King Diamond Pumpkin

Again, Happy Halloween!!! I call him, Melissa

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Tickets There is working away on this years pumpkin, a tribute to the great King Diamond. Last year we managed our tribute to KISS. Hope you have some devilish plans for the evening!!

King Diamond Man Cometh!

Tickets There’s KISS 2008!!

Tickets There on TWITTER – Broke ‘N’ Tweetin’

I know you all hate it, I hate it to but it seems these things have to be done. Cant wait to see what ‘up to the minute’ yoke they come up with next but never mind all that, Tickets There is now officially on Twitter

Not sure if anyone really cares but sher, we might say something funny every now and again and it costs nothing (except your soul) to add us as a friend.

Hope to see the numbers go up soon because it recession folks and it costs me nothing

Check us out now by Clicking Here.

One Last KISS!

On last time, the mighty KISS!!

Hard Working Class Heroes 09 – MySpace Reviews Coming!!

Tickets There is getting ready to return to some Irish music folks. After the Megadeth and KISS bonanzas, we feel it’s time to get back to our roots and bring you some of the best….and a lot of the worst music Ireland has to offer.

Our plan is simple. Rather than searching for bands on MySpace to review, we’re going to do a review of every single band playing the Hard Working Class Heroes Festival this year (excluding the ones we’ve already done).

We were hoping to start ages ago but ya know, KISS!. So we’ll be starting tonight and we’ll bring you a minimum of one MySpace review a day. Forget all that nonsense of starting to be nicer, if the bands are shit, we’ll fucking say it (and yes, the list will be returning Shaun J)

So stay tuned later tonight for the first of many, many new MySpace Reviews!!

All the best,
Tickets There

Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Radiohead, The Killers or KISS?

So the day is finally here. the day when KISS release their first album of original material in eleven years and folks, from what Tickets There’s heard, it’s going to be a special one.

To celebrate, TT has given you our personal KISS-LECTION guide, Reviews of Alive!, Alive II, Alive III and Alive IV (The Millennium Concert) and reasons to pick KISS before The Beatles and The Pixies. Now, Tickets There wants to ask you another question, Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Radiohead, The Killers or…KISS?

The Killers or KISS?

Want to pose in suits? Make sure you at least look as cool as KISS when they, Dressed to Kill!!

Radiohead or KISS?

If you’re going to be on a magazine cover, at least pick a respectable one.

Kings of Leon or KISS?

Why would this band even bother when KISS has Rock N Roll Over?

Coldplay or KISS?

Coldplay are just pathetic. Like U2 before them, they’re music for emotionally retarded housewife’s. This is the only picture I could find of them doing anything other than licking children from Africa and looking serious. So, to be fair I’ve only put up a simple, normal everyday group shot of KISS on top of the empire state building!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sonic Boom is out now!!

The Beatles or KISS?

The Beatles, hard to k now if they’re the most sensibly boring group in history or the true overlords of all things music. Personally, I’m a Stones man, for them it wasn’t about what genius you could dream up while off your face on drugs, it was more about trying to play your biggest hit without falling of the stage while of your face on drugs.

Either way, the Beatles aren’t a party band. Imagine Hey Jude full blast in Ibiza! Doesn’t work, but KISS, KISS always works!! Check out the album covers below. Would you like to Meet the Beatles or go into the night with KISS

The Beatles or KISS?

“One of these bands likes to party, the other likes to pretend they’re German, Can you guess which ones which?”

Tickets there – Irish Playlist: Friday, September 25th

Maybe try and start this as a new feature, a weekly playlist of irish tracks Tickets There is currently listening to.

1. Ash – Uncle Pat

We all know Ash. Most of us love Ash. They just seem to get better and better with time but this week it’s Uncle Pat Time. What a fecking classic riff. Tim’s voice is one of those you either love or hate and Tickets There loves it. The guitars are so strong, the voice is so light and it works.

1. 2.       Future Kings of Spain – You Dream In Solid Gold

Mourning the loss of Tickets There’s prime choice for Irelands leading underground band, The Future Kings of Spain with the excellent You Dream in Solid Gold. Just one of many amazing tracks for their second album Nervousystem which I still advise everyone to go out and buy. Teach you what you’re missing when you ignore Irish acts.

