that's the end of that chapter

I'm in Bristol airport waiting to get home from Glasto. It was.....



AMAZING.



Full report tomorrow (when I've showered and my brain returns.)

Una

right, I'm outta here!

Off to Glasto. Blogging might be limited until Tuesday due to trench foot / trench hand / flooditis etc.

Later!

Mik Pryo interview

Pretty funny shit:

How do you start your average day?
I check out the harem, see whats happening with that shit. Smoke something, Champagne Bris and Grapes peeled the most by the most intoxicating of Mongol virgins serves as breakfast. Music... Puccini, Grand Funk Railroad. Thats a band. I dont like music thats a lie. I might take a leisurley stroll through Terenure. I run Terenure. And thats no joke. Im like Don De Miccolo up in that bitch. There are five hundred Italian restaurants in Terenure. I pop in, they serve me up Carpaccio shit for free. They're like "Mr. Mik Your Presence Honours us magnificently!" Whatever. Why dontcha shut the fuck up and give me a bottle of your finest cognac? Or If Im on the dry, I'll take a private room and watch your waitresses ingest that shit and stagger around like a bunch of idiots.Woohoo! Thats how I get busy. Then I fraternise with the plebs.Then Mass if the mood takes me. Terenure sounds great and all if your from some shithole, but in truth the place is rife with Satanist Old Ladies. Theyre hatching some crazy shit up on Ratghar road Im sure of it. Watch out for the community centre and stay away from florists. Then coffee with the Career guidance chick in Presentation convent. I'm keepin tabs on those ho's...

...read more


The Steady Song (live)


Here's the acoustic version:

Berocca offers 'blogger relief pack'

Berocca (which, FYI got me through my Leaving Cert many moons ago) is offering bloggers a 'relief pack' to curb stress.

They say, "Blogging can be stressful. We live in a world where millions of people read and demand new content from websites every day... The Blogger Relief Pack comes to the rescue of those tired minds. Be part of the Blogger Relief campaign to rescue those we rely on to feed our insatiable hunger for the weird wide web."

Smart marketing, nes pas? The Blogger Relief Pack contains a stress ball, a USB "stress" button, bubble wrap keyring, "Dead Fred" pen holder and, of course, a pack of Berocca.

get it here.

Ratatat - LP3

I've been listening to this all week. Probably already a contender for a place in the top ten albums of the year for me. There is just so much SPACE through the album. You know the way sometimes Muse can really channel the sound between planets or something? That vastness? Well, I think Ratatat sounds like the universe - like a bunch of little aliens fucking sounds into stars and coming back with this.

My favourite track is 'Imperials', it's just the most incredible thing I've heard in so long. The use of water through the track as a vessel of sound it just amazing. (mp3 is here.)

Here's the video for: Mirando

Pre-Glasto hibernation broken

Crap. Went out last night by mistake. Not late or anything, just to Market Bar for fish pie and Heineken. Still SO NOT going out tonight. Considering I get into central London quite late, I should be ok. Meeting Neilsies tomorrow morning in my favourite breakfast place on Newington Green, and then off we shall go to Worthy Farm.

I'm not really prepared (mentally or physically) but I'm sure once I get there, I'll forget about the tiredness and stress and just chill out and have a good time and hopefully get some good material for a piece myself and Neilsies are writing together. Say hisies if you see me drowning in mud or something (actually, help me out first, and then say hisies.)

Sigur Ros = Boring

I don't like Sigur Ros. They kind of suck, in my opinion. Boring, boring, tedious 'soundscapes'. They are the Snow Patrol of 'thinking' pretence-music. The same formula wheeled out over and over and over. It's such navel-gazing, temple stroking, wire-framed snorebilly.

Ugh.

There. I've said it.

Thankfully, someone else thinks so too.

UnaRocks articles of the day

Lil Wayne: I'm Gonna Make You Like Me - Rolling Stone

Can prison food be unconstitutionally bad? - Slate

Lykke Li interview - London Independent

Canada rejects refugees from Iraq - Toronto Star

Vampire Weekend frontman recalls days as teacher - Guardian

Agyness Deyn for Doctor Who - Gallifrey

The battle over Central Park - New York Magazine

The end of theory - Wired

Cowen's Downfall

Amazing.


(Via Mulley)

My Bloody Valentine to play Guantanemo Bay

Probably, if you go by this video from their Roundhouse gig in London last Friday:

NME Radio launches at 11am today

You can listen here. The first song to be played is going to be Muse - 'Knights of Cydonia'. Mmmm, Cidona...

New Kings of Leon album out September 22nd

It's called 'Only By The Night'.

Pre-Glasto-hibernation

I'm hibernating at the moment, because I fly away to Glasto tomorrow night. So last night, I ate mini Toblerones and watched this:



Of course, hilarious. Jennifer Coolidge is RoRo's favourite actress ever. So in tribute:

Lovebox news

MCD has finally announced the Lovebox deets, after plenty of online speculation.

Maximo Park, N*E*R*D, Paolo Nutini, Sam Sparro, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Plain White T’s and Gorillaz Sound System will all be hitting Marlay Park on August 23rd. Early Bird Tickets priced €49.20 incl booking fee are on sale Friday 27 June at 9.00am.

(Maximo Park Paul pic by The Lili)

UnaRocks articles of the day

Maximo Park to play Lovebox, Dublin - NME

Has modern life killed the semicolon? - Slate

The end of public sex - Village Voice

Britney's back in the studio - Rolling Stone

One third of Americans admit race bias - Washington Post

Punk Camp on St Mark's Place - New York Magazine

Modest Mouse play secret show in Brooklyn - Spin

Download Festival review diary - State

Inside the Metallica reviews scandal - Wired

Locals Only!

Surfers in Malibu kick the shit out of paparazzi trying to get pictures of Matthew McConaughey.

The Swap/Swop Shop is open

Go forth and barter

So I guess Amy Winehouse won't make Glasto...

Although, at least this gig miss has a genuine excuse and not just 'drunk' or 'couldn't fit me and Pete and Peaches Geldof and that wan Aisleyne off Big Brother into a taxi to get there'. She should really chill the fuck out before she checks out.

Ze Weekend

There goes another one.

On Friday, I ran down the Sugar Club to present an award at the Balcony TV Awards. There was an amazing German beatboxer on before me, awesome. Bumped into Neil who I hadn't seen in a million years, Rachel Newstalk and Aoife McIndieHour.

After that, myself and Super Dee went to the Flounge, which was jammers and loads of fun; Ragin, Tainer, FionnTimes, Derek 2.0, American Ciaran, Steph, Lopez, Cooney Balls, Conor and many more were in attendance. We tried to get into Sin, but it was at capacity, so ended up in the Tivoli. Fire juggler people, sing song out the back, champers, dancing, balloons and funsies.

