Winter, landscapes and staring into space… essential ingredients for a Chekhov play or the influences of a young Dublin combo as listed on their MySpace? Both actually.
According to their press release, Daragh, Paul, Eoin and Raymond, or Codes to you and me, create alternative/electronic music in a haunted Victorian house on top of a hill in a Dublin suburb. The boys have just released their excellent second single ‘Cities’ which follows on from September’s very fine tune ‘Edith’. Expect big things in ’08.
But first we have the rest of ’07 to deal with and luckily there are plenty of live treats to entertain over the festive season...
Prison Love bring their criminally catchy brand of cajun/bluegrass to Tripod on December 19. This year saw the release of their third album A Night In The Box, which received rave reviews. Support comes from the very wonderful North Strand Klezmer Band...
The Redneck Manifesto play some rare live shows in Whelan’s on December 20 and the Roisin Dubh on December 21. These will be their last Irish gigs for quite a while, as they’ll be spending the first half of 2008 recording their new album and touring Japan. The Japanese tour is in support of the release of their back catalogue on Tokyo-based label Catune...
After extensive gigging around the country The Butterfly Explosion return to the Pale to play a hometown show on December 1 in Crawdaddy. Unfortunately this will be the last show with drummer Peter who has decided to hang up his sticks. The search now begins for a new skinsperson...
Cork rockers Fred hit the road in mid-December following a mighty impressive show in New York’s CMJ Music marathon. The five-piece independently released their current album, Making Music So You Don’t Have To two years ago and its highly anticipated successor is due at the start of next year. The band will ring in the new year in Cyprus Avenue on NYE for all of you who will be in the People’s Republic...
December 16 marks the release of Dublin-based songwriter and musician, Adrian Crowley’s fourth album, Long Distance Swimmer which he will officially launch in Whelan's that night. The long-player, which is being released on the UK label Tin Angel Records, was recorded in Dublin by Stephen Shannon and features appearances by luminaries such as James Yorkston and Marja Tuhkanen...
In other Whelan’s news, following a stomping set at the year’s Hard Working Class Heroes and a slew of recent nationwide dates The Minutes gear up for a double-header with The Chapters on December 1. The band have created a great buzz this year and are definitely ones to watch in 2008!
Those lovely Delorentos boys (pictured) were popping champagne corks recently with the news that their new EP, ‘Do You Realise’ went straight into the Irish Top 40. They have just returned from a batch of UK dates and Irish fans can catch them in Waterford’s Electric Avenue on December 6 and Limerick’s Dolans on December 7 and at a special Christmas show in Dublin in The Ambassador Theatre on December 14 with special guests Messiah J & The Expert and Super Extra Bonus Party…
Dublin combo Pig, featuring two of the non-Wall Walls, are off to the States next month to play the Trash Bar in Brooklyn on December 5 and the Lit Lounge in Manhatten on December 6. They will also be talking to various labels who are interested in releasing their material in the US. Will keep you posted on news of forthcoming Irish releases!
In other US-related news The Cake Sale’s ‘Some Surprise’ featured in the Thanksgiving episode of hit ABC TV series Grey’s Anatomy. The programme makers chose to use the version of the song featuring vocals by Paul Noonan and Lisa Hannigan. To date the album has achieved in excess of double platinum sales in Ireland (35,000 and counting) and raised some €250,000 so far for Oxfam Ireland.
Season's greetings!

For live updates tune into The Last Splash, Sunday nights 8-10, with Alison Curtis on Today FM
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