1. Future Kings of Spain – Disappear

I know it’s not ‘cool’ to have the same band appear twice on the same list but |I| couldn’t care less, this is what Tickets There is listening to. Maybe I should explain something, when we find good music, we listen to it. We know there’s a lot of music out there and a lot of people are in a panic to hear absolutely every single note ever played but TT doesn’t go in for that. We don’t like jumping from one band to another every forty seconds. Instead, we find bands of quality, substance and talent and stick with them until they lose it.

Future Kings Disappear is a fantastic song. Atmospheric and classic. Great choice for anyone in mourning.

1. Bell X1 – Snakes & Snakes

Was doing a review of the Bellies Music in Mouth album earlier and I’ve had this song on repeat ever since. Great track, always nice to revisit this classic album.

1. Jaded Sun – Higher

This band caught me by surprise. I can’t believe how good they are and they only improve with age. Honestly I have their MySpace page open 24 hours a day listening to them. Cant wait to pick this album up tomorrow.

1. One Day International – Little Death

Did a review of this track several months ago and I still enjoy it, great wee song. Haven’t been tempted to see them live yet as I like a little more meat in my music for a gig but maybe one day.

1. The Flaws – Out Tonight

Not normally a fan of this type of music but I think the Flaws do a fairly decent job with this track. II suppose this would be considered an old one at this stage but Tickets There is in no way cutting edge I’m afraid.

1. Female Hercules – Inside You

I’m pretty sure that every single time I try and write a ‘What I’m listening to now’ blog, I include this song every single time. Well worth a go if you haven’t heard them before. For fans of hardcore J

1. Humazi – Straight Lines

Come on lads, get the bloody album out!

1. Neosupervital – Now That I’ve Found

One of the best dance / pop songs ever written by an irish act and a great tune to set you in a good mood. Expect many a blog today about the simple joys of listening to Neosupervital.

Arthur’s Day: Good drink, Shit Noise!

Anyone else in the pub last night at 17:59 for a toast to Arthur Guinness? Tickets There was but regrettably, there wasn’t a huge crew out. Ah well, quiet nights happen and when there’s free Guinness going around, a small crowd wont complain about having to fill the void

What the hell was with the TV celebrations though? Every time I looked at what was going on it couldn’t have looked any dryer! All I saw was English and Welsh people over here playing to crowds who couldn’t have looked less enthusiastic. The Blizzards (in Vicar Street I Think) were so fucking terrible I could get over it. I suddenly felt an urge to rip up that post about no doing any more negative MySpace Reviews. Although, compared to Jamie Cullen, David Gray, The Enemy, that fucking presenter in Whelan’s asking every fucking band about “seeing the Whites in peoples eyes”, that knob end Ronan Keating looking like a   …I don’t know what, some sort of beautified Emo. I’m pretty sure Tom Jones and Cat Deeley’s legs were the only saving grace of the whole evening.

Now I know this blog has a name for being negative but my thoughts about the coverage were shared by every single other person in the pub. As the Blizzards played I told one of the lads about the review I gave them and his comment was “Why were you so nice”. So fuck this. Those shitty, arse hole bands aren’t music. This country and primarily Dublin (because there’s enough students and scene queens around) is doing it’s best to create a vibrant music scene and cultural paradise when there’s fuck all substance to back it up.

The singer / song writer scene is dead, the emo/rockish/pop/punk music that most of the bands play is terrible. Half these aren’t musicians and a lot of them don’t have any talent. They’re sucking people in because they look the part, but they don’t fucking sound it. I have zero respect or appreciation for the music scene in Dublin. It’s swamped by a never ending parade of kids with no talent and so called bands with absolutely no musical talent, originality or character and they pawn of half written disasters with quirky noises and philosophical story lines (involing when they used to love transformers on a Saturday and the simple joys of a grilled Mars bar) under the guise of music. Its all explained off course by artist license and let’s all get along and enjoy it. Well that would be fine off course expect now there seems to be more of them than ever and I’m not sure if anyone’s noticed, but anytime they play an actual venue, the crowd is half full at fucking best! Anyone wonder why that is huh?

