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Last Post 11/23/2004 4:18 AM by  kerb
2004.... a small review
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kerb
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11/23/2004 4:18 AM
    As someone who works in A&R I have spent this year attending many gigs. Some good, some not so good, some incredible. I use this site alot. I think the opinions and discussions which most of you post are brilliant and i think the site itself warrants such issues we talk about. Firstly, to Cluas.com. Thank you for providing the Irish punter with a media to express their views and promote their gigs. I wonder, in the days of Junkster, Engine Alley, Power of Dreams, Peach, The Pale & Something Happens et all how we coped without the Internet. You really had so little access to the public outside of posters and word of mouth and trying to convince the demon that is Hotpress that your band warranted coverage in the form of a little news section. Secondly I am going to briefly give you a little insight into the acts who have caught my eye this year. Alot of them are playing in December, some you must wait until 2005 to see. There are acts that I have not mentioned. There are too many to mention. By not mentioning your band it means that "I" have not been caught by what you do, it DOES NOT mean your band is in anyway flawed. Mine is an opinion, everyone has one and my opinion counts for little in the grand scheme of things. This year has seen the arrival of some great bands who were either knocking before or have simply arrived from the cold and warmed our souls. The band scene is healthy now, lets keep it that way. Acts are not in order & have just given a little title for each one! BEST NEW ACT* The Rags - I have seen these guys four times. In Danny there is an arrogance which is almost offensive from a lead singer. But when a band produces tunes of this peril and with such conviction, it becomes easy to forgive. Pure pop alt rock with class. "Modern Citizen" & "Beats" are tracks to endure & love. May you be rewarded for your welcome arrival on the scene. MOST DESERVED* The Republic of Loose - Playing Oxygen this summer would boost the moral of any band, particularly one who in 2000 seemed so down and out. "Girl I'm gonna F**k you up" Ep's is what brought these guys to my attention awhile ago & their debut album "This is the tomb of the Juice" has received critical acclaim. Topped with the fact that the lead singer is a guy called Mick Pyro... have to be rock star bound. Have already set my sights on seeing them in the Ambassador in December. Some of the percussion and mood of earlier songs reminded me of Fun Lovin Criminals... with melodies that just ring and ring and ring and ring in the head. Well traveled & professional act. No alarm clocks needed here. See them LIVE! BEST LIVE* 66e - Stole the show for me at Hard Working Class Hero's on the Sunday. It's Radiohead without the confusion. Like being at the opera or listening to songs made for swirling Orchestration. Their debut album is released in January followed by a nationwide tour. Their most recent gig in Whelans with Polar confirmed to me what a truly amazing band this really was. I believe everyone should make the effort to see them once. BEST BAND* Jove - Jove vanished. Then this year seemed to come from nowhere. The guitars pelt your ears from all angles, strings & soaring vocals drive stakes deep inside the heart & I am beginning to believe that there IS room for Jove & Muse on this planet. No releases planned this side of 05 so LIVE is where its at for you if you've not seen them. Managed by one of the most genuine & ambitious people I have ever met, Voodoo Lounge on the 3rd of December is the only place you should be. Ireland's next superstars?! MOST EXCITING* The Immediate - Recently signed to the massively influential UK Independent Label Fierce Panda, i belive the Immediate will be on London soon to play a number of dates and are managed by Supremo in Dublin. Indescribable act... four piece who switch and change instruments so the singer who was the bass player is now the drummer who is on guitar! Funky,.. jazz rock bizarre stuff! Seeing the Immediate is an experience... experience them! DARK HORSE ACTS* Stars of the City Alphastates The Things Cortinaz 79 The Chapters The Chalets The Chakras Just opinions, remember they are only valid when you see the above bands and make your own minds up. However would enjoy chatting with you all over the next few days and please let me know if there are acts I have not mentioned, i may not have seen them. Thanks Kerb
    eoghan
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    11/23/2004 10:21 AM
    Kerb, A timely post as I will be opening the polling booths for 2004 CLUAS readers' poll later this week. So y'all get yer thinking caps on, d'ye hear me now? eoghan
    spurtacus
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    11/23/2004 10:31 AM
    the most confusing thing of 2004: http://www.wimp.com/reader/ ......had me freaked altogether, but then again i'm not the cleverest
    kerb
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    11/23/2004 11:27 AM
    Spurtacus - thats added to my favs. Everytime you get an answer however look at the number you just picked. The symbol is different each time. Mind tricks eh! Anyway, thanks Eoghan. Purely off the cuff, bored and sleepless on a Monday night. So c'mon guys/gals... opinions on the above firstly & additional bands worth seeing! Will be good for the poll later in the week.
