Monday, June 4, 2012

Sophisticated bithces

I recently went to see Scala & Kolacny Brothers in the Olympia in Dublin. Must say, I was convinced they weren't singing live for the majority of the show because there was not a hint of difference between their live performance and their recorded tracks. But they were indeed singing live, they were just really talented feckers who make music the way it's meant to sound, unaltered and autotune free.

Scala is a Belgian women's choir who mostly cover hit songs from well known bands including Radiohead, Kings of Leon,  U2, Nirvana and Muse. The Kolacny Brothers' role includes the arrangement and conducting of the songs. That was the most enjoyable part of the concert because we could actually see and appreciate the talent of the brothers, particularly Steven Kolacny who was outstanding on the piano for the night sans notes or prompters just passion and raw talent.

I'm just going to share with the blogging world some of my personal favourite covers of Scala & Kolacny Brothers over the years;

1. Creep by Radiohead cover


Of course this one must be included on the list. It was used in The Social Network which the choir really received a lot of recognition for. Perfect.

2. Use Somebody by Kings of Leon cover


This is most definitely one of my favourite songs of all time and Scala really add something special to their version of it. 


3. The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice cover


If you're a bit depressed at this stage, this might just tip you over the edge. So so so so so so so beautifullllllllllllll


4. Ironic by Alanis Morissette cover



This is a bit more upbeat and fun. But there's only so much diversity a classical choir can offer..


5. The Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson cover


Oooh dark Scala...

If you're bored of Adele for the emotional sounds, visit Scala for a dose of that shit, it'll truly get you going.





Friday, February 24, 2012

That time I interviewed the Rubberbandits



Masked in their plastic bag façade sporting the ‘Centra’ brand, the only element that seemed irregular about the usual Rubberbandits act was the Lady Gaga style tea cup they sipped from gracefully throughout their interview. When their publicist warned me that this ‘chat’ wasn’t going to be as relaxing as I thought, I wasn’t expecting my reactions to their dark humour to be tested or boundaries to be pushed. As they talked about a battle between Limerick and America, Wexford’s tall boys and Matt Cardle singing about doing heroin on a bus, I found myself asking them would they eat their own shit. It was then the realisation occurred that I had just tested the limits of their own boundaries.

The Limerick comedy duo, comprised of Blindboy Boat Club and Mr. Chrome, are just as random as the origin of their stage names themselves. Blindboy was the apparent imagination behind the name “The Rubberbandits” giving credit to nothing more than his daily wash.
 “I was just having a shower and it just came into my head.”
It wasn’t the first time Mr. Chrome had heard of bathroom muses. “That happens, like. My cousin had a little baby boy called Oscar and she thought of the name while she was having a shit.”


The first comedy sketches the bandits’ embarked on were prank calls, each recording receiving thousands of YouTube hits, but surprisingly, the pranks weren’t to their own personal taste. “We didn’t find them funny. They weren’t really pranks. We were just ringing up people normally and someone recorded us. It was a guy who robbed brown Christmas trees who recorded us. He’d line the trees up against a random person’s front door, ring the doorbell, run away and then all the trees would fall in on top of them.” Evidently, the pranks impressed many others as the bandits’ went on to play top Irish festivals such as Electric Picnic and Oxegen, received a regular slot on RTE’s Republic of Telly and most recently filmed a Comedy Blap for Channel 4. “Comedy Blaps was great craic. Declan Lowney was on that one with us and he did little tricks to make us work harder. Like, he injected oranges with vodka and left them around the set. He kept changing clocks as well and we think we’d be coming in late but we’d be on time and have to work harder then."

Mr. Chrome also described his bizarre encounters with the director who also produced Father Ted. “He wears a big curly wig and once he ordered pizza and there was no peppers on his pizza and he just started balling crying. He’s a mad lunatic. He supplies the meat for Burger Mac in Wexford as well.” The two rambled on about their experiences of Wexford town itself and remarked on a gig they played in a local nightclub.

Mr. Chrome, “Someone chipped my tooth in ‘The Stores’.  He wasn’t a man, he was a really tall boy who was on work experience and we were in there setting up for a gig and he came over with a brush. He says it was an accident but I don’t believe him. He was only 9.”


Blindboy: “That’s Wexford. It’s full of giant boys. Do you ever hear of the giants of the Wexford Mountains? My mother wrote a play about the giant boys of the Galtee Mountains and the forestry commission sued her but it was really about the giant boys of the Wexford Mountains. They keep them there with giant Lega. Where’s my fucking coffee? I love the way you don’t have to wait for your coffee to steep.” Not questioning their random train of thought I continued to ask them about their expedition to America for MTV’s “Rubberbandits in NYC” which they admitted was just a glorified holiday. But when compared with Limerick the boys remained true to their City origins. “In a battle between Limerick and America, Limerick would definitely win because there’s nicer food in Limerick. They just put sugar in everything in America.”

