The G-Man - Music, music, music.

What's he building in there: little xs for eyes #1

2013-06-19T14:01:00.000+01:00

Bennie

Michelle

"A spare bedroom, a haunted cellar, assorted home-made tarts – this is how we make an album."

Excitement and I tend to meet up for coffee both easily and regularly. It's always been the way. Not being particularly well-built for mass caffeine consumption however, the hysteria of a trip abroad, upcoming festival or a well-designed yet homely new mug can get the better of me and I am burnt out before the big event actually happens. One such future happening that just can't get here fast enough is the arrival of the new record from little xs for eyes. With Adrian, Bennie, Davey, Harry, Lucy and Michelle currently in full-blown hedgehog mode, hibernating away from the world in order to produce the follow up to 2012's gorgeous gem S.A.D. it would seem I would have quite some to wait before any word on the new record would rear its spiky little head. Fortunately, the super sixsome went for the idea of keeping a studio blog to keep little xs fans old and new up to date on recording life through an assortment of updates, photos and maybe even the odd recording recipe or two. We may even enjoy and exclusive or two along the way. Take it away Bennie...

Lady Lucy

Adrian

When The G-man first suggested that we blog about the making of our second album our immediate reaction was “way yes! Anything for the G-Daddy” ...but then doubt set in as we worried “why would anyone take interest in the making of a little xs album”? We're hardly Fleetwood Mac. There will be no plush recording studio, there will be no big-shot producer, there will be no cocaine fuelled hissy fits or saucy inter-entourage affairs. There will be an overall lack of sexiness and snazziness. Just six friends making a really good album using modest resources and a very limited budget. But then maybe that is interesting? Making an album as a broke, unsigned and un-managed band is far more complicated and challenging than the making of Rumours, right? Right. So over the coming summer months (and possibly beyond) we shall blog! There will be song-smithery and audio wizardry, there will be minor disagreements, there will be a single, a video, a photo shoot, there will be home baked goods and at the end of it all there will be a totally awesome album. So stick around, it might not be boring. For now let us bring you up to speed on our progress so far using the magical medium of photography …

Harry's haunt

Leafy love

We began recording the first of two batches of songs this month. You can guarantee that summer will happen (a) when the Leaving Cert starts and (b) when little xs commit themselves to studio gloom. So far recording has taken place in three sunny locations, Eoin Bailey's Cara Studios (where S.A.D was made) and in the spare room of our bass player (and big-shot producer) Harry Bookless. The third location is extremely top secret, in fact there is no “third location”...forget I even said that.

Recording for the first four songs is almost done and mixing has begun for our forthcoming single which will be in your earholes in just a few weeks time! For now though cast your ears back to summer 2012 and remember us fondly...
Bennie Reilly (little xs for eyes)

Remember to visit for more little xs for eyes news in the coming weeks!

<a href="http://littlexsforeyes.bandcamp.com/album/somewhere-with-a-dance-floor-summer-never-comes">Somewhere with a Dance Floor / Summer Never Comes by little xs for eyes</a>

For more on little xs for eyes visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Bandcamp -- Twitter

- More from little xs for eyes in the coming weeks
- Purchase 2012 release S.A.D. over on littlexsforeyes.bandcamp.com

Engineer extraordinaire Eoin Bailey of Cara Studios

Adrian and chum

Harry

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Session: Giant Giant Sand

2013-06-19T10:00:00.000+01:00

Howe Gelb and co. in session...

Giant Sand's latest release Tucson is so big that they had to add another 'giant' to their name and, let's be honest here, the extra syllables are worth the mouth-wrestle. Described incredibly accurately - if unimaginatively - by the host as "absolutely exquisite", this is last year's four-track studio session from Giant Giant Sand performed live on KEXP.

For more on Giant Giant Sand visit:

Official Website -- Facebook

- For past sessions click here

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WIN TICKETS! Indiependence 2013

2013-06-18T21:40:00.000+01:00

Right: so who wants to go camping...

Hip-hop pioneers De La Soul, U.K. chart-toppers Bastille and El Paso art-punks Bosnian Rainbows are just three of the big names ready to dig up Deer Farm come the August bank holiday weekend when Mitchelstown music meet-up Indiependence erects her tents for three nights of musical mayhem. What could make the three day retreat all the sweeter I wonder? Well a pair of free tickets couldn't hurt.

To stand a chance of winning a couple of 3-day camping tickets for the festival, all you have to do is like the official G-Man Facebook page followed by popping a quick mail to comps@thegmanworld.com containing :

- a subject of 'Indie Kids We Be'
- your full name
- your mobile number

The winner will be notified on the afternoon of Friday, 21st June.

