nominated debut album “PRECIOUS SOUL” (Mojo Magazine ★★★), Bronagh has again penned all her own material, collaborating on some of the music writing with her Caolan and guided Bronagh as she also took the helm as Executive Producer on this record. Bronagh has gathered together some of her favourite musicians and some close friends London and Ireland. They include the brilliant Conor Brady (Guitar), Graham Hopkins (Drums and percussion), Clare Kenny (Bass), Justin Carroll (Hammond Organ and Wurlitzer), Shelly and Jordan Bukspan and Paul Byrne (Backing Vocals), Michael Buckley and Ronan Dooney (Horns), and rehearsal and recording began in Phonic Studios in Dublin, Ireland in February 2011. With this golden group of musicians and carefully chosen analogue recording equipment the music pays homage to the sound and essence of the great producers of the 60s and early 70s – the music that Bronagh adores. Phil Spector (The Wall Of Sound), Shadow Morton (The Shangri-Las), Jerry Wexler (Aretha Franklin) and Lou Adler (Merry Clayton), Willie Mitchell (Al Green), Brian Ahern (Emmy Lou Harris). Inspired by these musical masters, Bronagh has successfully managed to give the music a unique voice and style of its own.

TICKETS

AFTER THE GIG

PREACHERS SON – “JERICHO” EP LAUNCH

plus guest

New EP: Jericho. Release October 23rd. To celebrate the release of their new EP Jericho Preachers Son are throwing a free Launch party with some live music, some munchies and drinks. Come join them and wet the baby’s head.

Preachers Son is the brainchild of Dubliner Brian Hogan. Grit-glam, roots-rock featuring powerful vocals, slammin’ guitars and a driving rhythm section, the music drips with drama and raw musicality, travelling the decades with its influences.

MILLENNIUM

TICKETS

Emergence presents

CREEPER

A NEW LATE NIGHT ROCK N ROLL PARTY FOR Y’ALL!

€7 Entry (€5 Creep List)

– Sign up for Creep List HERE –

Doors 11PM

Creeper DJ’s (Parlour Bar) & Phazum Haze (Upstairs Venue)

Emergence are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Wednesday night party. We’ve got a host of local creeps who’ll be banging out the best in Rock, Indie, Punk, straight Rock and Roll and everything in between with a special appearance from talented young band Phazum Haze! Don’t let the hilarious name fool you, these lads have been loud at work behind closed doors for a long time now and are just gyrating with excitement to get on stage and have an animal party time with you all! Come on down on the 9th and creep with us.

THE CREEPER CLUB THE LAUNCH WHELAN’S UPSTAIRS WEDNESDAY 9th OCTOBER €7 ENTRY €5 CREEP LIST The Creeper Club, a new Rock and/or Roll Party for ya’ll! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Free for first 30 before 23:00* *The first 100 to share the event and write “I’M A CREEP!” on the event wall will be put on our Creeplist, guaranteeing them €5 entry all night! We’re sound like that 🙂 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What’s going on? -The Main Room, Home of the Creeps: We’ve got a host of local creeps banging out the best in Rock, Indie, Punk, straight Rock and Roll and everything in between with a special appearance from talented young band Phazum Haze! Don’t let the hilarious name fool you, these lads have been loud at work behind closed doors for a long time now and are just giddy with excitement to get on stage and have an animal party time with yous! -The Loft, Creeper’s Hideout Classic Hip Hop Jams, Groovy Disco Cuts, Smooth Soulful Joints and Freaky Funk Bangers curated by Mango of the Animators and a few new faces that you’ll grow to love! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you like us, then let’s be friends: https://www.facebook.com/crpr.dublin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DRINKS DEALS FOR THOSE WHO DEAL IN DRINK: €3 Bottles €3.50 Pints €5 Cocktails ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Come Creep with us

Team Creeper x

Whelanslive.com presents

RACKHOUSE PILFER

– PLAY THE MAIN VENUE –

9:30pm – FREE ENTRY

Rackhouse Pilfer are a six-piece bluegrass, folk, alt-country and Americana Band based in Sligo, on the northwest coast of Ireland.

