The Sessions on 103.2 Dublin City FM

August Update

2009-08-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

Howye! Just a quick update on our news...

Hopefully you've been tuning in to the fabulous show that is The Sessions, every Wednesday night from 8.30 to 9.30 pm on 103.2 Dublin City FM, or listening online http://www.dublincityfm.ie/.

I'll presume you have, so I won't bore you with the details; suffice to say we've had some crackin' guests coming our way which we're more than happy to endure...free, live quality music, anyone?

I love a captive audience.

Coming up we've got some great musicians...including The Brazen Lungs, who will be struggling in after their album launch on the 18th in The Twisted Pepper. Check them out from 9pm on the 19th on 103.2 Dublin City FM.

And then we'll have Wicklow All Stars...i.e. Pushkin and Enemies, who I'm rubbing my grubby hands in glee and sweaty anticipation to listen to, on the 26th August from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, so tune in and enjoy.

That's all for now, folks, I'll be droning you out soon enough.

Holly

The Mighty Stef

2009-07-30T04:36:00.000-07:00

The Mighty Stef was fashionably late, but we were delighted to have him in the studio all the same. Tis not often you get a fella that sounds like Elvis crossing your threshold.

He played us new song, an old song, and a Michael Jackson tribute (I'll Be There). Wow. Deadly.

I think that's all I have to say on the subject, except possibly being a little starstruck :)

One Dead Flag

2009-07-30T04:12:00.000-07:00

GO ON THE DEAD FLAGS!!!!!!!!!!!

Well that's how I felt after listening to, albeit, just one, Dead Flag, a couple of weeks ago. Billy from The Dead Flags, one of Ireland's hottest new bands, graced us with his car-sore arse and proceeded to rock out in the East Wall studio.

The Dead Flags hail from Sligo and have been on the go for a good few years now. They released the single "Oh my Love! Oh my God!!" last August and since then have been going from pond to lake.

I was thrilled and shocked at the energy Billy gave to his acoustic set. Not content with the limitations of a single pick up and one mic, he went happy-go-lucky mental on us. Me, Stace and Jill were fairly shaking in our boots. It was like watching a hamster on a musical wheel. Absolutely Fantastic.

They've just come back from playing in Germany (oooohh..fancy!) and have a shovelful of gigs in the Northwest in August, so check out their website and go see.

Jill Deering

2009-07-30T03:44:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a while for The Oul Sessions Blog. Excuse me, gentlemen, but I've been away, etc. But if you've been religiously tuning into our fabulous show on 103.2 Dublin City FM, you'll have known that we've had the honour to host some excellent and entertaining musicians.

A couple of weeks ago was the gorgeous Jill Deering. Jill's been on the circuit for a considerable time, and has the experience and stage prescence to prove it. Accompanied by a Brazilian keyboardist, she rocked the Sessions on that particularly manic night.

The classic country/rock/acoustic songs uncover the complexitites of human experience through the scope of her amazing voice. She is truly able to transform a simple song into something that leaves you not quite sad, or delighted, but that you have lived.

Check her out on myspace.

Caruso

2009-06-06T03:35:00.000-07:00

Next up last Wednesday was the fabulously-named Caruso. Just had a quick read of their myspace there, my my, they are a busy lot. In the Sessions we had the fortune to have Shane, Grainne and Silent (but not unwilling) Ger to wow us with their tunes.

Caruso have been doing to circuit for quite a while, it seems. To me, they are Dublin rock grandpappies. They are the bench mark for alt-folk-rock and they are doing fantasically and deservedly well to date.

Fabulously diverse, they bunny-hop genres and have a wide appeal. They released their debut The Watcher and the Comet in 08 and have been playing rakes and rakes of gigs since. Currently they are recording the next step and fingers crossed it will be as well received as the last one, which went down and storm.

Fronted by the charismatic Shane and vocal-gymnast Grainne, the sound is tight, professional, and keeps you on your musical toes. This is the sort of rock that makes nuns revoke their vows.

So if you want to catch these on-the-up dudes, do it soon (June 16th in Whelans), cos after that they're playing all over the world, it seems (including Greystones. Hurrah!).

