By Natalie Herman

By Natalie Herman

We now bring you the Irish indie news, already in progress. . .

• Walter Mitty and the Realists kicked off Indie Week Ireland today, July 1, in Cork. July 2, they play Roisin Dubh in Galway; July 3, Whelans in Dublin, and finish off on July 4 in Dolan’s Warehouse in Limerick. From the Walter Mitty camp:
  

  “We’re just about to head off to Scotland on tour with The Proclaimers but for those of you in Ireland we’ll be back on tour next week..here’s the story>>

  Indie Week travels from Canada to Ireland…. Last October we made the trip to Toronto where we won Indie Week Canada, now, it’s made it’s way back here.

  We headlining the tour (July 1st -July 4th) which will also feature Vesta Varro, Paper Doll (USA) and Bella Clava (Canada) as well as a host of Irish acts.

  Head on out and show your support!

• Those of you - myself included - who were unable to attend the Live Mic Weekender in Conary in May, featuring performances by Mark Dignam, Mark Geary, Brendan O’Shea, and Andrew Handrick, among others, will be pleased to learn that you can vicariously experience the concerts, the camping, and the fun on the official website, livemicgigs.com. Thanks to the photographic and videographic talents and generosity of Bob Dixon, Michael Franek, Ivi Rebova, and Chantel Rosario, beautiful photographs of the grounds, the artists, and the shows and clean videos with good sound are available for your perusal! These treats will make you want to save your pennies to be able to plan to attend the next Live Mic Weekender! Thanks to Aisling Hudson for all your hard work in coordinating this event and website!
• Last Days of Death Country debuts a new song up at their new Breaking Tunes profile. Check out this promising group and keep your eyes peeled for their debut EP in the works with the aid of former Cranberries drummer, Fergal Lawlor. If what has been previewed is any indication, it stands to be excellent! You can catch them live around Limerick and Clare - check MySpace for dates.
• TAPETHERADIO released their new single, “Save A Life” on Monday, June 29. You can order it from Rough Trade or through other outlets (see MySpace). TAPETHERADIO, whose drummer is the former Vega4 strongman Bryan McLellan, will be touring around England in July and August. Check out the MySpace page for details!
• The now-defunct Vega4 will soon be making new fans with their inspirational single, “Life Is Beautiful,” which garnered the band thousands of fans after it was featured on “Grey’s Anatomy.” “Life is Beautiful” is included in the new movie Her Sister’s Keeper, based on the bestselling novel by Jodi Picoult, and is available on the original motion picture soundtrack and was originally released on the must-have CD, You and Others by Vega4.
• Congratulations to Kitty and the Can Openers for their record deal with Audio-Ill records! “Involved in the agreement is a two year recording contract, as well as a tie-in with Audio-Ill’s sister company, Grand Parade Music Publishing, based in London.” Keep an ear out for the debut CD from KATCO. Thanks, 2 U I Bestow for the heads-up!
• Make sure you take advantage of all of David Hopkins’s summer gigging in the New York area as he prepares to release his new CD, Tea and Tangerines. A full schedule of his upcoming shows is on his MySpace - word is he has had some special guests perform with him, like Michael Brunnock and Ari Hest. Make it out to one of Hopkins’s gigs for a great time!

Allow me to indulge in wishing my own special Hopkins family congratulations on their expected wee one!

Finally, thanks to Michael Fitzpatrick for the nice mention in this week’s The Irish Examiner (page 18, if you’re curious)!

Natalie Herman provides content for Paddy-Whacked Radio™ News

Copyright © 2009 Natalie Herman and Paddy-Whacked Radio™

By Natalie Herman

Little Palace’s Invitation Time, the long-awaited follow-up to the 2000 CD, wHole, was released into eager hands on March 20, 2009.

The long silence from the band was due in part because following the release of wHole, the band amicably split and Michael Brunnock, one of the three leads – Ann-Louise Mulvany and Anthony Cregan are the other two – moved to America and began a solo career.