Formed through lifelong musical friendships and bands ranging from folk and blues, to American country, traditional Irish music and even heavy metal. These early influences have brought the band to a radically distinctive sound and high octane performance on stage.

Along with original songs, the band performs bluegrass & folk songs, old-time country songs & reinterpretations of their favourite artists/music.

2013 opens with new audiences, new horizons, and new territories; Rackhouse Pilfer eagerly anticipate a busy calendar year with festivals and shows across Ireland and beyond.

Building on our success to date, we are looking forward to sharing our music with your audience, and help make this year as exciting for them as it is for us!

“Rackhouse Pilfer’s great energy and musicianship was one of the highlights of our show at Sligo Live. They’ll create a stir wherever they go”. – John Murray, The John Murray Show, RTE Radio 1

“We literally had to turn our punters away such were the large crowds that these guys drew. Currently a word of mouth phenomenon but not for long. The lads are the whole package; musically gifted, entertainers, incredibly professional and a delight to work with.” – Deirdre Melvin, Associate Producer, Sligo Live Festival 2012

“a fiery and exciting new band from Sligo, Rackhouse Pilfer’s music exudes energy and confidence making them a name to watch for” – John O’Regan, Music Journalist (writes freelance for FRoots magazine, Mojo & Irish Music Magazine)

AFTER THE GIG

Whelanslive.com presents

THE BLACK TWIG PICKERS

plus guest

Authentic Folk/Bluegrass from Virginia/Kentucky

“..a group sound that’s as majestic as it is rooted in the soil.“ UNCUT

“Rough Carpenters sounds vibrant and enveloping, an old-time feat for these mercurial times.” PITCHFORK

Whelanslive.com presents

KAMMERPOP

plus special guests

SELK

After performances at Castlepalooza and Independence and fresh from recording their debut album, Kammerpop are taking their inimitable brand of chamber pop to Whelan’s (upstairs) on December 22nd to give a Christmas gift to you! Featuring five voices in elaborately arranged harmonies accompanied by wind, brass and string instruments over the bedrock of an R & B quartet, Kammerpop’s live set will show why they are seen as one of the most exciting and unique acts in Ireland at the moment.

TICKETS

€4 available online from WAV Tickets [Lo-Call 1890 200 078] (50c per ticket service charge applies on phone, internet or credit card bookings from WaV).

Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required.

AFTER THE GIG

Whelan’s Indie Club w/ Late Bar from 10:30pm or check out the bands playing The Midnight Hour in the upstairs venue (FREE ENTRY, 12am).

THE POWERS BOOK LAUNCH

..featuring

The gig is going to be a joint gig and book launch. Little Island Publishers are launching a book, called The Powers, written by Kevin Stevens, and Popical Island are helping out. Popical  bands Groom and Land Lovers are playing on the day. There will be some readings from the book and then Groom will play, with Land Lovers finishing proceedings.

Entry is free for all and there will be finger food and snacks provided for everyone!

Start time – 2:00 pm Finish – 5:00 pm

Here is a link to a video on this upcoming book!

This will be a family friendly event that will be fun for kids and parents. So come on down and join us for a casual enjoyable afternoon at Whelans!

JUST NO

Just No play upstairs in Whelans on Saturday Oct 12th, this will be a sell out gig, so get there early not to be disappointed. Tickets 5 Euro on the door. Doors at 8.

TICKETS

AFTER THE GIG

Whelanslive.com presents

FIGHT LIKE APES

plus guests

BOUTS

After nearly a two year hiatus Fight Like Apes are back. With an E.P in the bag and album ready to go Flapes have been honing their sound.

Slightly more grown up but ill-mannered as always, Flapes will be bringing their brand of karate infused punk electronica to a Whelans to celebrate their new single and the festive season. Get your ass to mars…and/or … the venue.

Here is the link to the Facebook event page, click confirming if you’re coming along!

See you at the party Richter….

TICKETS

AFTER THE GIG

GIRLS NAMES

Belfast-based four-piece Girls Names are a singular proposition, both geographically and psychically removed from their contemporaries at home and abroad. Released on 18th February, their second album The New Life is the sound of a band on the fringes striving to forge their own path, purposefully out of step – and time – with their surroundings. Weighed heavy with the grey landscapes of their hometown, The New Life is isolation laid bare, shot through with an undeterred sense of purpose and individuality.

