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Month: December 2019

NICETRY

NICETRY

plus support ^ Upstairs ^ NICETRY are 2 blondes and 2 brunettes. Introverts by nature who, thanks to the intrinsic need for human interaction, are now best friends making melancholic music.”

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STEVE HUGHES

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DUE TO THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK THIS GIG HAS BEEN

RESCHEDULED

IT WILL NOW TAKE PLACE ON

MON 19th OCT

ORIGINAL TICKETS  STILL VALID OR REFUNDS FROM POINT OF SALE

SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED

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Aiken Promotions present

STEVE HUGHES

ARE YOU SERIOUS plus support _ Main Venue _ Returning to the UK & Ireland for his first full length tour in six years, Australian comedy legend Steve Hughes is known the world over for his hard hitting, take no prisoners stand up.

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BIG SLEEP

Buy Tickets 2016 Sold Out master MCD proudly presents

BIG SLEEP

plus support ^ Upstairs ^ Big Sleep have had a busy few months of gigging venues across the capital since their festival debut at Electric Picnic in September.

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MALAKI

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DUE TO THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK THIS GIG HAS BEEN

RESCHEDULED

IT WILL NOW TAKE PLACE ON

18th SEPT in OPIUM

ORIGINAL TICKETS  STILL VALID OR REFUNDS FROM POINT OF SALE

SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED

* * * * *

Statement from the promoter MCD:

COVID-19 STATEMENT Effective Immediately from 1800hrs today 12th March 2020 Covid-19 Government Directive issued to cancel all public events until Sunday 29th March of a capacity of 100 people and over. Following today’s (12th March 2020) Irish Government directive to cancel all events of over 100 capacity (indoor) and 500 capacity (outdoor) due to take place between now and 29th March MCD Productions has now postponed all affected shows. MCD Productions is currently working with artists and venues to reschedule all dates. Original tickets purchased for all affected events will remain valid for rescheduled dates which will be notified to patrons on confirmation. MCD Productions wish to thank all our customers and staff for their continued co-operation and understanding during this unprecedented time in the interests of health and welfare of all. For updates please visit www.MCD.ie — — — — — MCD proudly presents

MALAKI

plus support _ Main Venue _ Off the back of Malaki’s Debut EP ‘Butterly Boy’ and Sold Out Academy 2 Show Malaki announces 2020 Whelan’s show

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MATT McGINN

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THIS GIG HAS BEEN

CANCELLED

DUE TO THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

REFUNDS FROM POINT OF SALE

SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED

* * * * *

MATT McGINN

AND BAND plus support CIARA O’NEILL ^ Upstairs ^ Celebrating the release of his 4th studio album, ‘Lessons of War’, Co. Down singer-songwriter and producer returns to Whelan’s with his band, along with very special guest, and star of Matt’s 2019 critically acclaimed single ‘Bubblegum’ Ciara O’Neill.

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TOO MANY ZOOZ

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THIS GIG HAS BEEN

CANCELLED

DUE TO THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

REFUNDS FROM POINT OF SALE

SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED

* * * * *

Aiken Promotions present

TOO MANY ZOOZ

plus support _ Main Venue _

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THE KONDOORS

Buy Tickets 2016 master

THE KONDOORS

plus support ^ Upstairs ^ “Two voices pitched in perfect harmony to create blue-eyed soul and sophisticated, grown-up pop. Mick Brown, Telegraph Magazine..”

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KUDOS

Buy Tickets 2016 master

KUDOS

plus support ^ Upstairs ^ Cork sisters KUDOS launch their debut EP, ‘Treat Every Day Like Your Birthday, Every Night Like Valentines (Birthday)’ on Friday February 14th 2020. The five track EP will be available on all digital platforms as well as in CD format from Golden Discs Cork & Dublin.