On Saturday we ate everything in Eddie Rockets and went to see the Edge of Love (I've seen a few movies this week. Gone Baby Gone is great, Wanted is hilariously bad but enjoyable, Edge of Love is pretty boring. I feel asleep near the end.)

On Sunday, I chilled the max, had some visiters for coffee (Sarah, YoCo, Paddy, Ragin) and read the papers.

And speaking of Balcony TV, here is their balcony video view of Saturday's Gay Pride Parade.


Unfortunately, not everyone was happy with Gay Pride. On Saturday night at around midnight, the George was evacuated when a bomb threat was made to police. Some idiot rang the cops and told them he had planted pipe bombs in bags in the venue. Thankfully, nothing was found. What a wanker.

does anyone know where this guy works?

I want a good coffee

Stephen Morrissey from Dublin has won the World Barista Championship.

amusing Club Orange ad

I suppose the most interesting thing about this ad is that Club Orange (via vStream) is targeting Irish bloggers to spread their pretty funny viral (I got a message on MySpace). It worked.

Phantom's Longest Day Compeition closed

Congrats to the winners, you have been notified by email.

Have the funsies.

Thanks to the squillions of people who emailed, sure yiz didn't win, but why not head down anyway?

Have a good weekend, y'all.

Fight Like Apes BBC session and interview with Mark Riley

Click here to listen

They play 'Lend Me Your Face' first, then just fast-forward to 45:40 to hear 'Knucklehead' and 'Battlestations'.


Fight Like Apes play:
June
Tonight - Proud Galleries, Camden
23rd - Kasbah w/We Are Scientists, Coventry
24th - 53 Degrees w/We Are Scientists, Preston
25th - Met Uni w/We Are Scientists, Leeds
27th - Glastonbury
28th - BBC Stage @ Glastonbury
29th - Boring By The See, Weymouth

More dates are on their MySpace

You're Only Massive declare war on drummer

Youre Only Massive have declared beef with a drummer of a certain Irish band who refused to pay them for a gig. The not exactly cryptic track called 'Grand Theft Hopkins' is up on their MySpace now.

FIGHT!

remember when I posted that article about Josh Homme going nutso at a fan?

Here are the vids:

Blogs and Advertising

Paddy in England asks the question in the comments section of a recent post.

What do y'all think about letting companies advertise on your blogs? I think this:

""Una were you ever tempted to throw some google ads on your page?" - nah, I think they look a bit tacky and wreck the flow of a page (although it's not as if my blog is well designed or anything. Or, actually designed at all, come to think of it!)

That said, if some company came to me and said they wanted to sponsor the blog or an element of it, or put their logo to it for a wad of cash, I would be tempted. Obviously something like that couldn't have any editorial control so I don't think a blog about music should get sponsored by a record label or anything like that, because you would have to assume that the blogger would then push their stuff over other material.

UNAROCKS IN ASSOCIATION WITH POT NOODLE, or something, might suit.

I reckon in the next short while, companies will actually cop on to this. I mean, look at Hotpress covered in ads and sponsorship, yet more people read Nialler9 than read Hotpress.com, so Nialler should have companies gagging to get an ad look-in on his site (maybe they are and he's kicking them back, I don't know.) But companies are just so slow in Ireland to realise the value of advertising on blogs. I have around 1,000 readers a day, which isn't a lot, but it's still a pretty captive audience for targeted advertising. If advertisers actually thought about that potential, that is..."

I don't have a problem with advertisers on blogs as long as it doesn't skew the content. Like if some big fat rich company wanted to get their logo in the banner of my blog for a load of money, could I say no? If it didn't change any of the content, then what harm? They would have an audience, I would have money. If it wasn't intrusive, then wouldn't that be a good idea for all involved? Already promoters approach bloggers to run competitions (as you know, I've run competitions from heads in Phantom, Spy, Pod, Wax) which is really just advertising a gig for free tickets for your readers. But it's fun to give stuff away, so I do it. If 3 or Motorola or somebody came to me and said "do you want to give away a free phone?" I would say, yes, even though, that's more or less product placement on a blog.

IMO, the fact that promoters have started approaching Irish music bloggers to (happily, I must add) plug gigs for free tickets for readers, is a sign of how people in the music industry in Ireland are realising that the balance of power is shifting from old media to new. Plus, because most music blogs in Ireland are so sparsely branded and are generally personality-based (in so far as, a blogger goes from saying 'this is what I like', to 'you shold go to this gig', to 'trust me, this is a good track/artist' and then the reader invests that trust and becomes a part of the process, with no monetary exchange, which is completely different to a newspaper, magazine, radio station or TV programme, all of which rely on advertising to exist) there is a 'cool' there that is ready to be hunted by companies.

Traditional media outlets might have a far greater audience, but a blog's audience is streamlined. An individual goes on On The Record to read about music, they're not just picking up the Irish Times, they are investing their time in a specific forum of knowledge. So it's a perfect space for targeted advertising.

Are bloggers comfortable with this prospect? Is their audience? Because it's going to happen.

Picnic news hamper

Jim has some new acts set to play the Electric Picnic's Improvised Music Company tent. Presumably, that will be situated somewhere to the left of one of the fields. Ok, sorry, I'll get me coat.

Here, on the Last Word on Today FM, John Reynolds talks about his barney with IMRO over royalties (starts at 46:35, and if you stay tuned after that, funnily enough, you'll here Stuart Clarke from Hotpress compare Brian Cowen to Peter from Family Guy. *waves*.) JR makes the argument that maybe he shouldn't have to pay IMRO 3% of what he makes at the gate because the 'Picnic isn't just about music. Which is fair enough I guess (although, I presume every other festival organiser just pays the moolah.) Personally, things I'm looking forward to at the Picnic besides the Moosic (TM - Republic of Loose) are This Is Pop Baby and The Lucent Dossier Vaudeville Circus.

The Picnic is sold out, by the way, but that news was kind of overshadowed by the JR V IMRO fright, which JR addresses in print on the 'Picnic message board.

I've already said "fuck that shit" twice this morning, so...

Phantom: Longest Day Competition

Want to head along to the Button Factory on Saturday to see Ham Sandwich, Codes and The Kinetiks?

Well, then you can either buy tickets here for €12 or enter this competition. Me gots 2 double pairs of tickets to give away thanks to the nice, shiny folks at Phantom 105.2fm.

To enter, just answer this simple question:

What is the title of Ham Sandwich's debut album, released earlier this year?

Email your (hopefully correct) answer to jacksgraff@hotmail.com with 'ham' in the subject line. As usual, winners will be chosen at random and notified by email. Competition closes at 6pm tomorrow evening. Good luck!

