Adrian Crowley Album Launch- Sugar Club- Tonight!!!!

This should be a fantastic gig- the gig that launched what will probably be one of the albums of the year in "Seasons of the sparks". I'm really looking forward to this one....

IMRO Showcase- Andrews Lane 24th April

This Friday in Andrew's Lane Kil Krinkle Cub, Angel Pier, Heathers and the Funeral Suits will all perform at the IMRO showcase.



One not to miss: Kil Krinkle Club
Recomended Song: White Trees



Kil Krinle Club are a Swedish/ Irish duo that specailise in experimental electronica with real pop sensabilities. They seem hell bent on finding Krinkle and doing him in. They are one of the best bands in Dublin at the minute and are definately worth checking out.

www.myspace.com/killkrinkleclub

The Ambience Affair- Anseo- Tonight!!!!

"The Ambience Affair" play Anseo tonight as part of a Hefty Horse Presents gig. They are promoting their debut EP, "Fragile Things", which is a real gem of an EP. Their live shows are always something to behold and I'd have no reservations recomending this gig.



www.myspace.com/theambienceaffair

Recomended Gig: The Ambience Affair- Anseo (Tonight)
Recomended Song: Fragile Things

Theme Time Hour

As I'm sure plenty of you all know Bob Dylan has been presenting his own radio show, Theme Time Radio, for the last three years or so. The idea of the show is to pick a theme and then play music that incorporates this theme on the show. The themes have been very diverse, ranging from "fruit" to "cats". Dylan has announced that the next show's theme will be "Goodbye" which has led to rumours that he will not be continuing with the show. Hopefully this isn't the case but it would be a great way to end a great radio show.

Dylan's new album, "Together Through Life", is out on the 28th of April.

Wilco's new DVD, "Ashes of American Flags" was released in Ireland on Saturday to coincide with independent record Store day. It was filmed over a couple of gigs in the US in ballrooms, clubs and concert halls in 2008. The DVD kicks off rather appropriately with the band playing "Ashes of American Flags" to an empty venue. While this dvd is pretty good and it moves from venue to venue trying to give that on tour feeling to it I can't help but think that I would have prefered a little bit more dialogue- interviews etc- with the band. Overall, it is a good representation of Wilco's strength, that is their live shows.
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Wilco play Vicar Street on the 27th August

Urban Country Divide

I first came accross this band playing a small room in the Spirit store in Dundalk as part of the Tall Poppy Club. They are called the Urban Country Divide and they play traditional bluegrass sort of stuff. Their live performances are really something to behold. There are four musicians in the group and you definately get the feeling that they beleive totally in the concept of collaberation.



The best example of what they do can be heard on their myspace page:

www.myspace.com/theurbancountrydivide

Recommended song: Long Time Leaving

Groom

Groom are a five piece band from Dublin that describe themselves as being "Indiepop minus everything Indiepop should be". And,they most certainly are. They play catchy indie rock with some beautiful harmonies. They play Upstairs in Whelans on the 24th of this month to launch a mini album and are definately worth checking out. Oh, and I almost forgot, the ever impressive Neosupervital is playing support on the night.


Groom TV on MUZU.

Sun Kil Moon- Live Albums

In 2007 and 2008 Mark Kozelek, accompanied by Phil Carney (Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon guitarist), recorded a 14 song live album in small intimate venues in the US including The First Unitarian Church (Philadelphia), The Williamsburg Music Hall(New York), The Palace of Fine Arts (San Francisco) and the Aladdin Theatre(Portland). The album title is "Lost Verses Live" and is mainly comprised of the Sun kil Moon songs but does feature the odd Red House Painters song too. Here is the track listing:



1. Unlit Hallway
2. Carry Me Ohio
3. Four Fingered Fisherman
4. Moorestown
5. Salvador Sanchez
6. Heron Blue
7. Lost Verses
8. Tiny Cities
9. Lucky Man
10. Send In The Clowns
11. Harper Road
12. Tonight In Bilbao
13. Blue Orchids
14. Katy Song

In addition to this there is a limited edition live album called "Find Me Reuben Olivares/Live in Spain" coming out too, recorded in Zaragoza (Spain). The track listing for this one is:

1. Heron Blue
2. Finally
3. Lucky Man
4. New Partner
5. Blue Orchids
6. Send In The Clowns
7. Find Me, Ruben Olivares
8. Trailways
9. Moorestown
10.San Geronimo
11.Summer Dress
12.Tonight In Bilbao
13.Mistress


Both are available now for preorder from Caldo Verde Records- the release date is the 12th May. These should be fantastic albums. I've seen Mark Kozelek play a good few solo gigs in Dublin over the last few years and play with Sun Kil Moon in the Academy. At each one I was really impressed.

Electric Picnic 2009

Well we've waited quite a while for this line up to be released and here it is:



Orbital
Flaming Lips
Basement Jaxx
Madness
MGMT
Fleet Foxes
Klaxons
BellX1
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
Chic
Seasick Steve
2 Many DJs
Explosions in the Sky
Lisa Hannigan
Alabama 3
Zero 7
The Sugarhill Gang
Erol Alkan
Roots Manuva
Billy Bragg
Bat for Lashes
Damien Dempsey
Lykke Li
Imelda May
Echo & The Bunnymen
ABC
Magazine
ESG
Moderat
Four Tet
Magnetic Man
Simian Mobile Disco
Heartbreak
Halfset
Noze
Chris Cunnigham
Okkervil River
Magnolia Electric Company
The Low Anthem
Villagers
Tunng
Jape
Efterklang
Micachu and the Shapes
Marina and the Diamonds
The Whitest Boy Alive
The Walkmen
Michael Nyman
Dublin Gospel Choir
Quantic Soul Orchestra
Jazzanova
Wavemachines

I think that it's definately a decent line up. The bands I'm most looking forward to are The Flaming Lips, The Walken Halfset, Villagers, Fleet Foxes and Efferklang.

Adrian Crowley- Season of the sparks

I'm really looking forward to Adrian Crowley's new album "Season Of the Sparks" which will be launched on the 22nd of April 2009 in the Sugar Club. It will be released on Tin Angel Records. It is the follow up to his 2007 album "Long Distance Swimmer" which was critically acclaimed and earned him a choice music nomination. Here is the track listing for the album:



1. Summer Haze Parade
2. The Beekeepers Wife
3. The Wishing Seat
4. The Three Sisters
5. Squeeze Bees
6. Liberty Stream
7. Horses Like to dream all night
8. Season of the sparks
9. Swedish Room
10. Pay no Mind (to the dawn cryer)

The highlight of the album which can be listened to on the irish times website, for me anyway, is the opener "Summer Haze Parade". I have heard Adrian play this live a few times but it was a different version I heard. It's a beautiful song with a lot of natural imagery. The tender, well crafted lyrics combined with Crowley's deep baratone voice works so well that it is impossible not to fall in love with this song and indeed the album.