ah hello again

It's been an extremely long time since my last post, so there is a bit of news to catch up on. I suppose first and foremost is my new job as presenter of The Cinema Show on Spin South West. I'll be presenting an hour long look at the latest in cinema and DVD releases, news, reviews and interviews.
Started just before Christmas and most recently Alan Owens of The Limerick Leader joined me for a bit of a ram-shackle preview of 2009 movies (just can't get out of lazy Christmas mode!). Here's one I'm really looking forward to:

So be sure to tune into the Cinema Show on Spin South West 8.45 - 9.45pm Sundays!! I'll try to get my head around Podcasts and all that jazz too.
http://www.spinsouthwest.com/

Midwinter Xmas Xtravaganza!

Thanks so much to everyone who came out for our Christmas show in Dolans. We had a ball at the Midwinter Xmas Xtravaganza on the 21st. Mulled wine and mince pies aplenty, there was indeed much merriment and singing had by all!

Thanks to Peter Delaney for playing a great set, Richie and Noel of Blackwater Salmon, Daire McCoy (Mullingar's finest) and of course the Blakes of the BPLO for pitching in more than their fair share of Christmas cheer. Stealing the show on the night were the extremely tasty mince pies and mulled wine (aplenty), of course made from a top secret age-old family recipe, and many thanks to Mum and Dad for providing this crucial ingredient!

Finally I need to proffer up much respect for Colin and Paul, one half of Walter Mitty and The Realists who provided the rhythm section for The Elective Orchestra, with more or less no rehearsal. Legends. And they don't mind playing cheesy Christmas songs, which always helps.

If you'd like to read the LEG write-up, and pretty much our first full feature, you can read the MySpace blog here, and by the by, the very fancy online edition is well worth checking out if you can't get your hands on the real thing.

www.eightball.ie

On Stephen's night, we played a support set to The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra, our sister Limerick orchestra, and in true incestuous style swapped and shared members galore. It was another great night, also proceeded by more drinks into the wee hours. The only true piss-up this festive season, I have to admit. If bumping into the Brother's O'Suilleabhain on the Dock Road doesn't result in a party, well there's no justice in the world. Great laugh, if a little hazy!

Oh yes, and Happy New Year!! 2009, shit boys.

In ancient times . . .

I don't care if its blatently obvious what time I'm online posting blogs at. We played Stonehenge by Spinal Tap tonight. Oh so badly but we did it. Yes we did.

Being John Malkovich

Just watching it on FilmFour, I forgot what a fantastic flick it is. The real trick in all of it is that you completely forget that John Malkovich is acting in the movie, which is probably why it works so well. Of course ironically, he needed to put in a really good performance to pull it off. Irony indeed. I'm also a big fan of Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind (if only for this video and tune), though Adaptation kinda rubbed me up the wrong way. Still waiting for Charlie Kaufman to top Malkovich though.

According to IMdB; John Malkovich was approached about this film several times and loved the script, but he and his production crew felt that another actor would fit the role better. Malkovich offered to help produce the film, and aid Spike Jonze in any way, but refused to star in it. Eventually after a couple of years Malkovich's will was worn down and he agreed to star in the film.

I love that his best friend is Charlie Sheen too, and the line "Lesbian witches, fucking genius".

I want . . .

to go to see Cathy Davey/Adrian Crowley/Vertigo Smyth in Dolans Warehouse. What a line-up.

But no, oh no, that'd be too much fun for Nick. I have to work instead. The goose is getting fat and all that.

Back to bassics with the BPLO

Threw a random Monday in Dublin into the mix this week, and made good use of it too!

Sat in on bass guitar with The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra for a Today FM live session . It'll go out tomorrow (Wed) evening on Paul McLoone's show, 7-10pm on Today FM.

The BPLO's very excellent and aptly-titled single December is available for download from downloadmusic.ie. I know its not exactly a wrap-able Christmas gift, but sure don't tell anyone, and just add it to the "I know I should be buying presents for other people, but I really want this for myself" Xmas shopping list.

Don't forget, Limerick folk will have two opportunites to catch the BPLO in action this holiday season. They'll be making an appearance at our Midwinter Xmas Xtravaganza this Sunday 21st Dec, Upstairs in Dolans. They also have their own show on the 26th in the same venue, at which I'll be featuring on piano. I recommend coming to both those gigs, and all the BPLO and Elective Orchestra gigs from now until the end of TIME!!

Yesterday evening I also recorded a song for Balcony TV which will be aired on January 3rd, so be sure to tune in for that! I mean log on, tune in, whatever.

A Monday well spent.

www.myspace.com/bplo

Gigs: Wed 10th Dec

Went to two gigs on Wednesday. Firstly, I was glad I dragged myself off the couch to go see Shane Barry and the Distractions in Baker Place. Though the set was somewhat short - due not least to the fact that there was something like six acts on the bill for the weekly ARTiculate Sessions - they were pretty fecking good. The tunes were great, 'Stop' being the highlight of the gig. They have a cool sound going on, and their album Radio Friction isn't half bad either. Nice stuff to lift ourselves out of the dreary winter/recession/midweek blues. They should be ones to watch come next summer.

The second gig consisted of the last 15min of The Dirty Epics set in Trinity Rooms, which played to a pretty packed raucous crowd in the main club. Shouty pop not really being my thing, fifteen minutes was just about enough. Some guy being oddly insulted at my refusal for him to try on my glasses and some chick planting all six inches of her high heels into my ankle, and that was enough of that. Long live the T Rooms!!

www.myspace.com/shanebarryofficial

www.myspace.com/thearticulatesessions

http://www.trinityrooms.ie/