I remember last year heading along to Ham Sandwich who were one of the biggest underground bands on the go and the Village was a third full. Same thing when I say Director and they were the biggest crowd….for those bands. Interest in these groups seems to last as long as their songs. Anyone know why groups like The Beatles, U2, The Rolling Stones, Guns N Roses, Abba and every other major band still pack a crowd and get played in every pub almost every night while these newer groups (some of which have been in the go for up to ten years) still cant crack the mainstream, play a sold out show in the own country (in a venue that holds more than thirty people) or even get on a real radio station for more than one single??? It’s because they’re crap. They’re not music, they’re just shit. The songs aren’t songs, they’re college kids/unemployed talentless people doing their very best to destroy any chance for real bands and really talented people to ever make it through to the main stream. If they can’t learn a guitar, they all of sudden become a photographer or a DJ (or a music writer – Ed). Anyone else ever notice how many photographers there are in Dublin these days? And they all photograph the same fucking things over and over and over again, always trying to make it more deep by doing it in black and white. Or this visuals lot haha, oh sweet lord!

Hopefully one day kids will cop on and if they really love music the way they bullshit then hopefully they’ll stop endorsing groups like ‘The Blizzards’ and give their time to a real band. And stop fucking downloading, these groups do actually need money to survive and continue to make records.

Anyways, that’s enough of a Friday morning rant. Arthur’s day celebrations were shit but the Guinness, the Guinness is still king!

No More Negative MySpace Reviews…ever!

Hi folks,

Ok, Ever since the Best / Worst list went up there’s been more debate than Tickets There has ever seen before on our blog. I’ve had a think about how things came down to this and I’ve decided to jump ship. I started this blog to highlight bands around the country and talk about Irish music, not tear bands to pieces, which seemed to take over for awhile.

So, the decision is final. After having a chat with Brian from So Cow (who seems to be one of the most down to earth guys I’ve ever talked to on MySpace), I’ve decided not to do any more negative MySpace reviews and only post positive ones. Luckily enough some of the bands did find these funny rather than offensive and that’s pretty much what they’re meant to be.

I won’t remove the ones that are already there but I am deleting the worst 10 bands list (well, bringing it down to three bands instead of 10 and also removing that other ‘Avoid’ suggestions). Going forward, Tickets There is getting back to brining you new Irish bands and celebrating our music.

Our opinion hasn’t change about the groups, but life’s too short to tear others down.

All the best,
TT

The Future Kings of Spain – A History: 2000 – 2009

WIRED DESIRE – Damn Hard

If You haven’t heard of this group then it’s time you did. Wired Desire are one of the hottest rock bands Tickets There has heard in many a year. If you’re a fan of Guns N Roses, Aerosmith or ZZ Top, then you’re going to love this group.

Check out their MySpace Now

KISS-LECTION – Tickets There celebrates Alive 35

Welcome to the official Tickets There KISS-LECTION, 35 out our favorite KISS songs. A lot of them may be obvious but I’m afraid Tickets There isn’t here to entertain hordes of die-hard fanatics when it’s comes to KISS. This band are about rock n roll baby and this list is a compilation of the songs that brought TT into the KISS world and keep us there every day. In all fairness, filling the 35 in took about three minutes so you can probably expect another 35 in the near future because there are still a lot of classics to be discussed.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the hottest band in the world, KISS are a four piece formed in New York in the early seventies. They play straight up rock n roll and have done so for over three decades. Oh, and they wear full face makeup, wear six inch healed (platform) boots, black sparkly costumes (with wings in Gene’s case), travel the world with more pyrotechnics and fireworks than China, Fly across the audience at their live shows, have stages built on the roofs of their sound desk and stage rook not to mention the fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars and everything else.

They also have thousands of products for sale with their name on it. Everything from Candy to Coffins. Keep your eyes pealed this year for KISS M&M’s, KISS Mr. Potato Heads and much, much more. Don’t you wish every band in the world was as much fun as KISS

1. 100,000 Years – (KISS, 1974)

Ok, Lets start (actually this is the 20^th one I’ve written but what the hell), 100,000 years comes from the bands debut album (half of which makes up this list). It’s not only brilliant. It’s so mouth wateringly wholesome and warm that it makes your heart smile and your soul fly with an airline that prides themselves on doing the exact opposite of Ryanair. Maybe a tad dramatic but there ya go, 100,000 years rocks folks!!

