Thursday’s Tunes Guest DJ: Paddy McPoland You want some folk with your punk, punk? When Paddy McPoland was asked to list his five favourite Irish singles, naturally he delivered a list of 15! We like rulebreakers here at the Hope fanzine, so here is Paddy’s list in full. What is interesting is how it spans … Continue reading Thursday Tunes. Guest DJ: Paddy McPoland
Album of the Year. Trouble Pilgrims ‘Dark Shadows and Rust’
Dublin 1976-’77. Bleak, uncompromising and unpromising. The price for looking even a little bit different is getting your head kicked in. Conform, conform, conform was the motto of the time. A motto so ingrained in us that it didn’t have to be spoken out loud. Then came the early angry shouts … Continue reading Album of the Year. Trouble Pilgrims ‘Dark Shadows and Rust’
Paddy McPoland from Carlow RTC Ents Officer to World Tours
In the 1980s Paddy McPoland made an impression on the Irish music scene. He brought bands including Something Happens!, Aslan, A House and Light A Big Fire to Carlow for some of their first gigs outside Dublin. As such, we has responsible for giving opportunities for these Dublin bands to develop a national audience. Later … Continue reading Paddy McPoland from Carlow RTC Ents Officer to World Tours
Making Ireland rock in the 1980s: Pat O’Mahony
The 1980s were a particularly vibrant time in Ireland’s music scene. New bands sprang up, and many local bands secured international deals with major labels. One of the major reasons for this success was the behind-the-scenes activity, in particular, by the young entrepreneurs I call the ‘Ents Entrepreneurs’. These were young music-loving students, and providing … Continue reading Making Ireland rock in the 1980s: Pat O’Mahony
Dealing With Damage – Interview
The UK is full of so many good bands at the moment. Like Ireland it is an island full of so many people bringing out their own records and not worrying about signing record deals or careers in the music industry. One such band is Dealing With Damage. Their pedigree is enough to get you … Continue reading Dealing With Damage – Interview
The Sussed Interview
One of the bright sparks in the Dublin underground music scene were The Sussed with their punk DIY swagger.
Russ Bestley Interview. The Art of Punk
Russ Bestley has established a reputation as one of the great historians of popular music. His specific area is punk, post-punk and DIY music. The 2015 book, The Art of Punk which he co-authored with Alex Ogg is one of the best books ever written about popular music. It includes many of the most original … Continue reading Russ Bestley Interview. The Art of Punk
Thursday’s Tunes…in memory of Grant Hart
Husker Du Don’t Want To Know If You’re Lonely https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoKeH7JYE48 This week’s Thursday’s Tunes are posted with a deep sense of loss. Apparently Grant Hart from Husker Du has died. I’m so sad. I never met the man, yet his music touched me in so many ways at different times of my life. Husker … Continue reading Thursday’s Tunes…in memory of Grant Hart
Rebellion 2017 Petrol Girls
Petrol Girls The reason why a festival like Rebellion is such a goldmine for me is that you can discover fantastic new bands that deliver on every level. And so it was with the mighty Petrol Girls. In fact this afternoon's trio, the Membranes, Interrobang, and Petrol Girls indicate why punk is so interesting, even … Continue reading Rebellion 2017 Petrol Girls
Mystic Inane – EP’s of M/I
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3370923316 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small] It's very rare that a record label gets a description incorrect of one of its bands. They know them best, theiy know their secret likes and all that goes into the wiritng of their songs. So when their record label, lavidaesunmus, describe Mystic Inane as "Freaked … Continue reading Mystic Inane – EP’s of M/I