Blind Yackety Brings It, Bitches

Second up last night was Blind Yackety.

For those of you familiar with the Harbour Bar in Bray, the operatic conventions and fuzz-like halo of Blind Yackety may be familiar. Depending on how bad the Bavaria was.

But recent years have seen Blind Yackety off his arse and write some of the most entertaining music I have ever heard (and I do not say that lightly).

Stuck somewhere between the dance halls of Gilbert and Sullivan and a seasick sailor with a monkey and an accordian, Blind Yackety fits the bill perfectly of melodious, random, comic, bloody catchy and plain fucking fun. On his myspace page he has genred his music as "tropical". Exactly.

So, as the Yack perched delicately on the studio chair, clad in last night's flowery nylons, we at the Sessions were treated to the vocal gymnastics and pinball machine of images that makes this seriously fun musician seriously good.

Check him out.

Word.

21 Outs and 1 Way In

Well, well, well.

What an unusual mix.

First up last night (Sunday February 22nd) were 21outs. These affable boys from Galway were full of energy and had a baby-entourage of a mandolin-totin' brunette and a photo-takin' black haired fella.

When they finally set up in the studio (that's a lot of Marshall), they proceeded to rock out for us with crackin' song. Little did they realise the show wasn't on air yet, but I for one thoroughly enjoyed the private show. If they'd done a bit of private dancing all the better, but one can only wish.

The sound was bassy, bluesy and tight. Deadly. Kind of put me in mind of 70's rock mixed with Pearl Jam, with a dose of Jimi. Lead guitarist and singer Phil has a fine set of lungs, all the better to be blasted out in a kind of strangling yelp. Fan-fucking-tastic. He plays guitar with the beguiling skill of someone much older than he looks. I could only watch, slack-jawed, as he arpeggio'd, slapped and hammer/pulled that beautiful, battered Strat of his (super-jealous, here, by the way - Phil, if you're ever giving that guitar away, you know where to find me).

With Bryan on the bass and Kevin squashing his tall frame behind the pared down drum kit, the whole set up seemed really tight, allowing each of the guys to rock out at certain, fitting times. The impression you get with this band was that they are super-hardworking and great fun (am I allowed to say that about "serious" music?) to watch live. It was with a dose of regret that I couldn't make it to the Purty Sessions in the Purty Kitchen, Monkstown, where they were playing after.

The dirtiest sound we've had yet on The Sessions. Nice.

Aloha and Welcome!

Welcome to the new blogbit of the Sessions, the infamous half hour new music show on Dublin City FM, every Sunday night from 7.30 to 8pm from the heart of the Docklands.

Hosted by Stace Gill, the show strives to highlight some of the most original and diverse Irish and international musicians available for the lugholes.

Tune in of a Sunday on 103.2 FM, or off the Dublin City FM website, www.dublincityfm.ie.

This blog is a chance to view the pictures of the musicians at work, and also as a sneaky gawk at what goes on behind the airwaves (there are goats and vials of virgin-blood involved).

I'm going to shut up now, and post some pix.