Hot Press - Acts for 2005 - CLUAS Irish Indie Music

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Last Post 1/14/2005 1:08 AM by flipperstired

Hot Press - Acts for 2005

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flipperstired

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Posts:103

1/14/2005 1:08 AM
Right so, first post for me. And its this. Got Hot press today as usual. Regarding the bands they tipped for 2005, what do people think. Here is the list as they appear in the issue for those who have not seen it. Some bands missing i thought would be there like Cortinaz79 & 66e, some i have not heard of and some i don't like. Mainline Marshall Stars Fighting with Wire Sweet T The Chapters Angels of Mons The Immediate Medea The Blizzards Claire Sproule Citizen Red Organ Serpent Sound Jove What do people think? Gar, would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this one. And any regular gig reviewers. Who has it there and who does'nt?

Eoin

Basic Member
Posts:174

1/14/2005 1:35 AM
quote: Originally posted by flipperstired Right so, first post for me. And its this. Got Hot press today as usual. Regarding the bands they tipped for 2005, what do people think. Here is the list as they appear in the issue for those who have not seen it. Some bands missing i thought would be there like Cortinaz79 & 66e, some i have not heard of and some i don't like. Mainline Marshall Stars Fighting with Wire Sweet T The Chapters Angels of Mons The Immediate Medea The Blizzards Claire Sproule Citizen Red Organ Serpent Sound Jove What do people think? Gar, would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this one. And any regular gig reviewers. Who has it there and who does'nt? you really have to love hotpress eh ! giving us a lowdown on the all the acts to watch for 2005 ! The same Hotpress who never give these bands a look in in their live reviews ( all their reviewers busy ligging it up at Geary, Mundy or Frames gigs!), the same hotpress who gave the Hard Working Class Heroes festival literally 2 sentances of print coverage, quite astounding considering it was probaly the biggest major live music event of the year in Dublin and considering too the amount of great bands/performances that I witnessed or have been told about that weekend ! Hotpress ? blah ! anyway different argument I suppose. I have seen great gigs by Jove and Mainline this year that would suggest to me great things may be in the offing from them !

flipperstired

Basic Member
Posts:103

1/14/2005 2:01 AM
your so right man. I never actually thought of it that way. Maybe thats one of the reasons why we are so stuck in this constant mini circle of the same names coming up again and again! Different argument but one I will bring back to the board again for sure. Thanks for the tip on jove, seen mainline and am going to see jove in the olympia.

klootfan

Advanced Member
Posts:851

1/14/2005 8:44 AM
In fairness, if peoples memory stretches back far enough, say pre "for the birds", the frames had awful hassle getting a mention in hotpress. I gave up buying hotpress for a year at one stage, so disgusted was i at their lack of coverage of the frames and other irish bands. I eventually went back to reading it, however now, ive given up again, because its a pile of rubbish

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

1/14/2005 8:51 AM
Yeah, I bought Hotpress yesterday and saw that list. I was actually surprised that Mainline were tipped to be the biggest. Last year they tippped Republic Of Loose to break through, which they did. I'd mark down these bands that they didn't mention: 66E Nero Ethos Texas Galaxy The Rags Wallmark Of the one's they did mention, I would agree with Jove, The Chapters. I'm going to check out Marshall Stars tonight. Singer/songwriters to watch out for: Martin Finke Bill Coleman Colm Lynch Nina Hynes Brendan O'Shea Fionn Regan Ciara Allen It could well be a good early part of the year for Irish music.

Mully

Advanced Member
Posts:849

1/14/2005 9:15 AM
I havent bought HP regularly in about 3yrs. I buy the odd issue here n there if something grabs my attention. I never liked the Op Ed in it, & theres a lot of regular columns that I skiped past. I read it for the music. The reason I stopped buying it, was when it stopped being a Rock Magazine & started to engulf all aspects of the Irish Music Scene, trying to be all things to all men, resulting in the dilution of what I was buying it for. Stuff like Westlife & Sam Mumba making the front cover got my gander up. BUT, its selling more than ever. Its just not for me. I use sites likes this, opinion, debate & gig lists up to date.

flipperstired

Basic Member
Posts:103

1/14/2005 10:24 AM
am away tonight hence would go see marshall stars otherwise, i don't get the whole mainline thing, i saw them but i did'nt see anything amazing to be honest. Would like to see the Chapters.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

1/14/2005 10:41 AM
Aren't Bloc Party the flavour of the month?

Trigger

New Member
Posts:61

1/14/2005 11:49 AM
Mike Got Spiked (Album in March, a band in a hurry goin places) Texas Galaxy ( Going on the few bits Ivce heard recorded) Jove (Yeah agree with that saw them a bit back thoughht they were catchy not my thing though) Apollo Creed (Funktastic, again based on recorded stuff) Me In the Park ( Could this finally be the year, I bloody well hope so) Obsolete (A return of the lads from Mullingar, great band hopefully the get a decent bit of coverage) 79 Cortinaz (Great stuff) Polar ( Its only a matter of time really for these lads) Murder of Crows (really developed in the last year) Regarding the hotpress comment above, couldnt agree more.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

1/14/2005 11:53 AM
What does making it constitute as a matter of interest?