For more on Indiependence visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Twitter

- Indiependence takes place on Deer Farm, Mitchelstown (Co. Cork) from 2nd-4th August
- Tickets are priced from €70-€99 and available over on tickets.ie

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Gig news: Colleen to play Cork

2013-06-18T11:00:00.000+01:00

Colleen for Christchurch...

Following a successful co-promotion with Plugd Records to bring Thrill Jockey soundscapists Mountains to Cork, local illustrators/bloggers Fractured Air have announced another stellar treat for our ears. November 2nd will see French sample-sculptor Cécile Schott aka Colleen visit Triskel Christchurch for the Parisian cellist's maiden performance on Leeside. Joined on the night by Seti The First and Áine O'Dwyer pre-sale tickets are available at a reduced price of e13.

For more on Colleen visit:

Official Website -- MySpace -- Soundcloud

- Colleen will play Triskel Christchurch Saturday 2nd November
- Tickets are priced at e15 or e13 if availing of the early bird offer
- Doors 7.30pm with support from Seti The First and Áine O'Dwyer

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Iron Mountain Summer Solstice Ritual Party

2013-06-18T09:00:00.000+01:00

Celebrate the solstice in style down Limerick way...

Death-folk division Iron Mountain are gathering followers and friends for a celebration of the coming calendar-shift. Ukulele-king Peter Delaney, beat-druid mynameisjOhn and many more will encircle the metaphorical fires in Dolan's Warehouse on Friday evening, making the most of the year's longest stretch of daylight. Tickets are priced at just €8 with all in attendance receiving a free download code for Iron Mountain's upcoming new record.

Witch Bottle by Peter Delaney

For more on Iron Mountain visit:

Official Website -- Facebook

- Iron Mountain's Summer Solstice Ritual Party takes place in Dolan's Warehouse, Limerick on Friday, 21st June
- Tickets are priced at €8
- RSVP to official event here

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New music: Happy Families

2013-06-17T15:00:00.000+01:00

The Sonic Cathedral family is happier than ever...

Legendary London label Sonic Cathedral have announced the 15th July as the date new signing Happy Families will release their début record. Comprised of Lawrence Chandler (formerly of East Village duo Bowery Electric) and Lucia Rivero, 'New Forgetting' is a feedback-drenched wonderland for shoe-gaze enthusiasts to explore and enjoy with a reworking of The Ramones' 'I Remember You' promised for the b-side. For those situated across the water, Happy Families play London's East End Live on 13th July.

For more on Happy Families visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Soundcloud

- Happy Families release 'New Forgetting' on 7" via Sonic Cathedral on 15th July
- Pre-order a copy now over on www.soniccathedral.co.uk

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Cork Gig Guide (17th June- 23rd June 2013)

2013-06-17T13:00:00.000+01:00

Look who's back...

Thanks to a mountain of behind-the-scenes work from the diligent quintet that is Dave Calnan, Shane Calnan, Odhran Reidy, Lauren O'Brien and Marc Derham, Friday marks the grand reopening of The Kino, one of Cork's most beloved buildings. Reborn as an all-ages venue and café, the former arthouse cinema welcomes windings, The Legionnaires and Ruby & The Night Hawks to Washington Street for the first gig of what one hopes is many to come. For a recent interview with the organisers, see corkindependent.com.

Elsewhere, the 2013 edition of Cork Midsummer Festival roars into life on Friday evening with a special City Hall performance from chart-topping, Madonna-conquering Blarney native Mick Flannery. For more details on Cork Midsummer Festival click here.

Also going down around town this week:

Live soundtrack to vampire classic Nosferatu provided by The Empty Orchestra in The Roundy (Wednesday)
The tree-like beauty of Ger Wolfe's songs live in in L'Attitude 51
"banjo bangers, fiddle scorchers and upright bass slappers" are promised by Bob Wayne & The Outlaw Carnies for their late show in The Crane Lane Theatre (Sunday)

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WIN TICKETS!

For a chance to win tickets to Cork's newest and only all-age venue The Kino's grand opening on 21st June (featuring Windings and more) simply click here.

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FREE GIG OF THE WEEK
Saturday: Saturday surf-pop with Saint Yorda in The Pavilion. A new EP is forthcoming so expect new songs from one of Cork's brightest talents.

Day-by-day

Monday, 17th June
All quiet.

