Gigs Of The Fortnight

April 26 - May 09

ihwright@yahoo.ie — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 03:07:59 GMT

Gig of the fortnight is...Pavement

Where and When?
Tripod, Dublin - 04/05

Why?
A reunion that's been rumoured for years which, if the stories are true, only took so long due to one very important holdout jicking about the place for a few years. To this gig guide's mind when it comes to 90's US indie rock bands Pavement exist in extremely rarified company along with Guided By Voices and Built To Spill and with the band's current stance being that this is a one time, one year, deal it may be the only chance to catch them in Ireland.

Also this fortnight

Gil Scott Heron

Tripod, Dublin - 02/05

Rufus Wainwright

Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin - 28/04

Surfer Blood

The Acadamy, Dublin - 30/04

Florence And the Machine

Olympia, Dublin - 02 & 03/05

High Places

Upstairs At Whelans, Dublin - 05/05

O Emperor

Whelans, Dublin - 06/05

Ted Leo And the Pharmacists

Whelans, Dublin - 08/05

Hope Sandoval

Whelans, Dublin - 07/05

Crystal Antlers

Whelans, Dublin - 28/04

Jogging (Album Launch)

Whelans, Dublin - 02/05

More ...

March 22 - April 4

ihwright@yahoo.ie — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:56:43 GMT

Gig of the fortnight is...The Redneck Manifesto

Where and When?

The Stables, Mullingar - 26/03
Tripod, Dublin - 27/03

Why?
The Redneck Manifesto are probably this gig guide's favourite Irish band not to have released Loveless and after a long absence (4 years since their last EP, 6 since their last album) they're back with a new album, Friendship. The two tracks from the new album already released to the internet easily stand up against their earlier material and their deservedly great live rep means that if you can you really should get to one of these gigs.

Also this fortnight

Daniel Johnston

Vicar St., Dublin - 03/04

The Unthanks

Whelans, Dublin - 28/03

Wild Beasts

Academy, Dublin -27/03

Butterfly Explosion

Whelan's, Dublin - 27/03

More ...

February 15-28

ihwright@yahoo.ie — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:43:41 GMT

Gig of the fortnight is...Xiu Xiu

Where and When?
Whelan's, Dublin - 20/02

Why?
To be honest as a studio proposition I find Xiu Xiu to be a little difficult to get in to. However when it comes to the live arena they're a compelling joy to behold. I've rarely seen a band on stage that looked like they believed in what they were doing with their music more than Xiu Xiu. Only remaining founder member Jamie Stewart and company will be visiting Ireland for the first time in a couple of years in support of their 7th original studio album Dear God, I Hate Myself.

Also this fortnight

Yeasayer

The Academy, Dublin - 19/02

Vyvienne Long

Stables, Mullingar -19/02
Thatch Rahan, Mullingar -20/02
Errigle Inn, Belfast -25/02
Sugar Club, Dublin -26/02

Hockey

Spring And Airbrake, Belfast - 27/02
Acadamy, Dublin -28/02

Baby Dee Plus the Cairo Gang

Crawdaddy, Dublin - 26/02

Air

Olympia, Dublin - 23 & 24/02

Seasick Steve

Vicar St., Dublin - 23/02

More ...

February 1-14

ihwright@yahoo.ie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:43:47 GMT

Gig of the fortnight is... tUnE yArDs

Where and When?
Whelan's, Dublin - 12/02

Why?

This gig guide doesn't care much for Dirty Projectors but the one temptation to see them last time they were in Dublin was the fact that tUnE yArDs was on the bill. New England based Merrill Garbus' debut album, the ultra low-fi and experimental Bird Brains was released and re-released no less than 3 times last year to wildly positive notices.

