Month: June 2019

At the challenge of Spanish National Radio’s (RTVE) Americana Music program, ‘Toma Uno’, Track Dogs took the Bluegrass classic, ‘Man Of Constant Sorrow’, into their own realm of Americana mixed with the Latin tinge that comes from being immersed in the Hispanic diaspora found in the Spanish capital where they live. In an appropriate twist, the song references band member Robbie K. Jones’s native Vermilion, Ohio “the place where [he] was born and raised.” The combination of uke, trumpet, cajon and Track-Doggian groove makes this cut a worthy and legitimate revisit of this standard that has already seen more than its fair share of covers.

Track Dogs were delighted to return to Trafalgar Square on March 17^th as part of the City of London’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. 2019 has also seen return performances at Costa del Folk in Ibiza and Rochester Sweeps Festival in Kent, for the fourth year running. The band look forward to breaking new ground with concerts at the prestigious Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Crawley Irish Fest & Towersey Festival and will be returning to Ireland to play Electric Picnic in 2019 as well as shows in Waterford, Westport, Sligo and closer to home in Dun Laoghaire.

With concerts booked as far ahead as 2021 the band will be releasing their 5th studio album towards the end of 2019.

Irish dates:

Aug 30th – Laois, Electric Picnic, Spike Island Stage
Sept 1st – Dublin, The Purty Loft, Dun Laoghaire
Sept 3rd – Waterford, The Fat Angel
Sept 4th – Mayo, Matt Molloy’s, Westport

Guitars. Remember them? Not like the ones you hear now as a soundtrack for beer commercials, or in bars as a backdrop for football games and dull conversations. The kinds of guitars that filled you with an equal amount of uneasiness and joy. The kind of guitar sound that could indeed make you forget your troubles because it ripped your head off. With a melodic sweep, (cue The Replacements) that felt oddly familiar and yet had a (drunken limp) foot firmly in the future. Do you remember THOSE kind of guitars? Because Clive Barnes does. 

How about Rock ‘n Roll? Remember that? Not the kind of rock that is put on the front of a brand spanking new $50 t-shirt at the arena show of a $700 a ticket aging grey haired rock band with, yes, ONE original member…!

No, the kind of rock that you and your friends, (and that really cute Goth girl that you see on the train) are witnessing in a dark sweaty underground club that holds 200 people. And there’s 300 of you. (Cue Nirvana’s ‘Bleach’) Do you remember THAT kind of rock ‘n roll? Because Clive Barnes does.

Clive Barnes has done a lot of stuff musically, Google him, I haven’t got time to write it all down here but the coolest thing he ever did was run away from home when he was 12 to go see Metallica. 

He didn’t record his new E.P ‘Haunted Head’, loaded with the aforementioned guitars and rock ‘n roll because he was bored, he did it out of a white hot passion and a testicle wrenching feeling that it was necessary. If you’ve missed these kind of things….you know, art that is a life or death gamble, we suggest you check out Clive’s ‘Haunted Head’ E.P. released 21 June.

www.wearehauntedhead.com
www.facebook.com/wearehauntedhead

On Friday 14th June, Donegal band Constant Supply will release new single ‘Treehouse’.

‘Treehouse’ is the third release from Constant Supply’s upcoming new album ‘Isn’t Life Great’, which has already caught the attention of revered BBC 6 Music DJ Steve Lamacq, who played the band’s music after being sent a good old-fashioned white label.

As a song, ‘Treehouse’ has slightly unnerving vibes as singer James Gillen repeats the lyrics “We’re all just lonely people, lonely people,” yet there’s a hopefulness to the melody.

“The song’s a bit disjointed lyrically, but a recurring theme is mental health and some of the means by which we mask our problems – be it through humour, drinking, or never leaving the house. There’s definitely a sense of loss from friends being irrevocably changed. But it’s  also about perseverance and hope in the face of adversity… and building a treehouse!”

Constant Supply are an alternative rock-pop band from Donegal consisting of James Gillen (Vocals, Guitar), Conal Sweeney (Bass, Piano), Eoin Gildea (Guitar, Synths) and Justin McDaid (Drums). They create melodic compositions, driven along through light and dark alleyways by pulsing drums.

Constant Supply released their debut album ‘The Coast Ain’t Clear’ in 2013 and their second album ‘Ex Nihilo’ in 2015. RTÉ 2fm DJ Dan Hegarty made both his ‘Album of the Week’. In 2016, the band secured a slot on the Oxjam stage at Electric Picnic after being one of ten finalists in 2fm’s Play the Picnic competition.

Constant Supply will release their third album, ‘Isn’t Life Great’ on July 5th, 2019. The album was co-produced and recorded by Tommy McLaughlin (Villagers, Soak, In Their Thousands) at Attica Audio, Donegal.

Upcoming tour dates

July 5th – Whelan’s, Upstairs, Dublin (Album Launch)
July 19th – Pharmacia, Limerick
July 20th – No.58, Disturbance Fest, Letterkenny, Donegal
Aug 1st – The Balor, Ballybofey, Donegal
Aug 22nd – The Menagerie, Belfast

WEBSITE: https://www.constantsupplyband.com/
SPOTIFY: https://tinyurl.com/y3rkfl4f
SOUNDCLOUD: https://tinyurl.com/y34hayrb

Jenní is a singer/songwriter from Limerick city. Better known as vocalist and writer with electronica outfit DeLorean Suite, Jenní has attracted critical acclaim for her authentic, unadulterated and soulful voice.

So it is perhaps unexpected that her new single ‘Roses’ sees Jenní make a return to her folk roots with a distinctly pared back sound. The single was recorded in one day at Open Door Studios, Limerick with well-known drummer Tony Roche (DeLorean Suite), guitarist Kealan Kenny (Toucan) and bass player Brian O’ Grady (Kilfenora Céilí Band). The song has a rich, warm, mesmerising tone and the accompanying video was shot in the iconic Cleeves factory by the team at Crude Media and is visually stunning.

Jenní notes that ‘Roses marks a turning point for me musically. I wanted to write songs from a very authentic place that would connect with people on a visceral level. I spent time reflecting and really drilling down into events, people and places from throughout my life. As a result I’ve written songs that expose a very different side to me that people won’t have seen before.’

Upcoming Dates

Patricks Public House, Ennis, Co. Clare  – June 6^th presented by Cuppa  Tea TV.
Kennys Pub, Lahinch, Co. Clare – Whitehorse Sessions

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/22IBxeyycGQBQFSEItpWHu?si=ka1CikCgTFyQ5Nt-EOnbcg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennimcsings/

Twitter: @jenniemusic_ie