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Tonight Kitty and the Can Openers subtly relaunch their self-titled EP at the Empire Music Hall, Belfast.
Recorded in Dec 07/Jan 08, the finely produced CD contains five superb tracks, which often find themselves slipped into the the set list whenever they grace the stage.
When the EP was first printed the band were unhappy with the album sleeve and so it was back to the drawing board. Now, 2 months later the newly printed sleeve and CD are ready for general sale at various gigs and events, and soon to be available from their website, which is in production.
So if you are free tonight get down to the Empire and get yourself a CD!
This week went quite quickly, coming to an end that was well worth the wait.
After work on Friday I purchased a 15-inch Macbook Pro from the Apple Store. This I am very excited about. It will be an interesting transition period from XP to Mac though hopefully it will go smoothly. I have lots of questions, which Andy has answered for me recently, and I’m sure I will have many more when it arrives. So more on this then.
Later than evening I headed to the City Church hall above Common Grounds Café for an evening of Bollywood fund raising for a trip to India. On the bill were some Bollywood dancers, whose dancing skills were quite mesmerising, Kitty and the Can Openers and Captain Kennedy.
Kitty and the Can Openers
Captain Kennedy
I first listened to Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska album a few weeks ago. I tried hard to like it, but I just couldn’t. Each track has a story, more often than not quite a sad story, but the style of the album isn’t for me.
However, that doesn’t really matter. What is important is that each of the ten tracks from the album were performed brilliantly by ten local artists/bands.
the line-up was as follows:
Nebraska - Robyn G Shiels
Atlantic City - Ben Glover
Mansion On The Hill - Bap Kennedy
Johnny 99 - Jonny Black
Highway Patrolman - Rachel Austin
State Trooper - Boathouse
Used Cars - Desert Hearts
Open All Night - Matt McGinn
My Father’s House - Pixie Saytar
Reason To Believe - Brian Houston
My personal highlights were Rachel Austin’s intense version of Highway Patrolman and Boathouse’s unique take on State Trooper.
(more on flickr!)
That time of year once more. Lets ignore it.
Thankfully there is plenty going on in Belfast this evening to keep me occupied.
The Knights of the Round Table are holding their usual jam packed night of fun with music from Kitty and the Can Openers, Serpentine Smile and Autorun plus plenty of extras including light electronica, poetry, “groovy” art displays, a local film and rice krispie valentines delights for the first fifty people through the door.
The Winding Stair are headlining Gifted at the Empire along with Eoghan Colgan, Ursula Burns and Dolbro Dan. A great acoustic lineup..
If you head a little further into town Olympic Lifts are releasing their new single ‘I Am Cursed’ which is available now to download. Well worth checking out.
With a lot of choice of gigs and music, I guess there’s not much reason to be alone tonight. x
I haven’t seen the limelight as packed for a local band as it was on Thursday night. 360 325 paying punters. Although I did hear the turnout was similar at Kowalski/And So I watch You From Afar/Cutaways gig in December. The lineup this time around was A Plastic Rose, Panama Kings and Fighting With Wire. The entire venue was filled with lots of kids screaming at each band out shear love and devotion.
At 22:05 A plastic Rose made their way to the stage. Gerry Norman began by calling everyone close to the stage - and they did. Filling every space. By 22:30 the venue was already full.
Singing/shouting along the crowd joined in in the ways the knew how, even shouting requests for the ‘classics’. This band know how to rock and rock they did. They have gone up 100 times in my estimation since seeing them a few months back in Lavery’s Bunker; it was either the fact that it was the Limelight, or they have just improved dramatically.
After a short break the Panama Kings came to the stage and began pumping those memorable riffs and drum beats along with lead singer Niall showing them all how to be a rock star; he has the look and the attitude and certainly the voice.
For a band who only began gigging at the end of 2007, the Panama Kings have come a long way in terms of large fan base and tight sound - including some excellent recordings available for download on their myspace. Hot Hot Heat comes to mind when I listen to their tracks, particularly in the vocals, and also a hint of Modest Mouse. As is apparently the norm, Neill gave out his own house address for the after-party. I heard it was just as sardine-packt as the Limelight.
To end what was possibly the most photographed gig in Belfast, Fighting With Wire showed everyone in the room how to ‘dance’ in the form of lead singer and guitarist, Cahir O’Doherty throwing himself across the stage to bring extra life to those extra-ordinary animal-like songs. Many of which I’m sure can be found on their recently released album Man Vs Monster which I hope to get my hands on at some point.
Two Step have done it again - they put together a great line up.
So. It’s here. Christmas. You may be reading this on Christmas day. What are you doing on the Internet on Christmas day? Family sucks? Guess its the problem a lot of people have. Understandable. Boxing day? Again, why aren’t you opening all those boxes? Not believe in Christmas? Again, Family suck? It’s okay, I understand.