Tuesday, 18th June
- Songwriter Sessions with Paula Gomez in L'Attitude 51
- Jazz Improv in The Crane Lane Theatre (9pm)
- Earthship in The Crane Lane Theatre (11.30pm)
- Fred's Open Mic: in Fred Zeppelin's

Wednesday, 19th June
- Fireside Sessions Liz Butt in Bradley's of Barrack Street
- Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters in The Crane Lane Theatre (11.30pm)
- Sundown Sessions in The Raven
- The Empty Orchestra presents Nosferatu in The Roundy
- Sitting Room Session: Richie Lawrence & Katie Thomas in De Barra's (Clonakilty)

Thursday, 20th June
- Ger Wolfe Trio in L'Attitude 51
- Mick Hanly and Andy Dunne in Coughlan's
- Momma Robertson The Lace in The Pavilion Bar
- Later With The Grunts in The Roundy

Friday, 21st June
- The RTE Vanbrugh Quartet with David Kenny in Triskel Christchurch (1.15pm)
- Cork Midsummer Festival: Mick Flannery in Cork City Hall
- Goldfish Syndrome in Cyprus Avenue
- Windings, Waking Up Sunday and The Legionnaires in The Kino (6.30pm - all ages)
- FILM Fatale presents: Breakfast At Tiffany's in The Pavilion
- Cork Midsummer Festival's Brinks Helm: Chris & Cosey (Throbbing Gristle) and Twinkranes in Triskel Christchurch

Saturday, 22nd June
- Negativ Result and Orchestra of Lions in Fred Zeppelin's
- Saint Yorda in The Pavilion
- Crow Black Chicken in Pine Lodge (Myrtleville)

some songs that we recorded with cathal by Saint Yorda

Sunday, 23rd June
- Bob Wayne & The Outlaw Carnies in The Crane Lane Theatre (11.30pm)

If I have forgotten a show or listed a gig incorrectly feel free to let me know! Please make sure to confirm gig details with the official site in advance.

- For more gigs and dates see the overall gig guide here

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The G-Man Playlist: Monday

2013-06-17T00:30:00.000+01:00

Moosic, moosic, moosic

Rough heads today after a busy gigging weekend. A playlist will ease such pains. Hopefully...

Simply click play below to begin today's playlist.

- For past playlists see here.

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Session: We Arrive Alive

2013-06-14T11:00:00.000+01:00

We Arrive Alive in The Pavilion

We Arrive Alive in session...

Instrumental shoegaze sharpshooters We Arrive Alive have returned to the studio to record the follow up to April release One. The instrumental sixsome, who shook The Pavilion's foundations in March as part of a The G-Man Presents... showcase, have been holed up in Storm Studio putting the finishing touches to Two, the second instalment in the post-rockers' segment-by-segment album launch. Slow-burner 'For My Father And His Brothers' will make an appearance on the new release with a performance of the track, recorded live in the studio, available to stream below. Release date for Two still to be announced.

For more on We Arrive Alive visit:

Breaking Tunes -- Facebook -- Bandcamp -- Twitter

- Download One and other We Arrive Alive recordings over on bandcamp

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The G-Man Playlist: Friday

2013-06-14T08:49:00.000+01:00

Moosic, moosic, moosic

Let's try and remember this weekend shall we...

Simply click play below to begin today's playlist.

- For past playlists see here.

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New music: Surfing

2013-06-13T14:07:00.001+01:00

Surfing

Tubular track from Surfing dudes and dudettes...

Jordan Stern, Chris Burden and Fernando Perez are Surfing, a '90s-lovin' garage-rockin' trio from Virginia who are set to storm the beaches judging by 'Hollow Sparrow'. Take a listen using the player below.

For more on Surfing visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Bandcamp -- Twitter

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Albums in the Stream: Sigur Ros

2013-06-13T10:56:00.000+01:00

Icelandic bright sparks go dark with new record...

Kveikur, the seventh studio album from ambient soundscapists Sigur Ros, arrives this weekend. The trio of Jónsi, Georg and Orri return to more tangible song structures following last year's more abstract (yet still beautiful) release, Valtari. With a November date in The O2 still quite some time away, fans and new converts have plenty of time to wrap their ears around new compositions such as the fiery brimstone beat of 'Brennisteinn' and the swelling tornado that is 'Stormur'. And if the weekend is still too far away, then stream the album in full over on the official Sigur Ros website.

Stream Kveikur over on www.sigur-ros.co.uk here

For more on Sigur Ros visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Twitter

- Kveikur will be releasd on 14th June (Ireland) and 17th June 2013
- Sigur Ros play The O2, 16th November

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The Black Angels in Button Factory

2013-06-11T13:57:00.000+01:00

Dark angels of psych announce Irish date...

Austin's The Black Angels will play Dublin in September as announced by Pod earlier today. Sunday 15th September is the date and tickets are on sale already via the usuals. Black Angels newbies should check out their 2008 acid-rock opus Directions to See a Ghost and then go buy some tickets. Do. Not. Miss.

For more on The Black Angels visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Soundcloud

- The Black Angels play Button Factory, Dublin on Sunday 15th September
- Tickets are priced at €17 and available now

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Elastic Purchases

2013-06-11T11:23:00.001+01:00

Rekkids!!!