UnaRocks articles of the day

Steve Lamacq blogs about Fight Like Apes - BBC

War vets used to test drugs - ABC

Raped Polish 14-year-old becomes stuck in the middle of a pro-choice / pro-life scrap - Irish Times

Sexual reorientation - Slate

The Microfame Game and the new rules of Internet celebrity - New York Magazine

Are Democrats using 'code' to slag McCain's age? - Politico.com

Rupert Murdoch goes to war - Atlantic Monthly

'Red Paperclip' guy is ready to trade his house - Wired

UnaRocks video of the day: FUCK DARKLIGHT

Darklight

Jimmy Behan - 'In The Sudden Distance'

Go here to download Jimmy Behan's fine new EP for free on the Italian Zymogen label. Thanks to John aka Chequerboard for ze heads up.

Dirty Dozen: Vol 92

1. Chrome Hoof - 'Pronoid'

2. Lil Wayne - 'A Milli'

3. A Place To Bury Strangers - 'I Know I'll See You'

4. Santogold - 'Say Aha' (Tepr remix)

5. Foals - 'Mathletics'

half a dozen. Lonely, Dear - 'I Am John'

7. Those Dancing Days - 'Hitten'

8. Amy Winehouse - 'Back To Black' (live)

9. Calvin Harris & Dizzee Rascal - 'Dance Wiv Me'

10. Pissed Jeans - 'I've Still Got You (Ice Cream)'

11. Dragonette - 'Jesus Doesn't Love Me'

dozen. Fleet Foxes - 'White Winter Hymnal'

Phylis *hearts* Del

Check out this report from RTE's Brian Finn on yesterday's News at One about the first marriage license issued to a gay couple in California yesterday.

SAVE NIGHTCLUBS

From INIA:

"Nightclubs are facing the introduction of earlier closing times as part of the Government’s Liquor Licensing Bill 2008. This Bill, expected to be introduced before July 3rd 2008, will close every late night venue, nationwide, at 2.30am 6 nights a week, and at the earlier hour of 1am on Sundays. These will be the latest possible opening hours, with even earlier closing times in various counties / districts...

The nightclub industry opposes these proposals and is instead seeking :

- The introduction of a Nightclub Permit, to properly regulate the industry.
- The introduction of Sequential Closing [ pubs/late bars would close at a defined time, and nightclubs would close at a later defined time ] . This staggered closing approach, reduces the risks of public disorder that arises when all late night venues are emptied at the same time.
- Sunday closing times to be the same as every other night of the week.
- And to be allowed entertain our customers for a period after we have stopped serving alcohol."

Go here to sign the petition.

separated at birth?

Lend Me Your (new) Face

A new version of Fight Like Apes 'Lend Me Your Face' is up on their MySpace now.

I totally dig it.

‘Lend Me Your Face’ will be the first UK single from the new album. It is available on iTunes this July 21st and on limited edition 7” vinyl on July 28th. Limited to 500 copies, it will be printed on special yellow vinyl and packaged with a hand-stamped logo on the outer bag.

(MayKay pic by The Lili)

new food game

While not as expansive as the band food one, myself and Tainer Bang have mistakenly stumbled upon a new food game.

While planning to drink some plum sake tonight, I said to Tainer, "Maybe we should create our own sake and call it 'Fuck's Sake'? Then when you're going to the bar, you could be like "four Fuck's Sake, please."

Then Tainer said "I'd like some Lady Marmalade on this toast"

You know where this is going, right?

...

Actually, I can't think of ANY MORE THINGS to add to this game.

Might just go back to some original band-foods me, Ragin, Mr Johnny Craig and Neilsies came up with at the HWCH launch that I'm just remembering now;
Carly Onion Rings
Stew Amusement
The MinuteS-teaks

and some random ones I'm plucking from my head;
British Tea Power
Those Dancing Maize
Santogoldschlagger
Sugar Ros
Hercules and Love A Pear
King Crisps of Leon
Pie Bloody Valentine
Minterpol
Amy McDonald's
The Hold Bready
Alphabeet
The Mashional
The Wombaps
and so on and so forth...

UnaRocks articles of the day

Gay men and straight women share brain detail - Ireland.com

Charity notes sexualised behaviour of 'tweens' linked to marketing campaigns and how children are used as a marketing tool - irishhealth.com

Coldplay: we didn't steal the song - NME

Church leaders face summer of strife over women and gay clergy - The Guardian

US to reopen Canadian's torture case - LA Times

How we read online - Slate

Bishops restate opposition to gay marriage - Irish Times

Rape joke returns to torment McCain campaign - London Independent

EP review roundup: Ugly Megan, Gorgeous Colours etc - State

Bigger TVs leading to spike in electricity use - RTE

Why you should download Firefox 3 right now - Webmonkey

Monday drinks and breakfast TV watch

Sometimes you have to extend the weekend just that little bit more. Yesterday evening, me, YoCo, Minky Von Fabrege, Rachel and Marjorie had some Coronas @ South William and talked about Big Brother, scary people breaking into your house, and general goss. Then Aoibhinn and her homies came along and I ended up staying later than I should have. But I hadn't seen her forever and needed to hang out. So that was fun.

But. Do you ever wake up on Tuesday and feel like you have already done an entire week of work even though you have yet to get started? That's how I feel today.

Probably because I got up too early and decided to watch breakfast TV:

RTE 1: They REALLY need to get a breakfast show. There was some dodgy English sitcom followed by The Nanny. Seriously, who is going to watch The Nanny at 7.45am? Ok, fine, I watched it.

TV3: That said, Ireland AM wasn't exactly brilliant stuff either this morning. "How much for the steamer?" asked Alan Hughes as a 90-year-old man demonstrated how to pull wallpaper off what looked like a large, thin notice board. The steamer, by the way, was around €50. Then Republic of Loose came on and as usual, when there are bands on the couch, Mark Cagney makes a big hoopla about how he likes Moosic, knows Moosic and wants you to know he's down with it, yo.

Living TV: Bewitched! Yes!

MTV: Hogan Knows Best. Truly the worst MTV programme ever. Is it really sensitive to be showing the young Hogan guy racing around in cars since he has left a kid practically brain dead in hospital following a drunken crash and is in jail himself? Pull this programme. Now.

Sky News: interesting report with "great access" (as we were informed) from Afghanistan and an interview with some Taliban guys and scary footage of a suicide bomb. All of this was spoiled by the stupid "for queen and country" logo in the right hand corner of the screen. That said, I like when Sky News split their coverage between the studio and another setting - in this case, a British army base in Afghanistan.

E4: Music videos. I never noticed Noel Gallagher is wearing a Claddagh ring in the 'Don't Look Back In Anger' video, and forgot how awesome the Bravery's 'Honest Mistake' video is, even if they themselves look like eejits.

