If anyone is going to SebastiAn @ Spy tonight, I hope to see you there (if I ever get out of work), the Bloscars will obviously take over tomorrow evening, then the crown of the weekend - Uh Huh Her at the Village on Sunday. Very exciting.
Have a fun weekend (and Happy Mother's Day to anyone it's relevant to.)
I'm gonna get my mobile broadband on tomorrow because I have a few free hours and therefore need to do a month's worth of errands and this is one of them.
I'm thinking '3' are probably the best for mobile broadband. Are they?
Has anyone got mobile broadband or would have any recommendations?
I shall see all you crazy bloggers at the Blog Awards tomorrow, and some of you in the Market Bar before that (although you need a vagina to get into that meet-up). It should be funsies!
As usual, a massive BIG UP YASELF to The Mullinator for being the most organised and most awesome King of the Interweb.
Load of muck. Apart from Noel Fielding seeming a nice enough sort and Dizzee Rascal's entrance.
I guess it's all about production. Klaxons sounded positively dreadful in comparison to their Brits performance. Arctic Monkeys referenced the Brits too, apologising for being so sauced during their acceptance speech last week.
I turned off shortly after Lightspeed Champion. Jesus, what an awful performance. He can't sing or play guitar and his songs are so boring. BLAH.
Still, my love for Kelly Osbourne grows and grows. She always looks so fucking cool.
Speaking of Button Factory-associated clubs, Ladyflash is relaunching tonight at Kennedy's.
Queen Kong will be bigging up their new (amazing) single 'So Brand New', and Stagger Lee will also be rocking out. And of course, Phantom's Sinead Ni Mhordha will be playing some tunes too.
Doors are at 10pm and it's €7 on the door.
If I get all my shit done, I'll be down there fo sho.
After relocating to the Vaults, Q & A (as I've said before, one of the most fun indie nights in the country) is back to it's old - although changed - spot in Temple Bar, The Button Factory.
*update* it's over now. They played 'I'm Beginning To Think You Prefer Beverly Hills 90210 To Me' (I think that's the title, am I right? It's otherwise known as the "you're fired" song) and 'Jake Summers', and talked about wols from Tesco, feet made of plywood and karate rock.
If you're around London Town tonight, the 'Apes are playing at The Fly on New Oxford Street.
Congratulations to Super Extra Bonus Party who won the Choice Music Prize last night in Vicar Street for their debut album (which you can buy here.)
As a judge, it was an invigorating, intense and fierce experience that personally and professionally I will take a lot from but that I certainly wouldn't want to be doing every year. Tough going, no joke.
Fair play to Jim and Dave the organisers of the Prize. As anyone there on the night will surely agree, it's a fantastic and valuable platform and showcase of the best of Irish music. It matters.
After leaving the judging room, I could hardly talk to everyone because it's such an intense buzz. But after it was all over, I kind of chilled out a bit and spent a lot of the night chatting to Nadine, Edel 'Black with Two Sugars' Coffey and Peter, Nialler, Aoife McIndieHour, the Delo boys, Julie, Adrian and of course The Boners.
We caused a "little" accident in our apartment building today. Not my faultsies - blame Lainey.
I still have yet to totally organise my life in the new gaff because I've been away a bit / am very busy / lazy. Hmm. Soon everything will be perfect. The sooner I get the piles of CDs and books out of my room, the better.
It will be byesies to Party Central soon, as Anthony and YoCo are moving to D1 (which, as we know, is the new black, and the new bitch). Last night, we - me, Anthony, YoCo, Lili and Iano MeNoFemBo - went for tapas at Pintxos, then randomly bumped into Tainer Bang and Brian who we joined in the Flounge later, before going to Thomas Reeds to say yo to Marky.
Also randomly bumped into my homie Aine. She was at the opening of an exhibition in Temple Bar, where there was free Kopparberg, but we didn't go, even though I like Kopparberg. Check out her work on her site there, she rocks.