To have any clue what this series of posts is about click here.

I found myself back in the capital again recently which allowed me to soak up Hello Moon's emotional last huzzah in Anseo on Camden Street. The jangly indie pop foursome called it a day in spectacular fashion, selling their final EP in t-shirt form (tastefully presented in a Hello Moon-inscribed carrier bag) which I proudly purchased from the makeshift stall.

A trip to Dublin is not complete without a visit to Elastic Witch and, being an avid fan of completeness, felt in no position to argue with the direction the world has chosen to spin.

This week's purchases were:

The Men - New Moon

For more on The Men visit:

wearethemen.blogspot.ie

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Camera Obscura - Desire Lines

For more on Camera Obscura visit:

www.camera-obscura.net

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The National - Trouble Will Find Me

For more on The National visit:

www.americanmary.com

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Deerhunter - Monomania

For more on Deerhunter visit:

deerhuntertheband.blogspot.ie

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- Elastic Witch is situated within Twisted Pepper on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin (Ireland)
- To take a looksy at previous purchase-posts click here

Feel like sharing your own musical purchases? Feel free to comment below. Otherwise try check out your local independent record stores whenever you can. If in the Republic of Ireland such an opportunity can be explored at:

Plugd Records (Cork) - plugdrecords.blogspot.com (Located on 1st floor of Triskel Arts Centre on Tobin Street - behind Soho off Grand Parade)
Tower Records (Dublin) - www.towerrecords.ie (6-8 Wicklow Street - just off Grafton Street)
Elastic Witch (Dublin) - elastic-witch.tumblr.com (Located at the back of the Twisted Pepper on the ground floor - 54 Middle Abbey Street)
Freebird Records (Dublin) - elastic-witch.tumblr.com (15A Wicklow St, Dublin 2)
Sound Cellar (Dublin) - www.freewebs.com/soundcellar (Located at 47 Nassau St Dublin 2)
The R.A.G.E. (Dublin) - theragedublin.tumblr.com (Located at 16b Fade St Dublin 2)
Wingnut Records (Galway) - www.facebook.com/wingnutrecords (Located in The Bell, Book and Candle at Small Crane)
Rollercoaster Records (Kilkenny) - Rollercoaster on Yelp (Located on Kieran Street)
Wingnut Records (Limerick) - www.facebook.com/wingnutrecordslimerick (Located in Moviedrome, Henry Street)
Wingnut Records (Waterford) - www.facebook.com/wingnutrecords (Located in Hard Times, 2 Peter Street - just at the entrance to City Square)
Ben O'Neill Music Shop (Waterford) - www.benoneilldungarvan.com/ (Located in 19 O'Connell Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford)
Wingnut Records (Athlone) - www.facebook.com/wingnutathlone (Located in The Passionfruit Theatre, 9 Northgate Street, Athlone, Co. Westmeath)

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WIN TICKETS! Windings in The Kino

2013-06-11T09:00:00.000+01:00

Chance to win tickets to The Kino's grand reopening...

Windings, The Legionnaires and Ruby & The Night Hawks (who step in for the previously announced Waking Up Sunday) all descend upon Washington Street in two weeks time for The Kino's grand reopening. Reborn as an all-ages café and venue, the former art-house cinema's closure broke many a cultural heart so it will be great to see the shutters retract on 21st June.

To stand a chance of winning a couple of tickets for opening night, all you have to do is like the official Facebook page followed by popping a quick mail to comps@thegmanworld.com containing :

- a subject of 'Kino Comp'
- your full name
- your mobile number
- who you would love to see play The Kino some day

The winner will be notified on the morning of Tuesday, 18th June.

For more on Windings visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Bandcamp -- Breaking Tunes

- Windings play The Kino, Cork on 21st June
- Tickets are €8 or €5 with a flyer
- For the official facebook event click here

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Cork Gig Guide (10th June - 16th June)

2013-06-10T13:46:00.001+01:00

John Blek & The Rats (Sat)

Feel Good Lost (Thurs)

A big week on Carey's Lane...

Cork visual visionaries Feel Good Lost celebrate their second anniversary in style on Thursday evening with masked beat-warrior Slow Magic, San Franciso chill crusaders Giraffage and Dublin dreamwave trio Slow Skies all converging on Cork for an evening of musical magic in The Pavilion. Dublin blogger Nialler9 is also in town, manning turntable duties to round the Thursday night off. See further down in the post for a chance to win tickets.

Later that week sees local Americana champions John Blek & The Rats officially unveil début full-length Leave Your Love at the Door in the same venue. This one's going to be as rowdy as it is brilliant so get in early to find a spot on Saturday night. Support comes in the capable hands of west Cork's LOWmountain, who are also touring a new record: DNA.

