We’ve arrived at the Marquee and there’s only a handful of people stage side. The lead singer of the support band is timidly introducing their second song. The tracks are surprising, never really revealing themselves immediately; changing form – from slow melodic introductions, interlaced with dream-pop vibes – into grunge-rock crescendos. As the set continues, […]
Late review – The Avalanches were incredible at the 2001 Witnness Festival. Swapping instruments on every song, beating the crap out of each other and sounding absolutely nothing like they did on record, the six piece’s performance still ranks as one of the most memorable I’ve seen at any Irish festival. A lot of water […]
“I remember when rock was young”, that’s how it goes right? It’s not just a lyric we’ll hear on this balmy evening resting beside Cork City Marina, it’s a statement that Elton John (and the large majority of his audience tonight) can attest to with conviction. At 70 years of age, Elton has brought his […]
Such is the scrutiny that surrounds a pop star like Justin Bieber that you suspect heading off on a globe trotting tour provides, a healthy deposit in his bank balance aside, an opportunity to escape the madness and live in a protective bubble for a while – surrounded by an inner circle and never in […]
Having managed to successfully dodge seeing Aerosmith perform live in over two decades of gig-going, the opportunity presented itself to attend this so-called farewell tour stopover in Dublin (advertised as the cringe-worthy “Aero-Vederci Baby” tour). Better late than never, so the adage goes, and yet to be verified. Others, it would seem, are less hesitant […]
In Terrence Malick’s existential anti-war epic The Thin Red Line, a pivotal scene featured US soldiers slowly impinging upon an invisible enemy, unequipped to deal with what was confronting them. It was a study of chaos and vulnerability, with the theme of the movie – the utter futility and grim banality of war – distilled […]
It’s a bright Sunday evening in the people’s republic and as we arrive we’re greeted with the announcement that Glen Hansard will arrive to the stage in 10 minutes. It falls on deaf ears for the most part, the sold out audience happy enough to loiter around the bar. It suits us, sauntering comfortably to […]
Tonight is pretty much about a load of people showing 100% devotion to the idea of Eddie Vedder if not the man himself. Sporadic roars of “I love you Eddie” pepper the dense atmosphere and seem to hang suspended in the air as he does nothing at all. After a career such as his, though, […]
An Agnes Obel gig is a lesson in black magic. Each element of her performance is carefully selected for its mystical properties, added in at exactly the right quantity and at precisely the right time. The result is a deeply enchanting night of music that will continue to work its sorcery through the minds of […]
Gunshots are fired, chit-chat dissipates and the crowd stands to attention. An anticipation that has been festering for nigh on twenty-five years now hangs in the air in Slane Castle tonight. And it’s about to be ripped with the shred of electric guitars. The opening chords of ‘Its so Easy’ crawl in and Axl bounds […]
We are gathered in Vicar Street tonight to watch a fictional character perform the music of David Bowie entirely in Portuguese. Pele dos Santos is a character from the 2004 film The Life Aquatic, and despite the film’s box office failure (but cult success), Seu Jorge’s dreamy samba renditions of David Bowie’s music gained the […]
Night one of a three-date Irish tour for one of the most acclaimed singer songwriters operating today sees Angel Olsen take to the Vicar Street stage before a large, if not quite sold-out crowd. Tonight’s support is Tim Darcy, better known as singer and guitarist in Ought, but here in his solo guise, following on […]
The last time we had the pleasure of the company of this multi-instrumental, all-singing all-grooving hydra it was as night fell over Dunlaoire’s Beatyard festival in 2016. George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic’s blend of funk, soul, pop, hip-hop and all-out metal was well-served by the balmy sea air and festival atmosphere on that occasion, but […]
If Take That once thought they weren’t invincible, the events of the last few years might beg to differ. Having taken what was surely a massive gamble by returning in 2005, they launched themselves on a commercial and creative path that managed to eclipse that first run of boyband success – peaking with the success […]