And finally, from the Irish Times Man accuses brother of being coward for dropping charges BARRY ROCHE, Southern Correspondent, Cork
One of the country's biggest property developers yesterday withdrew a complaint of assault against his brother, only for his brother to later take the witness box and accuse him of being a coward for not holding his ground in relation to the complaint.
Michael O'Flynn, managing director of O'Flynn Construction, had brought a complaint of assault against his brother, Larry O'Flynn, accusing him of soaking him and two of his staff with a hose as they were working on a fence adjoining Larry O'Flynn's home at Kilcrea, Ovens, Co Cork.
However, just before the case was due to proceed at Cork District Court, Michael O'Flynn indicated he was withdrawing the complaint as he was reluctant to give evidence, but he was instead called by the defence to testify in relation to the two other alleged assaults.
After two hours of evidence, Judge Leo Malone dismissed the charges against Larry O'Flynn of assaulting Michael O'Flynn's employees David Burns and John Foley at Kilcrea on September 29th, 2007, as he wasn't satisfied beyond reasonable doubt to convict.
"I'm aware that I am living adjacent to a brother who has not accepted the wishes of his parents and entire family. The entire family happen to be on my side. He is on his own among nine children and his parents, he has issues with his parents, not with me," Michael O'Flynn said.
Judge Malone also heard evidence from Sgt Paul Lynch and Garda Brian Hegarty, who were called by Michael O'Flynn, that he and his men were soaked when they arrived but he said he was not convinced beyond reasonable doubt and dismissed the charges against Larry O'Flynn.
Big Ideas: the essential guide to the latest thinking by James Harkin Atlantic Books
The Order of the Phoenix Park by Twenty Major Hachette Books Ireland
Yaysies. Gonna get my read on in the next couple of days when I have any spare time. I have piles and piles of books at home that I have yet to touch and I'm constantly replacing them with new ones, which is not the brightest idea... oh wellsies.
Una reading: Twenty Major - 'Order of the Phoenix Park' listening to: Giles Peterson - 'In The House' watching: Dirty Money on TV3 eating: Trebor extra strong mints drinking: water discussing: whether there's a secret party that me and Ali don't know about because everyone seems to be leaving work without us
So the Choice Music Prize is on tomorrow night. It should be a great evening, what with all ten nominees performing. I'm a judge, which is cool (for me). I await an interesting experience!
If you need something to start your engines, then head over here where the wonderful Aoife McIndieHour has a podcast about the CMP featuring tracks from the nominees and lots of background to the prize and such and such.
This Bright New Sounds thing is a Vodafone/Phantom/Hotpress battle of the bands buzz. The final is in Tripod on April 3rd (get tickets here.) The story: bands uploaded tracks to the website, the best 20 were chosen by a bunch of judges and now they will be whittled down to the best five based on how many times they are downloaded, who will then play live and one will win this stuff:
April 4th Winning band will be signed to Universal's new NoCarbon label April 4th SonyEricsson K850i for each member of the winning act April 4th 1,000 euro Vodafone credit for each member of the winning act April 5th Stay over night at the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Dublin April 5th & 6th 2 days recording at Windmill Lane Studios April 5th & 6th Production by Tom McFall May 2008 Full digital release of new single May 2008 Single launch gig May 2008 Professional Photo-shoot May 2008 Interview Feature in HotPress May 2008 Interview Feature with Phantom 105.2
Rather worryingly, there don't seem to be any post-May plans. But I'm sure there are! Don't you worry, little bands. Just don't call yourselves Lucia and the Evanses
Battle of the Band competitions: the original X Factor.
Tuesdays are annoying. At least on Monday, you still have memories of the weekend and can have random nights out, and Wednesday is basically the horizon of the weekend. But Tuesday? Meh.
Last night, I went over to the Apartment in the Sky where Tainer Bang, Mishy, Ragin, Lucy, Brian and Davih were in attendance to watch The L Word Season 5 Episode 7. And it was a goody. After that, Tainer convinced me and Davih to go for that famous "one pint" which obviously turned into three Long Island ice teas in Dragon.