Also this fortnight:

Beach House
Whelan's, Dublin - 13/02
Speakeasy, Belfast - 14/02

Midlake
Vicar St., Dublin - 14/02

At Last An Atlas (album launch)
Whelan's (Upstairs), Dublin - 06/02

Subplots w/ Autumn Owls
Whelan's, Dublin - 06/2
Dolan's, Limrick - 17/12
Vicar St., Dublin - 20/12

Cluster
The Village, Dublin - 06/02

The Low Anthem
Vicar St., Dublin - 08/02

Giveamanakick LAST EVER GIG
Dolans, Limrick - 18/12

Julian Casablancas
Acadamy, Dublin - 14/12

The XX
Speakeasy, Belfast - 15/12
Roisin Dubh, Galway - 16/12
Pavilion, Cork - 17/12
Tripod, Dublin - 19/12

More ...

07 - 20 December

ihwright@yahoo.ie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:56:36 GMT

Gig of the fortnight is... **F*ck Buttons**

Where and When?
Button Factory, Dublin - 18/12

Why?
F*ck Buttons’ second album Tarot Sport is not as harsh a listen and the duo's debut. Unsurprisingly the addition of Andrew Wetherell’s production has given the band a dancey element which might mean that the more spacious environment of The Button Factory is far more suited to their current live show than the site of their most recent stand alone gig in Dublin, a cramped upstairs in Whelan’s.

Also this fortnight

Dirty Three
Whelan's, Dublin - 09/12

U:Mack birthday party - Battles / 65daysofstatic / The Ex / !!! (chk chk chk) DJ's & more
Tripod, Dublin - 15/12

Modest Mouse w/ Fightened Rabbit
Acadamy, Dublin - 07&08/12

Lisa Hannigan
Roisin Dubh, Galway - 08/12
Dolan's, Limrick - 17/12
Vicar St., Dublin - 20/12

The Mars Volta
Olympia, Dublin - 15/12

Kurt Vile & the Violators
Twisted Pepper, Dublin - 13/12

Giveamanakick LAST EVER GIG
Dolans, Limrick - 18/12

Julian Casablancas
Acadamy, Dublin - 14/12

The XX
Speakeasy, Belfast - 15/12
Roisin Dubh, Galway - 16/12
Pavilion, Cork - 17/12
Tripod, Dublin - 19/12

More ...

November 2 - 15 2009

ihwright@yahoo.ie — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:15:08 GMT

Gig of the fortnight is... Yo La Tengo

Where and When?
Tripod, Dublin - 05/11

Why?
To be honest there's not a whole lot of truly outstanding stuff this fortnight. A lot less than in more recent Novembers anyway. But in almost any fortnight regardless of who else was in the country Yo La Tengo's first headline gig in this country in donkey's years would be right at the top of the list.

25 years into their careers the band still sound incredibly fresh and remain hugely commited to simply making the sort of music that they feel like doing on a particular day, be it 15 minute drone pieces, grade A indie rock freakouts or gorgeous little pop tunes that wouldn't be out of place on the third VU album.

You should note, this is a no support band 2 hour long set. So get there early.

Best of the rest

Who? Cymbals Eat Guitars
Where and When?
Crawdaddy, Dublin - 14/11
Auntie Annie's, Belfast - 15/11

Cymbals Eat Guitars might by the greatest band ever formed thanks to an ad being placed on Craigslist. The heavily overdubbed guitars of the Statan Island outfit's debut record Why There Are Mountains, one of the year's best, recalls the likes of such indie greats as Built To Spill, Pavement and The Wrens and more recent bands like No Age and it's a real treat for anyone who likes that sort of thing.

Sickeningly main CEG dude Joseph Ferocious is only about 21.

Also this fortnight

Orbital
Tripod, Dublin - 13 & 14/11

Great Lake Swimmers
Crawdaddy, Dublin - 13/11
Speakeasy, Belfast - 14/11

John Vanderslice
Whelans, Dublin - 06/11

A Place To Bury Strangers w/ Japandroids
Whelan's, Dublin - 09/11
Auntie Annie's, Belfast - 11/11

Mark Eitzel
Cyrpus Avenue, Cork - 10/11
The Village, Dublin - 11/11

The Specials
Olympia, Dublin - 14 & 15/11
St. George's Market, Belfast - 16/11

Giveamanakick
Cyprus Avenue, Cork - 14/11

More ...

