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Phantom Memories

2»

Comments

  • #32
    Zohan
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭Zohan


    I'm devastated. My shazam list is entirely made up of songs I've heard on Phantom. And EP will be lost without it!!!!


  • #33
    catch--22
    Registered Users Posts: 1,003 ✭✭✭catch--22


    Declan A Walsh wrote: »

    I also remember around 2007 and 2008 one Cecil Nolan recreating the music of the Grove Disco (legendary northside rock disco) after Christmas.

    Cecil did two shows for us around that time. I was the lucky one who got to desk the show while he introduced the tracks and told stories about long-time regulars to the Grove. His son Andy came in too and gave a hand playing the records.

    The reaction we got to those two shows was amazing. Cecil is held in very high regard by a lot of music fans in Dublin.


  • #34
    paulbok
    Registered Users Posts: 4,884 ✭✭✭paulbok


    Declan A Walsh wrote: »
    I used to enjoy listening to Sinister Pete hosting Pure Morning on weekdays. Anyone remember his speaking clock?


    And the weather bike!


  • #35
    cjt156
    Registered Users Posts: 2,062 ✭✭✭cjt156


    Always stuck the dial on Phantom from the pirate days to the end. Playlist was getting very watery of late and I guess the writing was on the wall. Morning commutes with Richie and Charlotte, the two Richies, Sunday mornings; all made a boring old dad feel like he was still an indie kid.
    You'll be missed guys, good luck wherever the future takes you.
    'We are Phantom'


  • #36
    Oasis_Dublin
    Registered Users Posts: 2,467 ✭✭✭Oasis_Dublin


    I really enjoyed Stadium Rock with Richie Ryan. He just sounds completely natural on radio, and the fact that he always had a vested interest (West Ham) made it that bit more.... real, if that's the right word. Like he was a mate talking to you, rather than a presenter (ala a certain other afternoon football show on a Dublin station on Saturdays).

    I like how he always dedicated a certain amount of time to Irish League football also, even if he was absolutely merciless (!) when it came to UCD. I'm not sure we'll ever forgive him for dubbing UCD's home stadium the "UCD Breakfast Bowl!!!"

    I enjoyed Nadine O'Regan's Saturday morning show, even if she did repeat her name far too many times. I particularly enjoyed the shows where they reviewed anything Oasis/NGHFB/Beady Eye because neither of the Gallagher Brothers ever stood a chance! Her interviews with people like Eamon Dunphy and Alan McGee (who managed Bobby Jillespie!), amongst many others, were really enjoyable.

    I liked listening to John Cadell because he, although a bit grumpy from time to time, did have a personality. My favourite moment of his was the time a song by the XX came on, and after about twenty seconds he interrupted it and said something along the lines of, "I'm not listening to that moany crap today." You really wouldn't get that on any other station in Dublin, let alone Ireland.

    In general, I liked the fact that the station was interactive and yet still musically orientated. It was playlisted to a point only, and would still actually play random songs out of the blue if you texted in. And that includes during the day time.

    What we're left with in Dublin is crap, except certain parts of Nova and Dublin City FM. Hopefully the boy Ryan finds his home on another Dublin/Irish station.

    Also, nearly forgot, although Phantom's signal stopped fairly soon once you got out of Dublin southbound, it ran pretty much all the way to Stradbally. Texting in on the way down and the presenter excitedly reading a shout out for "x in Laois, nearly at Stradbally" became a sort of narcissistic EP tradition for me and my mates.


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  • #37
    The Wild Bunch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,855 ✭✭✭The Wild Bunch


    Always loved the gigs Phantom used to promote back in the old TBMC

    Some good times, great memories and the soundtrack to my mis-spent youth


  • #38
    majesticben
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭majesticben


    James Byrne's Saturday night show is my favourite radio show of all time, Phantom or otherwise. Eclectic isn't a strong enough word to describe his playlists. From Outkast to Hank Williams, from the newest Irish indie to Mission of Burma... and that's just the first half-hour.

    Although I grew up in the country music-infused Appalachian foothills of North Carolina, James even managed to introduce me to an amazing Dolly Parton classic from the 60s – I Wasted My Tears.

    What makes it even sweeter is that I was a fan of James' show long before I had a clue that he was in Villagers or that he headed up his own record label. He never mentioned such things on his show, nor did his bio on the Phantom website make mention of it.