Several of the band members continued to work together from time to time, and last year, they met to deal with that they felt was “unfinished business” – namely, a number of good songs written while the band was still together but never released. In 2008, the reunited band went into the studio to finally put those preserves in the can.

The result is a polished package of 11 songs, five of which were never before released.

Alternating on leads, Brunnock, Cregan and Mulvany sing of relationships – of all kinds - of heartbreak, of social behaviour, and of strength from curious places, as in the song “Tiger”.

The title song, “Invitation Time,” is a sexy number with layered vocals and subtle drums which features Mulvany on lead, but her voice really shines in the beautiful and elegiac “Gift.”

Cregan takes the lead for the remarkable “Puppet Show,” an interesting study in human dynamics. He also sings lead on “Secret,” which features the gorgeous piano of James Quinn and the soothing shaker percussion of the talented Ian Melady. Additional strings on this song are provided by guest Colm Mac Con Iomaire of The Frames.

Those who are longtime fans of Little Palace will recognize the four reworked songs from the band’s debut EP, Beekeeper. It is interesting to hear how the band has matured from the time of the release of the EP and these remakes – there is a contentment that seems to sit with the new versions that wasn’t there in the previous. Brunnock, however, has not lost any of his fire for “Ten,” and the electric ending is the perfect way to wrap the disc.

“Puppet Show” and “Lately Now” were released on the now out-of-print EP, Car which followed the debut and also included the title song.

This new album further evidences that Brunnock’s signature writing style is not a product of living in America, but has a much further reach. The scornful “tv” demonstrates the contempt which which Brunnock views media brainwashing (”God has become a 20-inch window”) even so far as to print the usually-capitalized letters in the title in lowercase. The album also contains examples of Brunnock’s understated wisdom, as in “Tiger” — “If you can’t step forward, turn around and walk backwards.”

Perhaps they could have called this disc Inspiration Time.

Little Palace had a small tour to promote the release of the new CD in the early spring in Ireland, and, to promote the upcoming release of their second single, “Secret,” they will play Caffrey’s for the closing night of the Le Cheile Festival in Oldcastle, Meath on August 2, 2009 at 8:00pm €15.

Natalie Herman provides content for Paddy-Whacked Radio™ News

Copyright © 2009 Natalie Herman and Paddy-Whacked Radio™

From their MySpace:

SNOW PATROL ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR!
On the day that Snow Patrol leave North America after three weeks of shows with Coldplay, we can now announce full details of their own headlining tour.

The band will return to the States and Canada in September and October to play 22 dates across the continent, including the show previously announced in Nashville. The shows will also coincide with Snow Patrol supporting U2 at six dates of their 360° tour in Chicago, Toronto and Foxborough.

Tickets for the show go on general sale on Saturday 27th June (except Washington - 10th July and Kansas City - 11th July), with full ticket details up in the Snow Patrol tour section.

SP.com members will also be able to access pre sale tickets before the general public, sign up to become an SnowPatrol.com member by clicking here.

The full list of tour dates are:-
Sep 10 - St.Paul, Myth
Sep 14 - Detroit, Fillmore
Sep 18 - Montreal, Metropolis
Sep 22 - New York, Beacon
Sep 25 - Washington DC, Constitution Hall
Sep 26 - Philadelphia, Tower
Sep 27 - Columbus, LC Pavilion
Sep 29 - Kansas City, Uptown
Sep 30 - Indianapolis, Egyptian
Oct 02 - Nashville, Ryman
Oct 03 - Atlanta, Tabernacle
Oct 05 - Houston, Warehouse
Oct 06 - Austin, Stubbs
Oct 07 - Dallas, Palladium
Oct 09 - Denver, Fillmore
Oct 10 - Salt Lake City, Mckay
Oct 11 - Boise, Knitting Factory
Oct 13 - Portland, Schnitzer
Oct 14 - Seattle, Paramount
Oct 16 - Oakland, The Fox
Oct 17 - San Diego, OAT
Oct 20th - Los Angeles, Wiltern

By Natalie Herman

Johnny McDaid, former lead singer of the spectacular Vega4 and writer of the widely successful “Life is Beautiful” (heard on “Grey’s Anatomy”), has been asked, along with his collaborative partner Paul Van Dyk, to write the official song to commemorate the 20-year anniversary of the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.