GMTV: High pollen count in Dover today.

is there any finer sugar-coated chocolate treat?

I think not.

Chemistry competition closed

Well done to the winners, you have been emailed.

For those who didn't win guestlist, don't worry, you can still get tickets to the gig from City Discs Temple Bar priced €16 (incl. booking fee), or on the door at €17. Everything kicks off at 9.30pm, and as always drinks are just €3.50.

Black Affair - Pressure Point

Have been listening to Black Affair (aka Steve Mason) quite a bit. It's dirty-pop, retro, gothic electro. And I'm kind of enjoying it, dodgy vocals though, but some really cool synths.

Jimmy Edgar, who mixed the record and co-wrote 'PPP', the first track on the album, directed this video for 'It's Real':


but, I prefer this song 'Subfuge':

UnaRocks articles of the day

Hillary Clinton: what she won by losing - New York Magazine

Isle of Wight festival review - The Guardian

QOTSA's Josh Homme calls fan "fucking little faggot" before threatening to "butt-fuck" him - NME

Tracking the women who were going to vote for Clinton but will now vote for McCain - Slate

Spirit returns to the Academy for one night only - Hotpress

More Madonna divorce rumours - GCN (of course, any self-respecting gossip journo would inform you that Guy and Madge split three or four years ago...)

Book of Predictions, 38 years later - Vanity Fair

The world's coolest rollercoasters - Wired

Obama and the Chicago Boys - The Nation (by Naomi Klein)

Did Coldplay nick a song?

hmmmmm:

Pride shtuff

My Top Five is compiling the top five Pride songs. So go leave your endless Tegan and Sara comments now.

There is so much stuff on, but some of the things I'm hitting are: on Wednesday les enfants terribles of Dublin drag The SkinniTwinz head to the George for a special Space N Veda night: 'Killer Pills: A Neon Nightmare', and then Friday is the big one. Gay arts mag Butcher Queers is having an art exhibition and auction in Film Base. 'The Meat Factory' will show work from Panti, Will St Leger, Maser and more.

Also on Friday night, it's one of the biggest, baddest and best indie nights in town - Q&A @ ALT.

There's loads of other stuff on apart from the parade and the Pride party @ Tivoli; Poetry @ Pantibar on Thursday; on Friday - Dyke Night @ Sin on Friday, Kiss @ Tivoli, Wilde 'non scene night' @ Bernard Shaw; on Saturday the post-parade rally at the Civic Offices amphitheatre, Spice @ Spy; on Sunday an all-day Pride resurrection party @ Traffic, and so and so forth, so check the Pride website, and there's also a handy Pride magazine floating around a few bars in town with listings and all that kind of info.


Here's a little music moment for the week that's in it:

one of my favourite things to do is watch trailers of my favourite movies on YouTube

Like, this one, the best film ever made. Ever.


Of course, this movie also contains my second favourite song. EVER.

Peter Bradshaw's review of 'The Incredible Hulk'

""Hulk. Smash!" Yes. Hulk. Smash. Yes. Smash. Big Hulk smash. Smash cars. Buildings. Army tanks. Hulk not just smash. Hulk also go rarrr! Then smash again. Smash important, obviously. Smash Hulk's USP. What Hulk smash most? Hulk smash all hope of interesting time in cinema. Hulk take all effort of cinema, effort getting babysitter, effort finding parking, and Hulk put great green fist right through it. Hulk crush all hopes of entertainment. Hulk in boring film. Film co-written by star. Edward Norton. Norton in it. Norton write it. Norton not need gamma-radiation poisoning to get big head. Thing is: Hulk head weirdly small. Compared with rest of big green body..."

Read the rest here.

Sinead quits the Sigla Blog

She says her farewell here, but, thankfully, the Musical Rooms Blog is alive.

Best of luck with other work stuff, Sinead. I shall miss the Sigla action, though.

new Sunday Tribune website

Shiny

M.I.A. retires?

The NYTimes thinks so...

Maybe she meant it's her last show until she gets her gardening nails done. Not, like, for eva.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle

I actually think I have broken my calf muscles. Seriously. Can hardly walk. Had to get a taxi to work this morning, because I got around the corner to Connolly Station and just couldn't make it any further. Lainey had to practically carry me home from the cinema last night because I have clearly destroyed my legs forever. Crysies.

Went to see Gone Baby Gone, quite good, loads of twists and turns, although a few of the characters are outrageously cartoonish, namely the 'bad' mother. Casey Affleck is great though.

Oh, my blog is blocked in China. Screw you China! My mate Burco is hanging out there at the mo and she says she can't check me blog. Bastards.

Dance, dance, dance

My legs are sore.

On Monday night, after a few beers in Spy with Meadzer, me, her and Corina went up to the Sugar Club which was PACKED with Rocky Horror fans. Big ups to Tainer Bang for the guestlist and for being the star of the show. BANG! Also in attendence were Brian Fucking Gallwey, Lucy and Grace and Mr Rick, who was resplendent in a velvet smoking jacket. FionnTimes then stole everyone's thunder by rocking up in full stilletto and postmodern cling-film drag. Bravo.

After that, we went to the Spy Prince party for a bit, but because I am super smart, I went home shortly after midnight to spare myself for last night.

Yesterday, me and FionnTimes went out to the aul alma mater (DCU) to cheer on the Emerald Warriors who were kicking ass in the Bingham Cup. Eh, unfortunately we missed both of their matches, but they won one and by now have hopefully won the Bingham Bowl.

Then me and FionnTimes and Aran went to the Front Lounge and made plans to take over the universe via a fashion show flash mob and other grand designs.

Later, I went up to Tainer Bang's apartment in the sky and me and Brian Fucking Gallwey and Davih listened to MGMT and FLApes. Then FionnTimes and myself headed to Vicar St (big ups to Cillian for ze blags) where Dan Deacon was just about to WRECK THE GAFF. It was an amazing haze of moshes, human tunnels, running in circles around Vicar Street, joy, worship and sweat. For the most part, I was slammed against Dan and his table of beeps. The man is a god. At the end, I sweatily jumped on top of Jim who seemed very enthused at Deacon's genius.

How could Jape follow that? I never got to see totally, because we before he did but he was trying to keep the energy going, although the crowd (myself included) all looked pretty shaken after Deacon's typhoon. 'Christopher & Anthony' sounded good, though. Buy the new album 'Ritual', it's fucking great.

Me and FionnTimes headed for ALT where Ragin and Conor had just fallen off a plane from Madrid and into the arms of Hot Chip. We danced. A lot. I was surprised there weren't more people there, and did have to hug the bouncer when he gave out to us for doing handstands off the edge of the stage and also had a nice chat with one of the Hot Chip boys about my 3D glasses necklace because he lives beside Tatty Divine on Brick Lane.