Having released a series of singles and EPs on various independent labels, Girls Names made their first significant impression on the wider world in 2011 with their debut album, Dead To Me, earning plaudits from the likes of Pitchfork, NME and Loud & Quiet amongst a host of others. And yet, despite all the praise heaped on it, as soon as that record was released Girls Names were already moving into a different headspace.

The band’s performance at this year Primavera festival provided them with their first real opportunity to showcase the songs that were to comprise The New Life. The sunshine backdrop of the Spanish coastline offered a somewhat incongruous setting to the eerie dissonance of the new material, a kind of trial by fire metamorphosis rapturously received. Following a tour of Europe, the band returned home to record the album over a series of months. Having been produced by singer and songwriter, Cathal Cully, they’ve managed to capture that sense of otherness the performances at Primavera hinted at. The expansion to a four piece means the garage-clatter of the spritely pop songs of their debut have been replaced by a deeper, shadowy exercise in catharsis, driven by repetition, psychedelia and Dionysian crisis. And the record was born of a weighty concept too, as Cully explains:

“The New Life is not an over night change for Girls Names – just over two years in fact. Dead To Me literally was dead to us by the time it was committed to wax. But it’s a learning curve. We started moving on as artists the moment we finished that recording session, maybe even before. Not to dwell on the past, The New Life is what happens when you reset everything back to zero and start again, but try to perfect. It starts back at zero the minute the needle hits the groove but we’re also starting back from zero once the needle lifts at the end of the record. Ad infinitum. The New Life is what follows now.”

The album’s title track, and the first single to be taken from the album, is an ideal entry point. Just shy of 8 minutes long, it rotates around a hypnotic bass line, and in Cully’s evocation of renaissance, offers a perfect metaphor for the album as a whole. New single ‘Hypnotic Regression’ – available to stream today – reflects another side to the record. The reverb-heavy guitars and compelling melody are immediately memorable, but there are signs of experimentation, too; the white squall of the lead break; the uneasiness in the vocal echoes that furnish the verses. As such, The New Life, stands as a brave statement; the mark of the band untying themselves from the past and easing forth into the unknown.

TICKETS

AFTER THE GIG

HOTHOUSE FLOWERS

Hothouse Flowers formed in 1985 when Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachna Ó Braonáin (who had known each other as children in an Irish-speaking school, Coláiste Eoin) began performing as street musicians, or buskers, on the streets of Dublin, Ireland as “The Incomparable Benzini Brothers“. They were soon joined by Peter O’Toole, and had won a street-entertainer award within a year. They renamed the group “Hothouse Flowers” (the name was suggested by singer Maria Doyle Kennedy during a brain-storming by band-members and friends in the Trinity College Arts Block cafe) and began writing songs and performing throughout Ireland. Rolling Stone magazine called them “the best unsigned band in Europe“.

In 1986 Bono from the band U2, saw the Flowers performing on television and offered his support. They released their first single, “Love Don’t Work This Way”, on U2’s Mother Records label, which quickly led to a deal with the PolyGram subsidiary London Records.Their first album, People was released in May 1988, and was the most successful debut album in Irish history. It reached the #1 slot in Ireland within a week and eventually reached #2 in the UK Albums Chart.  The group’s second album, Home was released in June 1990. It was recorded sporadically during extensive touring; with sessions in Dublin, London, a rented house with a mobile recording set-up in Carlow, Ireland, and one day of work with Daniel Lanois in New Orleans, while Bob Dylan was taking a break from his sessions with Lanois. The album did not have the overwhelming success of the first record, but it did reach #1 in Australia. The two singles from the album, “Give It Up” and “I Can See Clearly Now” (a cover version of the Johnny Nash song) reached #30 and 23 respectively in the UK Singles Chart.

Songs From the Rain was released in March 1993. Though it received excellent reviews and achieved very respectable chart success in Australia and Ireland, worldwide sales did not meet label expectations. In an attempt to boost record sales (and especially to break in to the United States charts), the record label and the band’s management kept the group on the road almost continuously for the entire year. The band also participated in the Another Roadside Attraction tour in Canada that year, and collaborated with The Tragically Hip, Crash Vegas, Midnight Oil and Daniel Lanois on the one-off single “Land” to protest forest clearcutting in British Columbia.