Needs by Giraffage

Also going down around town this week:

Bluesy rock stompers Crow Black Chicken in The Crane Lane Theatre (Wednesday)
Brazilian bossanova kings Azymuth followed by Parisian beatmaker Onra in The Pavilion (Friday)
The welcome return of post-rock ensemble Sideproject who lead a local line-up that also includes Elk and Terriers in Cyprus Avenue (Saturday)
For those who like to dress up all nice and 1920's-like the latest Prohibition Speak Easy takes place in Half Moon Theatre (Saturday)

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WIN TICKETS!

For a chance to win tickets to Feel Good Lost's second anniversary celebrations in The Pavilion, on Thursday 13th June, all you have to do is slide a quick mail towards comps@thegmanworld.com making sure to include:

- a subject of 'Feel Good'
- your full name
- your mobile number

The winner will be notified Wednesday afternoon (12th June).

WIN TICKETS 2!
For a chance to win tickets to Cork's newest and only all-age venue The Kino's grand opening on 21st June (featuring Windings and more) simply click here.

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FREE GIG OF THE WEEK
Thursday: Marvellous melodies with The David Nelligan Thing in The Pavilion (Bar).

Monday, 10th June
- Hot Blooded Animals in The Crane Lane Theatre (11.30pm)

Tuesday, 11th June
- Songwriter Sessions with Paula Gomez in L'Attitude 51
- Jazz Improv in The Crane Lane Theatre (9pm)
- Fox E. & The Good Hands and Jericho in The Crane Lane Theatre (11.30pm)
- Fred's Open Mic: in Fred Zeppelin's

Wednesday, 12th June
- Fireside Sessions Ruby Spilsbury in Bradley's of Barrack Street
- Crow Black Chicken in The Crane Lane Theatre (11.30pm)
- Séamus Begley & Jim Murray in The Pavilion
- Sundown Sessions in The Raven
- The Empty Orchestra in The Roundy
- Sitting Room Session: Harry Bird & The Rubber Wellies in De Barra's (Clonakilty)

Thursday, 13th June
- Slow Magic, Giraffage, Slow Skies, Nialler9 (DJ) and more in The Pavilion
- The David Nelligan Thing followed by Midnight Marauder DJs in The Pavilion (Bar)
- Bourbon Street presents... in The Roundy
- The Murphy Beds in De Barra's (Clonakilty)

Friday, 14th June
- Liam O'Maonlai and Ronán O'Snódaigh in Cyprus Avenue
- Azymuth in The Pavilion (9pm)
- Onra (DJ set) in The Pavilion (11pm)

Saturday, 15th June
- Rackhouse Pilfer in Coughlan's
- Sideproject, Elk and Terriers in Cyprus Avenue
- Colm K (EP launch) in Gulpd Café (Triskel Arts Centre)
- 1920's Prohibition Speak Easy in Half Moon Theatre
- John Blek & The Rats (album launch) and LOWmountain in The Pavilion

Sunday, 16th June
- Caudal, Harvester and mvestle in Fred Zeppelin's
- Grant Hart & The Burn/Burning in De Barra's (Clonakilty)
- Grant Hart & The Burn/Burning in Pine Lodge (Myrtleville - 2pm)

If I have forgotten a show or listed a gig incorrectly feel free to let me know! Please make sure to confirm gig details with the official site in advance.

- For more gigs and dates see the overall gig guide here

Follow The G-Man on: Facebook -- Twitter -- Pinterest -- Mixcloud -- This Is My Jam -- exfm -- Soundcloud -- Bloglovin'

The G-Man Playlist: Monday

2013-06-10T00:30:00.000+01:00

Moosic, moosic, moosic

Was it really sunny all last week? No really...

Simply click play below to begin today's playlist.

- For past playlists see here.

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The G-Man interview: Sea Pinks

2013-06-07T14:00:00.000+01:00

"Having another guitarist is like having a human multi -FX, with a fringe"

Belfast wave-rockers Sea Pinks finally make their Cork bow this weekend with a Saturday evening show planned for Corcadorca's theatre-cum-gig-venue, the Triskel-located Theatre Development Centre (TDC). The fuzzy retro-pop vision of Girls Names' Neil Brogan will illuminate the cavernous-yet-cosy auditorium as the northern drummer introduces Leeside to live versions of tracks taken from last year's Freak Waves not to mention songs from the "side project"'s ever-expanding discography. Opening for Brogan et al is the all-consuming Une Pipe, who leave me waiting patiently for their soon-to-be-released EP. Before that, I had a quick chin-wag with Neil himself before he makes his début down south.

The G-Man: Where are you, what are you up to and how’s life treating you at the moment?
Neil Brogan: I'm in Belfast where it's actually sunny right now which is weird. I'm wearing shorts so it's obviously gone to my head.