By the end, my hair was one of the biggest messes it has been lately (seriously have to get it ALL chopped off), the strap on my new bag was broken, my calf muscles were in bits, my shoes were wrecked, my feet were filthy, my make up had disappeared under layers of sweat and mouth-missed Red Bull, my dress was soaked in vodka and butterscotch schnapps, my had was bruised from high fives, hugs and some falling over, and my soul was happy.

Here is a video FionnTimes took at the Dan Deacon gig: (The first part is a song in a dark, when you get to 1:30; Dan Deacon is trying to organise the crazy running around in circles bit; at 4:20, the guy he chose to start running takes off; at 5:00 me and Fionn start running; at 6:15 it's human tunnel time; at 7:30 it's back to Dan; at 8:00 it's my 3D glasses and Dan's shout out to Leagues.)

"The people have spoken, the bastards"

It was the Micro Chips, wasn't it?

Ireland rejects Lisbon treaty - RTE

Irish Voters Appear to Reject Treaty on Europe - New York Times

Ireland votes No to Lisbon Treaty - London Times

Ireland says no - Sky News (video)

Irish voters reject EU treaty - The Guardian

Tickets for 'sold out' Oxegen on sale next Friday

From MCD:

"In order to combat ticket touting a limited number of extra weekend camping tickets for the sold out OXEGEN festival will go on sale this Friday 20 June.

"Following concerns from genuine fans last year about ticket touting and signs that tickets for this year’s festival have been selling on various unofficial websites for as much as €486, a limited number of extra tickets have been made available and fans are strongly advised to only purchase tickets via the OXEGEN website (http://www.oxegen.ie/) or through Ticketmaster. 3 day camping tickets sold out over 3 months ago within days of going on sale."

(Jim has it too)

just got my Glasto ticket in the post!

Mwoahahahahahahaha.

V excited now.

Friday the 13th: oooooooh

Happy Friday the 13th everyone. To celebrate, I'm going to the Rocky Horror Picture Show @ the Sugar Club tonight (doors @ 8pm, €15) and then the Prince party @ Spy after.

Weekend in general; gonna hit the Hot Chip DJ set @ ALT tomorrow and maybe Leonard Cohen on Sunday.

I just held up the queue in Tesco because I was buying orange juice and then the Joe and Keith show on Spin rang me to talk about why Dublin was deserted and the possibility of a revolution at government buildings, so I had to run out of the shop abandoning my OJ at those stupid automatic check out things that talk to you. Oopsies. I love Breakfast Express. Have listened to it from day one, such a great breakfast programme.

Lisbon's still too close to call, innit?

Ok, better go work now.

PS: I was walking passed Connolly Station this morning where there are always people handing out free stuff to those walking to work, and I got handed a GIANT packet of two ciabattas. What a weird thing to hand out to walking commuters. Worse still, you have to BAKE them in order to eat them. Who bakes at half eight in the morning? In work?? Weirdsies.

Friday the 13th actually lucky - RTE

TDD pics

Check out Dan's pics from Those Dancing Days last Friday @ Andrews Lane Theatre.

They rock (both Dan, and TDD)

PS: I <3 ALT.

more new FIGHT LIKE APES tunes

The Flapes have put two new tracks up on their MySpace. Along with new single 'Something Global', there's 'Knucklehead' and that McClusky cover 'Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues'.

I can't WAIT to hear more of Tha Carter III

Have been listening to some of the tracks off it recently, but haven't heard it full yet. So far, it's awesome. Lil Wayne is a genius. Here's a recent interview with the Guardian.

another interview:


Pussy Monster:


Some mp3s:
'Let The Beat Build'
Lollipop

M.I.A.'s reason for cancelling

"I'm canceling because I feel like physically I just have to stop for a second. It's too insane," M.I.A. told NYMag.com. "I was losing a sense of just, like, reality, you know what I mean? I think for an artist like me, it's so important for me to be in the streets and go to the same shop every day and see the same people and, like, communicate. And it's really difficult to do that when you're in the city every day for 24 hours. Like, I love connecting with my band, but I want to actually help them and be a part of peoples' lives. Which is really hard when you're on tour...It takes a lot out of you, physically. I make club music, which means I'm clubbing every night for, like, six months. Know what I mean? So now and again you finally just want to be gardening and get your nails done or something like that."

Funny reply to that on the Electric Picnic message board: "Seriosuly biotch get a grip the "reality" is you just let down the people who buy your records and keep you in trucker hats and neon trainers so you can hang around a shop all day and connect with people. WTF like. My birthday plans ruined anyway."

Video of the day: Halves

This Red Book shot this video of one of my favourite Irish bands, Halves:

"This video is the end result of me following the band 'Halves' around on the release day of their latest EP (however the song does not appear on said EP). It is footage from their live instore in Tower Records, their soundcheck, their backstage 'antics' (if trying to play John Williams tunes is accepted as an 'antics') and the live performance edited together."


Release from thisredbook on Vimeo.

The Lisbon Treaty: reasons for voting 'Yes'

I'm voting 'Yes' tomorrow. Why?

1. COIR says, if we vote 'Yes' gay marriage and abortion legislation is IMMINENT

2. I would prefer to be ruled by Europe than by a bunch of people who get elected on promises of filling potholes and fixing drain pipes

3. Look who is on the 'No' side

4. If the treaty goes through, then we won't have to vote on another EU treaty for a very, very long time - so no more talk about treaties, qualified majority voting, tax jargon, losing commissioners, and no more endless airtime, columns and TV debates dedicated to something that no one really has a clue about (and no, I haven't read it either, but I've tried to educate myself as best as possible)

5. I don't trust Libertas

6. Might be fun to make Jim Corr cry

7. I fully support the microchipping of babies. I also fully support Micro Chips. Yumsies.

(microchipped baby photee by Simon McGarr)

UnaRocks articles of the day

Takashi Murakami proteges are coming up with the goods too - Wired

An affair to remember - Slate

If Europe wants Obama to be the next president, then Europe should shut up - New York Magazine

Pentagon invites rock musicians on pro-war tours - Guardian

McCain: 'I will veto every single beer' - Crooks and Liars

Gay men urged to out DUP members - GCN

White Denim: 'Workout Holiday'

Listening to this record ALL DAY

Some vids:
'Let's Talk About It':


'Look That Way At It':


here's an oldie:

don't forget to enter the Chemistry competition!

here

Lou Reed for ANALOG

ANALOG just gets better and better, doesn't it?

Lou Reed has just been confirmed for Hal Willner's Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys. The line-up for that particular event already features Teddy Thompson, Waterson: Carthy, Gavin Friday, David Thomas (Pere Ubu), Julie Fowlis, Baby Gramps, Ed Harcourt, Rachel Unthank & the Winterset on July 18th.