By early 1994, Ó Maonlaí had decided that the group was suffering from physical, mental and creative exhaustion, and he called for a year-long sabbatical.

The year-long break turned into several years, as the band members recouped their energy and experienced changes in their personal lives, including divorces, marriages, the birth of children and the death of Ó Maonlaí’s father. The group also split from their long-time manager, and Leo Barnes (saxophone) and Jerry Fehily (drum kit) left the group. O’Toole and ó Braonáin spent some of their time off from the Hothouse Flowers recording and touring with Michelle Shocked. Ó Maonlaí worked with Tim Finn and Andy White, while also studying traditional Irish music.

In May 1998 they released Born. Joined by Wayne Sheehy on drums and Rob Malone on bass guitar, this album contained extensive songwriting contributions from O’Toole, who (freed from his bass responsibilities) played mostly guitar, bouzouki and keyboards on the recording. The music also incorporated more elements of electronic loops, synthesizers and studio effects. The following month, they appeared at the 1998 Glastonbury Festival.

By 1999 they had reached the end of their contract with London Records, and both the label and the band decided not to renew. The label head allowed the group the rights to record songs from their past London releases and produce a live record. Live was self-released by the group later that year, taken mostly from an October 1998 show in the National Stadium, Dublin, with one track from a November show in Tokyo. Sheehy and Malone left the group shortly after the release of the record. Dave Clarke, formerly of Blue in Heaven, joined on drums and O’Toole returned to the bass.

In February 2004 the band released their latest album, Into Your Heart, produced by the band and John Reynolds. The first single, “Your Love Goes On”, reached #3 on the Irish charts. The album also reached #3 on the Irish Album Chart. The record was released on the RubyMusic label in Europe and distributed by Redeye in the United States. They have toured extensively in support of the record, including a performance at the Glastonbury Festival in 2004. Peter O’Toole left the band around this time but after a long sabbatical recently made a much-welcomed return to the band

TICKETS

AFTER THE GIG:

MCD.ie presents

THE MIGHTY STEF

plus guests

A LAZARUS SOUL FALLEN RULE

Three dates: 7th / 21st Nov & 5th Dec

MCD proudly presents, The Mighty Stef are a 4-piece alternative rock group originating in Dublin, Ireland and featuring…

MCD.ie presents

THE MIGHTY STEF

plus guests

LATE CITY EDITION GAVIN & THEE ICONS

Three dates: 7th / 21st Nov & 5th Dec

MCD proudly presents, The Mighty Stef are a 4-piece alternative rock group originating in Dublin, Ireland and featuring…

SPECIAL 3 GIG COMBO TICKET €22.90

MCD.ie presents

THE MIGHTY STEF

plus guests

KNOXVILLE MORNING +

SCREAMING DEMONS OF TRASHVILLE

Three dates: 7th / 21st Nov & 5th Dec

MCD proudly presents, The Mighty Stef are a 4-piece alternative rock group originating in Dublin, Ireland and featuring…

Harmonic presents

KING KHAN & THE SHRINES

plus guests

Tickets priced €16.50 (incl booking fee) on sale Friday Oct 4th from www.whelanslive.com www.tickets.ie www.ticketmaster.ie & outlets nationwide

“Five years after ‘The Supreme Genius Of King Khan And The Shrines’, musical shaman Arish ‘King’ Khan is back with another triumph. R&B, soul and big band inform ‘Idle No More’, doing away with Khan’s raw garage sound in favour of sharp anthems that ring with brass stabs, hectic basslines and tambourines. Underneath it all Khan tackles big themes: ‘So Wild’ is in memory of Jay Reatard, ‘Luckiest Man’ tracks Khan’s recovery from LSD-induced madness, and ‘Pray For Lil’ is a thanks to his wife for putting up with him. He’s still twisted, but Khan’s genius has never been more obvious.” – NME 8/10

Imagine Roky Erickson backed by the Sun Ra Arkestra or Wilson Pickett and The Velvet Underground or picture the love child of Anubis and Kali. King Khan & The Shrines is more than a psychedelic soul band; they are a cult musical phenomenon with more than 10 years of international touring, multiple studio records and a fan base of fervent punk, soul, free jazz and garage rock heads.

