Cluas Gigs of the Fortnight
The best gigs across Ireland during the period 24 October to 11 November 2005
Check out
the previous 'gigs of the fortnight' (which covers
the period 10 October to 23 October 2005 inclusive)
| Gig of the fortnight is........ Tom Vek |
 Where
and When?
Whelan's,
Dublin - 28th October
The Limelight, Belfast - 29th OctoberWhy? The most common thing written about Tom Vek by British and Irish music hacks this year has probably been that he makes music that defies convention and is near impossible to classify into a specific style. Those people are nowhere near as imaginative as their American counterparts who seem to have a pigeon-hole for every occasion as evidenced by the booklet that was handed out to attendees of this years CMJ Music Marathon at which Tom Vek was a performer. Beside Vek's name was the phrase 'geek-funk'. So there you have it, Tom Vek makes geek-funk. And he's pretty good at it too. |
| Best of the Rest |
 Who?
Buck 65Where and When? Roisin Dubh,
Galway - 28th October The Village, Dublin -
29th October The Village, Dublin -
29th October Limelight, Belfast -
30th OctoberPart hip-hop Tom Waits, part stand up comic, part latter day beat-poet, Buck 65 is unquestionably the finest exponent of underground white-boy Nova Scotian hip-hop in the world today.
Having seen the Rich Tefrey live experience a number of times last year I can safely say that you will be hard pressed to find a more entertaining gig to go to anywhere. Just be prepared to be called nasty names.
|
 Who?
K.T. TunstallWhere and When?
Waterfront Hall, Belfgast - 24th October
Olympia, Dublin - 25th October
Olympia, Dublin - 25th OctoberAn overnight success after almost a decade of plugging away on the fringes of the music business K.T. Tunstall's rise to fame in the past year has demonstrated that sometimes, despite what those in the know tell you, self belief and perseverance can result in getting you where you want to be.
After a last minute cancellation meant that she got an unexpected call to appear on Later With Jools Holland Tunstall took full advantage of her opportunity and with an impressive display of proficiency with a loop pedal grabbed the attention of many watching. One Mercury Music Prize nomination later and she now finds herself playing venues ten times the size of the ones she was appearing at just 12 months ago.
|
 Who?
The Four Tops and The TemptationsWhere and When? The
Waterfront Hall, Belfast - 26th October
Vicar Street, Dublin - 27th OctoberThis week we've got a very special offer for you, two of the greatest soul groups in history will appear for your listening pleasure in your home* and all for the price of a big night out in Dublin**. * Offer only applies if you actually live in one of only 2 (two) Irish venues. ** "A big night out in Dublin" is valued at '70, Cluas.com accepts no responsibility for you feeling massively ripped off when you pay for these tickets, customers are advised that Pro Evolution Soccer 5 was released last Friday on PS2 and X-Box, costs significantly less than these tickets and offers months upon months of "taunting you mates when you hammer them" gaming pleasure.
|
 Who?
Kate and Anna McGarrigleWhere and When?
Vicar Street, Dublin - 2nd NovemberHo hum, another month, another gig in Ireland by members of the Wainwright-McGarrigle clan. After appearances this year by spouse Loudon and children Rufus & Martha it's unsurprising that Kate McGarrigle and her sister Anna should be playing here and it's tragic that I'm being so blasé about such a gifted pair of musicians coming to Ireland. Here's hoping for some of that between song dirty laundry airing that made Kate's family's gigs so interesting. |
 Who?
HumanziWhere and When? An Cruiscun Lan,
Cork - 27th October The Limelight,
Belfast - 2nd November Roisin Dubh,
Galway - 3rd November Spirit Store,
Dundalk - 4th November TBMC,
Dublin - 5th NovemberIf the talk is anything to go by the future of the entire Irish music business rests squarely on the shoulders of Humanzi. If they live up to the faith placed in them by their record company it could spark an Irish band signing bonanza unseen since U2 made it big.
Such talk is, of course, complete crap and one suspects that Humanzi don't really give a damn about heralding a new Irish rock revolution and are justifiably more concerned with actually seizing the opportunity that's been put in front of them at this early point in their careers. Whether or not they do that is only known by the oracles but being recently play-listed by MTV2 is a good start.
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| Also this fortnight: |
| Architecture in Helsinki - TBMC, Dublin - 4th November |
| Deus - Ambassador, Dublin - 4th November |
| Damien Jurado - Whelan's, Dublin - 26th October |
CLUAS
'Gigs of the Fortnight' is compiled and edited by the CLUAS listings editor,
Ian Wright.