Other gigs on the 18th down in the docklands are Jóhann Jóhannsson (4AD) with Chequerboard (Lazybird) and Arctic Circle presenting the Sleeping Years, Dollboy and Songdog.

On the 19th Tortoise, Efterklang and LIARS play on the main stage, and else where, Silje Nes and Madam play plus Ninepoint Records featuring Thread Pulls.

Ticket and more line-up details are all on the website linked above.

What's interesting is that Analog is presented by the DDDA, who presumably as part of there 'you better fund some artsy stuff as part of your remit' clause for building loads of gaffs, gave Note Productions a bag of cash to put this stuff on. Today FM, The Ticket, Krombacher, Perrier and Quality Hotels make up the sponsorship.

Considering I live within spitting distance, I shall be in attendance. Also nice to see the awesome CHQ building being used for something other than the over-priced Meadow's and Byrne and that giant scarf shop.

Genius

Thank you RTE for making the Euro 2008 Apres Match sketches available online. Even if they are on real player.

When is RTE gonna get wit da YouTube massif on its website?

Still, hilarious. Especially the Xpose one and Liam, Bill and Eamonn discussing Ronaldo.

Sound of the Year: You Half Way There*

At the start of every year, the BBC - in conjuction with critics and opinion makers in the music industry and media - comes up with their 'Sound of the Year' poll. This year they picked:

1. Adele
3. The Ting Tings
5. Foals
7. Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
9. MGMT
2. Duffy
4. Glasvegas
6. Vampire Weekend
8. Black Kids
10. Santogold

They did alright - apart from Glasvegas who haven't done the bizznezz yet, and Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, who are shite.


In 2007 the Beeb chose:
1. Mika
3. Klaxons
5. Enter Shikari
7. Cold War Kids
9. Ghosts
2. The Twang
4. Sadie Ama
6. Air Traffic
8. Just Jack
10. The Rumble Strips

Enter Shikari, after one interesting track disappeared. I bought the album. Sucks for me. Ghosts are pretty cool, but have faded slightly. The Twang are awful. Sadie Ama: who? Air Traffic vanished. Just Jack had one tune. The Rumble Strips *fail*.


2006:
1. Corinne Bailey Rae
3. The Feeling
5. Guillemots
7. Chris Brown
9. Kubb
2. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
4. Plan B
6. Sway
8. Marcos Hernandez
10. The Automatic

Corinne Bailey Rae did remarkably well, especially in the States. Chris Brown is a super star. Kubb - THE NEW KEANE, remember them? Thought not. Marcos Hernandez?? Um, yeah.


2005:
1. The Bravery
2. Bloc Party
3. Kano
4. The Game
5. Kaiser Chiefs
6. KT Tunstall
7. The Dead 60s
8. The Dears
9. Tom Vek
10. The Magic Numbers

All pretty good calls about from The Dead 60s and The Dears. PS: where the fook is Tom Vek these days?


2004:
1. Keane
2. Franz Ferdinand
3. Wiley
4. Razorlight
5. Joss Stone
6. McFly
7. Scissor Sisters
8. The Ordinary Boys
9. Tali
10. Gemma Fox

The last three pretty much disappeared, Wiley has finally had his big hit this year with 'Wearing My Rolex'.


2003:
1. 50 Cent
2. Electric Six
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4. The Thrills
5. Dizzee Rascal
6. Interpol
7. Audio Bullys
8. Mario
9. The Datsuns
10. Sean Paul

Mario... *tumbleweed*. Where are the Datsuns? Audio Bullys are still going strong enough. I remember seeing them in the Red Box. They're doing a DJ set at the Planet Love festival in Punchestown soon.


All in all, a pretty good hit to miss ratio.

So, 2009? Who's it gonna be? Or is it too early to tell...


*this is a reference to a long road trip on a dirt track in the Caribbean with my family. About an hour in, we passed a sign which read 'You Half Way There'. My dad wanted to write underneath, 'You Car Made Shit Of'.

speaking of gigs being pulled...

Coldplay have postponed their North American tour sez the NME.

*golf claps*

They say it's down to production difficulties, or maybe it's down the the fact that on June 30th, Capitol records will have no one running the label, as EMI gets even more chaotic.

Facebook is so fucking glitchy this morning

It's REALLY annoying me.

M.Har.G.Mar.M.Super.T.Star

Check out Lili's AWESOME shoots with Har Mar here and MGMT here.

Lili is such an awesome fashion photographer, but I love, love, love her music stuff too. She brings such a unique view to music shoots from her fashion work, methinks. Good work, Minky!

Prince party this Friday

Good idea: As part of the Summer of Love season at Spy, and because the Big Small Fella won't be hitting Croker, why not, instead, party like it's 1999 on South William Street.

Here is the goss:

Pop Life:
"This Friday night at Spy, the sound of his Purpleness will ring loud on South William Street when The Summer of Love, Fridays at Spy, throws its first theme party, Prince style! Expect all the hits from the Minneapolis legend, themed cocktails, projections from his movies, and a few surprises! Peach anyone? So Girls And Boys, don your Raspberry Beret, put on your best Diamonds and Pearls, and Lets Go Crazy, this Friday night at Spy!"

Doors 8pm til late. Free in before 11pm
2 for 1 Cocktails til 10pm. Selected cocktails 6e after all night.

Wantsies

J-Wolf informs me that Moog has made their first ever guitar - The Moog Guitar Paul Vo Edition. *drool*

Wired has the goss.

WANTSIES SO BAD.


MoogMusic.com

GIG ACTUALLY HAPPENING SHOCKER

Dry your Prince and MIA eyes, there's still a gig happening in da city.

Ham Sandwich (mucho congrats to Niamh on the birth of her first bambino, Oscar!), The Kinetiks (who have just been announced for Oxegen) and CODES (ahead of their July 5th gig in the Academy) are all hitting the Button Factory on June 21st courtesy of Phantom.

It's just €12 in - which is €4 each for three of the best Irish bands around. Pretty good deal.

I never really get why CODES aren't bigger. They are such a great band - one of the few Irish bands I really have faith in to make it big on an international scale. If you haven't checked them out before, you probably should.

Of course, I love Ham Sandwich with the majority of my heart and soul too (can't wait to see them rockin' Glasto) and the rise of the Kinetiks in the last twelve months has been very little short of meteoric, probably down to them catching that Arctic Monkeys guitar zeitgeist, and a charming front man an lyricist in the form of Gaz.

You can buy your tickets here.

M.I.A., um, M.I.A.

M.I.A.'s Dublin show has been cancelled.

SHIT BUZZ. Was really looking forward to this gig.

Along with her gig at Tripod, her ENTIRE European show has been pulled, Prince-stylee.

Cool Kids will play in Crawdaddy on the same date (June 27th). You can get yo' money back from point of purchase.