Mr. Chrome’s choice also lied with his homeland and their modest use of sugar. “The Americans just dip their balls into the sugar and then put it into their mouths. Some of them stick their fingers in your mouth on the tube. They’re called the honey boys and they have honey in their pockets and then they rub it on the inside of your mouth on public transport. It happened to Blindboy.” “Ya, I got stung on the tongue by a wasp that came out of the letter box and then the honey boys cornered me. You never see that in limerick. Sure, there are no wasps in Limerick.” Through the ramblings of the conversation about Brendan Gleeson’s hermafadite status, and their belief that if you see a younger version of yourself it would be a paradox, the world would implode and you’d be left with a kettle full of piss, we managed to get onto the subject of Brian Cox. “If I could listen to someone for the rest of my life it would be Professor Brian Cox. He’s got a lovely voice.” As Mr. Chrome proceeded to hum Things Can Only Get Better, Blindboy asked his partner the ultimate question.

“What would you choose if it was between Professor Brian Cox reading your eulogy, a tit wank off Jordan or Morgan Freeman giving you a head massage?” After some deliberation, Mr. Chrome decided that the option of a tit wank would be more enjoyable. Fortunately, they didn’t look to me for a preference.

In 2010, The Bandits’ first single Horse Outside narrowly missed the number one spot in the Christmas charts as the X Factor dominated the position another year running. But a number one single was not what the pair had in mind. “Everyone else wanted us to be Christmas number one but when you get that it brings you to the attention of idiots. No, I shouldn’t say that. It brings you to the attention of people who can’t spell. No, I shouldn’t say that either. It brings you to the attention of people you don’t want to be brought attention to.” Both of them insisted they didn’t know enough about the X Factor to have an opinion on it but they were however, aware of the meaning of Matt Cardle’s single that beat them to the top spot. “Matt McCardle’s songs were about doing heroin on a bus. It goes I’m on the top of the bus I’m up the back I wanna chase you I wanna chase you until you’re inside my body, oh heroin. We’re getting in trouble over saying fuck a couple of times and he’s singing about doing heroin on a bus?”

Last year, the bandits closed the Trinity Ball and when I reminded them about how Jessie J reacted to the audience being so drunk they surprisingly agreed with her. “She was right. We’ve never ever played a gig with so many drunken people. But Jessie James has no tits so I don’t think she’s one to be talking.”

Given their numerous encounters with Trinity I asked them what they would do for RAG week. “Eat human shit. But I don’t believe in a charity strong enough to eat another man’s shit,” which I took as a perfect moment to enquire “What about your own?” A resounding no was accompanied by “I hope everything doesn’t make it into the article except for that question about shit. If you want to make a career out of interviewing people, ask them would they eat their own shit and they’ll definitely remember you.” Best advice I’ll ever get.  



The Rubberbandits’ debut album Serious About Men is out now.


Saturday, February 18, 2012

Music that makes the ads worth watching.

You've released a few singles and they haven't even made the charts. No-one has heard of your new album and YouTube views are lacking.
The joys of trying to break into the music industry.

Then a medium of payed advertisement is delivered. Furniture, mobile phone networks, fast food. The most generic products but ads that you pay most attention to because of their use of music. You've grabbed the attention of millions. A product sells and so does the band.



Advert - Guinness
Song - Mr. Blue Sky by ELO



Guinness make good ads. This is one of their best but purely because of ELO. Their tagline "the dot became a Guinness" makes the concept of the advert silly.


Advert - KFC

Song - One Big Family by Temple Cloud



Never thought I'd say this but, well done KFC. My sentiments are resonated by the top comment on the official video; "I can't believe it but KFC advert got me here."


Advert - Coors Light
Song - Listen to your Love by Mona



This one wasn't that prominent on our boxes but I love Mona and even if it is from Coors Light, they deserve all the endorsements they get.



Advert - Vodafone
Song - Hotel Song by Regina Spektor



Although this isn't one of her best songs, it really garnered her album a whole lot of attention.


Advert - Vodafone
Song - Terrible Love by The National



Vodafone really know how to choose music for their adverts. In fact, they just know how to make a good ad altogether.



Advert - Ikea
Song - You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties by Man Like Me



This is just fun and quirky and everyone knows it. I now want a kitchen from Ikea. They have done their job.


Advert - Nikon
Song - Welcome Home by Radical Face




I like the Robbie Williams part <3


Advert - Discover Ireland
Song - Remember When by Heathers




Heathers shot to fame in Ireland after this advert. Haven't heard of them since their first album but it had some really catchy songs song it.


Advert - Sky
Song - To Build a Home by The Cinematic Orchestra




Great, great ad.


Advert - Sony
Song - Heartbeats by José González



I like the part where the balls bounced down the street.


