Live Review
Rubberbandits – Dublin
By now it should be apparent that Limerick’s Rubberbandits are more than just a novelty act and weren’t just one hit wonders with ‘Horse Outside’. You only have to YouTube the prank phone calls they specialised in early in their careers, and it becomes obvious that they are arch situationists, who owe as much...READ »
The 20 best acts @ Hard Working Class Heroes 2011
100 bands played Hard Working Class Heroes 2011. Here are the 20 which made the biggest impression on the four State reviewers. Photo by Martina McDonald. See all the photos in the HWCH gallery.… Bantum State catches the latter half of the Dublin-based (Cork-born) producer’s set, and it’s more than enough to pencil him...READ »
Jeffrey Lewis – Dublin
A sparse yet obviously obsessively devoted audience is gathered in The Button Factory for this gig by Brooklyn anti-folk singer/songwriter (and noted cartoonist) Jeffrey Lewis, a man who almost single-handedly defines the phrase ‘cult figure’. One of the most oft-heard criticisms of Lewis (and, by extension, of the entire anti-folk movement, all the way...READ »
John Vanderslice / VerseChorusVerse – Dublin
In some ways, the Unitarian Church is the real star of tonight’s show, with both opening act and main attraction seem slightly in awe of their surroundings. It’s understandable, since how often does any musician get to perform on an altar with white marbled scrolls of the beatitudes for a backdrop, a marbled pulpit...READ »
Julie Feeney – Cork Culture Night
There can’t be many better times to explore a new city that the outgoing, open-minded and welcoming events on offer during Culture Night. With the event having newly expanded to almost every corner of the island of Ireland (and even across to London), we found ourselves strolling the dimly lit streets of central Cork,...READ »
Arthur’s Day – Limerick
The Arthur’s Day celebration sees the past and present of Irish life converge into an evening of electrifying music and nostalgic nods to our heritage. A crowd approaching 1500 descend upon Limerick city to sample a pint of the black stuff and listen to some of the finest artists this country has to offer....READ »
Emeralds – Dublin
State has been giving Emeralds the runaround for the last few months. For starters, the Icelandic volcano farted ash clouds all over their planned Whelan’s show last May. We then missed them at Primavera a few days later as we waited in a three-hour queue for wristbands, and at Bestival they had the misfortune...READ »
Ghostpoet – Dublin
Sitting somewhere between the heavy social commentary of Scroobius Pip and the observational perceptions of The Streets, languid emcee Ghostpoet struck a chord with the release of his debut LP. Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam… isn’t cumbered with addressing the state of the nation but neither is it as flippant as say, Mike...READ »
Echo & The Bunnymen – Dublin
Tonight at the Olympia Theatre Echo and The Bunnymen are touring their classic Ocean Rain… album, something that we fear will be a test of the pipes of main man Ian McCulloch. Having seen him croak through the last two shows we’ve attended, there’s a real risk that he’s shot his bolt and after...READ »
Arthur’s Day – Dublin
Since launching in 2009, Arthur’s Day has done a great job of establishing itself on the Irish musical calendar, with affordable performances from well-known bands – especially those in intimate venues – difficult to turn down for the money-conscious music lover. For all its obvious merits – price, surprise factor at the pub gigs,...READ »
Coldplay – Toronto
Downtown Toronto is out of sorts tonight, with a 1,000 strong crowd huddled together in the rain, waiting in anticipation for Coldplay. The band are playing a free outdoor show in the parking lot of Much Music (the Canadian equilvant of MTV). As is the way with gigs like this, the rain doesn’t seem...READ »
Little Roy perform Nirvana – London
Twenty years ago, Nirvana’s songs would have come to us in sweaty venues amidst crowd-surfing and checked-shirts, teenage angst and hero worship. But today, the grunge anthems play out in a bright gallery on Brick Lane, performed by a legend of another genre. Jamaican reggae artist Little Roy is performing at the opening of Nevermind...READ »
State @ Bestival 2011 – Sunday
Galleries by Claire Weir: Friday | Saturday | Sunday… Four days in and I’ve still got a few goosebumps left in the tank. James Blake is nearing the end of his early evening Big Top set, and as the bass tremors burrow up through the grass my soles are vibrating. Blake’s live set, like...READ »
State @ Bestival 2011 – Saturday
Galleries by Claire Weir: Friday | Saturday | Sunday… I think we’re out of luck with the weather. The clouds look like they’re about six feet above our heads and they’re getting blacker by the minute. After yesterday’s techno crusade it’s time for a well-earned siesta, which means we sacrifice a few bands to...READ »