    I was also a fan and regular listener of many other Phantom shows, and I even had the pleasure of sharing pints with several of Phantom's alumni on my vacations to Ireland in 2011 and 2013. If you were a regular listener, you are more than likely to have heard mention of Benjamin in Vegas. I even managed to get a mention from James once, and that's no small accomplishment!

    I envy those of you who had been listening to or working with the station since its early years. I understand that there was some really special programming before I stumbled upon the station in early 2010. I immediately sensed it was something special when I finally did though. There's nothing else like it. The collective passion for music, and the family vibe amongst the presenters and listeners is unmatched in the world.

    Ireland and discerning radio listeners beyond have really lost something special.

    As my final Cheers to Phantom, I have posted all of the final shows from the last week of Phantom over on my blog. Shows that ended back in 2012 are still posted there as well.

    You can download all of them in mp3 format from the page at SONGbiscuit.com/phantom.

    Cheers,
    Benjamin in Vegas


  • #39
    RichieMc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 95 ✭✭RichieMc


    majesticben wrote: »
    James Byrne's Saturday night show is my favourite radio show of all time, Phantom or otherwise. Eclectic isn't a strong enough word to describe his playlists. From Outkast to Hank Williams, from the newest Irish indie to Mission of Burma... and that's just the first half-hour.

    Although I grew up in the country music-infused Appalachian foothills of North Carolina, James even managed to introduce me to an amazing Dolly Parton classic from the 60s – I Wasted My Tears.

    What makes it even sweeter is that I was a fan of James' show long before I had a clue that he was in Villagers or that he headed up his own record label. He never mentioned such things on his show, nor did his bio on the Phantom website make mention of it.

    I was also a fan and regular listener of many other Phantom shows, and I even had the pleasure of sharing pints with several of Phantom's alumni on my vacations to Ireland in 2011 and 2013. If you were a regular listener, you are more than likely to have heard mention of Benjamin in Vegas. I even managed to get a mention from James once, and that's no small accomplishment!

    I envy those of you who had been listening to or working with the station since its early years. I understand that there was some really special programming before I stumbled upon the station in early 2010. I immediately sensed it was something special when I finally did though. There's nothing else like it. The collective passion for music, and the family vibe amongst the presenters and listeners is unmatched in the world.

    Ireland and discerning radio listeners beyond have really lost something special.

    As my final Cheers to Phantom, I have posted all of the final shows from the last week of Phantom over on my blog. Shows that ended back in 2012 are still posted there as well.

    You can download all of them in mp3 format from the page at SONGbiscuit.com/phantom.

    Cheers,
    Benjamin in Vegas

    You beat me to it by 60 seconds! Thank you, Ben for your long distance and long-standing support of Phantom.


  • #40
    abceire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 734 ✭✭✭abceire


    Phantom has been with me when I lived in Finland and Canada, I still remember finding it on the radio in work when it was no live much, I'd barely get it in on the radio in work as I drove around Foxrock Golf Course cutting grass.
    Richies your show in recent times helped motivate me to keep pedalling home from college on the dark nights.
    All the best for future.
    Sad we've no indie station.
    But better to have loved and lost then never loved at all.
    Maybe we'll get to love again.


  • #41
    Declan A Walsh
    Registered Users Posts: 5,986 ✭✭✭Declan A Walsh


    abceire wrote: »
    Phantom has been with me when I lived in Finland and Canada, I still remember finding it on the radio in work when it was no live much, I'd barely get it in on the radio in work as I drove around Foxrock Golf Course cutting grass.
    Richies your show in recent times helped motivate me to keep pedalling home from college on the dark nights.
    All the best for future.
    Sad we've no indie station.
    But better to have loved and lost then never loved at all.
    Maybe we'll get to love again.

    Officially at least, we still have an indie station as such. It is no longer called Phantom. It is going through a bizarre transition period as 105.2 with a couple of presenters new to the station, ahead of its relaunch as TX FM. During the day, there is a lot of music with the odd link, and at night a lot of automated music. What has happened is that the brand Phantom, which started life as a pirate back in 1997, is gone, as are most of the staff. So you could say the spirit of Phantom is gone for sure.

    Another memory: October 31st, 2006 - The day Phantom commenced broadcasting with its full license. It was very exciting for us listeners, who could not believe it had finally managed to make that journey from pirate to permanently licensed legal radio, and an alternative rock license at that. It was even more exciting for the folks at Phantom! They were like giddy schoolchildren who had been given carte blanche to do what they wanted! I actually went out to my car from work to specifically hear the station launch at noon. That was special, or I was a sado!
    https://forumofgames.com/




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  • #42
    abceire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 734 ✭✭✭abceire


    TX FM, what type of music will it play?
    My fav show was Kelly Anne Byrne's on Saturday nights. She is going to be on Today Fm so I'll at least still have her show, guess I better tune in Today Fm on music player and in car.


