Cork rocks

It’s called regeneration, and it’s a good thing, though just at the moment much of Cork city centre looks like a building site. Patrick’s Street, the main thoroughfare, is being torn apart and a newly designed streetscape should greet visitors when Cork hosts the hugely anticipated European city of culture festivities in 2005.

However, there is also regeneration of a different kind taking place in Cork. The once stagnating alternative music scene seems to be regrouping for another assault on the masses. What has prompted this sudden resurgence? It’s been a number of factors. Cork has always had a strong rock and roll background. After all it is the birth place of legendary blues guitarist Rory Gallagher and home to Bishopstown’s favourite sons The Frank And Walters and The Sultans of Ping.

But in the past many of the groups which attempted to follow in the aforementioned footsteps were short lived because of a lack of resources. One huge blow which greatly affected the music scene was the virtual collapse of the Cork Music Co-op which had been run in association with FAS in the city for many years. The fact that this group operated a number of band practice rooms on the north side of the city meant that when it collapsed many bands lost that practice base.

At the same time city centre property developers and business folk began to embrace the concept of the super-pub and catering for the yuppie market meant that several live music venues were also forced to close. An early casualty was Papa Joe’s, located on the corner of Tuckey Street, which was later replaced by Kennedy’s a very swanky bar with no affiliations to the music scene. This was soon followed by the closure of The Phoenix which had been home to many memorable performances including the The Frank And Walters and The V Necks, who later became The Young Offenders.

One of Cork’s most notable and famous venues, Sir Henry’s, closed temporarily around this period. Sir Henry’s had acquired its place in local musical folk lore for the fact that in the past it had attracted many legendary artists. For example, every second Corkonian claims to have witnessed Nirvana’s performance when they played a support slot for Sonic Youth in 1988. When Sir Henry’s reopened the space which had once been occupied by possibly the most popular alternative music pub of its day, Jack Plugg’s, had been replaced by the flashy but soulless The Bakery, a creation of the Celtic Tiger. As for Sir Henry’s, due to internal wranglings between the DJ’s and management, many of their anchor tenants departed for the newly resurrected Savoy. Now Sir Henry’s has had an internal facelift and from its appearance it is very hard to picture Kurt and Co playing to the crowd. Comet Records, also a major purveyor of rock ’n’ roll music and friend of local musical youth culture finally surrendered to market forces and rode off into the sunset.

But now it would appear that things are beginning to change. Plugd records has opened on the site once occupied by Comet. The pub formerly known as The Phoenix, and now as McGann’s, seems to be in the process of remarketing itself as a live venue once more. The Savoy now plays host to Freakscene (a cult alternative music club-night run since 1994) which was the biggest night after the now defunct Sweat (big techno night) on the Henry’s weekly schedule. Because of the Savoy’s large capacity of over 3,000 people this has meant that even more young people are being introduced to rock ’n’ roll, and to the local scene than in the days of Henry’s.

The ripple effect of this is that more bands are forming, a pirate alternative music station, called Freak FM, has been set up and the appetite for rock music has increased. Red FM, Cork’s new independent radio station, is also making a valued contribution to this tide of sub culture. Green On Red, the station’s three-hour indie/alter-native music show, has sought to redress the lack of coverage the local music scene gets in the media. The show is presented every Sunday night by Colm O’Sullivan and features regular contributions from, among other people, Ashley Keating of The Frank And Walter’s. Importantly, it offers a voice to young bands in Cork city and county by featuring local demos heavily in its track schedule. The show also offers upcoming talent the opportunity to record songs for the show itself by organising recording sessions at the studio similar to the Fanning sessions on 2FM. Many local acts such as (Fountainstown based) Métisse, Niall Connelly, the Buds, Fred (who have taken the mantle of ‘wacky Cork act from the Sultans), Paradox, and others, have availed of this opportunity.

This in turn has meant that the quality of music coming out of Cork has improved. Because of the increased availability of recording opportunities, both on local radio and the notable increase in recording studios opening, such as Sun in Douglas, Cork, bands are moving towards a more thought out approach to recording and performing. Judging from acts like the Buds, Niall Connolly and the Token Mellow Band, the focus has shifted from going out there just to have a laugh to producing songs which are commercially accessible without completely surrendering the originality of the writers.

In the past Cork has produced some great artists but it has never been able to sustain any particular scene for very long. But now it seems that, like other places around the country, the culture of excess, that was typified by the super-pub era and techno nightclubs, may be nearing its swan song. Signs are something exciting is going to take its place.