Every day, another gig dies: yesterday was a disaster for MCD, today it's Pod's turn, especially with M.I.A. flying high on the cover of the Event Guide. As I said, shit buzz.

More bands for Electric Picnic

Jim breaks the new Electric Picnic acts.

Santogold
Crystal Castles
Chromeo
Elbow
Cut Copy
Digital Mystikz
Tiga
Hercules & Love Affair
Antibalas
Gomez
Gemma Hayes
Giveamanakick
Super Extra Bonus Party
The Black Lips
Carbon/Silicon
The Faint
The Presets
Digitalism
The Congos
The Herbaliser

Santogold, Crystal Castles, SEBP, Hercules & Love Affair = awesome

When are they announcing Portishead (if that's actually happening)?

Chemistry Experiment (and a competition!)

Chemistry - the rather wonderful Wednesday night club @ Wax, is hosting a mini-festival of sorts on June 18th.

Playing on the night are French electro producer Kavinsky, Kitsune darlings Hystereo (live), Super Extra Bonus Party will be DJing, as will the crazy Warlords of Pez. Also on board are Deadbots and Miss Marcos and Nikki Coghlan.

Tickets are available from City Discs Temple Bar priced €16 (incl. booking fee), or on the door at €17. Everything kicks off at 9.30pm, and as always drinks are just €3.50

If you're waiting to claim back your Prince refund cash until you pick up tickets to this, never fear, as I've got two double passes for this cracker of a night. To win them, just answer this question:

What was the name of Super Extra Bonus Party's Choice Music Prize-nominated debut album?

Email you answer to jacksgraff@hotmail.com before midnight this Sunday and you will be in with a chance to win. As always, winners are selected at random and are notified by email.

Dublin Streets Exhibition

The awesome Dublin Streets is having an exhibition in the Bernard Shaw from June 12th called 'Shoot Me: A global exhibition of Street Style and Street Art'. Should be funsies.

The 'Streets team were interviewed in the Trib this weekend.

Lily Allen gets the sies disease

LDNsies etc.

Bill Cullen: You're Fired

The Apprentice in Association with Blue Cube Loans
To Hit Irish Screens on TV3 this Autumn

"This summer Dublin will play host to Ireland’s most exclusive and intensive job interview, when 14 of the business world’s most promising candidates battle it out to become Bill Cullen’s Apprentice. The self-made, rags to riches millionaire, Bill Cullen will challenge the aspiring tycoons as they compete in the toughest challenge of their lives.

14 candidates hungry for success will be shortlisted from applicants all over the country for this unique business opportunity. They will leave successful careers behind in the hope that they will be the one chosen by Bill Cullen. They will win a 12 month contract working alongside Bill with a package worth €100,000. Bill’s trusted aides will be his partner and business associate Jackie Lavin and Brian Purcell.

Each week candidates will be tasked with real challenges set by leading Irish brands. At the end of every week they will go before Bill and learn their fate – whether or not they will hear those inimitable words ’You’re Fired!’"

Great to see Irish TV coming up with some original ideas.

Bill Cullen sez: "'The Apprentice' brings an exciting opportunity to budding Irish achievers. As a hands-on operate with various business activities I will give the winner an exceptional grinding in how to win in the tough environment of our current economic situation - and our morning meetings start at 6.30 am. That’s a fact."

*update* how the mighty fall: Prince gig cancelled

Detective Jim Carroll is about to break 'the first big causualty of the Irish outdoor season' - aka a large gig that's about to be cancelled.

... and it's Prince (told ya, Anto!)

Is Lenny Kravitz next?

*update* Hotpress sez MCD is 'devastated' at the cancellation. 55,000 tickets were sold for what Hotpress says was a 62,000 capacity gig (although Westlife at the same venue had more like 80,000 punters.)

'Something Global'

Nialler has a first listen of the new FLApes single. Rawk.

*update* FLApes have Added 'Something Global' to their MySpace, so you can listen there too.

State magazine also adds their 2c on the new tune

Iris Robinson: inciting hatred

You've probably already read or heard what the DUP's spokeswoman on health said about gay people at the weekend. I know she was condemned from many quarters (but not enough, obviously) but can't this kind of outburst be stemmed by smacking her with inciting hatred? Are those laws ever even used?

hot weather

Everything is better when it's sunny. Innit? I was in London for a weekend at a wedding and Sunday couldn't have been a better day for some matrimonial bliss action. And it was made all the more funsies because Sean Rowley from Guilty Pleasures was DJing at the reception. Did you know Rowley is the dude on the cover of '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?'. Neither did I.

Anyway, the sun makes everything so much nicer, so I was glad to come home to a sunny Dublin last night and wake up to one again this morning.

Una

listening to: Tricky - 'Knowle West Boy'

watching: Big Brother

reading: the weekend's papers (bit late)

drinking: orange juice

eating: Tesco chocolate croissant

discussing: the weekend, with Mackers

yet even MORE bands added to Oxegen

And the new additions are:
Friday 11th July
Amy Macdonald, Ben Folds, Sugababes, Mundy, Captain, Aslan, God Is An Astronaut, White Denim, Friendly Fires, The Metros, Noah & the Whale, Sparkadia, Bryn Christopher, Liam Finn and Leopold.
Saturday 12th July
The Wombats, Little Man Tate, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Jack McManus, Elliot Minor, Royworld, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, Alphabeat, Ida Maria, Yeasayer, Holy Fuck, Mindless Self Indulgence, Cage the Elephant and Sergeant.
Sunday 13th July
The Blizzards, Eddy Grant, Republic of Loose, We Are Scientists, Jack Penate, The Hold Steady, Los Campesinos, Cajun Dance Party, Flogging Molly, Fight Like Apes, Glasvegas, David Jordan, The Script, Twisted Wheel, In Case Of Fire, Jaguar Love and White Lies.



And the full stage line-up is:
FRIDAY 11TH JULY 08:
Main Stage: Kings of Leon*, Interpol*, Editors*, Paddy Casey, The Coronas and Amy Macdonald.
O2 Stage: Groove Armada, The Go! Team*, Ben Folds, dEUS, Sugababes and Future Kings of Spain.
Green Room: Bell X1, Mundy, Aslan and Captain.
Pet Sounds: Cat Power*, Aphex Twin*, Tricky, Battles* and God Is An Astronaut.
2FM New Band Stage/Futures: White Denim, Friendly Fires, The Metros, Noah & The Whale*, Sparkadia, Bryn Christopher, Liam Finn and Leopold.
Dance Stage: Calvin Harris, Unkle, Annie Mac, MSTRKRFT*, Koze*, Kosheen and Burn.