2. 2,000 Man – (Dynasty, 1979)

Can I include cover songs? Well I’ve got two on this list so it would seem I can include anything you want. 2,000 Man is a Rolling Stones cover and KISS do a superb job of it.

3. All Hell’s Breakin’ Loose – (Lick It Up – 1983)

The question isn’t why I like this song, it’s ‘Why don’t you like this song?

4. Black Diamond – (KISS, 1974)

Along with Cold Gin and a handful of others, Black Diamond is amongst the Crème de la Crème of KISS material. This is the real band and a sample of the glue that holds the whole KISS universe together. Without incredible, solid and full on hard rock belters like this, everything else would crumble. It’s always been about the music with KISS and this early little slice of brilliance proves that, no matter what gene tries to tell you

5. Calling Dr. Love – (Rock N Roll Over, 1976)

Calling Dr. Love is one of the highlights from 1976’s Destroyer. Gene’s voice always brings that something extra special to KISS song’s. His demon persona really comes across and he obviously loves it. That makes the songs so much more appealing and enjoyable. Dr. Love is, at the end of the day fluff, but it’s good fluff. All things KISS are always good.

6. Cold Gin – (KISS, 1974)

Great intro, incredible riff, great vocals, drums, flow, music, song, band, drink…aghh everything. Cold Gin should be a countries national anthem it’s so good. Gene growls his way through the verse, chewing every word and spitting em back out in your face, biotch! One of the true classics from KISS and an absolute must to hear live. Just listen to that melody thing near the end and the fade out….drools!!!

7. Crazy, Crazy Nights – (Crazy, Crazy Nights, 1987)

Ahhh, classic eighties KISS. Yet another of those ‘stick it on in a night club’ type classics. An absolute tribute to the post-makeup lineup and still a thrilling one to catch live.

8. Detroit Rock City – (Destroyer, 1976)

The first KISS song I would have called my favorite. Detroit Rock City is the band at their best. It’s one of those Cold Gin, Strutter, Love Gun kind of classics. Loud guitars, booming chorus, great riffs, the whole package. Then again, this is KISS not Radiohead and KISS always deliver!

9. Deuce – (KISS, 1974)

For the simple fact that KISS opened with this track when I saw them or for the reason that the last time I went to an Iron Maiden gig, myself and my girlfriend spent the whole thing standing at the bar singing this rather than watching Bruce and the boys, this is probably my favorite KISS song. It’s not only the way they come down from the top of the stage when they play it live or the routine Paul, Gene and Ace(Tommy) do live, it’s all about the sher brilliance of the track. A solid hard rock classic with one the greatest riffs in KISS-Tory!

10. Do You Love Me – (Destroyer, 1976)

The ultimate rock star track. Any Yoko’s or Courtney Loves out there? Well here it is, the singer finally singing about you folks. Why has the world suddenly started making Yoko Ono trendy again? The woman is really, really F**ked in the head and a total cow. She tried to sue one girl because she was a singer and her surname is Lennon!! Really people, stick her in the loony bin with Manson and let’s move on.

11. Firehouse – (KISS, 1974)

One of those KISS styled KISS Standards. Cant wait to see how many times I typed KISS in this review . Firehouse is great live, it’s great on record and it’s great to sing along to. Slow but deadly.

12. Flaming Youth – (Destroyer, 1976)

I know, how can Destroyer deliver any more classics? Well, it’s a KISS record so it can pretty much do anything it likes.

13. God Gave Rock N Roll To You II – (Revenge – 1992)

Yeah, Bill and Ted, so what? Anthem, Anthem, Anthem,. Forget every other song in this review I called an anthem,. This is it. Well, this and Rick N Roll All Night, that’s really is another KISS Anthem. Not one I’d rush to hear them play live but they generally have it on at the end of their gig on the PA and that’s a nice touch to finish the evening off.

14. God of Thunder – (Destroyer, 1976)

Not sure I was ever 100% comfortable with this one. One day I think it’s brilliant, the next day I can barely stand to hear it. Couldn’t ever leave it off a list though, it’s one of Gene’s classics and the man deserves a lot more mentions that I’ve given him.