  • #43
    Beastie Girl
    Registered Users Posts: 7 ✭Beastie Girl


    Declan A Walsh wrote: »
    Officially at least, we still have an indie station as such. It is no longer called Phantom. It is going through a bizarre transition period as 105.2 with a couple of presenters new to the station, ahead of its relaunch as TX FM. During the day, there is a lot of music with the odd link, and at night a lot of automated music. What has happened is that the brand Phantom, which started life as a pirate back in 1997, is gone, as are most of the staff. So you could say the spirit of Phantom is gone for sure.

    Another memory: October 31st, 2006 - The day Phantom commenced broadcasting with its full license. It was very exciting for us listeners, who could not believe it had finally managed to make that journey from pirate to permanently licensed legal radio, and an alternative rock license at that. It was even more exciting for the folks at Phantom! They were like giddy schoolchildren who had been given carte blanche to do what they wanted! I actually went out to my car from work to specifically hear the station launch at noon. That was special, or I was a sado!

    Not in the slightest Declan. Even though I left Dublin for England in early 2006 I was still rooting for Phantom, loved listening to it when I came home on my visits. Not looking forward to going back to Dublin in late May and no longer hearing Phantom FM or the familiar voices (although SP and Simon leaving paved the way for the end I think).

    All good things come to an end, but at least there's always 8Radio. But try as I might I really don't think this new station will have a patch on Phantom FM. Anyone know if Phantasm still continues on Thursdays - forgive me for being out of touch, I live 300 miles away and haven't been to Whelans since 2005 (where Sinister Pete was throwing ice cubes at me!!)


  • #44
    abceire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 734 ✭✭✭abceire


    I was in there 2 weeks ago, people sure like the booze in there, but no hassle from them which was nice, so I must have listened pre licence days which was pre 2006 times?
    I loved the Northern Soul night.
    I remember going into buy hiking boots and over hearing a gal talking, me thinking do I know here, it was Claire Beck, it was weird, knowing a voice but not the face, she seems nice.


  • #45
    abceire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 734 ✭✭✭abceire


    Is *radio only online? I'm smart phone less and my old laptop is soundless.


  • #46
    Declan A Walsh
    Registered Users Posts: 5,986 ✭✭✭Declan A Walsh


    abceire wrote: »
    TX FM, what type of music will it play?

    Presumably indie music will feature largely as it is still the same license. I think all those specialist shows will be gone through.
    https://forumofgames.com/




  • #47
    Air_Bass
    Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭Air_Bass


    Oasis_Dublin wrote: »
    I really enjoyed Stadium Rock with Richie Ryan. He just sounds completely natural on radio, and the fact that he always had a vested interest (West Ham) made it that bit more.... real, if that's the right word. Like he was a mate talking to you, rather than a presenter (ala a certain other afternoon football show on a Dublin station on Saturdays).

    I like how he always dedicated a certain amount of time to Irish League football also, even if he was absolutely merciless (!) when it came to UCD. I'm not sure we'll ever forgive him for dubbing UCD's home stadium the "UCD Breakfast Bowl!!!"

    I enjoyed Nadine O'Regan's Saturday morning show, even if she did repeat her name far too many times. I particularly enjoyed the shows where they reviewed anything Oasis/NGHFB/Beady Eye because neither of the Gallagher Brothers ever stood a chance! Her interviews with people like Eamon Dunphy and Alan McGee (who managed Bobby Jillespie!), amongst many others, were really enjoyable.

    I liked listening to John Cadell because he, although a bit grumpy from time to time, did have a personality. My favourite moment of his was the time a song by the XX came on, and after about twenty seconds he interrupted it and said something along the lines of, "I'm not listening to that moany crap today." You really wouldn't get that on any other station in Dublin, let alone Ireland.

    In general, I liked the fact that the station was interactive and yet still musically orientated. It was playlisted to a point only, and would still actually play random songs out of the blue if you texted in. And that includes during the day time.

    What we're left with in Dublin is crap, except certain parts of Nova and Dublin City FM. Hopefully the boy Ryan finds his home on another Dublin/Irish station.