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JIM BEARD & JON HERINGTON (STEELY DAN)

Buy Tickets 2016 master Oldflattop.com presents

JIM BEARD & JON HERINGTON (STEELY DAN)

_ Main Venue _ It’s only natural that pianist Jim Beard and guitarist Jon Herington would strike the kind of special accord heard throughout this intimate duo encounter. They’ve shared countless hours in the studio over the years playing on each other’s albums, beginning with Beard’s 1990 debut SONG OF THE SUN and continuing through to Herington’s 2016 album ADULT ENTERTAINMENT. They’ve worked together as sidemen on recordings by bassist Victor Bailey, saxophonists Bill Evans and Bob Berg, drummer Dennis Chambers and brothers Michael and Randy Brecker. And they’ve shared the bandstand on tour with Steely Dan for the past several years — 20 for Herington, 11 for Beard. “There are many, many records and gigs and times of our lives,” said Herington, reflecting back on their musical partnership. “Not only that, we’ve been sharing a studio ever since we got to New York, which is probably since 1987.” At the time of this writing, Beard and Herington had just come off a three week residency with Steely Dan at the Venetian in Las Vegas, so their Dan chops were polished to a bright sheen. But they were also basking in the after-glow of having recently recorded this superb duet album. And though guitar and piano are not generally regarded as ideal mates in a duo setting, the two kindred spirits found a way to seamlessly blend in the studio, divvying up duties on eight tunes, easily alternating roles, comping for each other while delivering melodic gems and brilliant solos along the way. “Not all of that happened right away spontaneously,” Beard pointed out. “We did have to think about who could do what where, because it’s not the most natural duo instrumentation. It’s so much different than if it were piano and bass or guitar and bass, piano and saxophone or guitar and saxophone. Because the two instruments are so similar in the way they function and behave in a group, particularly the chordal aspect of it. So it did take a little bit of think-time to figure out what would be best.” “It’s two instruments that do not necessarily cooperate too well,” added Herington. “And because the role of each instrument is similar, it kind of presents a real problem — Who’s going to play the bass part? Who’s going to keep time? So we had to hunt for different tunes and figure out what we could do to them to make them work. And it took quite a while.” While the ultimate role model for guitar-piano duets would have to be Jim Hall and Bill Evans (check out 1962’s UNDERCURRENT and 1966’s INTERMODULATIONS), Beard and Herington avoid comparisons by taking a decidedly different path on CHUNKS AND CHAIRKNOBS. “Bill Evans-Jim Hall is my favorite example of that piano-guitar genre,” Herington agreed. “We were fully aware of how great those two records are. I know both of them intimately and they’re both just fantastic. By the same token, we also knew that we’re not really players like that, and that’s mostly evident in the original tunes that we put on the record. Those tunes are not jazz tunes like what Jim Hall and Bill Evans would’ve played. So that kind of puts us in a completely different place. And once we were beginning to get stuff that we felt was going to work, it felt a little less daunting.” As you delve into CHUNKS AND CHAIRKNOBS, it becomes clear that their long tenure with Steely Dan has rubbed off on both Beard and Herington. Their meticulous craftsmanship and knack for sneaking complex harmonies and chords into song-driven settings is positively Dan-like. But Beard and Herington also bring something unique to the program that puts them in their own zone. Beard, a wildly creative spirit with a brilliant, slightly subversive mind, has a wealth of musical experience to draw from. A classically trained pianist, he studied arranging with Don Sebesky and studied piano with Sir Roland Hanna and George Shearing. The keyboardist of choice for John McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter and John Scofield, Beard is also a prolific composer whose signature works have appeared on albums by Michael Brecker (1988’s DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME, 1990’s NOW YOU SEE IT…NOW YOU DON’T), McLaughlin (1987’s ADVENTURES IN RADIOLAND), Bob Berg (1990’s IN THE SHADOWS, 1994’s RIDDLES) and Bill Evans (1996’s ESCAPE, 1997’s STARFISH AND THE MOON). As a widely respected producer, he has helmed 11 albums for guitarist Mike Stern as well as projects for drummer Dennis Chambers, trumpeter Michael “Patches” Stewart, violinist Didier Lockwood, pianist Eliane Elias, trumpeter Randy Brecker and saxophonists Berg and Evans. His compositional prowess and quirky penchant is further showcased on his six albums as a leader —1990’s SONG OF THE SUN, 1994’s LOST AT THE CARNIVAL, 1997’s TRULY, 1999’s ADVOCATE, 2008’s REVOLUTIONS and 2013’s SHOW OF HANDS. Herington, a consummate accompanist, soulful rhythm guitar player and tasty soloist, has brought his six-string skills to bear on recordings by Steely Dan (2000’s TWO AGAINST NATURE, 2003’s EVERYTHING MUST GO), Donald Fagen (2006’s MORPH THE CAT, 2012’s SUNKEN CONDOS), Walter Becker (2008’s CIRCUS MONEY) and Madeleine Peyroux (2016’s SECULAR HYMNS, as well as his own albums as a leader — 1992’s THE COMPLETE RHYMING DICTIONARY, 2000’s LIKE SO, 2008’s PULSE AND CADENCE, 2010’s SHINE, SHINE, SHINE, 2012’s TIME ON MY HANDS, and 2016’s ADULT ENTERTAINMENT. All of these qualities — Steely Dan slickness combined with an obvious love of rock and a reverence