AL_ETHOS

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Posts:6

1/14/2005 1:58 PM
Id love to see the redneck manifesto do well in 2005. Also Mark 2 will be releasing an album at some stage and I think all will go well for them. I would also love to see another album from Republic of loose and oasis have a long awaited album in the next few months. Also I think 2005 will be a brilliant year for the killers and the Zutons.

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

1/14/2005 5:05 PM
The Redneck Manifesto had a decent year last year I thought. Of course they could be more well known and should take themselves abroad, play a few festivals. But I can't really see them doing too much this year, maybe more in the summer. As far as I know, Republic Of Loose will be back in the studio soon enough. Mike Got Spiked are ok, Me In The Park are ok, Polar are ok, Murder Of Crows are ok.....there is a need for some bands that really stand out. I think that they will shine through over the next few months and hopefully get invited to play Oxegen. About Hotpress, I read it every two weeks. Basically because I'm used to it and most of the writers in it. I skip through all the first few pages and usually concentrate on the reviews and features. Tayna Sweeny is quite good, Phil Udell and Colm O'Hare are ok as is John Walshe. I like some of Olaf's interviews but his writing along with Peter Murphy and Niall Stokes is very sketchy and up its own arse. I wouldn't call Hotpress a rag but its layout and content is in dire straits lately.

Unicron

Veteran Member
Posts:1696

1/14/2005 7:50 PM
I'd go along with the Chapters, they've got some really good songs but I think their weaker stuff is just that, a little weak. Still, good singer, and they've impressed me the couple of times that I've seen them. I think Lucas from Galway are a really great band, debut album out this year. Their gig in Whelans the night the leaving results came out was one of my top 13 of the year, and no that doesn't mean it was 13th, I just like baker's dozens.

66e

New Member
Posts:8

1/16/2005 5:14 PM
Thanks so much flipperstired and gar. Don't worry you'll definetly be hearing a lot more from us this year, starting with our album launch on 28th Jan in Whelan's. It's called 'Fall down seven times, stand up eight'. Come on down!

mutch

Basic Member
Posts:392

1/16/2005 9:32 PM
quote: you really have to love hotpress eh ...Hotpress ? blah ! anyway different argument I suppose. having seen some right tripe (being performed by some good musicians in fairness) at HWCHs I reckon it may be a quality control issue. Once ROL proved themselves, they got pretty good coverage in the HP. In fairness, if HP lauded every band that came accross as sounding like they've paid attention to mtv2 for the previous 6 months, I would stop buying the thing. Think about it. Stokes does need a kick up the h*le to bring him back to the rest of us though! He's opinionated, thats his generations thing I suppose, is it?

Mully

Advanced Member
Posts:849

1/17/2005 10:15 AM
quote: Originally posted by Eoin the same hotpress who gave the Hard Working Class Heroes festival literally 2 sentances of print coverage, quite astounding considering it was probaly the biggest major live music event of the year in Dublin and considering too the amount of great bands/performances that I witnessed or have been told about that weekend ! It did give away 2 compelation cds of the bands involved, in conjuction with the first HWCH.

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

1/17/2005 10:47 AM
Another tip for 2005 that I forgot to mention. I was shuffling about some tunes on my ipod this morning and came across a song which reminded me just how talented the artist was. It was Jules Jackson. Here's a review of his Ep: www.cluas.com/music/albums/jules_jackson.htm

kierry

Basic Member
Posts:244

1/17/2005 11:49 AM
there's lots of average bands in dublin who could be amazing. i'm looking forward to hearing the next one to stand out... no band at the moment interest me, and unfortunatly i've learnt the word of posters on an internet board can't always be trusted! i saw mainline play before, three times, and i can't remember anything of their music. they have a strong image and the NME will probably love them, but y'know, i'll judge them when they have a release out....

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

1/17/2005 11:51 AM
Kierry, that all depends on whose judgement you trust.....

maccor

New Member
Posts:69

1/18/2005 3:33 PM
the 79Cortinaz (or is it Cortinaz79) are playing in a gigsmart gig with Apollo and few others in the TBMC on Feb 2nd

flipperstired

Basic Member
Posts:103

1/18/2005 5:08 PM
woo hoo!!!! think they have something good goin on there. As mentioned, surprised they are missing from the hot press list in my original post.

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

1/18/2005 5:10 PM
Like the description says in the current Gigs Of The Forthnight, Bloc Party are set to be this year's big hit. They were simply amazing last night in Whelan's. Their debut album will be out soon enough too.

Rev Jules

Veteran Member
Posts:1041

1/18/2005 5:27 PM
quote: Originally posted by flipperstired ...Mainline ... What do people think? Gar, would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this one. And any regular gig reviewers. Who has it there and who does'nt? You know, the name MAINLINE is uncomfortably close to BIG TOM AND THE MAINLINERS (if you add BIG TOM AND THE...RS)

mutch

Basic Member
Posts:392

1/18/2005 5:34 PM
hahaha! frankie laine is gonna shoot ye from el paso!