15. Hard Luck Woman – (Rock N Roll Over, 1976)

One of the reasons I would love to see Peter Criss back in band. Hard Luck Woman is Acoustic KISS at their finest. Apparently Paul Stanley offered this to Rod Stewart originally but Stewart rejected it (mistake fucker) so KISS recorded it. Not only that, but they did a damn fine job and Peter Criss proves he’s not all about Beth..which you’ll noticed can’t be found in this list!)

16. Heaven’s on Fire – (Animalize, 1984)

Someone’s gonna nail me on this one. If I get away with Tear are Falling then I’m getting shouted at for this one but…we’re not gonna take it. Brilliant song, deal with it. Eighties, guitars, big vocals, bigger chorus. Just watch out for the music video, that thing’ll scar you.

17. Hotter Than Hell – (Hotter Than Hell, 1974)

Hot, Hot, Hotter than Hell. Who could they be singing about I wonder (adds cheeky grin)?. Everything it says on the tin with an added dash of deadly!

18. I Love It Loud – (Creatures of the Night, 1982)

I Love It Loud, one of the few KISS songs you can listen to 18,000 times in a row and never, ever, ever,ever, ever, ever get sick off. It’s just a brute of a song with Gene’s bellowing voice booming throughout. Check out the Exposed DVD and you’ll see a clip of them playing this (the last show with their make-up) and you’ll be converted. 100,000 people, KISS and I Love It Loud!

19. Ladies Room – (Rock N Roll Over, 1976)

I suppose I’m including this for the simple reason that it reminds me of a funny moment in Detroit Rock City. I’m not going to describe it because it’ll sound cheap and completely loose it’s humor aspect but it’s good. Fun song, generic KISS ya know?

20. Lick It Up – (Lick It Up – 1983)

Even if you aren’t a fan, you know this one. Lick It Up is without a doubt one of the top three singles from Eighties KISS. It’s loud, it’s fast, it’s simple, it’s in your face KISS!. Put this song on in a nightclub and every girl there will super glue herself to the nearest pole and dance. Meanwhile all the guys will be worried that liking a band that wears make-up will make them gay. Anyone who worries about that is gay. Just helping you fellas out of the closet there.

21. Love Gun – (Love Gun, 1977)

Who doesn’t like Love Gun? If you don’t know go to YouTube and cop on. Possibly KISS’s finest recorded moment. A blitz of guitars, riffs, drums, screaming, everything. Love Gun is 100% American Made, Family un-friendly KISS-O-Rific

22. Modern Day Delilah – (Sonic Boom, 2009)

The one and only song to be included from Sonic Boom…so far. If this is anything to go by, several more new ones will be heading towards the top 35 soon. MDD is a fantastic song with Paul’s voice sounding stronger than it has for years. The riffs, the drums everything is great. May not pack the full wallop of the older material but given time, I think this song will mature very, very well.

23. New York Groove – (Ace Frehley¸ 1978)

I heard this on the Second Coming DVD and managed to find it on Ace’s 1978 solo record. A cover (the 2^nd of the two) and another crackin’ one at that. Totally different from normal KISS but that’s not something to criticize……this one time . Good funky kind of beat, Ace singing one of the best songs he’s ever done.

24. Nothin’ to Lose – (KISS, 1974)

Was thinking of adding She instead but feck it, Nothin’ To Lose is a great song. When Gene sings, it’s always a great song. It’s real bop along kind of KISS with all the builds, suspensions and characteristics of a classic KISS anthem.

25. Parasite – (Hotter Than Hell, 1974)

What a riff to kick things off! Parasite is gold minted, platinum material. Best captured on their 1975 Alive album and a little gem for their collection and anyone’s ears. Hard rock babbbbyyyyyyyy! Parasite eyes!!

26. Psycho Circus – (Psycho Circus, 1998)

I will admit one thing; I was not a fan of this album. The songs sound sooo forced and wanting to be old KISS but it just doesn’t work…well, it does on one. Psycho Circus is a furious little track. Paul’s voice, the music, the energy and the lyrics, everything falls together just right on this one and anyone who hasn’t heard it is just missing out on one of KISS’s best songs.

27. Rock N Roll All Night – (Dressed to Kill, 1975)

I don’t care how cool you are, I don’t care how ‘Hard-Core’ you are with KISS, this is a song that must, At all times, be included on any list of the greatest songs. Rock N Roll All Night’s an anthem of the highest degree. KISS are the ultimate party band, this is their call, answer!