Freak Waves by Sea Pinks

When recording Freak Waves was there a particular part of the record that took you time to get perfect that may pass over innocent listeners heads but meant a lot to you?
Once I got going it all came together pretty quickly but there was quite a bit of messing about before that, there always is. There's a lot of trial and error with the way I record, I'm always learning so that kind of goes with it.

For the gear-heads, what’s keeping your pedal-board occupied these days?
Ha! My pedal board is pretty non-existent actually, for shows anyway. I mostly let Phil worry about that kind of thing. Having another guitarist is kind of like having a human multi FX, with a fringe. I tend to just put the reverb up to about 7 on my amp and that's it. I have a cheapo fuzz pedal I use occasionally also. Having said that I've been tinkering with a Line 6 M5 lately so it's getting a little more adventurous.

What happened that prevented you from playing this year’s South X Southwest?
There was just some funding hassles basically, it costs a lot of money to go there and they don't pay you so you need to get funding from somewhere, it became tricky because there was a separate issue with going a on a visa waiver which could have undermined the funding. All very boring reasons.

Besides that little set-back, how have Sea Pinks been received in the U.S. and internationally?
There are a few people in the States who know about it and are always very supportive. I've sold records in Japan, Europe, South America, Australia too so I guess there are some people there who are into it.

Freak waves, jetties and sea pinks - from whence does all this oceanic imagery come from?
It's just part of the loose concept I have for this band I guess. I grew up by the sea also so that might be part of it too.

I am looking forward to seeing you in Cork. What kind of feelings do you have before a tour begins? Do you have any pre-gig rituals?
Well this is just two shows so it's pretty easy really, I'm really looking forward to both of them. Dublin is always great for us and we've never been to Cork so I'm excited to go there. No pre-gig rituals I can think of for this band, maybe we should start one. If I had a floatation tank I'd get in that for an hour before maybe. Fuck shit up.

Sea Pinks also play The Annex at Applerock Studios (Dublin) on Friday, 7th June

For more on Sea Pinks visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Bandcamp -- Twitter

- Sea Pinks play Triskel TDC this Saturday, 8th June
- Tickets are €6 (€5 concession) with doors at 9.30pm

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New album: Halves

2013-06-07T13:30:00.000+01:00

New release from Halves...

Dublin trio Halves - who surely have a bit of Icelandic in them somewhere - are set to release the follow up to 2010's Choice-nominated début It Goes, It Goes (forever & ever) with a date of July 5th confirmed along with a whole bunch of tour dates including a visit to Cork's Cyprus Avenue on 26th July. Boa Howl features contributions from Toronto harpcore troupe Carnival Moon and Ireland's own Gemma Hayes. Stream 'Tanager Peak' featuring the Ballyporeen native below.

Full tracklisting for Boa Howl:

01. Drumhunter

02. The Glass Wreckage

03. Drip Pools

04. Tanager Peak (ft. Gemma Hayes)

05. Best Summer (ft. Carnival Moon)

06. White Boa Howl

07. Bring Your Bad Luck

08. Hug The Blood

09. Slow Drawl Moon (For David)

10. Polynia

11. Let Them Come

For more on Halves visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Bandcamp

- Halves release Boa howl on Hate Is The Enemy on 5th July 2013
- For tour dates click here

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Festival news: Vantastival recap

2013-06-07T10:30:00.000+01:00

Vantastival

Highwind Films provide nostalgic look-back to last month's vehicular-fuelled madness...

And So I Watch You From Afar, Damien Dempsey and Carried By Waves were just three of the many Irish bands that entertained festival-goers in Bellurgan Park this time last month as the three day Dundalk gathering welcomed over 70 artists to their yearly campsite. Wexford film-makers Highwind Films were on hand to capture some highlights as can be seen below so whether you were there in actual body or spirit, take a quick gander at both videos using the players below.

Friday:

Saturday:

For more on Vantastival visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Twitter

- Vantastival takes place annually in Louth and features mostly homegrown Irish bands and artists

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The G-Man Playlist: Friday

2013-06-07T00:30:00.000+01:00

Moosic, moosic, moosic

Remember Thursday? Nah, neither do I...

Simply click play below to begin today's playlist.

- For past playlists see here.

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Windings to reopen The Kino

2013-06-06T12:35:00.000+01:00

The Kino café and venue to open its doors...

