The Inside Track: Truth or Kildare

Al eyes are on Kildare as the Ryder Cup hits the K-Club this month, but all ears should be cocked in its direction too, as the Kill City Defectors prepare to release their new single ‘Messed Up’ on October 6. The band celebrate with a gig in Eamonn Doran’s on the night and an in-store in tower the evening before at 6.45. Competition prizes galore are on offer on their site at www.killcitydefectors.com where you can be in with a chance of winning tickets to their video launch night in a secret location on September 30, a copy of the new single and tickets to launch night gig. To enter you have to send the band a captioned photo of “yaw’ll wrecking the place, at gigs, out door sessions, partys and beyond.” The winning photos will be posted on the site before Sept 30. The Defectors are also playing the Rock Room in Spirit on Oct 14 as part of the HWCH festival.
Fellow Kildareman Anthony Gibney recently released his debut single ‘Ritual’ at a sold-out show in Bewley’s Theatre, Grafton Street. The single is backed by the songs ‘Spoon’ and ‘Leave Your Sorrow By The Sea’. Catch him live at Sunday Roast in Thomas Reads on October 1.
Limerick’s Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters (including members from Fun Bobby and Knapweed played a blistering set recently downstairs at Nestors on O’Connell Street supported by The Pilot**teers). The gig served as a taster for their forthcoming debut ep – will keep you posted…
Entries are now being invited for The Global Battle Of The Bands 2006. Last year’s winners, Kopek, beat off competition from 24 different countries to land the prize of $100,000 and a World Tour. Local heats will be held in Belfast, Derry and Dublin. For details check out www.gbob.com REMEMBER – No cover versions! No pre-recorded music!
News from Derry’s Real Friends Break Chairs next. The debut EP Rome is now available from the band at gigs or by contacting them via www.myspace.com/realfriendsbreakchairs. Two of the tracks have been uploaded to the myspace with another track ‘Excavator’ available for download.
The latest dispatch from the Vesta Varro camp is that the new album is mixed and sounds great. They are currently in the process of getting it mastered in the US. Expect some new songs to be added to the myspace soon!
Watch out for the debut single from Offaly’s Mark Hogan (not to be confused with our multitalented Marketing Manager), ‘Here I Go Again’ (not to be confused with the Whitesnake poodle-rock anthem). A former finalist in the 2FM Song Contest, Mark cites Johnny Cash and Bob Marley among his many influences. The single is currently available to download from his myspace and you can catch him live at the Music Factory in Carlow on November 10. Official release date to be announced….
If you haven’t already visited the Dublin Fringe Festival’s Spielgeltent put September 23 in your diary. For one night only the Rockcandy Carnival takes over. Hystereo, Produse, Betamax Format and Porn Trauma will rock the house (tent) and 75 per of the profits go to the Simon Community.