Rev Jules

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Posts:1041

1/18/2005 5:42 PM
quote: Originally posted by mutch hahaha! frankie laine is gonna shoot ye from el paso! I can see the gunsmoke already

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

1/18/2005 7:49 PM
Here's a snappy article highlighting some of the acts to watch out for this year: www.musician.ie/php/longarticle.php?artnum=58

clamps

New Member
Posts:63

1/19/2005 1:54 PM
mainline, not a bad piece of drone! in fluenced by (i'd say) velvet underground, jesus & mary chain, spaceman3 and spiritualized. funny that spiritualized were once called spiritualized electric mainline for their pure phase album. but fair play to them..... in anyways, hot press, there's not a day goes by that i thank them for their ever informative sex column, what complete drivel! but it is HP after all.....what we've come to expect...........complete drivel. as for tanya sweeney, well when she's not writing on the current crop of upcoming scensters she's invariably writing for the dublin rag, the herald. music reviews, previews....no no no, fasion and tv.....hmmmmmmm i think were getting somewhere here. the herald found it rather important that sex and the city was coming to its conclusion and decided to give a whole page over to this enormous event....ooooooohhhhhhhhh......let's call in the big hitters.......tanya sweeney. pictured lovingly with her friends sipping red wine from expensive looking glasses viewing the final episode of SATC. so as we can all gather from this, tanya sweeney has her ear to the ground, hunting down the finest acts from dublin week in week out, so that she can share this information at the end of the year with all of us suckers who occasionaly buy the rag. somebody should (deleted by Moderator) hot press HQ and put a (deleted by Moderator) into the (deleted by Moderator) of stokes........and for satans somebody please bring back the slate

Pilchard

Advanced Member
Posts:699

1/19/2005 2:15 PM
there must be pigs flying over thurles because here i come to stand up for a HP writer. Why shouldnt tanya sweeney write about stuff other than music? its perfectly normal for u and me to talk s**te about everything so why shouldnt someone like sweeney do the same and get paid for it? So what if she did a piece on SATC? she got paid for it - and she probably got the drink free too. Smacks of jealousy to me a litte But, just to prove i'm not going soft, sweeney is the best of a very bad lot. frankly, as an old fella, i think the current HP is the worst ever incarnation of the rag. years ago (ok years and years) ago, they had some decent writers like Bill Graham, Graham Linehan and I think Jim Carroll started out there but the current bunch are HOPELESS. Phil Udell? Clueless Stuart Clarke? Bland bland bland. At least Olaf is colourful (well, slighly colourful). Music has changed and HP has struggled to adopt to these changes, As long as Niall Stokes edits it, it will continue to struggle. You need a new editor to give a magazine a fresh vision and perspective. You need someone who goes to gigs other than Saucy Monkey gigs. You need someone who is not afraid to call the new U2 album as it really is. By all accounts, Stokes is a fairly decent if egotisical motherfukcer but it really is time for him to step aside, concentrrate on the publishing side and let someone new loose. Get in someone no-one would expect to see in charge and let them kick up some dust.

Binokular

Veteran Member
Posts:1665

1/19/2005 3:12 PM
Hot Press just isn't a music magazine, its a "young trendy urban types" lifestyle mag. I' mean really, wheres the music content. Usualy theres just one or two interviews and a small reviews section. Its not like they even give a decent amount of the magazine to reviewing music. If Journos want to write about other stuff thats fine, go write about it elsewhere, but it would be nice to see an Irish magazine dedicated solely to music. Stuff does pop up every now and then, small fanzine type publications or more ambitious ones like foggy notions but they never seem to really establish themselves. By the what happened to Foggy Notions? seemed to have disappeared from the shelves lately, yeah it was flawed, but a whole lot better than Hot Press.

Rev Jules

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Posts:1041

1/19/2005 6:20 PM
quote: Originally posted by Binokular By the what happened to Foggy Notions? seemed to have disappeared from the shelves lately, yeah it was flawed, but a whole lot better than Hot Press. There is only so much you can write about Richmond Fontaine and only so many people who will read it.

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

1/19/2005 6:28 PM
The worst thing about Hotpress is that they are so unwelcoming to new writers. I submitted some ideas through email which were ignored. But then I saw in the next issue my ideas taken on by their own writers. Very annonying. I've always stressed that Hotpress and The Ticket are in desperate need for freshness in the form of new young writers. Stokes should just quit really or hand the duties down. Tanya Sweeney is a decent writer (don't care what she writes in Evening Herald as that is a complete rag) and as for Olaf being colourful, he's a st writer with a terrible taste in music and no journalistic skills plus he's a dkhead (I read his autobiography, what a prick he comes across as). People who read my posts will know that I never attack anyone verbally but it pisses me off that the only real regular music magazine that our island has is run in such a bad way. I still read it very fortnight, not as if i'm going to start a one man boycott but it does need some spring cleaning. Yeah Foggy Notions was pretty good. They have some really interesting interviews, the last two I remember were with PJ Harvey and then one with Dirty Three. Shame it isn't more regularly released, if it is still going that is.

Archie

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Posts:458

1/19/2005 7:05 PM
I'm a bit iffy on my stance on hotpress. Sometimes it's good, sometimes its attitude ticks me off...For some reason I find it really messy or something. Hard to read. Foggy Notions was great (format and CLASS content) but was very shortlived :( As for the actual question: I'm much ashamed to say I don't actualy know any of those bands...