After Whelans, it's Newfoundland in August. Then New Zealand in September. Obviously.

Jealous?

Me too. Check them out.

Caruso's website thingy

Aisling Quinn

2009-06-06T03:12:00.000-07:00

Last week we had the unbelievable talents of Aisli

ng Quinn. Toting a beautiful acoustic and a mandolin, Quinn stepped into studio 3 and proceeded to wow us with her fascinating approach to music.

Hailing from Galway, but living in Dublin the past 6 years, Quinn's music is refreshing like a watermelon cooler on a breezy beach. She plays a host of instruments, including the aforementioned mandolin, along with flute, xylophone, and my personal favourite, the melodica.

I think of happy woodland animal on picnics when I listen to A Song I Wrote For You. Her voice conveys 60's singers and is feckin amazing live.

She extends the tradition of singer-songwriter in the sense that she is has a qualification in music production, which clearly shows in her range and vision for her intensely fun and well-thought out tunes.

In 2004 she released her first demo which was chosen as Jackie Hayden's "Pick of the Fortnight" in Hotpress. 2006 saw her returning to the studio to record her first EP " A Simple Arrangement" which was launched in the summer of 2007 .

She's playing in Bewley's Cafe Theatre with another Sessions favourite, walkperson, on July 23rd.

Go see this fabulous, engaging and charming musician. It'll be deadly, wha'.

Aisling Quinn's website

Michele Ann Kelly and Chiara Browne, May 24th

2009-06-03T04:34:00.000-07:00

Being a musician myself, I get excited when women musicians come in to The Sessions. Not in a Susan Faludi way (though I'm in no way mocking that), just in a curiosity sense. I want to pick their brains and see what the hell they're doing.

So it was with great hoo-hah that we welcomed in the supercool Michele Ann Kelly. Kelly describes herself on her myspace as white soul music. That's a pretty perfect term. Mixing blues, rock, soul and a dribble of country, her music is at once easy-listening (in the best sense) and arresting, most likely due to her fantastic voice. She also plays with the multi-talented Chiara Browne; listening to their harmonies would make you have faith in Irish politics, it's amazing.

She's been playing and singing for years, writing too. She's supported loads of acts such as Mary Black and Paul Brady. But what stands out most about Kelly was the air of modest confidence and assurance that lies under her big sound. She's making good freaking music and doing it freaking well, too.

How does she do it? You have to check her out to find out.

*Catch her at the Pride Mainstage on June 27th in the Dublin Civic Offices.

walkperson walks in

2009-06-03T04:02:00.000-07:00

Stace regularly blesses her lucky stars regarding The Sessions. The fact of the matter is herself, myself and the Bear on the Buttons get to have some of Ireland's most exciting musicians coming in to play, and all we have to do is sit back and relax.

Last week (May 24th), the wonderful walkperson (aka Pearse McLoughlin) was in da house. Walkperson's music is solitary, multi-layered, and sparse. It's kind of like having an invisible wire of beautiful melodies and intricate guitars burrowed into your skull, in the best possible way.

It's no surprise to me that he used to live in Montreal, the North American influence is noticeable. In fact, I picture him writing tunes in a wood cabin, surrounded by bears and big trees (This may or may not be true).

He told us of his recent exploits, which include recording and getting together an album, which is due out this summer. Hence he is playing a rake of gigs all round the country, including Upstairs in Whelans on June 4th, with Aisling Quinn, which should be a cracker, as that kind of intimate setting is just what you need to listen to this bewitching chap.

He also presents An Uair Draiochta (The Magic Hour? I'm rubbish as Gaeilge, ta bron orm) on Raidio na Life every Sunday, so listen in for some magic tunes.

He may even play some of his...:)

walkperson's myspace

* Personal Holly-favourite has to be Changeling. Check. It. Out.

I'm BAAAAACCK

2009-06-03T03:59:00.000-07:00

Due to a long hiatus that included music and art and bankruptcy in London, I'm finally back on my favourite (and only) radio programme at the lovely 103.2 Dublin City FM.

So keep checking us out on The Sessions, the best live music programme available on the whole bloody earth, and I'll keep postin'.