Now I'm in work, working away. Work, work, work, in my belly.
Pink and Whites are so yumsies. I love marshmallow things, especially marshmallows that are dumped in sugar, like Pink and Whites. And then that wafer thing that almost tastes like it's stale, but somehow it works. And they're so cheap too. Plus you can eat a whole pack without feeling sick. I reckon they aren't that fattening either, because marshmallow is just air, right? And semi-soft wafers have like protein and um vitimin D and loads of other nutritional shit in them. Actually, Pink and Whites have the same nutritional value as 14 spinach whole wheat wraps. Fact. It's true, I read it in the Sunday Independent, right next to the Marcus Sweeney interview. Plus they're pink! (well, partly)
Here's to Pink and Whites! I salute you, my mysterious little friends.
Ham Sandwich's 'Carry The Meek' hit number 23 in the Irish album chart at the weekend. This must be the reason I heard 'Click Click Boom' on 98fm in a Spar on Talbot Street last night. The 'Once' soundtrack (which has sold half a million copies) is at number 3. Cathy Davey is at number 12 in Choice Music Prize week.
Here's a piece I did on The Sandwich for the Tribune at the weekend.
“Then the aul lad goes, ‘you know what they say, where there’s shite, there’s luck’.” Podge McNamee (singer and guitarist with Kells band Ham Sandwich) is retelling a scene from today when he, his father, and another ‘aul lad’ were repairing septic tanks in Cavan. Darcy (the lead guitarist) bursts out in incredulous laughter followed by a wry “rock and roll.”
Put them together, and Ham Sandwich are an peculiar bunch of characters really; Podge has a penchant for dressing up as an astronaut or a mummy or an explosion of thrift shop colour on stage and engaging in generally surreal antics. He arrives at the interview with a box of Milk Tray under his arm and some ham and cheese sandwiches wrapped in tinfoil which he tucks into before the Dictaphone is turned on. Darcy is quietly, model-boy handsome and looking forward to getting his point across as he doesn’t do many interviews. Singer Niamh Farrell gets there late (the bus’ fault) with her boyfriend. They’re an adorable indie couple. She’s effortlessly stylish, with a gold beret and a suggestion that instead of doing an interview, we should join the Dublin Ghost Tour that has stopped around the corner. The missing band members; drummer Ollie - a genuinely nice bloke - and John the bass player who wouldn’t look out of place in Queens of the Stone Age, and is the main writer of many of their songs, complete five people with such contrasts that their inclusion in a group is so at odds that it just works.
They’re relieved that their debut album ‘Carry The Meek’ is finally done. It’s a collection of songs about heartbreak, mostly. Podge jokes that he thought about stirring up trouble between John and his girlfriend, because every time they had a fight, John would write a cracking tune. ‘Sad Songs’, ‘Words’ and ‘St Christopher’ are as good as any songs on a record by any band anywhere this year. “I think Ham Sandwich encompasses all of life’s dark sides and light sides,” Darcy says, when talking about the band’s philosophy, what it means to them, “cos, we have these serious songs with a good outlook, and it’s a positive thing. I think the songs are there, they have just a good feeling to believe in.”
Apart from creating some great tracks, Podge says that they’re other achievement is one of, well, em, peace, “we’ve broken the rivalry between Dublin and Meath!” he declares, “it’s ok to like Meath because Ham Sandwich are from Meath. They should play Ham Sandwich at the Dublin / Meath matches. Brilliant.” More laughter, more beer. They talk about some of the worst gigs they’ve played with much hilarity; one that involved a “big giant inflatable bottle of tequila,” one that Podge would have like to attended just because of “the pure cringe factor”, something involving climbing a amp stack, the worry of fans getting kicked out and so on. “There’s a bit of madness there,” Niamh admits.