With a healthy underground music scene growing rapidly in Cork, and the fact that it hosts the annual October Guinness Jazz festival and the June Heineken Weekender, it seems that change is inevitable. Many local entrepreneurs have seen a rise in demand for live music and this has brought a number of new music nights to the city. During the summer a club-night, known as Camouflage, was launched in the Half Moon Theatre with a performance by none other than ex-Lemonheads frontman Evan Dando. This event now takes place every second Thursday of the month, incorporating live bands and an indie disco. The Gasworks, formerly FX off Washington Street, hosts gigs most Friday nights as a feature of Planet of Sound, continuing a night (originally held in Sir Henry’s on Fridays) created by DJ Alan Fadd aka John O’Leary. O’Leary also runs a similar club, Freakscene, in the Savoy on Wednesdays.

Fred Zepplin’s, possibly Corks answer to Dublin’s Eamonn Doran’s, is set to move from its compact present home on Parliament Street to the more spacious site in Douglas Street, presently occupied by Cruisin Lan. A key features of this new location is that it can facilitate a larger stage and will increase the number of live performances taking place at Zepplins. With the recent launch of indie labels Lamp Recordings and 45 Drive Records, and bands like Rubyhorse, Boa Morte and Paradox making major waves abroad, the Cork music scene is in the rudest of health.

Cork Cult Icons

RORY GALLAGHER
Cork music’s favourite son. The legendary blues guitarist has been commemorated by having one of the city’s most central thoroughfares named after him. Visitors to Rory Gallagher Place – once Paul Street – are greeted by a statue of the gret man holding his Fender Strat.

ROY KEANE
The controversial Cork-born captain of Manchester United was honoured by UCC at the start of the summer. Dr Roy Keane still commands ample respect and affection throughout the city despite the World Cup debacle and subsequent fall-out. “Da boy can do no wrong down here.”

"IRISH" JACK LYONS
Affectionately christened “Irish Jack” by colourful Who manager Kit Lambert in 1964. He was immortalised by the band in their 1966 tune ‘Happy Jack’ which reached number 3 in the charts. Jack can also be credited for his input into the 1979 cult film Quadrophenia which is based on his exploits.

FIONA SHAW
Cork born, multi-award winning actress Fiona Shaw is one of the most powerful stage performers in Europe. Her projects include the gender bending role of Richard II, and woman on the edge Electra. Film performances include My Left Foot, Jane Eyre and Mountains Of The Moon.

NOEL REDDING
Came to prominence in the mid-’60s as bassist in the Jimi Hendrix Experience. After the end of the Hendrix Experience he went on to form Fat Mattress and released two acclaimed albums. Until recently Noel played with the Noel Redding Band in De Barra’s in Clonakilty every Friday night.

5 Cork Venues You Must Visit

The Lobby: A very popular venue especially among those who love semi-acoustic solo gigs. Its cosy intimate atmosphere is complimented by its excellent acoustics and ability to draw not only up and coming national and international talent, such as Gemma Hayes, but more established artists such as Ron Sexsmith and Glen Hansard. Recently the Lobby has endorsed the concept of afternoon gigs dedicated to young music fans who may be below the legal age of admittance at night time.

Fred Zepplin’s: A must for those who wish to see up and coming local talent. Its ever popular open mike night set up by “The Man With The Hat”, Ronan Leonard, provides a welcome opportunity to many young performers to earn their spurs. Fred Zepplin’s has played host to almost all Cork rock bands at some stage. Everyone has to start somewhere and in Cork this is the place.

The Savoy: The real big name puller when it comes to gigs. Open for nearly two years this large club has already played host to the likes of Mercury Rev, Asian Dub Foundation, McAlmont and Butler, and Ash to name but a few. Most famous past act to play the Savoy has to be The Rolling Stones who gigged here in the 1960’s. With indie/alternative club Freakscene also resident here you can’t go wrong.

Nancy Spain’s: A venue with a lot of history. In the past Nancy’s played host to gigs from the likes of U2, The Crannberries, Therapy?, The Cure and many other big names from the world of music. It provides a spacious atmosphere without losing its potential for intimate gigs. Local acts who’ve played notable shows here include Mongoose, fronted by (the always entertaining Graham McCarthy and Ciara O’Flynn), and those zany Fred boys.

The Gasworks: On Friday nights the Gasworks manages to host several gigs in the one night. Live acts are a feature of The Maltings bar which generally showcases the best of local solo artists as well as many big names from the Dublin indie music scene. In The Junction, which is also part of The Gasworks, many local bands play to the crowd before the night is rounded off with an indie disco.