Live Review: The Charlatans in Dublin (23/11/21)

Personally a big fan of The Charlatans, Us & Us Only still ranks as one of my favourite albums so I was delighted when Alan Brady emailed me though a review of their show in the Olympia. I have seen them live maybe six times over the years and I can’t say I ever felt short changed. Anyway, thanks to Alan for the review and how nice is it to be talking about gigs again. Take it away Alan.

What has been one of the most irritating things about the whole Corona Virus lockdown which has engulfed us in this country for the last two years? Possibly it has to be the lack of a live music gig, and the opportunity to go to a rock concert in a dark, wedged Olympia Theatre. Well the Charlatans ended that drought in superb fashion in late November, with a newly long blonde-haired Tim Burgess and co. thrilling the audience in what is surely the best music venue in Dublin.

The task of providing support for the West Midlands, England act lay at the feet of Aoife Nessa Frances, and the pop and folk Dublin songwriter duly began her set in a relaxed and leisurely manner with ‘Blow Up’ – a tune from her debut album ‘Land Of No Junction’ (2020). Maeve McKenna on the harp supplemented Frances’ singing and guitar playing, although it must be noted that the consequences were varied. The pair performed a lot of songs from Frances’ upcoming new album, which the Sallynoggin-originated singer told us won’t be released for a considerable period of time. The packed audience was enamored by her reverberating singing and guitar strumming, which firmly got the spectators in the humor for the headline act.

Enter the Charlatans – led by the strangely haired Burgess in his eccentric jumper – who were on top form from start to finish of their 23-song set. Proceedings were set in motion with a long intro to ‘Forever’, during which a very enthusiastic looking Burgess danced onstage to rapturous applause. Some of the best performed tunes were ‘Just When You’re Thinking Things Over’, ‘Can’t Get Out of Bed’, and ‘A Needs To Be Told’ – in which the steel guitar was somehow bestowed on keyboards.

Mark Collins was in superb form throughout as his riffs on songs such as ‘One To Another’ and ‘North Country Boy’ – encouraged the crowd to firmly bop – with Burgess duly egging them on to do so. Fans loudly sang along to the latter tune as those in attendance were now seriously in concert mood, and thunderous applause appropriately ensued. ‘How High’ was another ballad to see the voice-level raised around the one-hundred and sixty-six year-old venue.

‘The Blind Stagger’ built up in a slow and leisurely fashion, whilst conversely the audience was treated to an ecstatic rendition of ‘The Only One I Know’; and those present were further treated with a fantastic version of ‘ I Never Want An Easy Life’. The encore possibly encompassed the best-performed songs, as a harmonica-wielding Burgess led the way in an energetic version of ‘Impossible’, before their customary set-closer ‘Sproston Green’ – which again contained Collins displaying various burly guitar riffs – ended proceedings.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable evening, and although it’s been a tough two years for us fans of live music in Ireland, it was fantastic to see Burgess, Collins, Martin Blunt and Tony Rogers provide all at the famous Dublin Two venue with their fix of entertainment again.

Alan Brady

Incoming: A Quick Chat With Count Vaseline | Plays Broken Home This Saturday

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Count Vaseline is the new project from Stefan Murphy, formerly of Dublin rock ‘n roll miscreants The Mighty Stef, and The Count is bringing genre-warped garage sounds to Newbridge, for an intimate and special Broken Home show.

It was a dark day for Irish music back in May, when time was called on The Might Stef. Always a prolific tunesmith, it wasn’t long before Murphy introduced his new guise Count Vaseline. Falling somewhere between raw garage rock and crooning fuzz-pop – sonically a different being – the new project remains draped in his unique and intuitive storytelling ability. There’s already a debut LP, Yo No Soy Marinero – a genre-warped record that fizzes with energy, invention and brimming with weird and wondrous ideas, and full of heart – with album number two, Cascade to follow in December.

In support of his new endeavour, Count Vaseline has been playing shows across the US and Ireland, and this Saturday, December 3, he rolls into Newbridge town, for an intimate and special Broken Home show, with support from the Tallaght folk machine We Went Down.

Ahead of the weekend’s show I caught up with Count Vaseline, to chat about the new project, touring and all things music. Check the album below too!

You can find further details on The Broken Home Series here, more info on the show here and you can purchase your ticket from Eventbright.