Pilchard

Advanced Member
Posts:699

1/19/2005 10:38 PM
quote: Originally posted by Gar The worst thing about Hotpress is that they are so unwelcoming to new writers. I submitted some ideas through email which were ignored. But then I saw in the next issue my ideas taken on by their own writers. Very annonying. I've always stressed that Hotpress and The Ticket are in desperate need for freshness in the form of new young writers. Stokes should just quit really or hand the duties down. Tanya Sweeney is a decent writer (don't care what she writes in Evening Herald as that is a complete rag) and as for Olaf being colourful, he's a st writer with a terrible taste in music and no journalistic skills plus he's a dkhead (I read his autobiography, what a prick he comes across as). People who read my posts will know that I never attack anyone verbally but it pisses me off that the only real regular music magazine that our island has is run in such a bad way. I still read it very fortnight, not as if i'm going to start a one man boycott but it does need some spring cleaning. Yeah Foggy Notions was pretty good. They have some really interesting interviews, the last two I remember were with PJ Harvey and then one with Dirty Three. Shame it isn't more regularly released, if it is still going that is. a couple of points here. STOP BUYING HOT PRESS!! Seriously, stop buying it. Save your money. There are plenty of better-written music magazines out there albeit non-Irish. In fact, theres loads and loads of better Irish music articles - Cluas is full of them. Break the habit,. Get onto Foggy Notions and The Ticket if you want to write for them. Do it. Email them. You do stuff for Cluas (i think) - why not do try to get your foot in the door there?? Whats keeping u from trying? I dont particularly agree with your points about "fresh" writing equating with "young" writers - mostly to do with perspective, knowledge and experience - but get onto the respective editors or writers and give it a go. Sorry if i offended your sensibilities with my "colourful" olaf points. i have never met the guy and would probably think he's a knobhead if i did.

mutch

Basic Member
Posts:392

1/21/2005 12:56 PM
anyone here ever hear of a Wexford band called Chaplin? Saw them at CrawDaddy last night, bloody great band. elements of beta band, super furry animals, reggae...great stuff. would highly recommend to all cluas readers. the last tune they played turned into sample heavy dance type thing-hope I'm not misrepresenting the band here- but it was one of those "where did that come from" moments, in a great way.

mick

Basic Member
Posts:411

1/21/2005 1:03 PM
i hope the lads from the marshal stars do well. good music. good lads. it'd be nice to see success going to people who are quite deserving

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

1/21/2005 1:10 PM
Pilchard, cheers for all that. And I have been doing all that since last summer, contacting editors, submitting stuff, pitching ideas, asking for advice....but still no results. Don't worry I'm still at it and as you said there are plenty of other magazines to write for or to read. I write alot for Cluas, well a good bit anyway and am building my portfolio up that way. A couple of side projects are coming up so hopefully they will get my name out there. Much appreicated though and don't worry about the Olaf comments, I went a bit overboard with what I previously said.

kierry

Basic Member
Posts:244

1/21/2005 1:20 PM
HotPress is aimed at two markets: the market that likes music but doesn't know much about it, and the market likes music and supports irish crap. the type that supports irish bands because they like ireland. and probably keeps an eye for celtic results... its just not good enough. i'd love it to be good enough, i'm not begrudging it, its just not good enough. there's little or no inventiveness in its writing. sam snort? the mad hatters box? just HOW LONG have these been going on? i dunno, i'll wait for hotpress. it'll either get better and i'll buy it, or it'll get worse, and i'll be senile, and i'll buy it.

flipperstired

Basic Member
Posts:103

1/21/2005 2:15 PM
Seein as i started all this i better comment. I agree with the majority of opinions regarding Hot Press magazine. I was interested however to see if people felt they had their finger on the pulse as regards who is making noise in the la la almost non existent a&R land of ireland. I think this year Ireland is going to produce a band on a large scale that we can be proud of. I think the vast majority of us would agree Snow Patrol are something to be proud of, but they are last years news, the thrills are already fcuked as far as i am concerned, simply not good enough to make a meaningful difference to peoples lives. From what people seem to be saying to me and in here is that we're looking at the Immediate, Jove, 66e, Mainline, Marshall Stars,Polar, the Rags,Alphastates, the Chapters as acts to be watching for. If that is the case, their list seems to be reasonably accurate right? dont all go gettin high on me now, am just saying that from what people in here talk about and whats on the list i posted, they do seem to be in reasonable cahoots with that we're thinking.

Pilchard

Advanced Member
Posts:699

1/21/2005 3:02 PM
of course the HP list and the list that the Cluas folk have come up are by and large the same first of all, HP writers read cluas. they see certain band names coming up again and again. they nick these names second of all, ireland is a small place. OK we punch above our weight in terms of music acts who make (some sort of) impact on a transnational basis but we're still a small nation. chances are there are only a certain amount of bands that any observer with any kind of cop-on will think are worthy of tipping. chances are then that the lists will always cross over (see Bloc Party, The Bravery, The Game, KT TUnstall etc in the UK press) But rather than just naming these names now and then waiting until they sign major deals and can afford to take out ads, HP should be ENCOURAGING these bands now. Someone wrote a great mail either on this thread or some other about the NME. I havent bought the NME in years but it still covers new music with massive enthusiasm every week. HP does not do this and because of this, is treated with rightful disdain by anyone looking for info on new music. Cluas, IMHO, is one of the best places to find out about new irish music - u may not agree with what everyone is saying about bands like Polar or (dare i say it? I do) Jove or 66e, but at least they are been talked about

Wicker

Basic Member
Posts:185

1/21/2005 3:13 PM
as everyone agrees that this site is of more value to them than HP.............. how about Cluas Magazine !!!!! It's possible to achieve y/n?

