While it has been widely ignored, the post Britpop / pre "The Libertines/The _____/garagey" band era was kind of a dark period in UK music. UK had just witness one of the greatest talent and musical explosions of all time in the early 90s but by the late 90s, those bands had all either broken up, started to suck or completely change their sound. During this time, bands found it hard to garner success, specially with the charts being dominated by the Spice Girls/Westlife/whatever. To put it into perspective, Stereophonics was considered one of the biggest acts from the UK [...]
Today The Kings of Leon will perform in Slane Castle today to 80,000 people. The concert has gained a worldwide reputation over the 30 years. The line-ups below contain some of the best live bands in the world along with Bryan Adams. Check out some of the Irish artists to have been given the pleasure of performing in Slane. 16th August 1981 THIN LIZZY U2/HazelO'Connor/Rose Tattoo Sweet Savage/The Bureau/Megahype [...]
Chances are good that the computer back home will (finally, finally) be up and running later today . Try having two kids at home who are suffering from severe computer abstinences, and you'll realize the seriousness of the situation and fully understand that it will be no less than fantastic having the damn thing fixed before things turn traumatic. Following the mandatory whining, it's time to move on to the more important stuff…actually the above IS rather important, but so is music, so…it's a tie! Coast is Clear [...]
Despite having surfaced briefly two or three years ago as part of Concerto For Constantine, JJ72 front man Mark Greaney seems, largely, to have been tucked under a rock since his childhood band's sad demise. The split in 2006 came four years after their second album I To Sky , with fingers of blame largely pointed at record label Sony. The label are alleged to have retained the rights to the album, but refused to release it as it wasn't 'poppy' enough. A few comments tonight make it clear that Greaney's not quite over it yet, and frankly, who [...]
There's a whole host of special Christmas gigs on the horizon. Here's a list of the best of the bunch! On December 10th it's the Clockwork Apple Christmas Party in Whelans with a great line-up. Check out the recently released Captain Kennedy debut album here: Sweet Jane play The Grand Social on December 17th. Support from: Talulah does the Hula + Robotnik Admission €6 [...]
Frank Yang I'm not going to suggest that there were stars - or planets, as the case may be - in alignment this week over Toronto but it did strike me as interesting that in the span of 72 hours, there'd be no less than four recent Mercury Prize nominees - and two winners - in town to play shows, three of them on Monday night alone. So while fellow 2010 shortlisters Villagers were at The Drake and 2007 champs Klaxons were at the Mod Club, Oxford's Foals were [...]
Toronto - Yes, I know it's Tuesday. Still, it's a popular trending topic on twitter so who cares. What defines a Monday anyway? JJ72 is an Irish band that existed primarily because of the success of Placebo . After Placebo managed the impossible and has some cross Atlantic success (with Every You Every Me , thanks to Cruel Intentions), it was only a matter of time before the UK would find another emoish rock band with a semi androgynous voice to champion as the next great band. JJ72 busted onto the scene like [...]
Toronto - Yes, I know it's Tuesday. Still, it's a popular trending topic on twitter so who cares. What defines a Monday anyway? JJ72 is an Irish band that existed primarily because of the success of Placebo . After Placebo managed the impossible and has some cross Atlantic success (with Every You Every Me , thanks to Cruel Intentions), it was only a matter of time before the UK would find another emoish rock band with a semi androgynous voice to champion as the next great band. JJ72 busted onto the scene like [...]
With Oxegen 2010 just one day away, I thought I'd help remind you of what makes the festival so special. This list is for those of us who are not going, and also those of us who are busy packing those last essential items before we have to get the Dublin Bus to the campsite [...]
The Dirty 9's have just released their debut album 'Stop Screaming Start Dreaming' and is available from here: http://www.thedirty9s.net/shop / The album is a great start for a young band that should have a massive career. The initial feeling I got from the first listen was that The Dirty 9s have it in them to become a super cool indie rock band like say Placebo or The National. However on this effort they lean towards the power pop of successful Irish bands the Coronas and The Blizzards. This debut [...]