for the jazz tradition — emerge here with Beard and Herington forming the perfect tag team on CHUNKS AND CHAIRKNOBS. “The idea of doing a record didn’t come first,” explained Beard. “About two and a half years ago we did a short mid-Atlantic States tour just to try it out, and it worked out pretty well. In fact, a European agent said he could book a tour for us if we had an album out. So we decided to do one.” Their own idiosyncratic take on the piano-guitar duo comes across right out of the gate on the jaunty title track to CHUNKS AND CHAIRKNOBS, which opens with a Monk-like piano figure that segues to a rollicking barrelhouse New Orleans feel melded to a touch of ragtime. Picture Scott Joplin meets Professor Longhair and Thelonious Monk at Erroll Garner’s house. Originally appearing as a full band version on Beard’s 1997 album, LOST AT THE CARNIVAL, it is reimagined here as a striking duo number. “There are certainly echoes of that old New Orleans thing,” said Herington, “but it’s also so much Jim’s sort of wacky world when he writes, which is what was so fun about it.” Herington, who had played on the original version of this tune, contributes a particularly soulful guitar solo here. “Jim kept saying, ‘It’s gotta be more fun! Crazier, more wild!’ So I had to bend some strings and try to inject some life into it with just a little more scooping and sliding. To just play it straight would’ve been too flat, so I used more expression that comes from blues and rock playing than I think I would normally use.” Herington’s “Double Blind,” a thoughtful piece tinged with melancholy, was originally written for his Japan-only release in 1992. “That was the one that seemed like the best fit for the duo, and it’s also one that Jim has liked the best. I think it’s the darker quality of that tune that he likes.” “That’s actually a new name for an old song,” explained Beard. “The original name was ‘Behind the Mask’ and it was on Jon’s record THE COMPLETE RHYMING DICTIONARY. He reissued it in 2008 as Pulse and Cadence and changed the name of that tune from ‘Behind the Mask’ to ‘Double Blind.’ (Likewise, Herington’s funky “Whoopie Tie O” from the original 1992 album was renamed “Hope and Woe” for PULSE AND CADENCE and appears here in a scaled down duet form). The musical partners put a novel spin on four covers here. Their version of “Baubles, Bangles and Beads” carries the bossa nova flavor of Frank Sinatra’s version from the 1967 album FRANCIS ALBERT SINATRA AND ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (minus the lush Claus Ogerman orchestrations). Herington plays some persuasive Brazilian rhythm guitar here as Beard emulates Ol’ Blue Eyes’ with his behind-the-beat phrasing on this alluring melody. Their fluid, conversational exchanges on the Bill Evans composition “Loose Blues” have Beard and Herington sharing rhythmic duties in organic fashion. “That’s the closest we get to that Jim Hall-Bill Evans vibe,” said Herington. “It really has the chamber jazz vibe of the late ‘50s, early ‘60s. And the melody line is almost classical sounding…kind of pointillistic with unusual phrasing. It feels more like a through-composed thing but it does go into a jazz thing. It’s a fun one to play.” Their intricate, counterpoint-fueled take on “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” from the Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II musical SHOWBOAT, is based on an arrangement that Beard did of that song for Bob Berg’s 1990 album, VIRTUAL REALITY. “Most versions of that song are kind of dreamy and slow,” he explained. “So the idea here was to make it something completely different.” Herington erupts with some Bensonesque flurries on their version of the show tune. “I still think of George Benson as one of America’s greatest guitarists,” said Herington. “He’s at the top of the heap for me. So if it sounds a little like that, I’m happy. I’m a huge Benson fan. He’s got this amazing lyricism and it’s so effortless sounding. He can smile his way through the whole thing and he just makes it look so ridiculously easy. Total magic.” Herington also showcases his considerable chops on his own composition “Hope and Woe” as well as on Beard’s calming “Hand to Hand,” which the pianist had originally recorded on 1997’s TRULY. Their approach to “Gaucho,” one of Steely Dan’s most popular tunes and title track of their 1980 album, remained fairly faithful to the original. “Arrangement-wise, we really didn’t have to do too much to it,” explained Beard. “The form is so through-composed. It doesn’t have your typical eight or 16 bar groupings like so many pop songs have. It’s kind of 180 degrees away from a song like ‘Peg.’ It morphs from a long verse into the chorus-release, then there’s an interlude. It’s just structured in a unique way, so we just had to rehearse it and make it feel good.” “We’re such admirers of the writing,” added Herington, “so we never really thought to rearrange it. Jim did a few things differently because we’re just two people trying to cover several parts. So I get to do some of those fills that are done by the saxophone on the record. But we just thought that the notes are so great on that tune, so it was enough just to stick to the melody that Donald played.” A thoroughly engaging project, CHUNKS AND CHAIRKNOBS is a confluence of rock, pop, bossa, blues and jazz performed by two seasoned pros whose empathy and uncanny chemistry runs deep. — Bill Milkowski Bill Milkowski is a longtime contributor to Down Beat and the author of “JACO: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius, the World’s Greatest Bass Player” (Backbeat Books)

