In the interest of diversity. Otherkin and Nicole Maguire.

Otherkin have today released their title track from forthcoming ep ‘As A High’. The ep is set for a release on the 27th of March. The lads will be having a launch party featuring Other Creatures, Womens Murder Club, Pockets and Segrasso followed by DJs in The Grand Social. Now thats a serious line-up for a gig.
 

And just for the interest of diversity in the blog here is something totally different.
Nicole Maguire is a fanatastic new talent from Cork in Ireland offering some soft melodic love songs with her debut album ‘What You Really Mean’ out on IRL Records Friday 7th March 2014. Below is the single Hard Love well worth a listen if you want something softer than the likes of Otherkin.

Raglans. Debut Album. Single Streaming.

 
Raglans are set to release their debut album on March 21st. They also play their biggest Irish show headline show to date with an album launch party in The Academy on March 29th. Its been a long way since watching them tear up the Grand Social in January 2012. So its fitting the lads are having an after party for the gig in the Grand Social with a DJ Set from White Collar Boy, free entry and all. The lads seem to have put the work in to get noticed and built a decent following in the UK. The road to their debut album has been swift in terms of a musical career, but you could see that they had it in them two years ago.
In preparation of the album release they are streaming a new song on their bandcamp today. The track called ‘Fake Blood’ has the usual mix of Raglans indie folk with hints of their Irish roots, the song was originally written on Banjo but has come along way since then. Plenty of upbeat sing along harmonies for you to enjoy as always.
 

Acrobat. New Single & Video. Follow You Down.

 
Acrobat have released a new single and video to go with it. The song is entitled ‘Follow You Down’ its an upbeat alternative rock offering with hints of early U2 in the song writing and guitar mixed with some more American alt rock influences.
The video is a beautifully shot short film featuring the band and some pretty nasty character’s who they get into trouble with. Set in Dublin City it echoes the recent interest in crime drama’s like Love/Hate.
Acrobat have been on the up and up recently with support slots with the likes of Bastille and Mark Owen as well as getting to open for Mumford And Sons at Arthur’s Day. This April see’s the release of their debut EP ‘Follow You Down’ on April 4th through Stoneship Records. The EP will be available from iTunes, Spotify and Deezer.

Hozier Live at Whelans. 6th March.

This week Hozier announced a gig for Whelans with only two days notice, the tickets went on sale the day before and sold out in 48 seconds. I imagine it was probably one of the last times Hozier will get to play Dublin for a while and also the last time he will play such a small venue. It was the most talked about thing in music for two days with almost every radio station mentioning the gig along with every blog and music fan around talking and tweeting it. A little like the last Little Green Cars gig in Whelans or Kodaline in The Sugar Club, these gigs just build hype and buzz as the last small gig before an artist goes huge.

Hozier played to one of the most attentive audiences at a Whelan’s gig I’ve ever seen, during his quieter songs you could hear a pin drop. Just watch this tiny video of Cherry Wine to see for yourself. His show had a full band of drums, keys, cello, bass, synth and two female backing vocalists who added so much to the live show they almost stole it visually. (One being Caoimhe Barry of Wyvern Lingo). Showcasing some very new tracks being the focus of the show. He delivered a somewhat lack-lustre version of his hit single ‘Take Me To The Church’, which I can’t blame him for he must be sick of being known only for that when he has some other fantastic tracks. In particular the last song of the night was his new track ‘From Eden’ the title track of his next EP. Which he delivered with full backing band exquisitely full of all the energy you would expect someone loving his performance at the moment. His voice is so powerful and distinctive, his banter with the crowd was humble and relaxed managing to get a few laughs. A fantastic moment of the night is his stripped back cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ a cover he has very much made his own in terms or sound and style.

He’s heading to SXSW and then onto a UK tour so if you haven’t seen him yet in Ireland you will have to go further a field or wait till festival season starts.

Check out the review of his first ep here.

Hozier Live:
March – SXSW, Austin, Texas
26th March – The Lexington, London SOLD OUT
3rd June – The Tabernacle, London – http://www.gigsandtours.com/tour/hozier/?src=hozier
4th June – The Tabernacle, London – EXTRA DATE http://www.gigsandtours.com/tour/hozier/?src=hozier
6th June – o2 Academy 3, Birmingham – http://www.livenation.co.uk/artist/hozier-tickets
7th June – Deaf Institute, Manchester – http://www.gigsandtours.com/tour/hozier/?src=hozier
9th June – King Tuts, Glasgow – http://www.gigsinscotland.com/listings.aspx
18-20th July – Longitude Festival, Dublin
22nd-24th August – Reading & Leeds Festival

Years in the making. The Hot Sprockets. Homeslice.

A beautiful song accompanied by a beautiful video. The coming of age of The Hot Sprockets has been on the cards for sometime now and with so much promise over the years waiting to be fulfilled. Homeslice is so much of that promise fulfilled after the explosion of previous release ‘Soul Brother‘ brought the band national attention. Homeslice shows the bands softer side with some heartfelt and personal lyrics floated over a mandolin* led tune. The boys look like they rolled straight out of the 60’s/70’s with bolo ties, mustaches, patterned shirts and flared jeans adding weight to the style of rock ‘n’ Roll they produce with a smidgen of blues and country to keep it company.

*mandolin sounds nothing like Mumford and Sons that’s an accomplishment.

The Hot Sprockets – Homeslice from Hugh O'Conor on Vimeo.