Yeah Christmas has come once again. It always comes quicker than expected. It’s really only in the last two or three years that I have begun to realise the real meaning of Christmas - though I can’t help but put a pause in that sentence and ask for a hands-up for all those who really celebrate Christmas today? Very few of you, I’m not entirely surprised. I’m not big fan of the real meaning behind Christmas, though I am a fan of the fact that family will always play a big part in the meaning of Christmas for me.
Though in this Christian country and time of Christian celebration I feel that it would be a good time to think of all those who will not get presents in this time of giving. Yes, lets take some time to reflect all those who will not be given gifts by their loved ones. Lets think about the non-Christians.
It’s a strange thing to think about, though having recently, be-friended someone of a non-Christian up-brining, it has made me think about those who don’t know of Christmas and the traditions that revolve around it. I have never known someone who didn’t know of Christmas and the ways in which it works. Simple things like Christmas Crackers - I was even asked what the meaning was behind them. I’m going to guess it’s just a part of the celebration, happiness and so forth - and probably of pagan origins.
I believe we should spend time reflecting on those who don’t have anything to celebrate on this Tuesday…
Well, in the last week or so there have been a few gigs, I had my last few days of work until this Friday, a whole week off work, and general partying. Having spent the the last three nights drinking, plus tonight if you include the wine I polished off.
On Thursday I made the decision to go to Gifted in the Empire. Starting promptly at 9:30pm, Geoff Gatt got the small crowd warmed up for what was to come, with a full band, so to speak; camel on lovely vocals and occasionally gazing lovingly into the eyes of Geoff as he sang songs likely to have been inspired by her. He was also joined by Bongo John on the bongos and Cully of the Delawares on bass guitar. This was I’m sure an attempt to create a fuller sound for the Empire’s large hall, though so early in the night and with so few punters through the door as would soon cross the threshold it wasn’t as well received as it one day will be, though none of that could possibly have taken away from the Geoff the great entertainer.
Cat Malojian, were next to the stage, hailing from Lurgan they have a brilliant sound which I have longed to hear since first seeing them perform in May of this year as part of the NIMIC CD launch in Custom House Square. They were great.
I hadn’t heard of Kryon and The Strangels before just a few weeks ago, though having listened to their Myspace tracks a few days before the gig I found myself singing along, which was nice, and doesn’t often happen. Check out the tune ‘Walking My Dog’!
The Delawares. Not to seem blasé about them. In fact not in the slightest. If I ever say ‘they were as good as ever,’ I mean that with the deepest respect and love. For I do love their music immensely, and each time they play I don’t understand why they are not bigger that they are. Well in a way I do, if analysed, maybe something to do with the fact that it’s not completely ‘mainstream’ music. But that is the idea. Their music is not mainstream at all. They never claim to put under that huge umbrella of ‘popular’ music. But someone please see the large audience, and potential audience they have!
On Friday Boathouse played at Common Grounds Café. They were superb as always.
Serpentine Smile also played, I’ve only managed to see them since beginning a few months ago. Paul’s song writing is great and the music that goes with it is enjoyable to listen to. He likes to keep busy with various projects, this one is an odd mix of guitar, vocals and drums, though you can’t go wrong with Bongo John’s drumming.
Saturday was spent at my own house, when the crew from Common Grounds, as I live with 2 current employees and one ex-employee, I guess it made perfect sense.
On Sunday I began my Christmas shopping. Went to a party. Left my phone there. Went to Auntie Annies for Cutaways, Panda Kopanda and Clone Quartet. Such a great lineup.
Soon it was Monday. Christmas Eve. Hard to believe. I woke up, hungover, and with less than 50% of my shopping complete, I had to get into to the city centre as quickly as possible. Within three hours of leaving the house, I was back again and chillin’ with two of my house-mates, with a beer in my hand.
I could finally relax. And here it is. It is Christmas Day. I hope you all have a great one!
Do not get me wrong, I am all in favour of a thriving local music scene, I believe that is certainly got on our hands. There are so many great bands, and I’m not just saying that, but when a good handful of bands have gigs I would go out of my way to see then, telling everyone about them along the way - hoping that I will be presented with a CD of their finest tracks when I arrive so that I can listen to them to my heart’s content.
Alas some of these great bands have yet to record these great works, let alone to be heard by the rest of the population.
Lately it seems that most days of the week there will be one of these bands/artists playing their music for the general public to hear in the live music venues dotted around Belfast. My week is usually planned around the gigs that are happening. But what do I do when there is a clash? Multiple bands of pure awesomeness on the same night in different venues!
Such a predicament. I never know what to do.
Previously I have run between two venues. The last time it was between the Empire and Lavery’s which are only 3 minutes from each other. However, the distance between The Limelight and The Empire is just too great to be running between them all night, and so I must make a decision.