During the interview, someone calls into the pub to deliver their Meteor Award passes. They open the envelopes and dissect the various coloured wristbands and tickets, wondering which ones mean free booze. Niamh looks excited and a bit scared about their nomination for Hope For 2008 (which, that weekend, they won), “yeaahhhhhhh! Weird. It’s going to be bizarre. It’s going to be crazy.”
“If this would’ve happened to us a couple of years ago, we wouldn’t be ready for it,” Niamh says, talking about the Meteor nomination and the amount of press and attention they’re gathering. What do they want to happen now? “I want toooo, dance the night away,” Podge sings. “I can’t wait to hear what the general public think about the album,” Niamh says. Darcy is reflective as ever, “it’s kind of like having a secret for so long and then telling the rest of everyone what the secret is.” “Yeah,” agrees Podge, “it’s like NASA’s new invention.”
Podge calls their success so far pretty insignificant as band success goes. But they’re officially a gang, a single entity. Darcy admits that if the band ended, he’d never play in another one. Niamh says they’re thankful that nothing has happened too quickly. Podge elaborates, “It’s always been a slow rise. We’ve never forced our music on anyone. It’s unnatural to do that... it’s like we’ve been taking off a piece of clothing every time we’ve released a single and we’re completely naked now. So if you don’t like us naked, you don’t like us. And I’ve been working in the gym so...” everyone laughs. Somehow, this then goes into a story about a phone call he got at 4am recently where a girl said down the line “hey Podge, you’ve got a hot ass.” Confused looks all round. Podge digs it though, “man, I’d wake up at 5 in the morning to hear that shit!”
Talking to fans of the band who work in the music industry, and the conversation is always the same. Ham Sandwich is a brilliant band, but they need to get heard. If they reach that tipping point, they’ll probably ‘break’ pretty big. But it’s tough to get there on their own record label (named after the bus route that goes from Kells to Dublin) and with little financial backing. For now, they’re a band to savour. Their live shows are excellent, the album has some seriously good songs.
A congratulatory text message to Niamh the day after the award gets a reply that it was a “surreal experience”, with a bit of luck, they’ll get more of that. Podge says he dreams of touring the world, having fans of different nationalities. He tells a story about friends of his cousin in London in school having their song ‘Click Click Boom’ as their ringtone. “I get really jealous seeing bands touring America. I kind of think, we could easily do that if we were given the chance.” “A motherfuckinass tour,” Niamh says. “Yeah, a motherfuckinass tour!” Podge repeats. And they all nod in agreement.
I had such a funsies weekend. Kiss was cool on Friday, good few heads there. The new Heath Ledger mural in the smoking area is savage. Doesn't the smoking area in the Tivoli have some of the best graffiti in town? I think so.
On Saturday, I watched the rugby at home and then me and Dee went to see Ham Sandwich at Whelan's where RoRo, Screamer, Orla and Louise of the Phantom massif were also in attendance. It was a great gig. Pretty packed and with a good vibe. I like the way HS always put an effort into the visual element of their gigs. Not just the way they look on stage, or ticker tape and baloons, but there seems to be a cohesion to the image that they project; from the elements of the album sleeve artwork as decorations around the venue, to an amazing opening animated video. It works. 'Keepsake' is a TUNE. Most awesomely was the cover of Britney's 'Piece of Me'. It was STELLAR! Well done to the Sandwiches for a great gig - hope the rest of the shows go well. After that, we went to the Stag's Head which was fun.
On Sunday, Dee, me, YoCo and Sarah had lunch @ La Taverna where we were joined by ledgebag Derek. We had lots of bacon salad and prosecco and amaretto. Then we went to see Juno, which I really enjoyed. (yaysies to Diablo Cody for winning the Oscar too). There was a pretty funny moment in the queue for the cinema where this guy had just bought tickets and was meeting his mate:
Dude 1: did you get the tickets? Dude 2: yeah, here *hands ticket over* Dude 1: man, that's JUNO not RAMBO Dude 2: wha? Dude 1: They're JUNO tickets, we're meant to go see RAMBO...
After that we went to the Hop House for some foodsies and Kopparberg.
