Nicely balanced article that wisely didn't dwell too much on the lock-in crowd issue but instead focused on stuff that was genuinely relevant. However what really worries me isn't whether Whelans is going downhill or not, I've never even set foot in the place, given my allergy to the capital. No what really worries me is that the venue itself is seen as the axis around which Irish music revolves. Bands do need a nice place to play, but at the end of the day it's just a room, it's not worth saving (if it needs saving that is). I don't think we should get too hung up about it, the important thing is that decent venues exist. Perhaps we should really be focusing on having our music scenes based around artistic ideas rather than a street address?

I don't get the whole idea of Whelans being a musical mecca, I'll admit that I'm there a lot for gigs because its not a massive place and many of the acts that I like aren't going to draw big numbers but I hardly ever socialise there at times when there isn't a gig on, too many haircuts. Those that have met me might find it strange that I said that considering how I wear my hair but you know what I mean. I hate Crawdaddy though (despite that I've seen some really good gigs there), except for the cute dark haired girl that works behind the bar.

And don't forget about the sexy blonde behind the bar in Voodoo

jesus what the f**k is wrong with you all? I go to Whelans because it plays the same music. Are you saying the Whelans dj was playing Razorlight years ago? Fair play to him, and the Strokes? I actually heard "drowning pool" by the Walls there a few weeks ago, great song. so your either very wrong or he's a genius??? oh and the place is so bad its always crowded? explain that one? personally I can't dance so im not complaining that the dance floor is always packed because i'd look really funny jumping around the place. As for the lock -in's Paddy Casey was playing gigs in whelans years ago to twenty people as was the Frames and Mundy. Damien Dempsey.still bangs out a few tunes on sundays i think you'd be giving them a hard time if they refused to drink in the bar where they started off . I can tell you the dj was playing the stone roses ten years ago when every other venue was playing dance music. whelans stuck to their guns. fair play. I've actually argued with the dj before and got him to play Perl Jam for me ...he was right the dance floor did clear, i guess he knows what he's doing which is explained was playing background music while people had a drink ....his words. he said he wasn't trying to change anybodys religion and was just playing what everybody asked him in some sort of order that made it easy on the ear ....In my opinion if you can't offer something better then shut up. And as for the writers point of hearing great music for the first time ....why should younger people not have the chance to hear the classics too .....or should they be shunned to the likes of fat westlife rejects ???

nothing wrong with us Wetebix man...or you... we're just voicing opinions, we cant ALL be wrong about the fact that Whelan's is obviously not giving off the same air as it used to however. People change and move or don't move with the times and i personally feel that Whelans is allowing itself to be left behind a little.... or maybe just resting on Laurel's of a really good name. Thats all from me, goodnight!

Again I stress it is an opinion piece and people shouldn't get so worked up. Please read the whole thing before trying to quote it, and please do voice your opinion on these boards but not so angrily as I wasn't attacking anyone. Plus I never mentioned names in the WLC. I still go to gigs there and will do throughout the year. I was merely raising a point of view about the venue as a whole, in the Opinion section.

I would agree wholeheartedly with every point made in the article. It is my opinion that there are really no good venues of that size in Dublin these days. In the Hub there are pillars everywhere and you cant see f**k all, Dorans is the biggest f**king dive on earth let alone Ireland ! The Crawdaddy I have only been to once so I'll reserve judgement cept to saw it didnt blow me away. The Village is alright, any gig I've been to there the sound has been spot on. I though the Voodoo was ok the couple of times I've been in it ! As for Whelans its been a fair few years since I've gone there to do anything other than to see a band, afterwards its usually down to Hogans or maybe Bruxelles for pints. As for the WLC, why shouldnt we call the guards and rat em up ! f**k it, that s**t they play dont mean a thing to me. They do have a strangle hold of sorts over the music sceane in this city whatever you say, and there are a hell of a lot more people responsible than just them for it ie. Hotpress to name 1), its all very un-rock in roll to me so I suggest we do something about it, its all very well talking on this forum but we need action people ! rise up ! dial 11811, ask for the number of Kevin Street Garda shop and at least cause a bit of a stir ! Shake them from their comfort zone ! Do it in the name of rock n roll, even PUNK rock, do it for whever youre into ! do it in the spirit of The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash or whoever, heck do it for yerself ! heck it'd be a laugh at least !