Advert - O2
Song - Cosmic Love by Florence and The Machine




This advert reminds me of actually seeing Florence at a festival in Ireland 2009, a couple of months after this ad was released.
It's interesting that she released Days are Over as her first single twice before this ad and Cosmic Love. And then re-released it for a third time after she grabbed people's attention.
To think that people don't watch ads?

That folks, is the power of television.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Apocalypse Shmocalypse

It's a bit of stereotypical feature to post but you can't deny the fact that you'd like to know who is going to be big in 2012. I'm not predicting the next music prodigies, just sharing the new acts I think you'll be hearing a lot more of in the year of "The End."


1. Rae Morris

Think Birdy, Kate Bush and Curly Sue's love child. Yo, it's Rae Morris.

The gal is only 18 and has been trying to make it through the mediums of YouTube for a while as well as playing small gigs in her home town of Blackpool alongside studying in college. Defo must be a key task manager because not only has she now finished her full time education but has been signed a publishing deal with Universal.

I've been spreading her music like.the.plague. for the pure fact that this girl is one ball of fuzzy talent.


http://raemorris.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/raemorrisblackpool

2. Michael Kiwanuka

Aside from making millions from her obvious heart-break experiences, I seriously respect Adele for her taste in music and have found that she regularly recommends gems of artists. Michael Kiwanuka is one of them. And she has majorly plugged the dude. So-much-so, he supported her on her Adele Live 2011 tour. What an ego boost.

Kiwanuka grew up in London and has been compared to artists such as Otis Redding, Van Morrisson and Bill Withers.

I'd have to back the BBC's announcement of his nomination for the Sound of 2012 poll. #onetowatch2012

http://michaelkiwanuka.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MichaelKiwanuka

3. Charli XCX

"With a plethora of emotive, dark pop songs...Charli is not your run-of-the-mill musician" - describing yourself like that in the bio of your music page is obviously going to boost the play count. But then you'll find yourself listening to her music again for the simple reason that her sound is quirky, catchy and she has talent. 

She creates a mash up (in my imagination only, I'm sure) of Marina and the Diamonds, LadyHawke and perhaps the Yeah Yeah Yeahs so I wouldn't particularly endorse the statement of a musician contrary to the run-of-the-mill but overall, this chic is goooooood. 

http://charlixcxmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/charlixcxmusic


4. Alabama Shakes

These guys are really bringing back the sounds of Southern soul/rock and I'm certainly not complaining. Lead vocalist Brittany Howard gives the band that unique edge that have made them the ones to watch in 2012.

They've only released a 4 song EP but no doubt there will be more coming for the Athens four piece throughout the year.

http://alabamashakes.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theAlabamaShakes


5. Dry the River
Hi. 


I'm absolutely addicted to this band. 


First off, I adore their name for some reason? It's a very indie/folk name perhaps following the same style as Band of Horses or Cage the Elephant. When I looked them up I knew there was going to be a seriously emotional connection before the play bar had reached 0:03 seconds.


The five piece, who hale from London, released their debut album Weights and Measures at the end of 2011 but is no doubt a record sure to storm the folk scene in 2012.


http://www.drytheriver.net/
https://www.facebook.com/drytheriver


6. Electric Guest

Electric Guest are currently one of the most promising unsigned acts this year and the fact that they're managed by the same company as Jack White, Vampire Weekend and Cold War Kids (who EG have also supported) indicates that they won't remain unsigned for long in 2012.

The Los Angeles duo have only released an EP on the iTunes consisting of two singles but nonetheless, a record furnished with impressive melodies and catchy guitar riffs.

http://www.electricguest.com/
https://www.facebook.com/electricguest


7. Lianne La Havas



Such a beautiful sound. 

Judging by her online biography she has quite a quirky eccentric personality as well - contrary to the acoustic, soulful accent of her music; "Nothing like Corinne Bailey Rae...but we have similar hair." Ironic considering the first artist she remined me of was Ms. Rae. But I can understand why she would want to distinguish herself among the overwhelmed genre. 

Self-confessed fan of Laura Marling and Ella Fitzgerald, La Havas has also supported Bon Iver during numerous shows. Watch yo' back Corinne.

http://www.liannelahavas.com/
https://www.facebook.com/LianneLaHavas


8. The Minutes

Following the 7 overseas artists I've just posted I think an Irish act for 2012 is on call. Enter The Minutes. 

The three lads from Dublin have done pretty well from themselves thus far. Aside from being signed to Model Citizen Records, they've just released their debut album Marcata. They boast a genre of rock and roll with the added guarantee of "proper rock and roll, born in the 50′s, dragged kicking and screaming through the late 20th century, a ragged flag passed from generation to generation under the stewardship of true believers – Chuck Berry, John Lennon, Phil Lynott, Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen." 

Respect. 

http://theminutesmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theminutes


The End. 

Lol just kidding.