Blog: Swear I'm Not Paul

Dublin's dark electronica artist Hunter-Gatherer has just released another brooding, atmospheric EP. The latest release is seven tracks of nocturnal ambiance, from the thumping resonance of title track 'Nighthood' to the lush textures of 'We Are Making A New World'. It's sure to please fans of HG's previous work, with 'Last Light' being a career highlight. Nighthood by Hunter-Gatherer

This is a wonderful cover for an exceptional cause. Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer' has been recorded by some of Ireland's finest musicians to raise money for Lily-Mae Morrison to get the care she needs. Four year old Lily-Mae Morrison from Claregalway is suffering from Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare and extremely aggressive childhood cancer of the nervous system. She is the daughter of professional ballet dancers, Judith Sibley and Leighton Morrison. When she grows up, she wants to be a ballet dancer like her Mummy and Daddy but Neuroblastoma is not playing nicely, it wants to kill her. [...]

The reunited Ben Folds Five returned to Ireland for the first time since 1999 last night to play Dublin's Vicar Street, performing a nice selection of their extensive back catalogue as well as new record The Sound of the Life of the Mind . Setlist: Michael Praytor, Five Years Later Missing the War Hold That Thought Jackson Cannery Selfless, Cold and Composed Erase Me Alice Childress Sky High Draw A Crowd Landed Battle of Who Could Care Less Uncle Walter Thank You For Breaking [...]

Keane brought their Strangeland Tour to Dublin this week, playing the Olympia Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday. Setlist: You Are Young Bend and Break On the Road We Might as Well Be Strangers Nothing in My Way The Lovers Are Losing Silenced by the Night Everybody's Changing Hamburg Song Neon River Spiralling Day Will Come A Bad Dream Your Eyes Open She Has No Time Disconnected Is It Any Wonder? This Is the Last Time Somewhere Only [...]

Marina and the Diamonds returned to Ireland to play Dublin's Olympia Theatre last night as part of their ♡ The Lonely Hearts Club Tour ♡ . Setlist: Homewrecker Oh No! Mowgli's Road Lies I Am Not A Robot The State of Dreaming Power & Control Bubblegum Bitch Starring Role Obsessions Valley of the Dolls Primadonna Shampain Hollywood Radioactive Fear and Loathing - Teen Idle How to be a Heartbreaker

'Lions Tigers Bears' is the new single from Irish twin poppers Heathers, taken from their Max Dingel produced second studio album Kingdom . It's yet more uplifting, melodic pop-rock from Dublin duo, and in my opinion is a much better single than 'Forget Me Knots', our first taste of the new record. And is that the best cover art of the year or what? Stream:

• heatherstunes - Lions Tigers Bears

The reunited Soundgarden released their first album in 16 years this month, and are also back touring. The record, King Animal , is getting pretty positive reviews - except for Pitchfork of course - and the live shows are also being well-received. They played the Phoenix Concert Theater in Toronto, ON on Friday night, and you can download a full bootleg of the show below. Tracklist/Setlist: 01 Intro 02 Flower 03 Outshined 04 Spoonman 05 Let Me Drown 06 Hands All Over 07 Attrition 08 Taree 09 Loud [...]

Great news Irish bands! Submissions are open from NOW [ http://christmasfm.ie/index. php?option=com_rsform&Itemid= 125 ] for the Christmas FM Song Contest 2012. The festive radio station is back and are looking for the best original Christmas song from an Irish artist. The winner will receive €500 worth of audio gear from Christmas FM’s kind sponsors X-Music and be play-listed on Christmas FM. Submissions close Friday 7th December. The esteemed judging panel will whittle down all the entries to a top 6. The the Top 6 go to a public vote on the Christmas FM [...]

Band of Horses brought their Mirage Rock Tour to Dublin on Saturday night, playing the Olympia Theatre. Setlist: The Great Salt Lake Is There a Ghost Weed Party A Little Biblical Laredo NW Apt. Islands on the Coast Blue Beard Compliments Cigarettes, Wedding Bands Dumpster World Knock Knock Everything's Gonna Be Undone Infinite Arms Heartbreak on the 101 Wicked Gil Ode to LRC The Funeral - Evening Kitchen No One's Gonna Love You - [...]