    Also, nearly forgot, although Phantom's signal stopped fairly soon once you got out of Dublin southbound, it ran pretty much all the way to Stradbally. Texting in on the way down and the presenter excitedly reading a shout out for "x in Laois, nearly at Stradbally" became a sort of narcissistic EP tradition for me and my mates.

    I recall a very similar event when Mr. Cadell played a song by the band "The 1990's" and similarly, after around 20 seconds he announced "no sorry, that's just 5h1te" and played another song instead.
    The man had my unwavering respect from that point onwards.


  • #48
    Beastie Girl
    Registered Users Posts: 7 ✭Beastie Girl


    Back in the 90s one of the weeknight DJs used to have a "Bunch Of Arse" corner, deliberately playing one song that was naff beyond belief. Anyone remember who it was - might have been Alan K?


  • #49
    readyletsgo
    Registered Users Posts: 3,276 ✭✭✭readyletsgo


    God I miss Phantom now, might as well just listen to a general Indie CD or something.

    Who is that chick standing in for the morning slot from 7 to 10, very general chat. I'd say she hates it.

    Ah well....


  • #50
    ghostdancer
    Registered Users Posts: 6,539 ✭✭✭ghostdancer


    Claire O'Dowd, she presents "Indie Disco" on Spin 103.8 on Friday nights.


  • #51
    room_149
    Registered Users Posts: 344 ✭✭room_149


    Nialler 9 has just posted this on his blog-

    txfmschedlue-703x505.png
    Looks promising enough..
    Shame they couldn't keep the 2 Richies on there somewhere.
    Joe Donnelly remains though...


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  • #52
    Barna77
    Registered Users Posts: 3,271 ✭✭✭Barna77


    No Caddell on weekdays ... :(


  • #53
    Declan A Walsh
    Registered Users Posts: 5,986 ✭✭✭Declan A Walsh


    How are the last two posts Phantom Memories?? Sorry!
    https://forumofgames.com/




  • #54
    BaronVon
    Registered Users Posts: 1,646 ✭✭✭BaronVon


    3 hours of Cadell a week? That's bollox!

    Now, where's my iPod......


  • #55
    The_Captain
    Registered Users Posts: 1,376 ✭✭✭The_Captain


    I had 105.2 on in the car today and my wife asked if I was playing a CD and why I had made a CD with such shíte songs on it.

    I think it's a fairly accurate summation of the state of the station now


  • #56
    Birneybau
    Registered Users Posts: 10,217 ✭✭✭✭Birneybau


    Declan A Walsh wrote: »
    How are the last two posts Phantom Memories?? Sorry!

    When did you become a Mod?


  • #57
    Declan A Walsh
    Registered Users Posts: 5,986 ✭✭✭Declan A Walsh


    Birneybau wrote: »
    When did you become a Mod?

    I was going through a "Victor Mildrew" state of mind! In my mind, I was a "Mod"! Normal service has resumed now, so sorry about that! I even said sorry in the offending post!
    https://forumofgames.com/




  • #58
    BarryMcM
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭BarryMcM


    The soundtrack to my life for the last few years! Thanks to all at Phantom for the memories, music & freebies, you were all great and I wish you all the best, you'll be missed!


  • #59
    Gaeilgeoir
    Registered Users Posts: 138 ✭✭Gaeilgeoir


    What did I love about Phantom? Where to start? I guess the Two Petes talking rubbish was always a highlight of my week back in the day! Sinister Pete generally just cracked me up and the two of them together were just brilliant :) Memories of the Magic 8 Ball and Snacks Fantastico, ah I'm feeling all nostalgic now...

    Then there was X-1 of course (possibly not how it was spelt) and Ray McGowan with Metal Notes introducing me to new music just as I was getting into Metallica et al

    I loved how you could actually ring in and have a chat with Pete Reed (or Simon as I guess I should call you now!) on a Sunday night. I loved the stories of having to go up to fix the transmitters on Three Rock without getting caught. Generally I just loved the whole spirit of the station. I am genuinely gutted that those days are gone and we'll never get them back. While I went to the public hearing in 2004 in support of Phantom's application for a licence, I admit that I loved that they were a pirate station and felt that it was a huge part of what the station was about. At the same time, I do realise that it'd have been nice for them to be able to make a living while keeping us entertained :)

    Anyhoo, Phantom have been on my mind quite a bit since it's eventual demise this year and I guess I just wanted to share my thoughts...


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