28. Shandi – (Unmasked, 1980)

I know, this is a strange choice but I just love, don’t you? The first time I heard it was from one of the KISS DVD’s and Paul just played it alone. The solo job sounds a lot less…ya know, that the recording but there’s just something so nice about the guitars I couldn’t not stick it in.

29. Shock Me – (Love Gun, 1977)

Like Hard Luck Woman for Peter Criss, this would be one of the main reasons I’d love to see Ace back with the group. Shock Me is a classic and sadly they don’t perform it live without Ace (as it’s his song). Great, iconic and legendary. Have I over hyped it? Probably but it’s still a savage track.

30. Shout it out Loud – (Destroyer, 1976)

How do you say the word Anthem for the 30^th time in a row? Shout it Out Loud is a classic, 1970’s styled Live anthem folks. Everything you need to hear or know about the band is in this song. It’s not their best but it’s way, way up there. Shout it Out Loud has some of their best riffs, their best guitars, their best vocals, their best melodies…everything.

31. Strutter – (KISS, 1974)

Ah god, this list is great,. Every time I think I’ve gotten all the ‘best’ tracks done, another pops straight up. Strutter is full on sleazy rock n roll. Stick on the leather jacket, light up your smoke and down your whiskey to enjoy. It’s a monster of guitars n attitude.

32. King of the Night Time World – (Destroyer, 1976)

You may have noticed down the line that I have a fondness for Gene Simmons voice and songs. King of the Night time world is no exception, An absolutely brilliant track but then again, everything on Destroyer is a killer track, that’s why it’s such a deadly album. You don’t know that??? For Shame, out of the village, I cast you out heathen!!

33. Sure Know Something – (Dynasty, 1979)

Oh Yeah, kick back, relax and let Kiss blow those worries away..Cool!

34. Tears are Falling – (Asylum, 1985)

If you know this song and you’re judging me, back off. Tears are falling is eighties KISS and it’s so addictive it’s frightening. This is one of those times I actually do see the cheese going off in this song but I still love it. You want to make your own list of your 35 favorite KISS songs and leave this out? Go ahead, but this is Tickets There and we like Tears are Falling!

35. Uh! All Night – (Asylum, 1985)

So that’s it folks, the first Tickets There Alive 35 KISS-LECTION printed in surround sound just for you two that read my stuff. If I left any off, feel free to a comment for your favorite KISS tracks and tell Tickets There why you love them so much.,

All the best,

TT

Tickets There to Celebrate KISS – SONIC BOOM / ALIVE 35

KISS, the world hottest bands and currently ranked number 4 on the Tickets There’s all time favourites, will release their new album Sonic Boom on the 6^th of October!!

How is Tickets There going to celebrate?? Well, Megadeth was good but I think KISS needs something special so we’re going to review 35 of our favourite KISS songs and call it …Tickets There’s 35 KISS-LECTION. If you can think of a better name, send it on punk!

We’ll also have a review of the record itself once we get our hands on it. Tickets There is 100% against illegal file sharing and downloading so we won’t have the review until the physical copy comes out.

And one final thing, we’ll be posting a review of Alive 1975 – 2000, one album at a time!! And as one final gesture of good will, we’ll be sticking up a review of their classic 1976 album, Destroyer

Tickets There: SAFE / AVOID Irish Bands

Hi There,

Tickets There has decided to create a list of the Safe (Good) Irish bands.

This list will only be based on our collective (my) personal tastes and will be updated as often as possible (Also, the Top Ten only includes bands that are still togeather and fairly underground / local. Thats why Ash arent on this list for example ).

Click on the band names to read what Tickets There has to say about them.

Safe: Top 10 Best Irish Bands & others worth checking out

1. The Future Kings of Spain (Indie Rock)
2. Concerto For Constantine (Indie Rock)
3. Jape (Indie / Techno / Pop)
4. Humanzi (Punk Rock)
5. The Aftermath (Pop Rock)
6. Jaded Sun (New Entry) (Rock N Roll)
7. Cathy Davey (Singer / Songwriter)
8. LE GALAXIE (Electro-Rock)
9. Adebisi Shank (Hard Rock / Metal, Instrumental)
10. Mass Extinction (Thrash Metal)

TURN, The Mighty Atomics, Kill City Defectors, The Walls, One Day International, The Brothers Movement, Oliver Cole, The Answer, The Delorentos, Class of 1984, The Mighty Stef, The Frames, The Rapport, Bell X1, Lisa Hannigan, Republic of Loose, Berkeley, The Murder Clues, Fred, Sickboy, TKO, Joe Rubix, R.S.A.G., The Stunning, And So I Watch You From Afar, Codes..more to come.