SATURDAY 12TH JULY 08:
Main Stage: The Verve, R.E.M., Stereophonics, Amy Winehouse*, Counting Crows, Newton Faulkner, Scouting For Girls and Bowling For Soup.
O2 Stage: The Prodigy, The Zutons, Feeder, Panic at the Disco, The Enemy, The Hoosiers, The Wombats, Powderfinger, One Night Only and Little Man Tate.
Green Room: Manic Street Preachers, The Charlatans, Pendulum, Echo and the Bunnymen*, Vampire Weekend*, British Sea Power, The Ting Tings, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Delays and Concerto For Constantine.
Pet Sounds: The National*, Hot Chip*, Richard Hawley, Seasick Steve, Declan O’Rourke, Paul Heaton, My Morning Jacket, Camille O’Sullivan and Jack McManus.
2FM New Band Stage/Futures: Elliot Minor, Royworld, Joe Lean and The Jing Jang Jong, Black Kids*, Alphabeat, Ida Maria, Yeasayer*, Holy Fuck*, Mindless Self Indulgence, Cage The Elephant and Sergeant.
Dance Tent: Justice,* Boys Noize*, Slam, Michael Mayer*, Kavinsky, The Japanese Popstars and Chemistry DJ’s.

SUNDAY 13TH JULY 08:
Main Stage: Rage Against The Machine*, Kaiser Chiefs, The Fratellis, The Kooks, The Blizzards, The Feeling and Eddy Grant.
O2 Stage: Chemical Brothers, The Raconteurs, Republic Of Loose*, Kate Nash, The Pigeon Detectives, We Are Scientists, The Courteeners and The Subways.
Green Room: Ian Brown, The Pogues, Tom Baxter, Reverend and the Makers, Jack Penate, Alabama 3, The Stranglers, The Hold Steady* and The Whigs.
Pet Sounds: The Swell Season featuring Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová, Roisin Murphy*, Band of Horses, MGMT*, Delorentos*, Lightspeed Champion, David Jordan and Ryan Bingham.
2FM New Band Stage/Futures: Los Campesinos!, Cajun Dance Party, Flogging Molly, Fight Like Apes*, Glasvegas, The Script, Twisted Wheel, In Case Of Fire, Jaguar Love and White Lies.
Dance Tent: David Guetta, Luciano, Mylo, Kaz James, Carl Craig, Crookers, Radioslave, Does It Offend You Yeah? and Quiet Village.

*UnaRocks recommends

have fun!

There's loads of stuff on this weekend, as State magazine will tell you. I'm off to Those Dancing Days at ALT tonight, probably followed by the Summer of Love @ Spy. Then London tomorrow for a wedding and general funsies.

Off to eat pie in the South William now.

Byesies!

ALAF fundraiser tomorrow

From the irrepressible Licky Rake:

"Don't forget people the BIG LESBIAN PUB QUIZ is on this SATURDAY AT 6.30 IN THE GEORGE. Hosted by LICKY RAKE. All money goes towards importing hot dykes to entertain us over a weekend of good times. ALAF is on the 4th 5th and 6th of July."

RTE blog

Unfortunately, about the Lisbon Treaty...

Bon Iver: back in Tripod

Tuesday October 7th
Tripod – Old Harcourt St. Station – Dublin 2.
Doors – 7.30pm
Tickets €22.50 / 27.50 (inc. booking fee) available from Ticketmaster, Road Records, City Discs, Sound Cellar and usual outlets. http://www.ticketmaster.ie/
www.myspace.com/boniver


My album review for The Tribune
Bon Iver
For Emma Forever Ago (37:12)
4AD
****
Heartache. It’s hardly going to ever stop inspiring, is it? Also, holing up in a cabin in the middle of nowhere in Wisconsin can do a lot to a man. These two incidents combined have allowed Justin Vernon to record and release an astounding debut album. The whole thing is nearly perfect, so simple, yet fashioned with an eye for detail and diversity. There are some incredibly intimate moments, not least the lyrics; the cautious spiritual soul of ‘The Wolves (Act I and II)’, the echoing operatic vocal effects on the intro to ‘Lump Sum’, and the sound of Vernon literally getting up and walking away at the end of ‘Re: Stacks’ are key moments. Vocally, all of this is devised with a brilliant falsetto, which although may be outshined by his peers Antony Hegarty or Scott Matthew, still sounds gorgeous and is overdubbed to perfection. A beautiful, searching, and thoughtful piece of work.
Download: ‘Re: Stacks’, ‘Flume’, ‘The Wolves (Act I and II)’

Delorentos Italian tour documentary

Check it out at MUZU TV

Kill City Defectors win place at Oxegen

From the KCD's

"Just to let you all know Kcd's are playing the new bands stage at this years Oxegen Festival!! We were successful at last nights Kildare Arts Councils band competition along with our new favourite Newbridge band of messers 'Schmacky and The Salads'. Thanks for everyone who came down and gave us some support. It was really appreciated. Hope to see yis there wreckin the gaff!!!"

(portrait by The Lil.)

Grand Theft Seven-Year-Old

Kid'z gotta 'tude!

Wingsuit ledgebag 'jumps' from Inis Mor to Connemara mainland

(he also jumped off the Eiffel Tower recently):

you can't dance to Radiohead...

Screw Malahide Castle, I'm going to see these kids in ALT tonight instead:

Coldplay to stream new album this evening

If you're not too distracted by the shiny shiny buttons on Chris Martin's new homemade jacket, then head over to Coldplay's MySpace page to listen to their new album 'La Vida Or Death And All His Friends' from 6pm this evening, says the NME.

World's biggest boobs

36MMM


*back pain*

Fight Like Apes artwork exclusive and nooz

Behold the new art work by Loreana Rushe for Fight Like Apes' new single 'Something Global'. The single will be released on July 11th as download only and on July 18th on 1,500 numbered limited edition CDs.

B-sides include a cover of McClusky's 'Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues' - a FLApes live favourite - and original track 'Knucklehead'. All tracks were recorded in Seattle in May with John Goodmanson (Death Cab For Cutie, Bikini Kill, Pavement.)

The FLApes as-yet-untitled debut album will be released on September 26th on the new Irish indie imprint Model Citizen.

Nine Inch Nails offer free music from support acts

Click here to get a free 'Lights In The Sky' EP from some of the acts supporting Nine Inch Nails on their latest tour, including Crystal Castles, A Place To Bury Strangers, Does It Offend You Yeah?, Deerhunter and of course Nine Inch Nails Themselves.

New CSS choooons

The Putz Factory has a download of the 'Donkey' album sampler, along with a radio rip of the new tune 'Left Behind', which CSS themselves have a clip of up on their MySpace.

mini Ham Sandwich documentary

Not a mini Ham Sandwich, but a mini documentary




bonus vids!
Ham Sandwich dance with wolves:


Ham Sandwich dance off 1978: