The Inside Track: Xmas Marks the Spot

One of the highlights of this year’s Electric Picnic was the Hot Press Chatroom appearance of Jinx Lennon and Miss Paula Flynn, a performance they just about topped at their fantastic show in The Sugar Club recently. Don’t worry if you missed it: the DVD will be available soon. You will also be delighted to hear that Paula’s new single ‘Happy Christmas Valentine’ will be available from the end of November.
The track was mostly recorded chez Paula with HP contributor Greg McAteer on guitars. Paul Carolan from Evil Harrisons recorded the drums in Tumbleweed Studios and piano, glockenspiel and omnichord were recorded by Brian Crosby in Exchequer Studios Dublin. The accompanying video should be up on her MySpace soon!
Sorcha Brennan, formerly of Butterfly Explosion, has been toiling away with a new band over the last few months. The new combo is called Sleep Thieves and they peddle a catchy brand of electronica – check the tunes on www.myspace.com/wearesleepthieves.
You may also know Ms Brennan from the very wonderful Little Xs For Eyes who play upstairs in Whelan’s with The Ambience Affair and Groom on November 24 and a headline show in Anseo on December 11...
Rockabilly fans in Enniscorthy will be delighted to hear a new Rockabilly night – Rock Bop Boogie – has arrived at The Bailey. The first night, on November 14, features Aces Wild and DJ Moondog. At the moment plans are to hold the night every two months but if successful the organisers will increase the frequency. All proceeds go to the Blackstairs Blues Festival. Further details can be found at www.blackstairsblues.com…
Cork’s finest, Fred, are out on the road in late November and December, check hotpress.com for details. October 2008 saw the release of Go God Go in Canada on Sparks Music and the band being awarded Single of the Week on iTunes Canada. The band played their debut show in Canada at NXNE in June this year and have also performed at this year’s prestigious Pop Montreal. New single ‘The Lights’ has just been released...
Autamata’s video for ‘Need You Sunshine’, from current confection Colours Of Sound, has been nominated for an award in the year’s UK Music Video Awards (www.ukmva.com). Fingers crossed!
The artists formerly know as Mainline, The Brothers Movement, release their debut single, ‘Blind’, on 28 November. It will be accompanied a slew of nationwide dates – check hotpress.com for details...
Derry’s General Fiasco have just released debut single ‘Rebel Get By’ on independent label Another Music = Another City. The band have just finished support dates with One Night Only and will be playing their own headline shows in December in Galway, Cork, Limerick, Dublin and Belfast…
Cavan’s Superstate release ‘When The Guilty Panic’ on November 21 at the Cavan Rocks Dublin night in Radio City. The Karl Odlum-produced cd includes ‘Stargazing’ and live fave ‘Sleeping In’. A brand new online home at www.superstateband.com is on the way too!
The Things have just unleashed their latest offering ‘Set Me Free’ / ‘Make Her Cry’ on Psycho Sound Records. Both tracks are taken from the forthcoming long-player Some Kind Of Kick. The gem is available on limited edition cd and itunes download from www.myspace.com/thethings and www.myspace.com/psychosoundrecords you can also check out the band’s new blog at www.thethingsrock.blogspot.com...
Northerners The Beat Poets have just released the double a-side single ‘Staring Stars Down / G.I’ recorded with Greg Haver of Manic Street Preachers and Lost Prophets fame. With an array of impressive support slots under their belt, such as Sonic Youth, Chemical Brothers, The Duke Spirit and Nine Black Alps it’s no wonder the offers of licensing deals for their forthcoming long-player have been coming thick and fast (Fabtone in Japan and Universal in Ireland). The band were recently filmed by UTV ‘Live At The Limelight’ for a forthcoming broadcast. Will keep you posted on further developments…