Avoid: Top 3  Irish Bands worth Avoiding!!

1. Grand Pocket Orchestra
2. Kill Krinkle Club
3. Fight Like Apes

Jaded Sun – Higher

Cannot get enough of this. Strictly for fans of ROCK N FUCKIN’ ROLL!!

Jape -At the Heart of all of this Strangeness

Great song

Kanye West – You are a Douche!!

This is brilliant folks, enjoy.

Why Green Day aren’t Punk! – A short, Late Night Rant

Richard Hell, that’s the name of the guy I was trying to remember when I started looking through some punk sites this evening. Anyone out there know him? Anyways, doesn’t matter. What got to me was the fact that every time I searched for punk, I was bombarded with article after article and picture after picture of bands like Green Day, The Offspring, NOFX, New Found Glory, Good Charlotte, Sum 41 and the terrible Less Than Jake and I couldn’t help feeling that punk fans and the bands have watered down the music so badly that it’s no wonder people don’t even have respect for The Sex Pistols anymore!

Now, I know the world has a hell of a lot of very, very backward, stupidly stupid people in it but I would try and entertain the idea that even the simplest minded ‘punk rock’ fan does know why the whole thing started in the first place, but I could be wrong. For those of you who don’t know there’s one thing to get straight before you ever mention the bands, before you hear a note of the music, before you even think of shaving all but the middle of your head and tearing your cloths and before you even consider pogoing. That’s the simple fact that ‘Punk’ and ‘Punk rock’ are two very, very separate things. One is about being young, having dreams and ideals with a strength, determination and resolve never to let anyone stand in the way of you achieving them, no matter what the circumstances. Similar to the dreams of hippies from the sixties, Punk’s were about equality, individualism, originality and the notion that we can be anything we want to be. ‘Punk Rock’ is about hair styles, fashion, image, appearance, cliché ideals, un-originality, conforming all backed by a particular driving sound that helps sell the image. Obviously it’s the former idea that excites true fans of music history.

Although Punk music’s origins started in the States with bands like MC5, The New York Dolls, The Stooges and The Ramones, it took four young Londoners to pack all of those ideals and aspirations along with youthful angst and satirical commentary on modern society to make an album that would change the course of music forever. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols may be the best known and widely loved Punk album of all time but unlike most of the other punk rock albums out there, such as American Idiot and Out Come the Wolves, it’s an honour well deserved. But we’ll talk more about the Pistols and their legacy later.

Now you may think I’m being a little hard on modern punk bands because of the cloths they wear and the image they promote. ‘Why not?’, you ask, ‘who’s it hurting anyway?’. Well there’s a very simple answer to that question. It’s not hurting anyone. What it did was kill one of music’s most original and best efforts at provoking younger people to take pride in themselves, no matter how they looked or what people told them they could amount to. It pushed them to be creative and stand out from a world inhabited by mindless, happy to be controlled sheep. People who had long since given up their attempts at creativity or any hope or longing to just be themselves and not hide behind fashion or popular thought. The kind of people you see everyday that are so competitive and worried about standing out. People who are so worried about other people’s opinion that they cower away with the flock and spend their time sneering and spitting on anyone else that does have that courage to be themselves. You see them everywhere; It starts in school and lasts for the rest of their lives. How many times have you heard people taking endless amounts of crap on subjects like religion, politics, history, the recession, current social and political conflicts and trends? You know those loud mouths who talk and talk about these issues and you can hand pick every comment they make and know full well the film, rumour, hearsay or book they took it from in order to pass it of as their own, without even attempting to look further into the subject, take all points of view into consideration and voice their own, thought out opinion? Well if you can’t remember several times like this it probably just means you’re one of them or you you’re living in Plato’s cave (no philosophical similarity intended).