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Courtney Barnett shares new song ‘Three Packs a Day’ + Tour Dates

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Less than a 12 months since Courtney Barnett released her excellent Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit, she’s kicking off 2016 with new material.

The new track ‘Three Packs A Day’ features on her Australian label Milk! Record’s compilation, Good For You, alongside tracks from Jen Cloher, Fraser A. Gorman, Ouch My Face, The Finks, and East Brunswick All Girls Choir. In typical Barnett fashion, ‘Three Packs A Day’ is clever, witty and slightly dark. An instantly infectious, light jangle with a jaunty guitar line, meandering bass and folksy harmonica blasts giving the song its upbeat coat, as she sings about her addiction to instant noodles. A magnificent tune indeed and exactly the high standard we’ve come to expect from her.

With a couple of shows coming this month in her native Australia, the North American leg of her tour kicks off in April, including a show on April 19th at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom. Find her full list of dates below. Good for You is out on February 14 via Milk! Records. Listen to ‘Three Packs A Day’ below.

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The BarryGruff Fortnightly Vancouver Gig Guide (April 29th – May 11th)

A fortnightly list of recommended events taking place in Vancouver. Here’s what’s caught my eye over the next 14 days! 

Feel free to let me know if I missed anything of interest in the comments or you can always shoot me an email about upcoming shows.

Thursday, April 30th

Wishyunu @ Hindenburg, 23 West Cordova, Gastown, Vancouver (9pm, $10)

  • [Alt-Pop] Portland drum/synth du, Wishyunu (wish-u-new) have a penchant for weird and wonderful atmospheric electronic pop. Support from Redrick Sultan, The Wandering Halls & Cave Girl.

Young Fathers @ Fortune Sound Club, 147 E Pender St, Vancouver, (9pm, $15+Fees)

  • [Hip-Hop] Scotish Hip-Hop trio & Mecury Prize winners, Young Fathers, tour in support of their new LP ‘White Men Are Black Men Too’. Suppport from Mas Ysa.

Saturday, May 2nd 

Waxahatchee @ Biltmore Cabaret 2755 Prince Edward St, Vancouver (8pm, $14+Fees)

  • [Indie/Lo-Fi] Katie Crutchfield brings her lo-fi indie project to Vancouver to support her latest LP ‘Ivy Trip​p​’. With guests GIRLPOOL (utterly raw, infectious and supremely brilliant poppy-punk – more here) and Knife Pleats.

Tough Age @ The Astoria, 769 E. Hastings St, Vancouver (9pm, $8)

  • [Garage/Indie] Hometown fuzzed-up garage rock maestros return to Vancouver ahead of their new LP. W/ guests Energy Slime, Fountain, Milk & Needles//Pins.

Ponderosa 2015 Lineup Launch Party @ ANZA Club, Australia New Zealand Association, 3 W. 8th, Vancouver  (9pm, Entry by Donation)

  • Ponderosa Arts & Music Festival 2015 lineup launch w/ music from Colleen Rennison of No Sinner, DJ Joshua Oldsoul & more.

Nowhere Fast @ The Morrissey, 1227 Granville Street, Vancouver (9pm – 3am, Free)

  • [DJ] Regular night of post-punk, indie, garage rock & pop-dance tunes  w/ Bryce Dunn

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Competition: Win Tickets to SALES at The Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver :: March 5th

SALES - Artwork by Niklas Åkerblad

Florida duo SALES will be in Vancouver this week to play the Biltmore Cabaret, on Thursday (March 5th), with support from Mesa Luna & Noble Oak.

A collaboration between long-time friends, Lauren Morgan (guitar/vocals) and Jordan Shih (guitar/programming), their splendiferous self-titled debut EP is a marvellous musical feast of inviting, warm and rather charming, quirky indie-pop. Done with a mesmerizing ease and breeze, their songs are simultaneously languid, nonchalant and passionate, somehow uncovering a place where all three can co-exist in perfect harmony. Utterly beautiful, their debut was one of last year’s most loveable records.

SALES, being the kind-hearted souls that they are, have offered readers of the blog a chance to go to the show on Thursday night. There’s a pair of tickets up for grabs and to be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is simply email your ‘name’ with ‘SALES’ as the subject title to barrygruff[at]gmail[dot]com, before 14:00 (PST) Wednesday, March 4th.