:)

The Long Knives

2009-03-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

After The Long Knives forgot the time change (like the rest of the world) on Sunday, they finally made it into the studio. We at the Sessions were delighted to see them.

They snuck into our special little red room and went straight for a song. Cheap Wine is the current single, to be launched in Toner's on April 24th. On the myspace page they describe it as the most pop-friendly offering yet. I love it. The tone is summery and the harmonic riffs augment perfectly this gorgeous song.

The Long Knives are Niall, Caroline, Martin, and (the absent from the radio) Mark. This band, though they have been formed and reformed quite a many times, have the look and sound of granddaddies of musician. Wet behind the ears they are not. They sound tight and smooth and have an impressive history of recording, gigging and touring. Niall's vocals are iron-lung strong leaving the rest of the band to rock out at their discretion. They are collectively amazingly engaging to watch perform.

Personal Holly favourites are Cheap Wine and North Country Girl (absolutely gorgeous). Check them out for some freakin quality tunes:

www.myspace.com/thelongknivesireland

Star Crossed Enemies...VBFs

2009-03-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

Star Crossed Enemies had been waiting in the studio for the past hour when I strolled in late. The North Dublin duo comprises of Brian (Malahide posh) and Gary (Donabate eh, posh). This pair has been playing a plethora of stormin' gigs in recent times. I saw them in the Globe a couple of weeks ago and had my socks well and truly blown.

Armed with two guitars and a rake of pop-rock songs, the simplicity of their work is not to be allayed with the boring pop-rock that litters the charts with startling frequency. Their lyrics are carefully written and just a wee bit on the quirky side. Check out Astronauts,

Let us go to outer space, with nothing but our guitars and a pen to take down what we've learned when we come back.

The sound is infectious, as are the guys. Their enthusiasm for the home-grown approach is a breath of fresh air. They record all their work themselves and have the confidence of the young, which is incredibly appealing.

Gary plays with the devotion of one who spent formative years in his room alone with his guitar; this comes out in beautiful riffs and an intensity that belies his nineteen years. His background oohs compliment Brian's vocals, which also come from the bedroom and according to myspace, a habit of being dumped by girls. He's got a great voice as a testament, so I for one am going to try get dumped by loads of girls from now on.

Their music is simple, honest and great to listen to in bed. I've tried it. As much as I didn't want to like it, for being all of the above and maybe falling into the emo kiddy genre (which it does not), I totally love it now. Think of Kings of Convenience on a VBF (or whatever the emokiddies say) date with Boards of Canada, drinking coffee and eating doughnuts.

Or something like that.

But don't take my word for it, check it out here:

www.myspace.com/starcrossedenemies

PS. They also hand out biccies at their gigs. Free ones. Hmmm.

The Mighty Atomics

2009-03-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

Aloha The Mighty Atomics!

Straight out of a hotbed somewhere between Pulp Fiction, quiffs and a mouldy oul garage, this is The Mighty Atomics.

This youthful trio consisting of Nick, Conor, and Maurice, are old-style rockabilly, garage, surf, and basic 4 beat rock and roll. Basically what happened when Elvis left the building. Or maybe Carl Wilson. I'm not sure.

They played a fecking stormer of a first song, with rockin' drum breaks and catchy riffs. As Stace said, it's the kind of music you put on while driving, and rock out to, hands off the wheel, Chuck Berry style. I, personally, would have a red Mustang and a peroxide bitch by my side just to do it justice.

The lead (and only) guitar mostly drives the songs; the bass seems to be going somewhere completely different all together, but happily brought together at the rear by the (sparkly!) drums. These guys have to be seen to be believed. And danced to with winklepickers.

The skill that the band have with their respective instruments is great, and it's quite astounding how tight they sound considering a Mighty Atomic age of almost one. They are also as cute as buttons, but I fear one may be arrested, as the average band age looks to be about 12, but I was assured it was 22.

It was with great regret that I missed their gig in the King Kong Club in Whelans on Tuesday, but fear not, citizens, you can catch them again soon around the country. Check out ze myspace:

www.myspace.com/themightyatomics

Jimi Cullen (spelt IMI not IMMY)

2009-03-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome Jimi Cullen the Junkyard Poet!

