The Franks played down at the Indiependence festival in Mitchelstown again this year.  They’re ever-present at this festival and while you might say that you’re seeing the same bands this year but now have to pay for it, the multi-stage festival has a lot more bands packed into the schedule which makes it well worth it.  I wonder what the plans are for next year.

But getting back to the Franks, this wasn’t one of their best performances I thought.  Perhaps the vibe in the tent was one of relief to be out of the rain but most weren’t the fanatical Franks fans you’d expect to see at their gigs.  To say it wasn’t their best performance is a little unfair; the gig atmosphere wasn’t ideal but that wasn’t down to them.  You’ll always get a mix of fans at performances in a festival scenario which I’m sure people will experience this weekend at Electric Picnic.  I hope to get to the Franks gig when they hopefully play their annual Christmas gig in Cork.

See a few more photos in the full set.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)
• August 10, 2009 -- Wallis Bird at Indiependence (5)
• August 7, 2008 -- Fred at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)

The Blizzards were next up after Delorentos by which time the rain was really coming down again so I didn’t get too many photos.  As you can see from the picture below, lead singer Niall Breslin had his right arm in a cast so he couldn’t play guitar but this didn’t slow him down on stage.  Some plonker in the audience thought it would be funny to throw hay (used to minimise the muck due to the rain) at him which after the 5th or 6th time Niall finally let rip.  Lots of pent-up anger there!  While I’m not a big fan of the second album, the songs sound a lot better live.  Perhaps the album is over-produced and almost too perfect.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)
• September 16, 2009 -- Super Furry Animals at Indiependence (0)
• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)

The Villagers are one of the bands I was really looking forward to at the recent Indiependence.  I had heard quite a bit of their music and of course I was a fan of The Immediate who I saw in Cyprus Avenue.  I was well impressed with the performance and I must try pick up their EP ‘Hollow Kind’.  For those of you heading to Electric Picnic, this is one act to catch.

There are a few more photos in the full set.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)
• August 21, 2009 -- Delorentos at Indiependence (2)
• August 14, 2009 -- Fred at Indiependence (0)

Dark Room Notes were the next band up at Indiependence after Wallis Bird.  I saw DRN play a while back in Cyprus Avenue and have since heard them on the radio where they’re getting some coverage.

A few more photos after the jump…

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)
• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)
• August 21, 2009 -- Delorentos at Indiependence (2)

Wallis Bird was the second act we caught at Indiependence last Sunday.  It’s been a while since I saw her in Cyprus Avenue where she plays regularly enough but I was very impressed with her engaging and energetic live act on a bigger stage.  I’ll definitely get along to her next gig in Cork which is in Cyprus Avenue on October 18th.

I have a couple of more photos from the gig in the full set on Flickr.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)
• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)
• September 16, 2009 -- Super Furry Animals at Indiependence (0)

Mick Flannery played the Lodge two weeks ago as part of the tour to launch his second album White Lies.  Mick Flannery has been touring quite a lot in the last couple of years which was evident by the full house at The Lodge.  While he hasn’t lost his bashfulness on stage, he seems to take it all in his stride now.

Tomorrow’s Paper, which I believe is the first single from the album White Lies, has been getting a lot of airplay on local and national radio so it seems Mick Flannery is getting the recognition he deserves outside of Cork, where he has been selling out shows for a few years now.  That song is a bit more upbeat than songs from his debut album and overall I think White Lies is a more varied and considered album.  There seems to a be an avalanche of good Irish bands releasing strong albums at the moment.  While you’re in town (or online) buying this album, why not pick up Ian Whitty’s second album too, From the Word Go from Messiah J and the Expert, Go God Go from Fred, and Honeycomb Moons from Armoured Bear.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• October 23, 2008 -- Clare O’Mahony at The Lodge in Mallow (0)
• September 20, 2008 -- The Blizzards at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)
• August 7, 2008 -- Fred at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)

Clare O’Mahony played support to Mick Flannery down in The Lodge in Mallow recently and appears to be playing support on more of his upcoming gigs.  Clare was joined on stage by another guitarist who also contributed on backing vocals and together they created nice melodies and interplay with their guitar picking.  Clare once alluded to Dawson’s Creek during the gig and its impact on one of her songs and this influence is plain to see in many of the songs.  You could just imagine watching the dilemmas of Dawson, Joey, Pacey et al. unfurl whilst listening to her music and in this respect her style reminds me of Christopher Dallman.  Unfortunately there was quite a bit of chatter down the back in The Lodge but those of us up front certainly enjoyed the show.

