Articles by Ciarán Ryan
Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer
With the exception of perhaps Rob Crow, Spencer Krug is almost a shoe-in for the inaugural Pitchfork-backed ‘Mr Prolific Indie Rock of the Decade’; while the perceived day job he holds down may well be as co-frontman of Wolf Parade, the busy Canuck also finds time for Frog Eyes, Swan Lake, and not least,…
The Return Of The Redneck Manifesto
Coming after their recent jaunt in sunny France recording album #4, Dublin instrumental marvels The Redneck Manifesto have pencilled in Saturday, August 29, for their first live outing of 2009 with a headling hoedown at Whelan’s. Expect to hear Redneck’s “hits” along with material from the eagerly-awaited follow-up to 2005’s I Am Brazil.
Also…
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
While we would generally be aghast at the idea of indulging in sweeping geographic stereotypes, Phoenix’s fourth album could possibly only come from a French band; drenched in Gallic chic, it mixes punchy guitar pop tunes with smatterings of French Touch, and, while frontman Thomas Mars’ distinctive vocal can sometimes veer towards the laissez-faire,…
Noise Fest For Student Gaff In Limerick
The usually collegiate-infused surroundings of Castletroy in Limerick will right about now be settling into a quiet, student-free, summer. Not so, it seems, with the announcement of a weekend Noise Festival taking place in one of the suburb’s estates.
Perhaps taking their cue from the well-respected Hideaway Housein Dublin, Northern Ireland promoters Chain Reaction…
Parts & Labor – Receivers
For an outfit who probably got their name after a disgruntled trip to their local car garage, it’s not startling that there is an almost mechanical sound to Parts & Labor’s fourth album Receivers. From the bagpipe-esque opening keyboard strains of ‘Satellites’, manipulation of equipment and sound is the name of the game as…
Jay Reatard – Matador Singles ’08
Bizarrely for a man who spits out vehemently bastardised pop tunes at an incredibly fertile rate, there seems to be something genuine about Jay Lindsey, or at the very least, his alter-ego Jay Reatard. He may manage to funnel oomph from decades of rock music, mashing Eddie Cochran, The Stones, Ramones, Richman and Dino…
Interview: Vampire Weekend
It is somewhat apt that Vampire Weekend have just got their daily nutrition dose at a Turkish restaurant in Hamburg. Defying the conventions of their Columbia University education, they nosh down on some tasty kebabs, as opposed to munching preppy salads.