19 October - 01 November

ihwright@yahoo.ie — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:34:51 GMT

Gig of the fortnight is... Handsome Furs

Where and When?
Spring and Airbrake, Belfast - 26/10
Acadamy, Dublin - 27/10
Cyprus Avenue, Cork - 28/10

Why?
Due to the volume of their output Sunset Rubown may be the better known of the Wolf Parade side projects but Dan Boeckner's (and wife Alexei Perry's) Handsome Furs take a back seat to no band. Second album Face Control is a fantastic collection of tunes which manages to be both cold sounding and visceral feeling at the same time. This is the pair's first Irish gigs in a couple of years. Support for all gigs comes from Thomas Dybdahl.

Best of the rest

Who? Clues
Where and When?
Whelan's (Upstairs), Dublin - 22/10

When the Unicorns split up a few years ago Nick Diamonds and J'aime Tabbeur wasted no time in moving on to their next project Islands. The remaining Unicorn Alden Penner wasn't quite so fast to move on but in 2007 he and former Arcade Fire drummer Brendan Reed formed Clues. They took their time putting an album together but their fantastic eponymous debut was finally released earlier in the year.

Also this fortnight

No Age
Crawdaddy, Dublin - 24/10

Modeselektor (Live)
Button Factory, Dublin - 23/10

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Button Factory, Dublin - 24/10
Trinity Rooms, Limerick - 25/10

Grouper / John Wiese
Filmbase, Dublin - 30/10

Midori Hirano
Whelan's (Upstairs), Dublin - 30/10

Buzzcocks
Pavillion, Cork - 22/10

Indigo Girls
Tripod, Dublin - 29/10

More ...

5 - 18 October

ihwright@yahoo.ie — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:05:57 GMT

Gig of the fortnight is... **Thinguma*jigsaw**

Where and When?
Joinery Gallery, Dublin - 06/10

Why?
Gigs here by Norway's finest gothic folk duo have understandably become far less regular ever since the members of Thinguma*jigsaw stopped living here. This will in act be the pair's first Irish gig since February and really should not be missed if possible. Support on the night comes from Sport Murphy, Arlt and the wonderful Peter Delaney.

Best of the rest

Who? Jonathan Richman
Where and When?
The Village, Dublin - 06/10

There aren't many other words to describe the original Modern Lover's last Dublin date in May of last year aside from lovely. With 30 odd years of gigging behind him the man is now so comfortable and accomplished on stage that within minutes of starting to play he can have his audience eating out of his hand. Richman is quite simply charm personified. It doesn't hurt either that he has an amazing catalogue of material to draw from as well.

Also this fortnight

King Khan & The Shrines
Black Box, Belfast - 06/10
Whelan's (Upstairs), Dublin - 07/10

An Evening of Reading, Music & Conversation with Nick Cave
Vicar St., Dublin - 12/10

Mark Morris Of The Bluetones
Whelan's (Upstairs), Dublin - 16/10 (2 shows, early and late)

Frank Turner
Acadamy 2, Dublin - 13/10
The Stiff Kitten, Belfast - 14/10

Themselves
Whelan's, Dublin - 16/10

DÄLEK
The Lower Deck, Dublin - 15/10

More ...

21 September - 4 October

ihwright@yahoo.ie — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:04:35 GMT

Gig of the fortnight is... The Jesus Lizard

Where and When?
Button Factory, Dublin - 22/09

Why?

There has been a raft of 80's and 90's indie rock band reunions in recent years from the likes of bands such as The Pixies, My Bloody Valentine and just this month Pavement, all of whom in their previous, younger lives had some level of success or the likes of Mission Of Burma who never really found the audience their astonishing music deserved. Falling more into the second category than the first is Chicago's Jesus Lizard who since getting back into the game earlier this year have thrown themselves into this whole reunion business with far more intensity than pretty much anyone else has. Front man David Yow is still the total nutter he was a decade ago and it wouldn't be a bad guess to estimate that he's spent a good 35% of his gigging time this year on top of the crowd or battling security guards.

