Words by Marcus O’Sullivan Death Grips are a known quantity by now, so when you sign up for a show there are certain things you expect. Intensity, aggression, exhaustion– Death Grips are seen and heard, yes, but mostly experienced, or even survived. And everyone in a sold-out Whelan’s is certainly on edge, like animals with an eery prescience of some [...]

An interesting gig afoot at Twisted Pepper this Saturday with DOGS and Come On Live Long playing a midnight show. Two up and coming Irish bands who may be on a lot more people’s playlists by year’s end. ‘Little Ones’ the lead single from Come On Live Long’s upcoming debut album is particularly exciting and deserves to find a larger [...]

Like Beak> three months before them, Get The Blessing came to Whelan’s with the not inconsiderable recommendation of having been part of Portishead. With two more non-Portishead members in tow they now tour as a well respected jazz rock band, bedecked in immaculate suits. Lead by Jim Barr on bass, who does a nice line in (presumably) deliberately crap jokes, the band are [...]

Just in before the weekend Verona Riots release ‘You’ve Got A Hold On Me’, the second track from their upcoming debut long-player ‘Live For The Moment’. With a video directed by regular collaborator Neil Hoare. You can see the Dublin indie-popsters next Wednesday fronting new live night ‘New Natives‘ at The Grand Social with support from Franko Franko and Completely [...]

The Strypes got what felt like their millionth thumbs up from a celebrity fan when Elton John and Dave Grohl discussed Cavan’s finest last week. We’re beginning to lose track. So like an adoring Irish Mammy we’re compiling all their best bits in one handy scrapbook. The praise comes far and wide and the highlight came very recently on Dave [...]

You have to feel for singer-songwriters sometimes; they write a song, generally with the intention of baring their soul a little, and perform it to the best of their ability. And what happens? Well, the bulk of us music listeners put them in a box clearly marked ‘SINGER SONGWRITERS’. Sure, we take them out to play sometimes, but generally only [...]

Local Natives came from nowhere with the release of their début album ‘Gorilla Manor’ in 2009. It garnered some good reviews and they are well liked in this corner of Europe having played a number of well received shows in 2009 and 2010. Their second effort brings more tight, melodic pop songs without ever coming close to being truly memorable. The LA band keep every song [...]

The fifth annual First Fortnight festival came to a close on Saturday night with a sold out show at the Button Factory. We’ll get to the music in a moment but the night was about more than a strong line-up of emerging and established Irish acts. It was also interspersed with reminders – from performers and attendees – that communicating with each [...]

Beak> at Whelan’s, Dublin on Sunday 18th of November 2012 BEAK> are playing to Whelan’s on a Sunday…a wet Sunday..in November; a month designed for staying in and saving money. And yet the place is pretty full. Not packed, but a larger crowd than you would expect on a wet Sunday in November. How has an alternative, ageing (by music standards) [...]

Shabazz Palaces and THEE Satisfaction at Twisted Pepper, Friday the 16th of November 2012 We don’t get many American hip-hop acts in this part of the world. Least of all alternative hip-hop acts. Having two of the most exciting of these acts around performing on the same night feels a little gluttonous; surely we should ration these treats out? Nah, [...]