I don't think anyone should ring Kevin Street Garda Station. I merely highlighted points in my article. I don't want to ruin someone's evening or certainly turn people against artists who hang out in Whelan's. Alot of people seem to be taking some of the points I made out of context. At least, opinions are erupting.

i feel another opinion poll closure coming on!! Eoghan has spanked our asses before remember!

*** Edited by Moderator **** kevin st garda station 01 XXXXXXX wait until the next geary gig to do it..... **** Moderator ***** Seriously people, can we knock it off with the 'Ring Kevin Street Garda' thread. Bear in mind that Cluas has a long association with Whelans (various charity gigs where the kindly donated the venue for free). Anymore and I will lock this thread.

see... i's can predict da future! mi's new d'occupation has been founnnnnd mon

In fairness Piltchard the phone number might have been a step to far!! last one i saw locked down on this was the farce about the olympia and people not bein who they say they were which was a load of balls.. its good debate though, and we both agree that Whelans is not what it was right? And the majority of the room agrees. That does not make us wrong or right it just means that we are all feeding off a similar vibe right?... if there are any garda who read this post i think the cover is blown by now anyway!!! lol

haha, oh well, the revolution is over, quashed by a couple of clicks of the mouse by flipperstired. Ah well ....

Ah in honest i think fair play to the article, but it offers nothing, its just knocking....the good ould irish way of doing things. whelans could just as easy be turned into a spar shop and its only because of a few people in there that the place still holds onto what it has and always has. Good people not taking the world too seriously. its owned by someone who's not me so i have no say in what happens in whelans, the only thing i can do is not go there if im fed up with it. so what time will i see you in Flanerys at on saturday night ..or are you all going to coppers this week? all i can say is thanks to whelans for all the good times.can't believe they are still playing after all by the frank and walters ....classic pop

If people feel that something is wrong with whelans then why cant they comment on it. Its not like whelans are letting you in for free and throwing out free drink. People pay money to get into the club and pay not insignificant amounts for drink. Its a product that whelans are offering and as far as im concerned, if the product degrades in quality then ive a right to say something about it. Especially when ive been a loyal customer of the product.

I resent what 'The Wetebix Man' said in 'fair play to the article, but it offers nothing, it is just knocking.....the good ould Irish ways of doing things'. Again PLEASE READ the article before making statements like this one. I merely highlighted points, issues and trends involoved with the scene built up around Whelan's. I have not mentioned any names of the WLC (I'd also like to point out that I mentioned this to Mark Geary in an interview and he assured me that he'd rather be at home than hanging out in Whelan's the whole time. So do not peg him down as part of the WLC), I have not knocked them for drinking there but for exploiting the reputation that the venue once had or maybe still does. I post on this discussion board because opinions are expressed in a manner that is acceptable and debatable at the same time. Rarely does a poster step beyond the border of verbally abusing anotehr member or trying to cause trouble. Yes, you are entitled to your opinion but please do not try and evoke action that might damage someone's character. The whole let's-ring-kevin street garda-and-spoil-their-fun business is getting a bit childish at this stage. Maybe I should've left the WLC paragraph out. I wouldn't like it if someone wrote and article slating my local, then another person decided to act upon that and report the pub to which my local might close or lose alot of business. What I'm saying is, have your opinion and express it, but do not take action just because you don't like Paddy Casey's music or the fact that other people like hanging out with Glen Hansard. Nobody has mentioned the proposal of getting various other unsigned Irish acts to play in better venues. Must we always go to the dark pits of Dorans to discover new garage/indie/rock acts? My article does not condemn Whelan's nor does it state that we should all abandon it. I will still go to Whelan's for a long time to come, as alot of good gigs are on there, but I stated my point about what the venue was and is now in the article. The best thing about writing the article is that it has brought about some excitement on this board that has been missing for a long time. Can we not keep up this enegry and discuss other areas of the site? Nobody has mentioned Brian's interview with the 'Trashcan Sintara's', or discussed the results of Cluas Writers/Readers Poll in depth, or the Rachel Loshak interview done by Triona, or the last batch of live reviews or even the new batch of album reviews. Cluas needs your opinions and the writers who submit these pieces, out of their own time-money-effort, deserve a little bit more feedback. And before anybody tries to twist this into a 'me' thing, its not as there are plenty of other writers here who write well and that's who I am referring to. .....Big Sigh..... Cheers, Gar

Well said Gar. On a side note. Is that Bloc party gig sold out. Reading peoples comments on them prompted me to investigate and i like what i found. TM dont seem to be selling anymore tickets but that might not mean its sold out