McDaid and van Dyk have been writing quite a lot together, mostly for van Dyk’s sixth studio album. McDaid and van Dyk have a history of working well together; in 2003 with Vega4, Paul van Dyk released “Time of Our Lives,” which was featured in a Jeep commercial in 2007. More recently, McDaid lent his vocal talents to “Home” on van Dyk’s CD Volume, which also includes the US Radio Edit of the single with Vega4.

Additionally, on February 12, 2009, McDaid joined Paul van Dyk to provide vocals on 4 songs in front of a sold-out crowd in Frankfurt, backed by the symphony orchestra of Hessischer Rundfunk for a project called Music Discovery Project 2009: The Planets Reloaded. Videos from this event can be seen here and the full show here.

Keep track of Johnny McDaid’s news on his official website, MySpace, Facebook, ReverbNation, and Twitter.

You will find he is a brilliant writer, a lovely singer, and if you are ever lucky enough to meet him, a really nice guy. Keep your eye out for his solo debut, but for now, check out his work with Vega4 and Paul van Dyk.

Thanks to LiveDaily as source.

Natalie Herman provides content for Paddy-Whacked Radio™ News

Copyright © 2009 Natalie Herman and Paddy-Whacked Radio™

By Natalie Herman

• Galway singer-songwriter Noelie McDonnell plays new songs at The Crane Bar in Galway on July 9th and August 6th before heading to The States to tour the east coast in late August. His highly-anticipated follow up to Beyond Hard Places, which features the charming “Only Four,” is due for release in November.
• Emmet Scanlan and What The Good Thought (Nicola Geddes, cello, used to play with Damien Rice) are promoting their debut album Hands and play Roisin Dubh, Galway, on June 26. Free in
• Congratulations to Salthill-born brothers The Kanyu Tree on having just been signed by Sony Music.
• Galway Arts Festival runs from July 14 to July 27. Bon Iver with Alela Diane, David Gray with David Kitt, Fight Like Apes, and Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club are among the musical acts scheduled to perform. Comedians, literary readings, art displays, and theatre performances for adults and for children are also a part of this annual festival. Full programme online at: www.galwayartsfestival.com.

Thanks to Kevin McGuire from The Galway Advertiser for the scoop!

I mistakenly reported the time of Michael Brunnock’s show at the Rockwood Music Hall on Sunday, June 28, 2009, to be at 3:00. Please note that Brunnock will be playing at 11:00 pm, following former FairplayCollective mate David Hopkins at 10:00pm. Apologies for the error.

Natalie Herman provides content for Paddy-Whacked Radio™ News

Copyright © 2009 Natalie Herman and Paddy-Whacked Radio™

By Natalie Herman

• Elavator will have thier E.P launch on 26th of June at the Twisted Pepper, Dublin, Doors at 8pm. GYPSIES ON THE AUTOBAHN and THE TONICS are support. Tickets on sale now via Myspace. €8 - FREE CD with ticket purchase.
• pocket promise is playing the Nerve Centre, Derrry on Friday 19th June and Charlie’s Coffee Shop, Belfast, 24th June. Stay tuned for tour dates for the first week of August and check out their new tracks on iTunes!
• Congratulations are in order to Junah! Their debut single, “Lo La Day” has been named Jackie Hayden’s “Pick of the fortnight” in his first cuts column in Hotpress Magazine.
  Text “music 3108″ to 57501 to download “Low La Day!” (may not work in The States)
• Padraig Rushe is busy with the following:
  