On Sunday myself, Stace and Cillser the Sound Guy had the extreme pleasure of being the audience for Wexford's Finest, Jimi Cullen.

For me, Jimi fills the gap between entertainment and music. You don't have to shoe-gaze or read a history of feeling bad to enjoy his songs...they are simple and entertaining. He explains there's enough sad and depressing songs; sometimes you just need a bit of humour. He played us Realistic Love Song, which was exactly that. All the bullshit surrounding lovesongs was scarpered in return for a very sincere take on the whole messy business. Me and Cillser the Sound Guy were laughing our arses off.

This is not to say Cullen misses the spot emotionally. In his vast repertoire reside some fairly serious subjects. It's all to do with attitude.

This multi talented fella totes his guitar around and also comes complete with harmonica. His voice sounds like whiskey and chocolate. Love it.

You can check out Cullen play in a freaking plethora of places, including Amsterdam, Vienna, and em, The Bridge Tavern in Wicklow Town (Go OOOOONNNNN WICKLA), just look on his Myspace:

www.myspace.com/jimicullen

Do it.

Wayne Brennan

2009-03-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

First up on Sunday was Wayne Brennan. For those of you unfamiliar with the open mic yokey in Dublin, Wayne is a bit of an institution. He's played with loads of people, and his show is rock steady and pretty tight.

Just back from touring what seemed like the whole of Ireland, he is surprisingly perky and full of life. His songs are beautifully crafted slices of life, complete with great guitar playing and a beautiful voice.

And so the man who works every hour in Bejazus kicked off the show with a couple of chirpy songs that had me and Stace nearly jumping in our seats. As in, they were class.

Cillser the Soundguy was even nodding along, and holy christ, it takes a lot to move him.

Check out his website:

http://www.waynebrennan.com/

Christine Deadly

2009-03-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

Actually her name is Christine Deady. But she's deadly. You get the picture.

Christine hails from an incredibly musical background in Kilmuckridge, including a plethora of instrument-totin' brothers.

I've seen her name around the open mic sets in Dublin for the past year, and always was terribly curious about her music, though I never got to see it.

She rocks! Her voice has caught that zeitgeist that puts me in mind of East Coast colleges and brownstone buildings and scarves and feisty broken hearts. It's bleeding gorgeous.

She had me and Stace and Wayne and Cillser the Soundguy captivated with her intimate tunes and incredible voice. The Lovely Michelle was her back-up and together they transformed our little studio into a haven for day dreaming.

She's playing lots round the country and releasing her single in about 5 weeks time, so check her out.

www.myspace.com/christinedeady

Lisa Cuthbert

2009-03-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

Next up was Lisa Cuthbert. We hastily set up her massively heavy keyboard in the studio as I prayed to sweet Jesus I wouldn't drop it on her fantastic boots.

Lisa has a voice that, for me, borders between Fiona Apple and Sarah McLaughlan. Apologies in retrospect for comparing her to other singers, I freakin hate when people do that, but yeah. Deep, throaty vocals that twist and flip to delicacy when you're least expecting it. Simultaneously beautiful and haunting.

She played two tracks for us, Cherry Blossom and Ready to Unfold. She plays piano really really, sickenly, jealous-inducingly well. Grrr.

Check her out soon, her new EP's out and she's playing round the country in the next few weeks.

The Resistance

2009-03-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

Great show last night.

First up was The Resistance. Three of this five-piece from Dublin/Kildare (including an affable, violin-playing Yank, who really is Irish) came round to the studio in East Wall to play a set and promote their new album.

Dave, Rob (or Rock, as I heard it) and Eanan blew me away. Wow. I had confided to Dave earlier that I was getting a little tired with the new music I've been hearing here and there, like it's all a bit samey.

Somewhere between the Shins and I don't know, somewhere else cool (it's Monday night, for fuck's sake, I have no vocabulary), yep they were great. Lovely off-chords and harmonics, gorgeous vocals and a violin sound which made me want to cry.

As in it was so good.

Check out their myspace and catch them live, deffo. You won't be disappointed.

Blind Yackety Brings It, Bitches

2009-02-23T04:30:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-23T03:48:00.001-08:00

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!

2009-02-23T03:39:00.001-08:00

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.