Limerick lads Windings have been charged with cracking the alcohol-free champagne bottle on June 21st, the night The Kino finally reopens its newly repainted doors in Cork. The former arthouse cinema will be reborn as Leeside's only all-ages venue and café with a trio of Irish bands confirmed for the Washington Street building's opening night. The Legionnaires, Waking Up Sunday and headliners Windings all take to the stage on Friday evening with doors open from 6.30pm. It's great to see a combination of grizzled veterans and rosy-cheeked up-and-comers announced for what will hopefully become a mainstay in the Cork music scene, allowing an avenue for under-agers to take to the stage and build up some indispensable gigging experience as well as introducing established acts to a younger audience. It's also hopeful that steps may be taken away from the traditional synonymity of live music and alcohol in Ireland. I love a drink or two but, depending on the genre of course, it's hard to beat an intimate café or theatre gig.

For more on Windings visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Bandcamp -- Breaking Tunes

- Windings play The Kino, Cork on 21st June
- Tickets are €8 or €5 with a flyer
- For the official facebook event click here

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Cork Gig Guide (5th June - 9th June)

2013-06-05T15:58:00.000+01:00

The TDC sees Pink...

Neil Brogan's sun-drenched retro-rock project Sea Pinks makes its Triskel bow on Saturday evening with an appearance in the TDC. Brogan - who also happens to double as (drum)stick-slinger for lauded Belfast quartet Girls Names - and the surf-pop Sea Pinks sound could not have better timing with tracks from long players Dead Seas and the swell-seeking Freak Waves perfectly crafted to soundtrack the current Irish heatwave. Special guests Une Pipe - last seen live tearing up The Pavilion Bar as part of a G-Man Presents... showcase with a new EP on the way - are on opening duty.

Also going down around town this week:

Anthrax axeman Scott Ian in Cyprus Avenue (Thursday)
Rumble on Barrack Street #5 featuring Dublin garage-rockers The Revellions and more in Mr. Bradley's (Friday)
Porn For The Blind play one of the last ever Crowley's Music Centre instores (Saturday - 5pm)
Galwegian indie kids and Depravations-offshoot Oh Boland in Bradley's of Barrack Street (Saturday)
U.K. swing-kings Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra closing out the week with a late one in The Crane Lane Theatre (Sunday)

FREE GIG OF THE WEEK
Thursday: Superblondes downstairs in The Pavilion (Bar). Upbeat pop-rock to knock your socks off.

Wednesday, 5th June
- Fireside Sessions Karl Glass and Sinead Gowan in Bradley's of Barrack Street
- Thomas Donoghue Band and Raffiki in The Crane Lane Theatre (11.30pm)
- Sundown Sessions in The Raven
- Jazz Fusion in The Roundy
- Sitting Room Session: Míde Houlihan and Tod Doyle in De Barra's (Clonakilty)

2012 by Míde Houlihan

Thursday, 6th June
- Scott Ian (Anthrax) in Cyprus Avenue
- Superblondes followed by Midnight Marauders DJs in The Pavilion (Bar)
- Red Elephant Charity Gig in The Roundy

Superblondes by Superblondes

Friday, 7th June
- Rumble on Barrack Street #5: The Revellions and The Faux in Bradley's of Barrack Street
- Cork Rocks for Rory in Cyprus Avenue
- Immortal Technique, Sammy Dozens and Spekulativ Fiction in The Pavilion
- The Shed in The Roundy
- The Altered Hours in De Barra's (Clonakilty)

Saturday, 8th June
- Crowley's Instore: Porn For The Blind in Crowley's Music Centre (5pm)
- This Other Kingdom and Oh Boland in Bradley's of Barrack Street
- Cork Rocks for Rory in Cyprus Avenue
- The Saxy Lady Boys in The Pavilion
- Carried By Waves in Triskel Gardens (8pm)
- Sea Pinks and Une Pipe in Triskel TDC (9.30pm)
- The Altered Hours in Pine Lodge (Myrtleville)

Freak Waves by Sea Pinks Oh! by Oh Boland

Sunday, 9th June
- Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra in The Crane Lane Theatre (11.30pm)
- Shrine Sunday: The Lace in The Pavilion (6pm)

If I have forgotten a show or listed a gig incorrectly feel free to let me know! Please make sure to confirm gig details with the official site in advance.

- For more gigs and dates see the overall gig guide here

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Festival news: KnockanStockan

2013-06-05T10:35:00.000+01:00

The little festival that could, can and will...

KnockanStockan returns to Blessington Lakes at the end of July with festival organisers recently releasing details of the 2013 line-up. The non-profit knees-up has proven time and again to be a superb showcase of alternative Irish talent with over 150 bands and artists announced for this year's lakeside get-together. With Cork nicely represented by The Altered Hours, The Vincent(s) and more, it's also great to see past G-Man Presents... performers We Arrive Alive and John Blek & The Rats confirmed for the July session which has a pretty stellar homegrown line-up this year.

Other highlights include Enemies, Croupier, Nanu Nanu, Overhead, The Albatross, Myles Manley & The Little People Girl Band and Tandem Felix. List junkies check out the full line-up below.