  TOMORROW - LMFM@ 8 am (GMT) - Fri 19th
  Catch Padraig on the iBreakfast show tomorrow morning, live from Athlone! TEXT 085 1000 958

  MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS - Sat 20th
  This Saturday Padraig will perform @ the 1st Annual Irish Music Video Awards show at The Bray Music Video Festival. Rushe will perform at the award show @ 8, following a screening of his own Music Video @ 6, in the Mermaid Arts Centre. See www.Braymvf.com

  ***PAT KENNY - RADIO ONE*** - Wed 24th
  Catch Padraig & the guys on RTE Radio 1 this WEDNESDAY @ 10am Make sure to text/ email in on the day!! E Mail: todaypk@rte.ie Text: Text the word TODAY followed by the comment to 51551

  MAN O WAR - MEATH - Sat 4th
  Padraig has just been announced to support DIRECTOR on July 4th at the Man O War festival.

• Balcony TV has been going through some changes, growing to a popularity of over SIX MILLION VIDEO VIEWS, with three shows daily from balconies in London and Hamburg, as well as the original Dublin Balcony overlooking Dame Street. The original show, which began humbly as a venture between flatmates Stephen O’Regan, Pauline Freeman, and Tom Millett on June 7, 2006, has expanded to include a blog, reviews, an impressive archive, a 2008 Webby Award Nomination, and an annual Music Video Awards ceremony / celebration at Sugar Club in Dublin. See the 3rd Annual nominees here.
  

  The BalconyTV Music Video Awards 2009 will take place in the Morrison Hotel on July 3rd. We’ve really got ahead of ourselves with the party this year…and we will have a truckload of bands playing at the aftershow extravaganza…IAMONE, READERS WIVES (the ‘Band Downstairs’), NEON CHOIR, THE BEAT POETS, BAND ON A ISLAND, JOHN SHELLY AND THE CREATURES, CAMOGIE LOVERS, THE PHONIC ATHLETIC, FUNZO, RED KID, BIPOLAR EMPIRE, THE HOT SPROCKETS…and we’re sure a few more will join the line up.

  The after show party will take place in The Morrison Hotel in Dublin from 10PM…and all are welcome. We hope to see you there!

  So far on board to support the night are Captive Advertising, The Sunday World, Design Yard and the Morrison Hotel.

  BalconyTV is still looking for sponsors, so if you think an audience of six million viewers is your demographic, drop a line to Stephen O’Regan: stephen@balconytv.com.

  If you missed any of the past Awards, you can watch them in full here. Eleanor McEvoy’s performance on the 1st Annual is NOT to be missed!

Natalie Herman provides content for Paddy-Whacked Radio™ News

Copyright © 2009 Natalie Herman and Paddy-Whacked Radio™

By Natalie Herman

• Vertigo Smyth will be playing Roisin Dubh in Galway on Friday, June 26, 2009 with Big Monster Love and Pat O’Reilly. Make sure and check out this talented guy!
• DE SHONOS have been nominated for The MySpace Hall Of Fame “Top Band” category of 2009. Please visit www.myspace.com/woodstock2festival to vote
• Would you like a free download from Padraig Rushe? Join his mailing list and download a free mp3 of “New House Rising,” the 2nd single off of Greyworld
• From The Swell Season:
  

  Glen will open for Iron & Wine at a benefit concert in Austin, TX for the Midwives Alliance of North America, on Monday, July 27, 2009. Both Iron & Wine and Glen will be performing solo, acoustic sets.

  Iron & Wine with special guest Glen Hansard | Monday, July 27, 2009 | Paramount Theatre | Austin, TX

  Tickets onsale Friday, June 19, 2009 via www.gettix.net or 1-866-443-8849.
  Tickets can also be purchased at The Paramount box office during normal box office hours.