If you need any further convincing? There are a few choice cuts from SALES’ sublime debut record below, or you can check out the EP here.

Roll on Thursday night!

Artwork by Niklas Åkerblad.

Win Tickets to Springtime Carnivore @ Biltmore Cabaret , Vancouver :: November 17

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Springtime Carnivore, the creation of LA musician Greta Morgan, will play the Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, this Monday (November 17), with Generationals.

Morgan has bewitched us with several lush indie-pop gems this year and is out on tour in support of her marvellous eponymous debut album. Co-produced by Richard Swift (Foxygen, The Shins, The Black Keys), it is a wonderful collection of warm, slightly fuzzy, ebullient indie pop gems, with a soft psychedelic undercurrent that crackles, glows and swells amid off-kilter grooves. These tracks, mostly upbeat with big hooks and sun-kissed, are built around Morgan’s dazzlingly beautiful vocals that transfix you in all its gloriously smooth prowess. You can stream it here and see what all the fuss is about.

Springtime Carnivore have kindly offered readers of the blog a chance to go to the show on Monday night, with a pair of tickets up for grabs. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is answer the following question: ‘What is the name of Springtime Carnivore’s recently released debut album?’ Email your answer, along with your ‘name’ and ‘Springtime Carnivore’ as the subject title to barrygruff[at]gmail[dot]com, before 12:00 (UTC) Sunday, November 16th.

If you need any further convincing? Here are a few choice cuts from Springtime Carnivore’s sublime debut record. It should be a sumptuous show.

 

BarryGruff Unplugged #4: Jinx Lennon + Appo :: Thursday, April 24th :: The Liffey Studio, Newbridge

Jinx Lennon Newbridge 2014 Liffey Studio

So, we’re back with part four of the series on Thursday, April 24th, and we welcome the legendary Jinx Lennon and Appo to the intimate surroundings of The Liffey Studio, Newbridge.

To say we’re excited by this one would be putting it mildly. At the beginning, before we’d organised a gig, Stevie & I sat down to ponder what we could do, during this pipe dream exercise there were maybe three acts we agreed ‘had’ to play. Jinx Lennon was one of them and why not? Jinx is an absolute genius, a national treasure and rightly described by Christy Moore as the most important Irish singer/songwriter in the past 10 years.

Jinx Lennon is the epitome of a modern folk singer influenced by post punk and hip hop. Awkward and real, raw and righteous in his mode, he comes out of the northeast lost province of Oriel armed with songs to blow apart the chains in your heads. Songs about kicking against the bullshit of life .Whether it’s played on a one string guitar or sampled disco beat and raw garage noise and blues – Jinx’s music is sure to make the atoms on your skin surface vibrate externally for eternity. Jinx is currently in his HQ working on songs for next album working title ‘Keep Sane In The World of Eager Smiling Pricks’.

Support comes from Newbridge’s very own diamond in the rough, Appo, a one man bluesy-folk explosion. The gravelly voiced troubadour has also been busy in the studio working on a new album.

BarryGruff Unplugged #4: Jinx Lennon + Appo | Thursday, April 24th, The Liffey Studio, 1 Main Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare (Above Johnson’s Pub) – Doors 7:30 | Admission: €8/€10.

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BarryGruff 4th Birthday Bash (Friday March 21st & Saturday 22nd)

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BarryGruff is four years in the music blogging racket this month, hence the sleek face-lift and new dot com home (what do you think by the way?). It’s been an enjoyable four year no doubt about it, and to celebrate the occasion we’ve a weekend of music lined up in Flanagan’s, Newbridge. We’ve live bands on Friday March 21st & DJ sets on Saturday 22nd – all free & all under one roof. All the details and links are below – I really hope to loads of you can make it over the weekend, it should be an absolute cracker.

:: BarryGruff Presents #18 :: Fri March 21st in Flanagan’s, Newbridge :: [9pm/Free In]

The Statics:

The Statics have been longstanding favourites here at BarryGruff HQ, so it’s fantastic to have them on-board. Echoing the likes of The La’s, John Power & The Coral, the Dublin four piece’s melodious indie pop jangle is utterly brilliant. Their debut single ‘Holiday’ and EP, ‘Hidden Pigeon’ set their stall out for an ability to craft as close to perfect pop songs as you’re likely to hear. In essence this is  what makes The Statics so irrefutably lovable. And live, they are simply top class and not to be missed.