- Enemies - Blind Yackety - Cocaine Ponytail - Liza Flume - Croupier
- Corner Boy - The Hot Sprockets - Nanu Nanu - The Calvinists - Earthship
- Fox.E & The Good Hands - Hassle Merchants - John Blek & The Rats - The Eskies
- Juhn Echo - Land Of ThE Giants Markas Carcas - Arrow In The Sky - The City Apples
- New Secret Weapon - Conor Linnie New Valley Wolves - The Multiverse
- Punch Face Champions - Quincy - Redwoods - Crow Black Chicken - Ross Breen
- Rufus Coates & The Blackened Trees - Sarah Red - Saucy Jack & The Bang Bang Band
- Mikey & The Scallywags - Sinead White - Stephen Young & The Union - Tandem Felix
- Raglans - Rob Steenson & The Apartment Six Club - The FitzaFrenic - Rocher
- The Radioactive Grandma - The Rusty Fixtures - Tod Doyle & The Troubled - Veroa - She's A Beauty
- Wyvern Lingo - King Kong Company - In Their Thousands - Kasper Rosa - Colour//Sound
- The Indecent Cigar Emporium - Mutefish - Those Creeps - Overhead, The Albatross - Tied To Machines
- The Urchin Collective - Val Normal - Girl Band - Zaska - We Arrive Alive
- The Cravingz - Tic Til Friday - Mongoose - The Barley Mob - Cat Dowling - Sive
- The Greasy Coat String Band - Myles Manley & The Little People
- VANN MUSIC - King Modo - Mossy Nolan - Slow Skies - Leading Armies Gypsy Rebel Rabble
- More Than Conquerors - Willow Sea - My Fellow Sponges - Slackers Symphony - Orchid Collective - Sails
- Cold Comfort - Radio Friendlies - The Salad Circus - Mumblin' Deaf Ro - The Stoney Brokes - LaFaro
- Twin Headed Wolf - The Cujo Family - Psy Am - Worries Outernational - Psytori - The Yips - Siam
- Old Hannah - Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters - Tiny Fingers - Anunitu - Spirit Riders - The Young Folk
- Sen Lotus - Elevation Falls - The Northern Drones - Miles Iwes - The Vincent(s) - Blazin 38s
- Kerouac - The Boneyard Collective - White Trash & The Spearheaded Sparraw Hawks - GKB - Tamala & The Clark Family - Sixth String Out - Sophis D Kate - Bandia - Sotols - Sorcha Richardson
- The Ragmen - Daydream Regime - Kapitals - Jef Jef Jef - Swords
- Real Horrorshow - Ste O Brien - Hot Colossus - Sal Vitro - Bee Mick See
- Cfit - Lotus Eater - Saint John The Gambler - Adi Sharma - Garr Cleary
- Ghost Estates - Michael Lovatt - Lights Camera Sundown Tongue Bundle - Yatha-bhuta
- Stevie Cliff - The Boo Box - The Forbidden Itch - The Urges
- Spunje - Pete & The Purehearts - Rag & Bone Stomp - Qpop - The Amazing Few - Laura Ann Brady
- Mixile - Brian Keary - Daithi - Barry Krishna - Nursery Crimes - Andy Earley - Zyme - The Viking Project
- Noise Machine - Hugh Taggart & Friends - The Hip-Neck Blues Collective - The Altered Hours - Oddsocks

Watch/listen to a Youtube playlist featuring ten KnockanStockan artists below.

For more on KnockanStockan visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- Twitter

- KnockanStockan takes place in Blessington Lakes, Co. Wicklow from 26th-28th July
- Tickets are priced at €95 for a 3-day camping ticket and available over on knockanstockan.ie

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New album: June Gloom

2013-06-04T14:14:00.003+01:00

Big Deal bring the gloom...

Alice Costelloe and Kacey Underwood follow up 2011's slacker gem Lights Out with the release of second full-length June Gloom. The self-labelled "cringe-core" duo recently visited Ireland to make an opening night headline appearance at Dublin's Camden Crawl and have already released a couple of videos for tracks from the new record ('Teradactol' and 'In Your Car'), showcasing Big Deal's bigger, more mature band-ier sound whilst retaining the pop melodies that made us (well me anyway!) fall in love with them in the first place.

Full tracklisting for June Gloom:

01. Golden Light

02. Swapping Spit

03. In Your Car

04. Dream Machines

05. Call and I'll Come

06. Teradactol

07. Pristine

08. Pillow

09. Catch Up

10. Little Dipper

11. PG

12. Close Your Eyes

See the below preview video made by Big Deal ahead of June Gloom's release.

For more on Big Deal visit:

Official Website -- Facebook -- YouTube -- Soundcloud

- June Gloom by Big Deal is now available in Ireland and the U.K.

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