The Empire is hosting Gifted, the often monthly, often bi-weekly, local music night that seemingly all bands want to play. The lineup, Geoff Gatt, Cat Malojhian, Kyron & The Strangels and The Delawares. The only band I have not seen previously is Kyron &The Strangels, though as I listen to the myspace tracks I find myself singing along (I don’t lie).
The Limelight on this Thursday is host to Two Step, a similarly “premier” monthly live music club, this week featuring Cutaways, And So I Watch You From Afar and Kowalski.
Seven fantastic bands in one night! A decision must be made.
It may have already been made…
It was to be a rather calm, relaxing weekend. The only thing planned was a dinner on Friday evening. That happened. There were two, we headed to Scalini’s on Botanic Ave. I love that restaurant. The food is excellent.
There was only one other plan. To see Black Eye Friday at the Errigle bar.
But the night turned out to be much bigger than we had thought. The headline act was NI Soul Troop, led by Donal Scullion, there was a lot of energy in the room, with many people dancing and, the oddly mixed crowd for a local gig, really enjoying themselves. Of course I didn’t go straight home afterwards.
Only a few hours prior to sleeping I had no plans for Saturday, though of course this changed, and I found something to keep me from sitting in (and doing work).
Oppenheimer, not long back from touring with They Might Be Giants, the duo behind the awesome ‘Birdhouse in Your Soul‘ and ‘Particle Man‘, played not one but two shows on Saturday. The first, an all ages gig in which about 120 youngsters, many of whom knew not of their music, but from what I hear enjoyed the gig. The second show, was a packed 18+ gig - with many a local personage present to enjoy the beautiful sounds, electronic madness, and surround sound air horn solos.
Support came from Dublin based Neosupervital. I was looking forward to a cover of Van Halen’s Jump ever since they played the intro in sound-check, but alas they didn’t have time. Look out for it though, I’m sure it would sound great.
Also on support was We Are Knives, featuring a very angry Hornby on guitar and angry angry vocals, Steve on bass and Craig on drums. Which their bass-heavy sounds and technical picking, and angry expressions they have a presence on stage that’s not to be messed with.
After the fantasticness of Oppenheimer, who never disappoint, there was a party for a friend’s birthday. I attempted to play Beethoven’s Für Elise, of course quite badly. Someday I will learn to play it all again.
The weekend ended as well as it started, at my Granny’s house for a superb Sunday dinner. You can’t go wrong with Granny’s cooking - ever.
of…
two female drummers in one night
two quite attractive drummers at that.
Why does life have to be so hard. when we’re younger we want the days to be shorter, when we’re older we want them to be so so, so much longer so that we have time to actually do the things we want to do outside the hours spent doing the stuff we wish we didn’t have to do. Then when we get sick, to the point were we can barely talk, or what does come out is a mere croak rather than words, we have to spend time on the sofa watching Working Lunch, which I love.
…Though who really watches that stuff? If you’re into business you surely don’t get your info from a show aimed at housewives and stay-at-home dads, and you would be far too busy with “meetings” to waste time watching tv around lunch time. Its for the man who wants to think they know what they’re talking about. Everyone loves when they use pretty animated graphs and pie charts…
Woops, got side-tracked, so as I was saying, Working Lunch, and Loose Women, whilst sipping on my medicine with a nasty after-taste just after I begin to enjoy it, along with hot Lemsip and Lockets (”…a confectionery product manufactured by Mars Incorporated.” Confectionary? Interesting). I still have to try not to swallow too much. The more I swallow, the more pain I inflict upon myself.
And so as I struggle through day three, splitting my time between computer, bed and tv I find that it really isn’t much fun being sick at all. Who wouldda thunk it?
Tonight is the 50th Up in the Attic show. Fifty is a fairly large number. Certainly a significant number, and so the Bruised Fruit Gang are celebrating tonight with a new free compilation CD, as they do every ten shows, this time featuring Cutaways, Team Fresh, General Fiasco, Sines and others. The line-up tonight features the Bow Street Runners and Panama Kings supporting Ed Zealous, who had some new material when I saw them last month.
From humble beginnings in May 2005 UITA has built up a strong reputation for showcasing the best in local talent, and giving new bands that all important foot in the door of the local music industry. They’ve had almost 150 bands grace the stage in that time, and have helped the careers of rising stars like Kowalski, The Beat Poets and The Jane Bradfords.
I am a huge fan of Ed Zealous, Panama Kings weren’t so bad on their first gig last month, Bow Street Runners sound good from their myspace plus I really want that free cd. Alas, I just don’t feel well enough to make it out to where it is still very cold and miserable…
I will continue to rest until I can be perfectly sure I am not going to spread my disease (read: cold) to anyone. By rest read: eat biscuits and watch crap tv movies. Not forgetting of course I still have lots of photos to play with, and through sickness and health it must be done for there are big things to come in the months ahead…
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