TICKETS

€24.50 available online from WAV Tickets or Lo-Call 01 4780766 (9:30am-7pm M-F) – 50c per ticket service charge applies on phone, internet or creditcard bookings. Final ticket price may be higher from other outlets. Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required

AFTER THE GIG

Whelan’s Silent Disco from 10:30pm – 2 DJs, just pick the one you like best [Free Entry] plus Late Bar.

EASTBOUND: DRY CLEANING

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THIS GIG HAS BEEN

CANCELLED

DUE TO THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

REFUNDS FROM POINT OF SALE

SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED

* * * * *

Aiken Promotions presents in assoc. w/ RTE 2FM

EASTBOUND

Dublin’s New Music Festival 2020 featuring

DRY CLEANING

plus support _ Main Venue _ Aiken Promotions are delighted to announce the return of EASTBOUND for its second year running, the festival which creates a live space for the best

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EASTBOUND: CONCHÚR WHITE

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DUE TO THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK THIS GIG HAS BEEN

POSTPONED

WE’RE WORKING ON A NEW DATE, PLEASE BEAR WITH US

ORIGINAL TICKETS  STILL VALID

SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED

* * * * *

Aiken Promotions presents in assoc. w/ RTE 2FM

EASTBOUND

Dublin’s New Music Festival 2020 featuring

CONCHÚR WHITE

plus support ^ Upstairs ^ Aiken Promotions are delighted to announce the return of EASTBOUND for its second year running, the festival which creates a live space for the best