  All proceeds from the event will benefit Midwives Alliance of North America.

  The Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) was established in 1982 as a professional organization for all midwives, recognizing the diversity of educational backgrounds and practice styles within the profession. MANA also welcomes student and midwifery advocate members as another valuable part of the organization. Please see www.mana.org for additional information on the organization and midwifery.

• Watch the exclusive debut of Kiernan McMullan’s video for “That Afternoon”, from Perfect People are Boring, on absolute punk. McMullan is back in The States and is lining up tour dates, so keep your eye out - you won’t want to miss him when he’s in your town!
• Brendan O’Shea shares his lovely tribute to County Kerry’s Inch Beach in “Sunday Summer Parade” from The Scratcher Sessions on May 31, 2009.
• Junah debuts their light-hearted video for their bouncy new single, “Low La Day.” Directed by John Jones, the official video is here
• Don’t miss the new 2 U I Bestow Sessions at Boyles, Slane on Friday, July 3, 2009 @ 9pm. It’s free in and features musical talents of Bill Coleman, Henrietta Game, Arrow in the Sky, and Mikael Lenel. Check out 2 U I Bestow’s blog for more great music recommendations; tell Peter I sent you!

Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/paddywhackednat. I am following the best in Irish indie music, so peek at my friends!

Natalie Herman provides content for Paddy-Whacked Radio™ News

Copyright © 2009 Natalie Herman and Paddy-Whacked Radio™

• Brendan O’Shea at Rockwood Music Hall, Thursday, June 18, 2009 @ 8pm
• STAND at The Diving Bell, Friday, June 19, 2009 @ 9pm
• Lisa Hannigan @ Gramercy Theater, Friday, June 19, 2009, @ 9pm Cost $17, ages 16 and older
• Jenna Nicholls at Scratcher Sessions, Sunday, June 21, 2009 @ 8:15pm
• Former and founding member of FairplayCollective, David Hopkins, returns to New York for a series of summer shows at Red Lion, Rockwood Music Hall, and The Diving Bell, commencing Sunday, June 21, 2009 @ 4:30p at Red Lion. For your chance to catch Hopkins while he is in New York, check out his MySpace for full details of show dates, times, and locations.
• Colin Smith at Rockwood Music Hall, Thursday, June 25, 2009 @ 11:45pm

Who did I miss? Email me at natalie@pwradio.net

By Natalie Herman

On June 10, 2007, an eager crowd gathered at The Living Room in New York City to attend the release party of the solo debut of Michael Brunnock, the tremendous So I Do. The night was a success, with music guest appearances by Jenna Nicholls, Libby Johnson, Kelly McRae, Brendan O’Shea, Colin Smith, and legendary R&B performer, Moe Holmes, who teamed with Brunnock on the unreleased ballad, “Sensation.”

Spurred by Holmes’s death on February 12, 2008, Brunnock worked to bring this performance to light so that it could be experienced by more than just those privileged enough to be at The Living Room on that June evening.

To that end comes Michael Brunnock: Live in New York, including the “Sensation”-al collaboration between the two amazing artists. Live in New York will be available from Amazon mp3 downloads on June 20, 2009. MP3 download or physical CD available from CD Freedom, where you can download “Fallen Leaves” for free! Sample “Breastplate” on Reverb Nation and “Niagara Falls” on MySpace.

For brilliant photographs from the original record launch for So I Do, check out Debche Photography’s Flickr page. She captures the magic of the night as only she can, and coupled with your copy of Michael Brunnock: Live in New York, you can pretend you were there.

Of course, if you aren’t big on playing pretend, you can catch Michael on June 28 at Rockwood Music Hall at 11pm, or for the remaining shows of his summer series at Red Lion with the full band, playing the second Monday of the month: July 13 and August 10 at 10pm.

Natalie Herman provides content for Paddy-Whacked Radio™ News

Copyright © 2009 Natalie Herman and Paddy-Whacked Radio™