I was up early this morning. I like watching morning TV though, I surf between Sky News Sunrise, Ireland AM, GMTV and whatever that one is on BBC. Lite Nooze Dose, you can't beat it.
Here's a good point: Tina Fey (aka, Queen of the Universe) on Hillary Clinton.
So the weekend has rolled around again - woohoo! Did anyone go see Cathy Davey in Tripod last night? I didn't make it because of work. YoCo, Anthony, Naomi the Homie, RoseE and Ragin ended up calling around and we listened to Burial and debated the virtues of M Night Shalalwalalalwala's work. Anthony, The Village sucks, get over it already!
Anyway, there's plenty on this weekend if you're heading out in Dubtown.
I'll be going to see this lot in Whelan's on Saturday. What DO YOU MEAN you haven't bought their debut album 'Carry The Meek' yet? Tsk! Buy it, it's awesome.
Elsewhere on Saturday night, Mr Scruff is playing all night at the Button Factory, Seasick Steve is at Tripod and next door in Crawdaddy, Frightened Rabbit will be fucking things up.
Have the funsies whatever you do! I'll be hitting Kiss @ the Tivoli tonight and finally getting around to seeing Juno at some stage over the weekend too. Yaysies.
God, award shows are boring aren't they? Me and YoCo watched them last night (just to see Amy Winehouse really.)
Thoughts:
- why do the Arctic Monkeys always come across as so unlikeable at these things (even though I love them)? And very drunk. Either that, or acting drunk.
- Ozzy Osbourne is the cutest man alive
- Kate Nash seemed very bored that she had won an award
- Paul McCartney is annoying and boring, although the Hey Jude singalong was kind of enjoyable - It's so hard to watch Amy Winehouse on stage. She's always so out of step, and looks like she's crawling out of her skin
Types of stalkers: Rejected stalkers: pursue their victims in order to reverse, correct, or avenge a rejection (e.g. divorce, separation, termination).
Resentful stalkers: pursue a vendetta because of a sense of grievance against the victims - motivated mainly by the desire to frighten and distress the victim.
Intimacy seekers: The intimacy seeker seeks to establish an intimate, loving relationship with their victim. To them, the victim is a long sought-after soul mate, and they were 'meant' to be together.
Incompetent suitor: despite poor social or courting skills, they have a fixation, or in some cases a sense of entitlement to an intimate relationship with those who have attracted their amorous interest. Their victims are most often already in a dating relationship with someone else.
Predatory stalker: spy on the victim in order to prepare and plan an attack - usually sexual – on the victim.
What should the US use to shoot down the spy satellite? (multiple answers allowed)
Thank you for voting!
A frickin' laser beam 15% (58 votes) A missile, but only if I get to push the red button 9% (34 votes) One of those Constitutionally-protected sub-machine guns 6% (22 votes) George W Bush 70% (268 votes)
Listen, I know people want to hear about line-ups and all that kind of shit, but I'm not talking about festivals.
IT'S FUCKING FEBRUARY.
I just got a press release from the people at Castle Palooza (great independent festival) about early bird tickets for a gig on the bloody August bank holiday weekend. Can't we just give it a rest until the festivals are actually happening?
I mean, I don't know about you, but I still feel like I got out of my Electric Picnic tent just yesterday morning, so I really can't start talking about things that are so far away.
So if you want festival news, fair play to you for being so organised and prepared so well in advance. But you're not going to find it on this blog.
It features Ham Sandwich talking about the Meteor Awards, and the legend that is Tanya 'I didn't steal that bottle of Jameson' Sweeney talking about the Choice Music Prize. Rockin.
Can't wait for the print edition of State - hitting shops near you soon, yo.
I was watching the new Missy Elliott video on TRL recently and she was talking loads about the dancers in the vid - U-Min. They are unreal. Check out this footage:
"How are changes in technology influencing how you record, distribute or publicise your music? Well since the advent of the steam engine in the 1800's we've been able to get our shit right around the canal network that spans the country."
