There’s nothing like a strong statement of intent to make people sit up and listen... We’ve Got The Ways And The Means is the menacingly-titled debut EP from The Dead Flags currently available for your listening pleasure. And the boys certainly mean business. This blistering confection was produced by Karl Odlum and features the track ‘I Can’t Be Held Responsible’ which has been getting frequent airplay nationwide. The band had a terrific 2008 which saw them peaking at No. 22 in the singles chart with their blistering debut ‘O My Love! O My God!!’ and wowing the crowds around the country on the 2fm 2moro 2our...
In other EP news Heritage Centre have just unleashed their The City, The Tree And The Fox six-tracker, which follows hot on the heels of lauded single ‘Losing Touch’...
Kildare’s Simon Fagan releases the Hired And Fired EP on March 6 through SiAn Records. An appropriate title given the current economic doom and gloom. Impressively Simon already has support slots to Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson under his belt and also featured in The Beatles Love Concert at the National Concert Hall. Another EP is due later in the year followed by an album in early 2010. This confection was produced by Simon and Martin Quinn (Juliet Turner, Turn and Ham Sandwich) at Jam Studios, Kells…
Lots of singles to look out for too... Reemo have just released ‘Sometimes’, the first track from the band’s debut album Colours, on Reekus Records. Produced by Marc Carolan at Suite Studios it was launched at a jam-packed Sugar Club show featuring label-mates Saville...
Dublin’s Hoarsebox have just released new single ‘All I Need Now’ and celebrate with a Button Factory show on March 27. The last six months have been a rollercoaster ride for the band with a successful jaunt around the festival circuit, support slots to The Stranglers and The Little Ones, a week-long run at The Edinburgh Festival and a slew of packed out US dates in such famed venues as the Mercury Lounge, Arlene’s Grocery and Pianos…
Wexford’s Jimi Cullen is currently wrapping up his Dutch tour, and has announced a double A-side single featuring ‘Realistic Love Song’ and ‘Messed Up World’. Both are available at downloadmusic.ie or by texting ‘music 1332’ to 57501 for the former or ‘music 1333’ to 57501 for the latter.
Jimi is also hosting a new singer-songwriter night in Gorey on the first Friday of every month in Paddy Blues. Future dates and line ups are on his myspace. There are also some solo Irish dates in the pipeline…
Offaly’s Wayne Brennan releases his new single ‘Please Please’ on February 27 from forthcoming long-player In My Hands. Wayne has supported The Gypsy Kings, Alabama 3, Brian Kennedy, Aslan, Natty Wailer, Jack L and The Coronas and enjoyed much success last year with the top 20 ‘And I Love’...
Further south Waterford’s Sons Of Nemed have lifted ‘Burn Baby Burn’ from their forthcoming album Valeria Messalina. The duo comprises the colourfully monikered Johnny ‘Bullet’ Love (vox, drum/synth programming) and Knuckles Pop (vox, guitar and bass)...
On the live front Cork’s Hooray For Humans have their first Dublin headliner in what seems like aeons on February 27 in Eamonn Doran’s. Support comes from Kidd Blunt and Ran. The band will also be popping across the pond to take part in Canadian Music Week and plans are afoot for an Irish tour with UK chaps Super Tennis in mid-April...