This may all sound a little off the point when you’re talking about punk music but that’s the point, it’s not off the topic. Those people who do think for themselves were and are punks. ‘Punk Rockers’ you see these days aren’t and I justify that comment with one very simple answer. They’re not punks, because they look like punks. That right there defeats the whole idea punk music started with. The foundation was about being different and not conforming to any system (system not solely meaning government, system refers to any system of control whether it be music, fashion or anything else). So, when the golden punk ideal became watered down with ripped trousers, hair styles and a particular sound, it signalled the end for one of music’s most exacting times.

In the mid-seventies, several punk rock bands of note and influence sprang out of England. Acts like The Jam, The Clash, The Buzzcocks, The Damned and Siouxsie and the Banshees, to name a few, but The Sex Pistols still managed to stand out above all the competition. These days it’s hard to look back and justify why the Pistols had such a strong influence at the time. Peoples minds are clouded with overweight fifty year olds, flogging a dead hoarse every few years for cash, the once scary, sneering Johnny Rotten now dressed in tweed selling butter and taking part in shows like Celebrity Jungle and the cliché of clichés, Mr. Punk Icon himself Sid Vicious’ image over used a billion times by people drinking in cocktail bars who couldn’t name a song the Pistols ever wrote, let alone any of Sid’s solo work. In Tickets There’s opinion there are justifications for all those actions. The Pistols never made any money when they started so why not let them now?, Sid wasn’t being a cliché punk at the time, he was one of the people who invented it, not copied it and Johnny, well Johnny can do what ever the hell he likes because he’s Johnny Rotten. But whether you agree or disagree, none of that can ever hamper their years together as a group and the impact their music and their short time together had on the world.

I say time because the Pistols influence goes deeper than the music. As I mentioned earlier, Punk and Punk Rock are two different things. The Pistols played punk rock in a band but they were punks. At least they started off that way. Their first two years together showed a band going through absolute hell in order to get their point across to the world. They may look like your typical punks and their lyrics, speeches and general attitude may resemble your traditional punk but that’s where it started. They were noting more than kids who had more talent that they were ever given credit for. Four kids angry at society, angry at the world around them who wanted to make a difference or at the very least get laid and have a laugh. They didn’t set out to shock the people at first, they just said what they wanted and that started all the controversy. They may have been naive and miss-lead but they weren’t fake and once they realized what was happening and that they were merely becoming the main attraction in a circus being built up around them they stopped. They simply refused to conform. That’s Punk! You can argue that Jonny leaving and Sid’s death had more to do with it than a general decision but the point is they didn’t carry on after their first album. They didn’t put the head down and deal with the ever growing joke their manager was trying to turn their efforts into and carry on for the sake of massive pay cheques and fame, two of music’s main pitfalls for many iconic artists. The band didn’t want to become manikins or puppets. They were strong willed kids who knew what they had started was too special to kill by opting for an easy life. That is why the Pistols will always be one step above all the other acts from that time, their actual refusal to conform, rather than their musical output. It just helps that Nevermind the Bollocks is the greatest Punk Rock album aswell.

Green Day, Rancid and bands like that? Guys wearing suits and ties with pretty hair trying to sing about their pain while they try and remember if they turned the pool heater of or not. Or guys covered in tattoos except on their hands and face so they can still conform and hide what they pretend to be when needed. Guys decked out in expensive leather, all the wallet chain’s, spikes, bracelets, accessories and quirky necklaces and t-shirts top dollar can buy. That’s not punk, that’s nothing but commercialisms orange parade to celebrate the fact that nothing on this earth can remain special, nothing can be left untouched by the greedy hand of economy and commercialism. Proof that no matter how pure and simple something is, someone out there will always exploit it, make it a product and tap a ‘target market’ and no matter how great the people behind it are and how strong their message is, the ever eager and obeying flock are always waiting to infiltrate, tear apart, burn down and destroy the goodness others have worked and longed for.

Punk is dead, leave it be!

Missing Electric Picnic?

Well don’t be upset, there’s much better things you can do with €240, the line-ups crap and lets be honest, it attracts 30,000 of Ireland’s wannabe hippies. The sort of people who love their hemp trousers, their pathetic looking dreadlocks and complaining that socialism is the way our country should go. Even worse is the families which are now being encouraged to go.

Anyways, don’t be upset. Here’s a couple if clips from last years festival to scrape the blues away.