    Gar
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    11/23/2004 11:53 AM
    Good stuff Kerb. Don't know if you checked them out already but there is an album review of Republic Of Loose, live reviews of 66E supporting Polar and HWCH gigs all up on Cluas. I'll be here all day if I mention the good/bad gigs I attended or artists I discovered this year. Better wait for the poll and keep it simple.
    kerb
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    11/23/2004 11:56 AM
    Cheers Gar I saw the Republic of loose review alright but didnt see the Polar/66e one. Likewise Gar, I have seen so many gigs this year. Am winding down. Next two I am at are Republic of Loose for Ambassador and Jove for Voodoo then I think i am going on a break!!
    tilda
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    11/23/2004 12:30 PM
    why not sign one of them then and do something productive for the scene here instead of waffling about it on the internet?
    Wicker
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    11/23/2004 12:36 PM
    I'd agree with the ROL and 66e (damn fine bands) I'll check out your other recommendations also.. The only problem I'd have with the 66e though is their association with the aformentioned Radiohead. I would really like to see them loose that tag before it becomes their "Ball and Chain" so to speak. I'd like to see them carve their niche before they get pigeonholed. Hopefully the debut album will sort that out.
    kerb
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    11/23/2004 12:43 PM
    tilda: There are many acts I would like to sign. There is a massive misconception of the Irish Industry that we have can sign acts left right and centre. As regards labels in Ireland we rely heavily on support from mother labels in UK and Europe and do our best to bring those people over to see acts we have spotted. I have acted for two of those bands above and one are going to London on Thursday. Your points are valid but make them less agressive. I posted this topic up to get thoughts and to give one or two acts i thought deserved it, some exposure for christmas gigs. Its all I can do right now. Wicker: I think 66e will lose the Radiohead tag.. in time. They have the capability to do so. I think we have to tag all bands with something originally, as its so hard to be truly different. Its from tags we make our own minds up and from there comes our own sense of identity for the band we grow to love. 66e have been added to the bill supporting Jove at the Olympia next year i see. The stage will be perfect for their sound.
    tilda
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    11/23/2004 12:49 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by kerb
    tilda: There is a massive misconception of the Irish Industry that we have can sign acts left right and centre.
    b****x. i know you've no money. force a deal for someone, dont sit around talking bout it on the web.
    thethirdplace
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    11/23/2004 1:19 PM
    which part of "make your points less aggressive did you not get"? Or even "I am giving some bands exposure before christmas"? Or the thought that at least someone from the A&R world took time out to post his views on an independent website. This country is so knocking and aggressive at times its unreal. You have no idea whats being done behind the scenes tilda and neither do we and it think it brilliant that i have a few more bands to go and see because of this post.
    tilda
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    11/23/2004 1:32 PM
    quote:
    which part of "make your points less aggressive did you not get"? Or even "I am giving some bands exposure before christmas"?
    how are they aggresive exactly? and how is he giving the bands exposure.
    quote:
    Or the thought that at least someone from the A&R world took time out to post his views on an independent website
    who cares what someone from the a&r world thinks of a bands music. just because they like it should you? get your own opinion
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    This country is so knocking and aggressive at times its unreal.
    surely you mean 'this country is so blindly supportive of anything irish even if its s**te that its unreal'... no?
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    You have no idea whats being done behind the scenes tilda and neither do we
    sorry do i know you? how do you know that i am not infact an actual a&r man and kerb isnt just persay joves manager?
