In line with the annual, "Gigs for…" threads, where people post reviews and have general discussion about shows they see throughout the year, I'm starting this off, as we don't have one yet.
Watching Stratford Rise perform at The Sound House is a really a lesson in pedal board engineering as the three guitars each battle with at least a dozen pedals and then some additional electronic devices. They performed brilliantly though, loving the directions they continue to pull their music to a growing and appreciative audience. I thought they’d steal the show but I was equally impressed with headliners Silverglass. The Dublin trio - no vocalist - managed a raw sound that, once again, bore no relation to their music on Spotify.
Did you catch Wifeswap? I think they were on the same bill.
Yeah. They were ok but didn’t really shake my bones.
Michael Rother, Button Factory, Dublin 19 Sep
Very much enjoyed Jolie Holland in Bello Bar tonight. Don't know much of her stuff, in with the brother who's a big fan, but love her voice and delivery. Sitting at the front which in Bello bar means you're pretty much on stage so lovely intimate set up, beautiful set, nice line in witty banter, great night altogether. Also enjoyed the support from NC Lawlor, never saw him before but loved the voice and the quirky guitar playing. Would see again.
Love some of the old timey stuff she does. Did she have the band with her or solo?
Just herself and another guitarist, Mark Mckowski? I think? Anyway, great sound, she was deadly.
That's Mark McCausland, one half of the Lost Brothers. He played with Jolie at Kilkenny Roots a couple of years ago and has also backed Howe Gelb over here on occasion.
Cheers for that. He was very good anyway. All ties together nicely. I saw Oisín Leech at GM a few weeks ago and my only other gig in Bello bar was Howie.
Went to see Holly Johnson in Vicar Street last night. Wasn't expecting a lot but was a great show. His voice is still excellent and during Two Tribes I realised it could be still released today and be apt.
Wandered into Whelan’s to see if I could pick up a spare ticket to see The Wedding Present but ended up at the Zooropa U2 tribute band in Opium instead. Not sure if it was laid on to cater to all the Americans in town (€27.50 for a tribute act) or was planned anyway but they were good enough. It was organised by the owner of the U2 Ireland Fanclub. Tribute acts love crowd feedback like any other band, you see their faces light up when they get the audience singing their songs. But they’re not their songs, they’ve nicked them! Good luck to them, even though the singer was a Southsider. 🙄
even though the singer was a Southsider.
Probably not even a proddy either.
Ha! I bet none of them were prods! I’ll ask them next time we meet.
Lost evenings 8 night 3, Frank Turner show 76 for me, positive songs for negative people in full, an incredibly difficult album to pace live but the B sides and the first demo in full were the standouts. Night 4 tonight, my bones haven't ached this much in a while...…
Same as the Hold Steady weekender. I'm wrecked by the 4th night
Same here. Had no expectations but what a great gig. He still sounds great and Two Tribes/Relax were stunning. Still massive bangers that sound fresh today.
The Wedding Present were good enough in Whelans last night. Seen them better and worse. Gedge in fine form and a decent setlist from their 40 year career. Flying Saucer the biggest highlight for me. Not many sadder sights than very middleaged men having a mosh though. Also, no merch due to Brexit ('too complicated' according to Gedge). Considering how much merch they've always had with them in the 35 years i've been watching them that has to be a serious loss.
Saw them in Cyprus Avenue. Also seen them better and worse, but the better was in a different millennium, so pleased with the show and the setlist. Tried ordering something on their website and denied me when I put in Ireland as address, so same as for live gigs. Could they not have filled the tour van, or would that get checked?
Only other disappointing thing for me was that as the gig went backwards from 2025 to 1985, I fully expected to be leaving the gig with a full head of hair, and maybe my hearing back!
The Whistlin Donkeys in the Haven Hotel in Dunmore East on the 20th Sep. Impressive venue and an ok show. Feel there only a fancy wedding/fairground festival type band who play the 'safe hits'. Sum atmosphere though and the ale was flowing
Lewis Capaldi in the 3Arena Monday night just gone. Enjoyedable show, great but simple stage setup. He was in fine form which was good to see and got the crowd fully engrossed. Great singalong of 'Somebody You Loved' at the end. In for a treat if you're seeing him outdoors next summer
Next up it's back to the 2003 with New Found Glory in Newcastle on the 12th Oct. Yes there's a lot of 'New' in that sentence 😆
Not a note played but still musically-related, Priscilla Presley was in the NCH last night being interviewed by Tony Clayton-Lea. No sign of a wrinkle or grey hair, not bad for 80.
