Last September we headed over to Lisbon for a week and spent most of the week out in Estoril but had 2 nights in Lisbon itself first.  We managed to track down some live music at OndaJazz one of those nights.  Junior Meirelles played a chilled out solo set which made for a very enjoyable evening. Most of the rest of week was spent surfing so this was a great start to the holiday.  Lisbon and the coast is one place we’re definitely going to head back to.

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)
• October 21, 2008 -- Ian Whitty and the Exchange Album Launch in the Pavilion (1)

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)

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)

Uber-piper Paddy Keenan played in de Barra’s in Clonakilty Thursday week ago accompanied on stage by guitarist Tommy O’Sullivan.  The pair have an album, The Long Grazing Acre, from which they took quite of a bit of material for the live show.  I had seen the two of them play in de Barra’s a few years ago so the drive down from Cork was always going to be well worth it.  The effortless multiple triplets which Paddy Keenan achieves and his fantastic tight fingering wows any crowd and this night was no different.  He is regarded as one of the better pipers in the world which is very evident on all his many albums.  If you don’t know much about the uilleann pipes, his albums would be a very good place to start.

As you may have noticed, the lighting was very difficult as usual down ther with a massive red lamp shining straight into Paddy’s face so that made things a bit tougher.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• February 7, 2009 -- Grand Pocket Orchestra at The Pavilion (0)
• February 9, 2009 -- Mick Flannery at Cork Opera House 2008 (0)
• September 16, 2009 -- Super Furry Animals at Indiependence (0)

Mick Flannery played his annual Christmas gig in the Opera House to a packed house back in Decemeber.  Mick has come on in leaps and bounds this year with the release of White Lies and regular airplay on the national airwaves.  Good to see he still has the same old self-effacing stage presence where he now just happily plays his magnificent music; the only time he breaks from this is to take the mickey out of the occasional heckler or re-inforce his understated interaction with the crowd with a few words every now and again, the eager crowd hanging on his every word.

See more photos…

There are a few more photos in the full set.

Also, check out some great shots of Mick in action by Kevin Murphy here and here and also one from Sean McCormack.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• February 7, 2009 -- Grand Pocket Orchestra at The Pavilion (0)
• March 2, 2009 -- Paddy Keenan at De Barra’s (0)
• September 16, 2009 -- Super Furry Animals at Indiependence (0)

Grand Pocket Orchestra played a couple of weeks ago in The Pavilion in Cork as part of the weekly Bootleg series.  I was looking forward to seeing this band and I must say I was surprised at how young this band is. Don’t get me wrong, their music is not aged or old-man-ish but some of the tunes are so well structured and catchy that I would have expected a band that had been around the block a few times.  Odd Socks is the first track I heard from them well over a year ago which was the main reason for seeing them.  They have another few stand-out tracks such as Get Go and Using the Body.  However on the night they played a number of tracks which are not so well thought out or crisp.  I reckon they need to decide is it the pure happy pop route they want to go down or something a bit heavier.

This is one of the first times I’ve tidied up photos with a bit of cloning; the top two photos had plenty of mic stands and wires all over the place.  While it does take a bit of time I think it’s worth it.  Check out a couple of more photos in the full set on Flickr.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• March 2, 2009 -- Paddy Keenan at De Barra’s (0)
• February 9, 2009 -- Mick Flannery at Cork Opera House 2008 (0)
• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers 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.

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• 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 released his long-awaited second album Lucky Caller No 9 with a bang last week in the Pavilion.  It’s an edgier, more energetic production than his first offering Will o’ the Wisp with stand-out tracks such as Houndstooth Shirt and Fallen Stars (In Late Night Bars) already getting quite a bit of radio airplay.  There are throwbacks to the more subtle and softer tones of the debut album with the gorgeous The Family is Still Young and the delectable She Knocks Me Out.  Can you guess I’m a fan?

I was looking forward to the gig for many reasons: first time photographing a gig in the Pavilion which was very impressive; getting my grubby hands on Lucky Caller No 9; and finally to see Armoured Bear playing support.  Unfortunately we didn’t get in to see Armoured Bear but it’s another gig to get to in the near future.  Armoured Bear also have an album recently launched which is high on my wish-list.  Amoured Bear a.k.a. Anto plays drums for Ian Whitty so I managed to get a few shots of him all the same.

There’s another review of the gig here by the fine folk at Drop-d.ie, who also have a review of the album, as do Red Track Music and Good Seed PR.  I just noticed that Ian Whitty has his very own Facebook page so do a search for him if you’re on that (not sure about linking to Facebook pages when I’m logged in…).

See more photos in the full set on Flickr.  Oh, and go and buy the album, it’s in the shops on Friday Ocobter 24th.

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• July 5, 2008 -- Ian Whitty and The Exchange at The Spiegeltent (4)
• May 24, 2008 -- Aaron Dillon Album Launch at the Triskel (2)
• August 9, 2009 -- Ian Whitty at Indiependence (2)

The Blizzards headlined the recent(ish) Indie-Pendence Festival in Mitchelstown on the last night of the festival.  This festival just gets better each year, well done to Shane Dunne and all involved with putting a free festival together with such great acts.  The Blizzards have truly come of age with a fine second album recently released although I’m not convinced by their choice of first single.  There are many other stronger choices for singles on Domino Effect.  Judging by the reaction the lads got from the crowd the album should be selling well.  I just bought it yesterday, along with Mick Flannery’s White Lies which has been playing non-stop so I’m afraid I only listened to Domino Effect straigh through once.  At the gig one of the photographers was certainly smitten by lead singer Niall Breslin, she just smiled her way around the front of the stage taking photographs and even proclaimed “I think I’m in love”.  I don’t get it, sweaty hairy fecker that he is .

Some more photos in the full set on Flickr.  The Blizzards are back in Cork on October 2 when they play the Savoy.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 7, 2008 -- Fred at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)
• August 10, 2008 -- Fight Like Apes at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (1)
• August 30, 2008 -- Ham Sandwich at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (1)