Homework: 28 February 2002

Online resources for tackling that big, bad and dysfunctional world that is the music industry seem to be multiplying by the day, what with Hotpress giving birth on the web (not in the Jordan sense!) and Irish Unsigned. As they put it themselves, Irish Unsigned endeavour to “connect the dream makers with the music makers”. Or should that be the other way round? Log on at www.irishunsigned. com for the full multimedia music industry experience.

Today (Thursday 28th) is a sad day for Cork band Semi as they pull the plug on five years of making good music. Consisting of former members of LMNO Pelican and Cow In The Water, they released a fine album last year entitled Mervyn In Toronto and notched up a Fanning Session and a No Disco showing of their video. You can kiss them goodbye tonight in Nancy Spain’s of Barrack Street, Cork.

The Bitter End, a new Sunday night venture in the Sugar Club on Leeson Street sold out last week with performances from David Kitt and The Ultra Montanes. The loose idea is to play covers acoustically, although both artists delved into their own material interspersed with versions of songs by Prince, The Velvet Underground and to this listener’s baffled delight, The Silver Jews. Situated in a lovely room with tasty cocktails to boot, The Bitter End rises again on Sunday March 24th with performances from Sack, Nina Hynes and Colin Devlin of... you guessed it..The Devlins...

...dEcal in vocals shocker! Following their veritable pop song on the Road Relish Singles Club series, the fantastic ‘Ladies Love My 808’, the duo have two vocal tracks on their forthcoming long player 404 Not Found, as those of you who are redundant technology sector workers spot the ‘net reference of that title. Alan Kelly of The Last Post guests on one while Dennis McNulty exercises his tonsils on the other. For their album launch on Saturday March 23 in Vicar St they will be joined by David Lacey on drums & percussion and visuals will be provided by Tim Redfern of PIXELCORPS, who is the new visuals resident for u:mack’s monthly club static.

If you’re sick to the back teeth of Witnness, Creamfields, Slane and Homelands rumours, then the Holidays In The Sun three-day festival on the weekend of May 17-19 could be for you. G.B.H, The Anti-Nowhere League, The Exploited and Stiff Little Fingers have all confirmed – no doubt to be supported by the finest homegrown punk talent around. Check www.holidaysinthesun.net for details. Whiny bed-wetting singer/songwriters are getting much too boring for comfort anyway. Punk lives!