Unicron

Veteran Member
Posts:1696

1/21/2005 5:32 PM
no, no it's not

flipperstired

Basic Member
Posts:103

1/21/2005 5:36 PM
cheers for the thoughts folks.. am closing down my thought process on this one and will see you in the next thread i do!! successful first one me thinks,,, pilchard i get the sense of humour there... risky words to be sayin around these parts them bands! good wknd all flipper

Eoin

Basic Member
Posts:174

1/21/2005 6:52 PM
quote: Originally posted by Gar The worst thing about Hotpress is that they are so unwelcoming to new writers. I submitted some ideas through email which were ignored. But then I saw in the next issue my ideas taken on by their own writers. Very annonying. I've always stressed that Hotpress and The Ticket are in desperate need for freshness in the form of new young writers. Stokes should just quit really or hand the duties down. Tanya Sweeney is a decent writer (don't care what she writes in Evening Herald as that is a complete rag) and as for Olaf being colourful, he's a st writer with a terrible taste in music and no journalistic skills plus he's a dkhead (I read his autobiography, what a prick he comes across as). People who read my posts will know that I never attack anyone verbally but it pisses me off that the only real regular music magazine that our island has is run in such bad way. I still read it very fortnight, not as if i'm going to start a one man boycott but it does need some spring cleaning. Yeah Foggy Notions was pretty good. They have some really interesting interviews, the last two I remember were with PJ Harvey and then one with Dirty Three. Shame it isn't more regularly released, if it is still going that is. haha, so it just isnt me that thinks Olaf is a s**t writer ! I often find myself struggling to get halfway through his articles for loosing interest, even if he is writing on a band/subject that I have an interest in. I think hotpress has had its day really. It only seems to speak to those so called 'trendy' 30 somethings who change their fads from one minute to the next, be it music, fashion or whatever. The amount of non musical nonsence in the paper is just laughable. There just seems such a lack of passion about it all. Hotpress is not a sinking ship in my opinion though, cause it has already sunk, there is no way back for hotpress !

Eoin

Basic Member
Posts:174

1/21/2005 6:58 PM
... Also my hope for 2005 is Pony Club, they played some great gigs last year in Whelans, The Hub & at the HWCH festivaal they were amazing for the 30 mins or so on stage. They are recording their 3rd album at the moment and this will be make or break but I hope they will do it ! If ever there was a band that we could be proud of, if ever there was a band that said something to us... then I believe its Pony Club !

stroller

Advanced Member
Posts:576

1/21/2005 8:15 PM
Did anyone hear the one about the writer for a certain Irish Music magazine that was asked to review the debut album of a Dublin based Band who had just scored a distribution deal with a major label? The band who had previously enjoyed a minor hit with their cover of an Australian one hit wonder from the 80s had been favourites of the magazine for a while. However the journalist in question realised just how poor the album was and gave it a dismal review. Not leaving anything to chance the record label demanded to see a copy of the review before the magazine went to press. They were less then impressed and threatened to pull all advertising from the magazine unless it was changed. The editor daunted at the prospect of all that lost revenue stepped it, reviewed the album himself and gave it nine out of then. He not only gave them a full page review but actually mentioned the talentless chancers in the same breath as Kate Bush, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin and Emmylou Harris. Funny story isn't it?

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

1/21/2005 11:47 PM
Would that happen to be the infamous 'Saucy Monky' review?

Antistar

Advanced Member
Posts:544

1/22/2005 1:32 AM
What comes to mind when I think of Hot Press: 1: Hair Gel adverts (plus free sachet!). 2: Crappy Editorial. 3: An odd, rather unsettling fascination with Saucy Monkey. 4: Ludicrous sex column. Ooh, how daring. 5: Olaf Tyaransen. The worst writer in the world. 6: D-List celebs/Andrea Roche posing in the back pages with a glass of wine at some 'launch'/film premiere. 7: The Frames. 8: Having a quick glance through it in Tower Records but never, ever buying it. 9: Gig guide that you can get for free elsewhere. 10:Mobile phone adverts (no free phone, sadly). Thank You Good Night

Unicron

Veteran Member
Posts:1696

1/22/2005 11:57 AM
quote: Originally posted by Antistar What comes to mind when I think of Hot Press: 9: Gig guide that you can get for free elsewhere. Ahem , with commentary as well. By the way, I went to one of the gigs I plugged in the latest gig guide last night, Ch-1 in Crawdaddy. It was brilliant, they'll never be massive (unfortunately) but they'll be one of those bands that people namedrop to show how in the know they are. Bit too much reverb on the vocals though.

clamps

New Member
Posts:63

1/22/2005 12:19 PM
ah briliant stuff stroller! a magazine (HOTPRESS!) being f**ked up the ass by a record copmpany, who'd have thunk it! now ye see that sort of stuff couldn't have ever happened with the slate........please somebody bring back the slate!!!!