Went to see Cloverfield with Lainey which was cool. The Savoy is only a few minutes walk from our gaff so we are being cinema-tastic.
Then me and Ragin and RoseE went to the Village to see Stagger Lee, Fight Like Apes and the Von Bondies. FLApes played at least one new song (I think two though). One of them which had a 'fired' hook is really cool.
We left a bit into the Von Bondies set and went to the G where I got to use my shiney new 'no more qing or paying' keyring (mucho gracias to Capital Bars for that one).
Then we went to Thomas Reeds for the gig after party thing where Benni and co were DJing. A lot of it was spent talking to Jamie FLApes about the L Word and coming up with new names for Kildare with MayKay (pictured above, sharing each other's hair). I don't really remember much else but I do remember Jamie specifically telling me to title this blog post John Q or something, hmm, memories fading - sorry dude!
Oksies, have to hang out with the dude from Prison Break now for some reason, must run.
UnaRocks does not UPLOAD music. All music links provided are ones that already exist online, or mp3s from band and record label websites. If you are in a band / band management and wish me to remove any of these links, I will, of course, oblige. UnaRocks believes that music sharing actively enriches our musical climate. Music sharing is as old as music itself. People who download music buy more records, go to more gigs, and buy more music merchandise than those who do not. The recent phenomonan of online music sharing has been credited to the ongoing resurgance in the live music scene across our world, and the increasing successes of 'indie' or 'underground' bands. In turn, if you are in a band / band management and wish me to post a link to a song for the pleasure of the readers of UnaRocks, please do not hesitate to contact me by commenting on this blog. Peace.
J-Kid has a pretty rad Metal on Metal remix of Bloc Party's 'Flux'. Awwwww yiihhhhhhh. (Still prefer the original though.)
I shall see all you crazy bloggers at the Blog Awards tomorrow, and some of you in the Market Bar before that (although you need a vagina to get into that meet-up). It should be funsies!
Ellen DeGeneres talks about the murder of 15-year-old Lawrence King.
Load of muck. Apart from Noel Fielding seeming a nice enough sort and Dizzee Rascal's entrance.
Speaking of Button Factory-associated clubs, Ladyflash is relaunching tonight at Kennedy's.
Congratulations to Super Extra Bonus Party who won the Choice Music Prize last night in Vicar Street for their debut album (which you can buy here.)
Kele, apparently:
We caused a "little" accident in our apartment building today. Not my faultsies - blame Lainey. 
So the Choice Music Prize is on tomorrow night. It should be a great evening, what with all ten nominees performing. I'm a judge, which is cool (for me). I await an interesting experience!
Pink and Whites are so yumsies. I love marshmallow things, especially marshmallows that are dumped in sugar, like Pink and Whites. And then that wafer thing that almost tastes like it's stale, but somehow it works. And they're so cheap too. Plus you can eat a whole pack without feeling sick. I reckon they aren't that fattening either, because marshmallow is just air, right? And semi-soft wafers have like protein and um vitimin D and loads of other nutritional shit in them. Actually, Pink and Whites have the same nutritional value as 14 spinach whole wheat wraps. Fact. It's true, I read it in the Sunday Independent, right next to the Marcus Sweeney interview. Plus they're pink! (well, partly)
So the weekend has rolled around again - woohoo! Did anyone go see Cathy Davey in Tripod last night? I didn't make it because of work. YoCo, Anthony, Naomi the Homie, RoseE and Ragin ended up calling around and we listened to Burial and debated the virtues of M Night Shalalwalalalwala's work. Anthony, The Village sucks, get over it already!
God, award shows are boring aren't they? Me and YoCo watched them last night (just to see Amy Winehouse really.)
Listen, I know people want to hear about line-ups and all that kind of shit, but I'm not talking about festivals.
It's all kicking off on May 9th.
Yo, check out this podcast from State.
I know I'm not the only person who can't get 'Flashing Lights' by Kanye West out of their heads, so here are a couple more versions;
I like Sundays. Dot. Com.