I can only offer two pieces of advice with regard to this gig. The first is obvious, GO, it's going to be awesome. The other is for God's sake unless you want a half naked dude that's pushing 50 landing on your face do not stand front and centre for it.

Also this fortnight

Pixies
Olympia, Dublin - 30/09, 01/10, 02/10

William Elliott Whitmore
Cyprus Avenue, Cork - 22/09

Nodzzz
Whelan's (Upstairs), Dublin - 25/09

Kinky Friedman
Whelan's, Dublin - 26/09
The Pavillion, Cork - 27/09

Bats
Cyprus Avenue, Cork - 27/09

Zu
Crawdaddy, Dublin - 29/09
Cyprus Ave., Cork - 30/09

Health
The Village, Dublin - 01/10

Hockey
Spring and Airbrake, Belfast - 21/09
Acadamy, Dublin - 22/09

Mumford & Sons
Academy 2, Dublin - 26/09

More ...

September 7-20

ihwright@yahoo.ie — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:49:46 GMT

Gig of the fortnight is... The Tallest Man On Earth

Where and When?
Whelan's, Dublin - 11/08

Why?

Far more engaging and commanding on stage than a single man with an acoustic guitar has any right to be One of the genuine highlights of this year's Primavera Sound festifal and a firm fixture on the gig guide's MP3 player for the past 12 months The Tallest Man On Earth aka Swedan's Kristian Matsson is one of the most remarkable folk guitar pickers to emerge in years. There may be some who can't get past his obvious Dylan fetish but if you're not in that number then I can't recommend this gig enough.

Best of the rest

Who? Future Islands
Where and When?
Whelan's Upstairs, Dublin - 09/09

Dan Deacon's ensemble tour back in May enabled him to do a number of things. The most obvious of these was to realise his absurdist pop compositions with a full band as opposed to relying on samples and backing tracks. One of the others was that he was able to bring his buddies along for the ride as part of the ensemble so they could tour Europe with their bands and play to crowds they might not have done otherwise. Of the 3 opening bands to play with him in Dublin the most impressive were Future Islands who are now back on their own headlining tour.

Also this fortnight

Okkervil River
Roisin Dubh, Galway - 07/09

Sunset Rubdown
Spring and Airbrake, Belfast - 11/09
Crawdaddy, Dublin - 12/09

Dirty Projectors
Whelan's, Dublin - 16/09

The Ambience Affair
Whelan's (Upstairs), Dublin - 11/09

Silver Apples
Whelan's, Dublin - 12/09

Fleet Foxes
Vicar St., Dublin - 07/09

Daid Kitt
Whelan's, Dublin - 18/09

Times New Viking w/LOVVERS
Whelan's, Dublin - 19/09

William E. Whitmore
Whelan's, Dublin - 20/09

More ...

Gigs Of The Fortnight

April 26 - May 09

Gig of the fortnight is...Pavement

Also this fortnight

March 22 - April 4

Gig of the fortnight is...The Redneck Manifesto

Also this fortnight

February 15-28

Gig of the fortnight is...Xiu Xiu

Also this fortnight

February 1-14

Gig of the fortnight is... tUnE yArDs

07 - 20 December

Gig of the fortnight is... F*ck Buttons

Also this fortnight

November 2 - 15 2009

Gig of the fortnight is... Yo La Tengo

Best of the rest

Also this fortnight

19 October - 01 November

Gig of the fortnight is... Handsome Furs

Best of the rest

Also this fortnight

5 - 18 October

Gig of the fortnight is... Thinguma*jigsaw

Best of the rest

Also this fortnight

21 September - 4 October

Gig of the fortnight is... The Jesus Lizard

Also this fortnight

September 7-20

Gig of the fortnight is... The Tallest Man On Earth

Best of the rest

Also this fortnight

Gig of the fortnight is... **F*ck Buttons**

Gig of the fortnight is... **Thinguma*jigsaw**