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    and i think it brilliant that i have a few more bands to go and see because of this post
    as i said before why go and see a band just because an a&r man likes them. cop onto yourself grow a set of balls, your own opinion and find out about bands for yourself.
    spurtacus
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    11/23/2004 1:36 PM
    Humanzie and The Urges deserve a mention, caught The Urges for the first time in the Stags Head on Saturday and was blown away, the drummer is pure class. The Untangled were quality aswell. P.S. Yer off yer nut Tilda
    Eric
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    11/23/2004 1:40 PM
    Thanks for the reviews Kerb, never will heard of the Rays so will keep me eyes and ears peeled.
    thethirdplace
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    11/23/2004 1:54 PM
    He did say "Mine is just an opinion and counts for little in the grand scheme of things".. Your not A&R. The tone is wrong. And i know jove's manager and why in gods name would he be pretending to be Jove's manager. There are 12 bands mentioned up there! Everyone on this post will make there own mind up about each band, we're not robots. Examples of you being aggressive are: (1)b****x. i know you've no money. force a deal for someone, dont sit around talking bout it on the web. (2) cop onto yourself grow a set of balls, your own opinion and find out about bands for yourself. (3) 'this country is so blindly supportive of anything irish even if its s**te that its unreal'... no? And finally and am resting it at this as it could go on for ages, "who cares what someone from the A&R world thinks"... answer is every band who tries to get their attention in order or make it. I managed to make every point above without telling you to get a set of balls, kop on, get an opinion, why cant you? The Urges are managed by a guy called Amos i think and he does have a good band there Spurtacus your right. Right on with more constructive reviews me thinks!
    Pilchard
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    11/23/2004 1:54 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by kerb
    tilda: There are many acts I would like to sign. There is a massive misconception of the Irish Industry that we have can sign acts left right and centre. As regards labels in Ireland we rely heavily on support from mother labels in UK and Europe and do our best to bring those people over to see acts we have spotted. I have acted for two of those bands above and one are going to London on Thursday. Your points are valid but make them less agressive. I posted this topic up to get thoughts and to give one or two acts i thought deserved it, some exposure for christmas gigs. Its all I can do right now.
    interesting to see an A&R man post here and especially good to see him (its a him, isnt it? I've only ever known 2 A&R women) make the point that Irish majors are just a colossal waste of time. they only have the authority to sign acts for ireland hence why they specialise in novelty acts like Simon Casey or Six or Dustin the Turkey. many UK A&R look in bemusement at what the irish labels sign. that said, Bell X1 have done well out of universal ireland. the best new acts i saw in 2004 were 10 Past 7 (awesome), The Chapters (cool tunes, good possibilities) and Life After Modelling (even their bad songs are interesting). I saw some dreadful acts too but I think I had a Men in Black moment and theyve been wiped from my memory banks.
    kierry
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    11/23/2004 2:00 PM
    in fairness. *turns down cynicism* i don't agree. with any of the bands you chose. at all. god its mad how one persons opinion can be so different to someone elses. so so different.
    thethirdplace
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    11/23/2004 2:04 PM
    exactly Kierry!!!!! Perfect timing! Everyone has different opinions which is exactly what Kerb said!
    Unicron
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    11/23/2004 2:05 PM
    Best unsigned/unestablished irish bands: Lucas (actually I reckon they're the about the 3rd best band in the country) Alphastates The Chapters Life After Modelling The Soviet Filter
    Gar
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    11/23/2004 2:05 PM
    Ok since some names are being thrown in here, I might aswell add some. It would be rude not to. Cds That I Have Been Given That Are Very Impressive: The Ens 'Siege Of Apollo' Life After Modelling 'December 21st' The Beautiful Losers 'Witches Float' Ellison 9 'Go Down' Silver Addictive 'Call Out' Stewart Agnew 'Songs From A Gasstation' Una Keane 'Saya Nova' Little Kicks Cabrini Green Lucera The Fallen Bands To Watch Out For: Nero The KB Band Stellarband The Citadels Wallmark New Colour Soul 66E Acts I'm Curious To See More Of: Jove The Upgrades Texas Galaxy Pinion Wicker Substance Guggenheim Grotto Cortinaz 79 Polar Hal The Rags Susan Enan Singer/Songwriers Who Should Be More Recognised: Jules Jackson Ciara Allen Colm Lynch Elaine K Brendan O'Shea Fionn Regan Jamie Lawson Sean Needham Best Of 2004 (in my opinion): Republic Of Loose The 747s Jenny Lindfors Declan O'Rourke The Redneck Manifesto Roesy Stand
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