Looking at that picture I would say theres a lot of money after being paid to not have a "sign of a wrinkle of grey hair"
Probably why she was touring/selling her biography. Her son was there Navarone Garcia. Audience were going mad for him, he was even invited on stage to talk. Not sure why?
It’s Irish Music Week and tonight’s line up at the Workman’s was pure class!
Pôt-Pot, digdeep and Plié (not Irish though). Had to leave before Makeshift Art Bar but that is rock at its very finest and they are mostly Irish! ☘️
Nice cheap night out absorbing Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan. C64 SID chip very basic sawtooth and sinewave electro with some deep bass lines and the odd beats. Visuals were good retro 60's/70's film projection. Quite enjoyable although towards the end people at the bar in Whelans were yapping.
I actually preferred the support act Field Lines Cartographer - more attacking with some distorted acid at times.
Gig finished at 10:35pm and home by 11:00pm. Whelans, NCH and Iveagh Gardens are my so easy to get to venues (Orb are in Opium in 2 weeks also - I've never been there but I've seen them 5 times). Anyway I shouldn't be reviewing. Dreamweapon will probably do a much better job.
Glad it was good. Had half an eye on it but couldn't summon the energy, sadly. Like what I've heard from Pôt-Pot but don't know the other two
"Anyway I shouldn't be reviewing. Dreamweapon will probably do a much better job."
I know it was tongue in cheek, but you absolutely should! I enjoyed reading it, all reviews are great 🙂
Saw Babyrat (first time) as part of Ireland music week in Grand Social ballroom - great gig. Then upstairs for Dreamboy - seen them a few times and this was great. Really strong setlist. It was great to see so many people out for it.
Ha! Doing yourself a disservice there and giving me waaaaay too much credit. @dasdog summed it up neatly so my musings are superfluous. However…
I enjoyed that gig very much indeed. After an uncharacteristically demanding week i was physically and mentally shattered, so imagine my joy when i walked into the venue (moved from upstairs to Whelans main room) and saw chairs on the floor. Hallelujah! Between my tiredness and the music itself, having seating was a wonderful addition. W-RNTDP was very good. I was surprised by the strength of the low end at times, didn't expect it. I thought it was a nice touch to show old footage of Ballymun and Tallaght in amongst his videos. Field Lines Cartographer also very good. Personally found him to be more ambient than attacking. Would've liked more than his 30 minutes though. Overall, i was nicely in the zone for most of the night and had slight concerns about driving back home after been so thoroughly relaxed! Both acts to be recommended.
Disappointingly, there was no merch. I had certainly intended buying a t-shirt or record.
Patti Smith @ O2
Patti was in good form and her voice is still great. Ran through Horses from the start which was great. When she took a break the rest of the band did a Television tribute. There was a powerful recital of an Allen Ginsberg poem and a great Dancing Barefoot, but there some technical problem in the second half, and I found the conclusion a bit lacklustre, with a low energy Because The Night closing things. She reappeared for an encore with Glen Hansard, which prompted a girl in front of me to walkout
For Those I Love
Just incredible
OK, I'll try to say more...
I mean, it's just a bloke talking over a backing track, it can't be that good, right? But, somehow...
It felt cathartic. It would be voyeuristic if it wasn't so inclusive, so communal. Every word was heartfelt and heart-wrenching. Obviously everything from the first album is devastating but also uplifting. The second album is more about the hardship of growing up and living in modern Dublin, I'm from London myself but it resonates. I made Dublin my home and had to leave because I couldn't afford it. And his delivery captures it all, it's raw and poetic, it's full of vitriol but full of love. Honestly, I'd vote for him for president.
One of the new songs, Aaron, really stopped me in my tracks. About being mugged and realising you know the guy from school, and then reflecting on how he got to that point. No judgement, so powerful
So yeah. That's my gig of the year locked in barring something incredible still to come. I wouldn't say I loved every moment, but I felt every moment
