February 17th, 2006
April is the coolest month…
Having missed Broken Social Scene at the weekend, I’m all geared up for a frenzy of great gigs in April. They’re all acts I’ve seen before but I’m really looking forward to seeing them all again. First up, on the 2nd are The Blue Aeroplanes, a much over-looked band of the last two decades. They’ve been absent for quite a while but their finest album, Swagger, has just been re-released and a new album, Altitude is due for release on March 17th. A recent live review suggests Gerard Langley and co. are still on top form. I saw them years ago in Dublin’s Rock Garden and after the gig most of the band piled back to my brother’s tiny house. Rider in tow, they stayed up all night drinking in the Tardis-like sitting-room until they caught the ferry the next morning.
Next up, on April 15th is Morrissey at the Olympia. He also plays on Sunday but both gigs sold out in 5 minutes. Thanks to my Moz-obsessed brother who hounded Ticketmaster from 9am, I’m in row 1 on the balcony. I once got to hang out with Morrissey in a dark corner of Ri-Ra over a pint. He was charming, funny and very keen to meet my brother who I told him looks just like me but is 6ft 4″. My entirely straight bro, who is a massive fan, was hugely flattered, but sadly living in Australia at the time. Morrissey’s parents hail from Crumlin and his dad went to school with my uncle. I’ve also recently discovered, possibly due to a lifelong affiliation to this part of the city, that he is a regular financial donor to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital.
On Tuesday 18th, I’m going along to see the sublime Will Oldham (aka Bonnie Prince Billy) in Whelan’s. That too, is sold out, but I think there are still tickets for his Wednesday gig. A few years back, I ended up sitting in the mud in a large marquee at the Liss Ard festival in Cork talking to him. He had just dueted on one of my favourite Palace tracks, New Partner, with Nick Cave, side by side on the piano. Clad in a string vest, he was moody and enigmatic, in contrast to his band, who were a bunch of hyperactive jokers.
Last up, are the ultimate DJ, VJ, remixing producers extraordinaire Coldcut. They play Village (oh no!) on April 22nd. Their Journeys by DJ - 70 minutes of Madness, is without doubt one of the best mix compilations of all time. They last played here in 1999 in Meeting House Square and to see them perform against the backdrop of their pioneering VJAM software (they scratch on turntables, which directly affects the visuals on big screens behind them) was amazing. The new album Sound Mirrors proves they’re still trying new stuff all the time.
I’m escaping Dublin to try and write this weekend, but if you’re around, I recommend heading along to see composer Steve Reich and some of the related musical events over the weekend.
February 17th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Lucky you getting to see Morrissey!
February 17th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
Didn’t realise BPB playing - running to ticketmaster now.
(just opening a new window - but with equal urgency!)
February 17th, 2006 at 3:38 pm
Damn, damn, damn. All sold out.
(Plus I think I have my medicine final the Wed/Thurs so probably couldn’t go anyway!)
February 17th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
escaping to write…three of the sweetest words in the language. Savor it!
February 18th, 2006 at 9:14 am
Went to see the Steve Reich gig in the National Concert Hall last night. They National Symphony Orchestra played 3 pieces, the first piece was a magically uplifting piece, the second more serious and drawn out and the last almost an hour long, of dark, sinister music. it certainly took some serious effort to fully appreciate the sound but it was worth it.
enjoy all the gigs Sinead, i might try and get a ticket for Prince Billy myself, i have never seen him live before, some thing that needs to be remedied.
February 18th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Morrissey is a God. What on earth was he doing in RÃ-Rá?
February 19th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
Sounds like a busy bunch of gigs there. I was listening to a band called Casiotone for the Painfully Alone recently, I don’t know if you’ve heard of them before, but they’re quite good.
You can check out a review of them on 3hive: http://www.3hive.com/2006/02/casiotone_for_the_painfully_al.php which includes some downloads.
Enjoy,
Shane
February 19th, 2006 at 4:11 pm
Auds - are both nights sold out? Let me know if you’re still available to go, I might know someone with a spare ticket.
Patry - it was an experience and I’ll try and post something tomorrow about it. Hope your own scribbling is going well.
PMC - My other half was at the composition seminar today and is going to Music for 18 Musicians tonight. (Only one ticket - Grrrr). Definitely try and pick up a ticket for BPB, he’s fantastic live and has a Beck-style approach, in that he does very different versions of his own songs.
Colm - Morrissey is indeed a deity. I’m not sure what he was doing in Ri-Ra but it was a few years ago, when he was living in Howth. I arrived to meet a visiting American friend who got there before me with a few mates. I had barely removed my coat when she turned to me, nonchalantly and said, “Oh Sinead, this is Morrissey”. Before I could pick my gob off the floor he shook my hand. About 10 minutes later - and this might sound dodgy - he asked me to show him the way to bathrooms and asked if I’d wait outside. So I did and when he returned, we chatted outside in a shady corner for over an hour, until some American PR lady demanded he rejoin his group upstairs. It was surreal. He kept, gleaning double-takes from everyone passing by. Terribly gregarious, very funny - I could have talked to him all night.
Shane - Haven’t heard of those guys but will certainly check them out. Thanks for the tip..
February 20th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Gah!! I had no idea that Will Oldham was playing…and now (it appears) it’s too late to get a ticket. *sob*
I’m cursed when it comes to Mr. O, as I had my MA graduation ceremony in England at the exact time he was playing in Dolan’s (around the corner from my house).
Balls, balls, balls.
If you do know someone with another spare, Sinéad, please bear me in mind!