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EASTBOUND: DREAM WIFE

* * * * *

DUE TO THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK THIS GIG HAS BEEN

POSTPONED

WE’RE WORKING ON A NEW DATE, PLEASE BEAR WITH US

ORIGINAL TICKETS  STILL VALID

SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED

* * * * *

Aiken Promotions presents in assoc. w/ RTE 2FM

EASTBOUND

Dublin’s New Music Festival 2020 featuring

DREAM WIFE

plus support _ Main Venue _ Aiken Promotions are delighted to announce the return of EASTBOUND for its second year running, the festival which creates a live space for the best

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KRISDEBERG + DOUBLE SCREEN

Buy Tickets 2016 master

KRISDEBERG

plus support

DOUBLE SCREEN

^ Upstairs ^ Krisdeberg are a Dublin-based electronic four-piece, a self recorded and self produced project drawing from such diverse influences as LCD Soundsystem and James Murphy. Krisdeberg have been locked away in the studio painting music with synths, drums and all manner of noise.

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SPIES

Buy Tickets 2016 no seat VIA EVENTBRITE.IE

SPIES

plus support _ Main Venue _ Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Constancy’ in 2018, alternative 5-piece SPIES have announced a new show in Dublin’s Whelans on February 15th. Tickets from €15 on sale from November 29th at 10am. The Thin Air – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – “This is truly essential listening” The Irish Times – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – “A new and vivid phase for the band” The Last Mixed Tape – 9/10 – “A record of great Sonic beauty” Totally Dublin – “An album brimming with emotion, energy and ingenuity”

TICKETS

€15 / €30 w/ LP available from Eventbrite 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 via front door until 10:30pm | Drinks Promos

GREG DULLI

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THIS GIG HAS BEEN

CANCELLED

DUE TO THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

REFUNDS FROM POINT OF SALE

SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED

* * * * *

Statement from Greg Dulli:

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the continued spread of the coronavirus throughout Europe, we have sadly decided to postpone our March/April European dates. We sincerely apologize and are already working on rescheduling our European tour for later this year. Refunds will be available at point of purchase. We remain hopeful that the North American tour will proceed as planned beginning in Minneapolis on April 24th. We’ll continue to monitor the situation as it develops. Stay safe everyone.

Statement from the promoter MCD:

COVID-19 STATEMENT Effective Immediately from 1800hrs today 12th March 2020 Covid-19 Government Directive issued to cancel all public events until Sunday 29th March of a capacity of 100 people and over. Following today’s (12th March 2020) Irish Government directive to cancel all events of over 100 capacity (indoor) and 500 capacity (outdoor) due to take place between now and 29th March MCD Productions has now postponed all affected shows. MCD Productions is currently working with artists and venues to reschedule all dates. Original tickets purchased for all affected events will remain valid for rescheduled dates which will be notified to patrons on confirmation. MCD Productions wish to thank all our customers and staff for their continued co-operation and understanding during this unprecedented time in the interests of health and welfare of all. For updates please visit www.MCD.ie — — — — — MCD proudly presents

GREG DULLI

plus support _ Main Venue _ Without desire, most of the world’s problems would be solved and it would be a miserable place to live. For the last 30 years, Greg Dulli has been the poet laureate of the bizarre whims and cruel tangents of desire.

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CULT CALLED MAN

Buy Tickets 2016 no seat VIA ENTRBRITE.IE

CULT CALLED MAN

plus support ^ Upstairs ^ Cult Called Man celebrate the launch of their new official music video for a brand new single (Trash King) at Whelan’s on January 25th. The music Video was shot and directed by VMA nominated videographer Josef Geiger (Pumped Up Kicks 2011).

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DANNY BURNS

Buy Tickets 2016 master Whelanslive.com present

DANNY BURNS

plus support ^ Upstairs ^ Don’t call Danny Burns a newcomer. Two decades before releasing his 2018 debut, North Country — a collaborative album filled with appearances by icons

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