Unicron

Veteran Member
Posts:1696

1/22/2005 8:42 PM
If that Saucy Monkey story is true I actaully think that I have more respect for them as a magazine for selling out on the issue rather then them genuinely liking the record, whats Tom Dunne's excuse?

Pilchard

Advanced Member
Posts:699

1/24/2005 9:43 AM
quote: Originally posted by Unicron If that Saucy Monkey story is true I actaully think that I have more respect for them as a magazine for selling out on the issue rather then them genuinely liking the record, whats Tom Dunne's excuse? whaddya think? 2 girls in a band? tom dunne? need i go on?

mutch

Basic Member
Posts:392

1/24/2005 7:01 PM
just reading this and laughing, this actually makes me want to buy the magazine more, just so i can read it knowing that behind the piece of paper i read there was a sh1t load of hassle and bribery and probably in house fighting over articles! hah. if you look at all the bands that are gettin on well, most of them have actually been put through a formulaic process, so i think force feeding people though mtv2 etc etc is working. how else do explain something like robbie williams playing in slane and a million examples since. call me cynical but not enough bands are sayin anything worthwhile. its why i love therapy?, they might not be the best band in the world,but cairns is able to write about stuff he sees rather than just what he(chr1st im really typing the next bit, am i?) "feels"(eg: any of the bloody dreadful singersongwriters). i can almost hear someone tutting at me!

publiusenigma

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1/26/2005 10:31 AM
Its not like Hotpress is NME or Melody Maker. Its just the best we have.

Pilchard

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Posts:699

1/26/2005 11:34 AM
quote: Originally posted by publiusenigma Its not like Hotpress is NME or Melody Maker. Its just the best we have. sweet jesus almighty, what an irish reply - "its the best we have". up there with "sure, it will do" and "i have a snaking regard for..." as the cop-outs which are bolted in the irish psyche HP is utter rubbish. once upon a time, it was not. that time is long past and HP is still trying to trade on past glories. there are several remedies for the HP mess and they have been put fwd in this thread - new editor and writers spring to mind. Problem is HP will not change because they are making enuff money from the suckers who advertise in it and the bigger suckers who buy it because "it's the best we have".

Gar

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Posts:1676

1/26/2005 3:32 PM
Hotpress is the best we have because simply put, it is the only music magazine we really have. Yes there are other publications that spring up or exist for a small few fans but Hotpress is basically the only music magazine that Ireland produces on a regular basis. And I wouldn't want to turn this into an anti Hotpress thing, as there are some good things in it. It's just that the bad content, layout etc over-ride the positive aspects of the magazine. It's like The Savoy being our National Cinema, everyone knows it needs alot of work and people still go there alot yet it still remains our main cinema.

Pilchard

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Posts:699

1/26/2005 3:43 PM
quote: Originally posted by Gar Hotpress is the best we have because simply put, it is the only music magazine we really have. Yes there are other publications that spring up or exist for a small few fans but Hotpress is basically the only music magazine that Ireland produces on a regular basis. And I wouldn't want to turn this into an anti Hotpress thing, as there are some good things in it. It's just that the bad content, layout etc over-ride the positive aspects of the magazine. It's like The Savoy being our National Cinema, everyone knows it needs alot of work and people still go there alot yet it still remains our main cinema. I've been thinking about that reply i posted above, it might seem as if i'm being a little harsh on publiusenigma but i didnt mean to be. yes, HP is the only (mostly) music mag produced regularly here. yes, there have been many attempts to provide alternatives (online and offline) but none have lasted the pace. but this still cannot and does not excuse how little HP reflects what it is going on at the coalface of the music industry here. every so often, i see a copy in someone's office or house and i flip thru it. nothing has changed they have a Demo Dip which still reads like something u'd get in Ireland's Own. the only time they tackle the industry here is when they have ads to sell or want to do a "the best PA humper in the land" kind of tribute. you never ever read an indepth examination of what is WRONG with the industry here and why this is so - in fact, according to a UK industry mag Five Eight, the only paper which examined the Music Board of Ireland debacle in any depth was The Irish Times, not the 1st title which springs to mind when u think of music in Ireland. HP didnt go near it because they are too close to the industry here and know that any sort of negative coverage means less ads. I dont want to be anti-HP or turn this into an anti-HP thread. But we shouldnt allow a perception to exist that just because it is the only music title in the land, we should just accept it. BTW have just heard The Magic Numbers' single. my breath has been taken away to somewhere very strange.

Gar

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1/26/2005 4:18 PM
In your opinion, What is the alternative currently available then Pilchard?