A couple of schoolteachers I know are feeling a little bit down at the moment. Firstly, they have to put up with the unusually cold weather that Ireland, like everywhere else, is experiencing at the moment. Secondly, they have to stay home from school until Thursday as all national and secondary schools in Ireland will be closed until then. Despite this, Mary and Dave have been putting a brave face on it and this weekend they decided to build a couple of snowpeople in their backyard. As you can see from the photo*, both of them seem to [...]
I've only just found out that the wonderful Nay McArdle who wrote 'Off Her Rocker' the only thing worth reading on HotPress.com is back blogging independently. I'm delighted she has decided to continue writing as there is a real need for Nay's recommendations, reviews and postings on the Irish Music Scene. http://harmlessnoise.wordpress .com/ Who says Irish blogging is dead? BTW it's snowing outside!
JJ72, Oxford Zodiac, 7 October 2000 Lacking the hollow bombast and naked ambition of Muse and the pompous banality of Coldplay, JJ72 were in the more likeable half of bands touted as the new Radiohead. One of the few bands I saw purely on the strength of a press officer's bribe, they were a surprisingly canny live band; they did nothing much that 80s-tinged falsetto complaint-rockers like Geneva or Puressence hadn't done before, but Thom Yorke mini-me Mark Greaney at least knew his way around a chorus. [...]
Ireland is fast producing a flood of decent rock and alternative bands who grew up being influenced by the likes of The Frames, JJ72 and Damien Rice. Many of them released albums recently. Here are three of the best: Reemo, Flea Market Poets and Susie Soho. Reemo - Colours [released September 26th] Reemo are the collective musical styles, tastes and thoughts of 5 ordinary guys mashed together to create something unique. Sometimes it's happy and pumping, sometimes it's ugly and harsh but no matter what it is, it [...]
Two months later and I'm finally getting around to finishing this post. No excuses except enjoying the summer (post on that later, and by later I mean sooner rather than later) and spending less time in front of computers outside of work, hopefully some of you missed me. There are still a few more Pride celebrations in this neck of the woods over the next few weekends including Jersey City and the Bronx (my birthplace for those that are keeping tabs) so I figured it's still okay to continue posting in this direction before moving on to anything else. [...]
I was speaking with a friend recently, asking them what I should write about on my blog, whether they would like to write something. Two days later they sent me a text "Get some JJ72 on your blog! Not new, but bloody brilliant..." followed by "That album carried me through the first year of Uni, and transformed my music taste from questionable dance / garage to the indie glory that is it today!" Can I just point out that it was probably meeting his now wife that actually did that (she already had good taste in music) and I cannot [...]
Another nod to CLuas.com for including the two JJ72 albums in their top 50. To me neither album was especially brilliant but each had some great tracks and Mark Greaney's voice is superb. They also released as b-sides some amazing covers such as Wicked Game and this one here: Pet Shop Boy's - It's A Sin! JJ72 - It's A Sin Concerto for Constantine is three Dubliners: singer and guitarist Mark Greaney (formerly JJ72's frontman and songwriter), bassist Gavin Fox (formerly of Turn, Idlewild and Vega4),and drummer Binzer (formerly [...]
The best thing about the Rugby on Saturday was that it meant there was a real alternative to conversations about the recession, strikes and the bankers! I know the song Wicked Game is one of the best lovesongs ever written but in these parts a 'Wicked Game' is how we would describe last Saturday's Rugby match. Long may those conversations last! JJ72 - Wicked Game If you get a chance, check out Giant Drag's version of this tune!
L'une des seules émissions de MTV2 qui propose des clips sortis de l'ordinaire reste le Take Over d'un groupe invité . Ce jour-là, il s'agissait du groupe américain The Killers qui proposait par l'intermédiaire de son batteur et son chanteur/leader quelques groupes parmi les plus intéressants à leur yeux. Dans ce catalogue apparaissait JJ72 , sombre groupe irlandais des années 2000 qui ne sévit plus maintenant. Durant ces années-là, on m'en avait parlé mais je n'avais pas chercher plus loin [...]
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