The better bet

Albert Einstein once said, “You cannot beat a roulette table unless you steal money from it”. Wise words indeed and if the title of Mixtwitch’s new EP is anything to go by they are in complete agreement. ‘All Bets Are Off’ is the latest release from the Dublin ska-punk combo which gets an official launch in the salubrious watering hole that is Eamon Doran’s on August 1.

The 4-song EP was recorded by Ryan Greene of NOFX / Fat Wreck fame in Motor Studios, San Francisco in March 2004. For details of how to get a copy of this wonderful opus go to www.mixtwitch.com where you can also sample such aural delights as ‘All Bets Are Off’ and ‘Let’s Go’...

In other EP news, Coleraine’s pop punks Reluctant have released their second such offering entitled ‘Make It Stop!’. The CD is available from their web site, from any band member or from Grahams Record store in Coleraine.
The new material will be showcased at upcoming live dates in July, August and September where the CD will also be on sale. The opening track from the EP, ‘Names In Hearts’, is available to download from the band’s website.

Another northern creative endeavour which has come to fruition is the new Cuckoo Rass EP, ‘Brothers and Fools’. Recorded with Neal Calderwood in his Manor Park Studio, the CD contains 4 tracks and is available through the Cuckoo Rass Website

New material is also available from that wonderful Dublin band House of Mexico in the form of a limited edition single. There are only 111 copies of ‘Without Blood’ available. Officially, you can procure a copy of this rarity by mail order only, or via the interweb from www.greatpopsupplement.com, but a source close to the band confides there may be a few copies in the Rough Trade shop in London. Following their debut release on Earworm Records (Yo La Tengo, Spaceman 3, Apples in Stereo) which received enthusiastic radio play by John Peel and other notable indie-bods, this release is one to watch out for...
Speaking of notable indie-bods – continuing her mission to make the south-east a better place for all music lovers, Beat FM’s Edel Dooley recently started a regular live night in The Forum, Waterford. The Indigo Sessions kicked off at the end of July, bringing the talents of Tipperary’s 7EVENWORDS and Wexford’s Chaplin together for the first of what promises to be an excellent series of live events. The second show, which takes place on August 13, features Sean Needham and special guests. Bands interested in performing should contact Edel at [email protected]...
Live news from the south-west now: the newly relocated Preachers Bar on Henry Street, Cork looks set to take the place of the sorely-missed Savoy which was demolished last year. Plans are underway for a series of acoustic gigs in the bar which has already played host to the talents of Martin Finke and Ollie Cole…
Limerick’s Stephen Purcell (ex-Kamiko) has completed the line-up of his latest project, We Should Be Dead, with the addition of Alan Morrissey (Atrophy) on guitar, Tara Nix (Seraphim) on vocals and Gary Healy on bass. Catch them when they support local indie pop merchants Supermodel Twins on their national tour this August...
August 28 is the deadline for submissions for the next Front Page CD. This will be the third compilation in the series which is the brainchild of Musicbest, Best Cellars Music Collective and the Front Page. For further details contact Iain at [email protected]
On the subject of submissions, the Hard Working Class Heroes organisers received over 500 demos! The A&R panel will choose 100 bands to take part in
the festival on September 3, 4 and 5 in venues throughout Temple Bar. This year's event promises to be bigger and better than last year's - look out for updates in the next few issues...

For live updates tune into The Last Splash, Sunday nights 9-11, with Alison Curtis on Today FM (email: [email protected])