Pilchard

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Posts:699

1/26/2005 4:41 PM
quote: Originally posted by Gar In your opinion, What is the alternative currently available then Pilchard? i think this was covered in another thread gar but to recap. in terms of music magazines, there are NO alternatives available at the moment because there are no magazines with national distribution which cover music to the same extent as HP. There are several magazines/titles who cover music but whose main role/selling point is not music - such as the various supplements provided by national newspapers (The Ticket, Night & Day as well as music coverage in the various arts/entertainment pages). In most of these cases, they have a bigger and wider readership than HP but people are not buying these solely for how they are covering music. Some are but only in small percentages - ie i'd say that about 10-15 percent of those who buy the irish times on a friday are doing so to read CD reviews in The Ticket, There are various fanzines which are location-dependant and so do not have a big audience. Same with listings mags in Dublin or Cork or Galway or Clonmel. The real alternative is provided by online magazines/forums/what have u like Cluas and Thumped and this has been the case since online mags like Muse started in the late 1990s. This is where the alternatives to outofdate and hackneyed print mags exist because it is here that people who are eager to talk about new music or hear about new music or discuss new music can be found. Its music fanatics and those who work at the coalface of the industry (ie i'd be shocked if anyone who works for a major record label reads Cluas) who come here to post or lurk. hope this makes sense

Gar

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Posts:1676

1/26/2005 4:44 PM
Good points made. Let us hope that some magazine comes into exsistence someday soon!!!!

vandala

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Posts:267

1/26/2005 4:47 PM
Have you given any consideration to the fact that the absence of quality music mags is mainly down to the fact that there's little or no market for them? In fact, in the wider scheme of things, the whole history of the magazine industry in Dublin/Ireland seems pretty shambolic...interesting publications folding after a handful of issues (Foggy Notion, etc), longer-established ones folding because of poor sales (D-Side, etc). I'm certainly no expert on the subject, but thought it might be worth a mention.

stroller

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1/26/2005 4:50 PM
quote: BTW have just heard The Magic Numbers' single. my breath has been taken away to somewhere very strange. It's magical isn't it?

Gar

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Posts:1676

1/26/2005 4:56 PM
If there is no market out there to sell music magazines then who currently buys Hotpress, queue up all night for U2 tickets and cram into festivals like Oxegen every year? I take your point on board and the Irish music industry could be in a better state but there is certainly a market out there. As long as a magazine is interesting, informative, affordable and entertaining...then I believe it will be a success. Of course, the magazine should provide something different than what is on offer currently. It should be run effiecently (handling advertising to keep itself alive and producing copies on a consistent basis) and be able to catch your attention (new exciting writers, interesting features and covering of either mainstream or unsigned acts would help). Let us hope that Hotpress remodels itself or a magazine does arise someday. But by then, I'm sure Cluas will have attracted more of a readership and Cluas could be the answer we seek, in webzine form anyway.

Pilchard

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Posts:699

1/26/2005 5:00 PM
quote: Originally posted by vandala Have you given any consideration to the fact that the absence of quality music mags is mainly down to the fact that there's little or no market for them? In fact, in the wider scheme of things, the whole history of the magazine industry in Dublin/Ireland seems pretty shambolic...interesting publications folding after a handful of issues (Foggy Notion, etc), longer-established ones folding because of poor sales (D-Side, etc). I'm certainly no expert on the subject, but thought it might be worth a mention. v good point. small country = small readership/market = tiny audience when u go to find those who will spend a few euros every week/fortnight/month on a music title. HP has survived and deserves kudos for this. It does not deserve praise for what is contained between its covers, though. it would be interesting to find out if IPC or EMAP supply Irish sales figures for NME, Mojo, Q, Uncut. I remember looking before but the only figures available did not break it down to these numbers. Anyone here work at Newspread or Easons and have access to this data????

Pilchard

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Posts:699

1/26/2005 5:03 PM
quote: Originally posted by stroller quote: BTW have just heard The Magic Numbers' single. my breath has been taken away to somewhere very strange. It's magical isn't it? A beam of sunshine on a cloudy day!

Gar

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1/26/2005 5:46 PM
Where did you hear that tune by the way?

stroller

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Posts:576

1/26/2005 5:59 PM
quote: Originally posted by Gar Where did you hear that tune by the way? You can watch the video/listen to the song here; http://www.nme.com/features/110565.htm

stroller

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Posts:576

1/26/2005 6:04 PM
quote: it would be interesting to find out if IPC or EMAP supply Irish sales figures for NME, Mojo, Q, Uncut. I remember looking before but the only figures available did not break it down to these numbers. Anyone here work at Newspread or Easons and have access to this data???? Would you believe I did a comparitive marketing study on Hot Press and it's competitors in college last year. If my memory serves me correctly Hot Press sells about 17,500 issues a fortnight in Ireland while NME shifts a paltry 1000 copies a week. For a sense of perspective the market leader is the RTE Guide with 70,000 issues a week.