Dan Bejar and the Destroyer gang came to Ireland last week to play Whelan's, showcasing songs from last year's Kaputt as well as their back catalogue. Setlist: Your Blues Savage Night at the Opera European Oils The Music Lovers Downtown Maxine's Parlour (Bill Fay cover) Heartswarm (Swan Lake cover) Kaputt Libby's First Sunrise Suicide Demo for Kara Walker Rubies - Bay of Pigs (Detail)

Bell x1 brought their nationwide acoustic tour to Dublin on Saturday night to play Vicar Street. Setlist: Bad Skin Day Velcro How Your Heart is Wired Next To You Rocky Took A Lover Motorcades Offshore Nightwatchmen Flame Snakes And Snakes Built to Last My First Born for a Song Eve, The Apple of My Eye Alphabet Soup 1000 Little Downers The Great Defector In Every Sunflower - Slowset She's a Mystery to Me (Roy Orbison cover)

Blur played the Point Theatre way back on November 28th, 1997 as part of their Blur tour, promoting the album which gave us 'Beetlebum' and 'Song 22. This Dublin show was a sell-out, with the Britpop band thrilling Irish audiences. Thanks to Libertines for the upload. Setlist/Tracklist: 01 Tracy Jacks 02 Charmless Man 03 End Of A Century 04 Chinese Bombs 05 Mr. Robinson's Quango 06 Nite Klub 07 Popscene 08 Globe Alone 09 Bank Holiday 10 This Is A Low 11 Song 2 [...]

Conor O'Brien's Villagers showed off some songs from new album {{Awayland}} at Whelan's on Tuesday night. Setlist: Set the Tigers Free Home The Pact (I'll Be Your Fever) Grateful Song Passing a Message The Bell Becoming a Jackal My Lighthouse Rhythm Composer The Meaning of the Ritual Memoir Earthly Pleasure Judgement Call Nothing Arrived The Waves Ship of Promises - That Day In a Newfoundland You Are Free On a Sunlit Stage

Justin Vernon and Bon Iver have come a long way since I saw them in the National Stadium in Dublin. This time around, they played the O2 with support from the Staves. He's come a long way baby, and got rave reviews for his show at Wembley Arena last week. Setlist: Perth Minnesota, WI Towers Brackett, WI Holocene Beach Baby Michicant re: Stacks (with The Staves) Hinnom, TX Wash. Blood Bank Skinny Love Calgary Lisbon, OH Beth/Rest - Creature Fear [...]

Two questions for you. 1. Where did JD from Scrubs-favourites Lifehouse go? and 2. Where did Natasha, sister of Daniel, Bedingfield go? Well, they went nowhere actually. Just fell a little under the radar. So it's great to see them team up for 'Between the Raindrops', the lead single from Lifehouse's upcoming sixth album. The album itself is called Almeria and comes out on December 11th and is sure to be filled with more anthemic tunes like this one. Watch:

Frames frontman Glen Hansard is currently touring the US with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. They stopped off at the Bass Concert Hall in Austin, Texas on Sunday night, with both putting on solo sets as well as performing many covers and a few duets. Download a bootleg of the full show below. Thanks to wbhendrix for the upload. Glen Hansard Set List: 1. Leave 2. Pennies in the Fountain 3. Love Don't Leave Me Waiting / RESPECT 4. Step out of the Shadows (false start) 5. Step out of the Shadows 6. [...]

Cambridge, Mass electro-rockers Passion Pit played the Olympia Theatre on Sunday night giving Irish fans a first live taste of new album Gossamer . Setlist: Take a Walk The Reeling To Kingdom Come Its Not My Fault Carried Away Let Your Love Grow Tall Eyes as Candles Constant Conversations Mirrored Sea Live to Tell the Tale Folds in Your Hands Love Is Greed I'll Be Alright Sleepyhead Little Secrets

Christmas FM is back for winter 2012, and with it, the Christmas FM Song Contest - it's like the Eurovision only with snow and sleigh bells! Entries open on November 23rd, with bands from Ireland being asked to submit their new festive classic. The winner will receive €500 worth of audio gear from Christmas FM’s kind sponsors X-Music and be play-listed on Christmas FM. I'm delighted to be on the judging panel, alongside some esteemed names from Irish music, and look forward to ding-donging-merrily-on-high with them when choosing a winner. Head over to http://www.christmasfm.ie/ [...]

Richie Egan a.k.a Jape has released yet another project - this time under the pseudonym Black Abbott, recorded in a couple of days and uploaded it online. Here's what he had to say "i always wanted to try to write and record an album in a day or so - this week i gave it a shot, it ended up taking me 2 days but it was a good bit of fun. i decided to call it a different name, 'black abbott. there is no quantising here all played by hand, i got inspired after reading a johnny jewel interview [...]

• bblackabbott - black abbott

Nicki Minaj brought her Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour to the O2 in Dublin on Monday evening. Setlist: Come on a Cone Roman Reloaded Beez in the Trap Did It on 'em Up All Night Make Me Proud Moment 4 Life Whip It The Boys Muny Raining Men Dance (A$$) I Luv Dem Strippers Bottoms Up Va Va Voom Super Bass Fly Right Thru Me Fire Burns Save Me Marilyn Monroe Catch Me Automatic [...]