If you’re going to see Mick Flannery in the Pavilion on Friday then get in early to catch Clare O’Mahony.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• October 26, 2008 -- Mick Flannery at the Lodge in Mallow (0)
• May 17, 2008 -- Tobar an Cheoil at the Triskel (4)
• December 8, 2007 -- Philtre at Cyprus Avenue (0)

Ian Whitty and his band were up next on stage in the Spiegeltent after Cian and Aaron Dillon almost two weeks ago.  I’ve seen Ian Whitty play numerous times over the years and he is now a more rounded and complete artist.  His debut album Will o’ the Wisp is more softly spoken and subtle than the rockier sound he and his band now display.  Having said that the later music still has the fantastically clever and imaginative wordplay so evident on Will o’ the Wisp.  The next album is coming out later on this year and it’s one I can’t wait to get my hands on; songs like Houndstooth Shirt and Not on Your Side are already instantly recognisable at his gigs.  You can currently check out these songs on his MySpace.

The phone above is part of the props used in case you’re wondering!  There are more photos in the full set.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• July 6, 2008 -- Ger Wolfe and the New Skylarks at The Spiegeltent (0)
• June 28, 2008 -- Aaron Dillon at The Spiegeltent (3)
• June 25, 2008 -- Cian at The Spiegeltent (3)

On Thursday night last Tobar an Cheoil came to the Triskel in Cork in the guise of three fantastic traditional musicians: Brian McNamara on uilleann pipes, Gráinne Hambly on harp and concertina and Éamon Ó Donnchadha on flute and vocals. As well as the delectable playing from all three, they interspersed the music with good humoured chat and detailed information on the history of the tunes they play. I also play the uilleann pipes but I know very little about the history of the music I play so I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the night.

I haven’t been to the Triskel for quite some time now and I had forgotten what a wonderful room they have for music. I’ll be back there next Friday when Aaron Dillon launches his debut album. On Thursday night however, the bass beat from The Long Island across the lane from The Triskel could be heard at times, especially when solos were being performed. I hope this doesn’t interrupt the gig next week.

Tobair an Cheoil are touring the country at the moment as part of the Music Network series of gigs, they even have a Music Network van which Brian seemed to be very proud of and we spotted afterwards parked nearby. Here are the remaining gigs so if they play near you and you want to see top class traditional music being played, get on down to this.

• Saturday 17 May Thurles (Source Arts Centre, 8:00 p.m.)
• Sunday 18 May Portlaoise (Dunamaise Arts Centre, 8:00 p.m.)
• Tuesday 20 May Waterford (Christ Church Cathedral, 8:00 p.m.)
• Wednesday 21 May Carrick-on-Shannon (The Dock Arts Centre, 8:30 p.m.)
• Thursday 22 May Castlebar (Linenhall Arts Centre, 8:00 p.m.)
• Friday 23 May Clifden (Church of Ireland, 8:00 p.m.)
• Saturday 24 May Virginia (Ramor Theatre, 8:30 p.m.)

See a few more photos in the full set over on Flickr.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• May 24, 2008 -- Aaron Dillon Album Launch at the Triskel (2)
• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)
• August 10, 2009 -- Wallis Bird at Indiependence (5)

Tralee band Philtre were the final act at the Melting Pot gig last month following on from Star Turtle and The Refuseniks.  I have seen them play twice before, in the Brog and previously in Cyprus Avenue, so I knew what to expect.  They have a new drummer this time around but this didn’t take anything away from their sound.  Check out their MySpace for some great tracks.

More photos in the full set on Flickr.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• October 26, 2008 -- Mick Flannery at the Lodge in Mallow (0)
• October 23, 2008 -- Clare O’Mahony at The Lodge in Mallow (0)
• May 17, 2008 -- Tobar an Cheoil at the Triskel (4)