Pilchard

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Posts:699

1/26/2005 6:05 PM
quote: Originally posted by Gar If there is no market out there to sell music magazines then who currently buys Hotpress, queue up all night for U2 tickets and cram into festivals like Oxegen every year? i am not trying to be smart here but its the people who obviously DO NOT buy music mags! take it that HP is the only irish music, right. It sells 10-12k copies per fortnight. 80k will try to go to see U2, 100k bought paddy casey records and 50k will go to oxegen. these people do not rely on music mags to find out about music. they listen to the radio, they get word of mouth recommendations, they are the five records a year brigade,. quote: I take your point on board and the Irish music industry could be in a better state but there is certainly a market out there. As long as a magazine is interesting, informative, affordable and entertaining...then I believe it will be a success. i think vincent browne might have something to say about that! he would say that The Village (his weekly politics and current affairs mag) is all that and more but the sales figures bely this. i would love to agree with u but having seen so many great mags come and go over the years, i fear that the public gets what the public can be arsed to buy, read and support. quote: Of course, the magazine should provide something different than what is on offer currently. It should be run effiecently (handling advertising to keep itself alive and producing copies on a consistent basis) and be able to catch your attention (new exciting writers, interesting features and covering of either mainstream or unsigned acts would help). Let us hope that Hotpress remodels itself or a magazine does arise someday. But by then, I'm sure Cluas will have attracted more of a readership and Cluas could be the answer we seek, in webzine form anyway. it IS the answer and this debate probably proves it. I mean, could u imagine something like this getting printed in HP???

Gar

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Posts:1676

1/26/2005 6:46 PM
I disagree about The Village and I would disagree with Vincent Browne aswell (don't tell him I said that). I have read every issue of The Village since it has started and the point I was making was regarding entertainment magazines. The Village is a current affairs magazine with a splash of entertainment and sport. In saying that, the best two articles are always by Graham Hunter (Sport) and Declan Burke (Film). The music section is dire, in my opinion, it offers nothing at all really. I have been in talks for a long time over writing in the music section, although there is no room currently available. Even though I offered to write for free, I still haven't had a chance to submit to a magazine which looks like it might soon disappear. And your point about the five records a year birgade is true. But I was stressing that there is a market out there that could be tapped. Currently fans of indie/rock/garage etc aswell as singer/songwriters have to buy Hotpress to read interviews, reviews of them in magazine format. Of course, there are webzines like Cluas and radio shows like John Walshe Going Underground but in terms of magazines, there is a market there, I believe anyway, that demand more than what Hotpress are offering. Otherwise we wouldn't really be having this discussion.

Unicron

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Posts:1696

1/26/2005 8:38 PM
quote: Originally posted by stroller Would you believe I did a comparitive marketing study on Hot Press and it's competitors in college last year. If my memory serves me correctly Hot Press sells about 17,500 issues a fortnight in Ireland while NME shifts a paltry 1000 copies a week. I'm gonna stick my neck out here and say this "Good, the NME is garbage too, but in a different way".

Nick The Greek

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Posts:21

1/26/2005 11:13 PM
quote: Originally posted by Gar Of course, there are webzines like Cluas and radio shows like John Walshe Going Underground but in terms of magazines, there is a market there, I believe anyway, that demand more than what Hotpress are offering. Otherwise we wouldn't really be having this discussion. I agree with you 100% Gar, and I wish there was something out there that could cater for our market - but I wonder if there is a large enough demand for it? The stats on HP sales are true - over 17,500 every fortnight, but I believe that these punters are made up mostly of those who are interested only in the glossy side of the industry. We (being the hardcore music fans and supporters of independent and up and coming acts) are unfortunately a minority. At the end of the day, Hot Press is a business, and in publishing terms quite a successful one. So, I think that rather than slagging of the magazine, why dont the members of Cluas put together some recommendations for the magazine and petition them with it, without ofcourse trying to tell them how to run their business. I'm sure they're not so unreasonable as to turn a blind eye to a collective bunch of creative ideas?? You'd never know, maybe Cluas will have their own page in it some day..

Pilchard

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Posts:699

1/27/2005 9:12 AM
at the risk of extending this debate another day. i'd hate to see a Cluas page in HP. it would put me completely off cluas. The reason why i come here and post here is because its an alternative which is not available anywhere else. The idea of having "Lending an ear to irish music" splashed in HP turns my blood cold and i'd hope the people behind Cluas would not be so foolish. Thats my tuppenceworth Re NME selling 1000 copies here - that;'s actually quite good, given NME's overall sales. I'd have thought it was half that Re Village. I bought the mag the 1st few weeks and got cheesed off reading political articles i had already read in various online places like New York Times, Washington Post, Guardian etc. Yes, their music stuff is dire - most of their arts stuff is dire, actually - and that needs a big shakeup but it seems that despite Vinny Browne's assertions before the mag started that there would be room there for everything and everyone, he really only meant there was room for him to bash the usual suspects.

redliar

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Posts:2

1/27/2005 1:29 PM
mainline, jove and the murder of crows are b****x! i saw someone mentioning them and felt that that should be put straight. the angels of mons are however, deadly! i think that ch-1 are really good also and possibly the soviet filter although i have serious reservations about some of their stuff!

Unicron

Veteran Member
Posts:1696

1/27/2005 6:43 PM
quote: Originally posted by Nick The Greek You'd never know, maybe Cluas will have their own page in it some day.. Apparently in the 5 years that the site has been going it has not got a single mention in HP so I wouldn't hold your breath, probably got something to do with supplying all out content for free.

eoinfilter

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Posts:52

1/27/2005 7:08 PM
the same goes for anything interesting that could take their place as head muckball on the irish music scene. instead of acting as a hub for irish music all that its involved in is conservative market protection. i agree that the NME is awful! its really corporate in its ways, bliss for indie kids

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