Knoxville Morning:

Another longstanding favourite around these parts, and one that never fail to deliver live is Knoxville Morning. The project was inspired by a trip around the USA by chief troublemaker Ciaran Dwyer, which resulted in an album of sweet folk, country and Americana. Surely I’m not alone in still getting plenty of mileage out of the record close to 18 months on from it’s release? It’s pretty fitting that Dwyer & Co. are on-board for this one, as long before I, they along with others, kept all things musical ticking over in Newbridge.

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Vagabonds & Thieves:

Vagabonds & Thieves are local (Newbridge) musical stalwarts of Andy Harper, Jack McKenna, Peter Lane & Steve Lunch. Early days for this new incarnation but these guys know what they’re at and their early demos suggest as much. It’s only fair to give the ‘young lads’ a run out right?

:: Discord#2 :: Sat March 22nd in Flanagan’s, Newbridge [9pm/Free In]

Saturday night we’ll have DJ sets from the talented Rob Smyth & Cormac Brady, & myself. We’ll spinning tunes from 9 till close – everything from hip-hop to electronica, from dancehall to indie and everything else in between.

BarryGruff Unplugged: Paddy Hanna + Wayfarer :: Saturday, March 1st :: The Liffey Studio, Newbridge

Paddy Hanna Newbridge 2014

BarryGruff Unplugged #3: Paddy Hanna + Wayfarer | March 1st – The Liffey Studio, Newbridge –  Doors: 7:30pm | €5/€7

Following the success of previous BarryGruff Unplugged shows, we’re back with round #3 on March 1st. Part three looks an exciting proposition with Paddy Hanna and Wayfarer joining us in the intimate surroundings of The Liffey Studio.

The show is €5 if you book in advance or €7 on the night. The cheap list is limited so if you would like to reserve a spot, email your name to: barrygruff[at]gmail[dot]com – with ‘Cheap List’ in the subject title.

:: Paddy Hanna ::

Probably best known as lead singer in Grand Pocket Orchestra and drummer in No Monster Club, this year however, Paddy Hanna has stepped out on his own, releasing his debut solo album ‘Leafy Stilleto’ and attracting rave reviews in the Irish media since its release in January. The young man from Dublin is in a somewhat more laid back and relaxed mood than before, creating a warm and well-structured collection of gorgeous indie tunes. He was brilliant at Electric Picnic and since then we’ve been working hard to bring Paddy Hanna to Newbridge, and delighted we finally got our man.

:: Wayfarer ::

Wayfarer are folk duo Sam Devlin & Rachel Boland from Co. Kildare. The name might be familiar, having played a few BarryGruff shows, wooing audiences in the process, with their beautiful country folk sounds and alluring harmonies. They have been busy working on a forthcoming EP but thankfully found time to squeeze in a much welcome Newbridge show.

BarryGruff Presents #17: Padraig McCauley + Rory Hughes :: Friday, January 31st :: Flanagan’s, Newbridge

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So, it’s been a while but were back in Flanagan’s to rip it up with ‘BarryGruff Presents’ #17 on Friday, January 31st. We’ve got the superbly talented duo of Padraig McCauley (The P Affection/Disconcerting P) and Rory Hughes performing on the night.

It’s sure to be another great night, so come along and enjoy the music. It’s FREE in as usual & kicks off at 9:30 pm. [RSVP]

:: Padraig McCauley ::

Padraig McCauley of The P Affection/Disconcerting P is no stranger to a BarryGruff show and should need little introduction. McCauley is a superb songwriter, singer and performer, if somewhat under-appreciated by many. This is in fact his fifth, yes fifth, BarryGruff appearance and while that might be some sort of record, it is a rare chance to see him play a solo set filled with tracks new and old, from a rather extensive body of work.  

:: Rory Hughes ::

Rory Hughes is a young musician from Dublin. He writes folk and blues tunes. Tunes that are good with a deep-rooted storytelling style. While some of the records, done himself with basic equipment, are rough and don’t do the songs full justice. However, if ‘Woe Is Me’ doesn’t stir something inside you, well, there might be something wrong with you.

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