King Khan, the spiritual guru and front man, cobbled together a fierce line-up of musicians while in Berlin in between reading Tarot cards and raising a family. What he ended up with in 1999 is one of the most entertaining groups the world has seen and heard since the days of Ike & Tina. The line-up includes Chicago-born, Ron Streeter (veteran percussionist for Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder), a horn section consisting of trumpeter Simon Wojan (member of Kranky Records recording artists Cloudland Canyon), tenor sax man Torben Wesche (Germany’s John Coltrane), and famous French rockabilly baritone saxophonist Frederic Brissaud. The rhythm section of the Sensational Shrines has been called a German/French version of the Freak Brothers – Till Timm on guitar, organist Frederic Bourdil, Jens Redemann on bass and drummer Mirko Wenzl.

Their first album Three Hairs & You’re Mine was produced by Liam Watson, recorded in the legendary Toe Rag Studios in London and released in 2002. A second full-length, Mr. Supernatural, followed in 2004. King Khan & The Shrines soon became an all-star international movement. Numerous gigs followed all across Europe with The Black Lips, Enon, Demolition Doll Rods, Mr. Quintron and Ms. Pussycat, an after-party for 50 Cent in Norway. They headlined Toronto’s NXNE festival 2006 playing three nights in a row and even had a member of the Sun Ra Arkestra join their brass section.

In 2007, King Khan made the soundtrack and film score for Schwarze Schafe, a major motion picture in Germany. The soundtrack included music from The Black Lips, The Spits, Gris Gris, Quintron and other greats. They also had a song placed in the movie Chiko, produced by Academy Award Winner Fatih Akin.

King Khan then released What Is?!, receiving critical acclaim from all over the world. It landed at #33 on Pitchfork’s Top Albums of 2007, while their track “Welfare Bread” landed at #66 on Pitchfork’s Top 100 Songs of 2007.

Their greatest hits, aptly titled The Supreme Genius of King Khan & The Shrines, came out in 2008 and for the first time their music was widely available in the U.S. The entire psychedelic-soul big band then graced stages for the first time in North America, leaving behind them a colorful spell of amazement and wonder.

In the years since, King Khan & The Shrines have added several notable festivals to their resume, including Coachella, Sasquatch, Pitchfork, South By Southwest and Sudoste. Their music has also been heard in popular TV programs (NBC’s Chuck, HBO’s Entourage, HBO’s Eastbound & Down), TV commercials (V8 juice, Mother Energy Drink), and video games (Saints Row).

They kicked off 2012 on a high note as they headlined the Bruise Cruise Festival and have just released “Bite My Tongue,” a sweat-drenched, ass shaking, groovy psyched out number, complete with rip roaring horn lines, southern fried guitar riffs and lysergic melodies.

TICKETS

On Sale Fri 4th Oct, 9am: €16.50 available online from WAV Tickets [Lo-Call 1890 200 078] (50c per ticket service charge applies on phone, internet or creditcard bookings)

Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required.

AFTER THE GIG

Whelan’s Indie Club w/ Late Bar from 10:30pm or check out the bands playing The Midnight Hour in the upstairs venue (FREE ENTRY, 12am).

A NIGHT FOR ELLIOTT

Elliott Smith 10yr Anniversary Night in Aid of Console

Featuring:

Niamh Farrell (Ham Sandwich), Ollie Cole, Dave McGuinness, Barry O Brien, Fiach, Eamonn Brady, John Byrne & more

**PLUS VERY SPECIAL GUESTS TO BE ANNOUNCED**

TICKETS

€10 (with proceeds going to Console) available online from WAV Tickets [Lo-Call 1890 200 078], prices may vary from other outlets. (50c per ticket service charge applies on phone or creditcard bookings)

Strictly over 18’s, I.D. may be required.

AFTER THE GIG

Whelan’s Indie DJ from 11pm til late plus late bar.