[Music] Irish Music - No Bono required

[Jolly Red Giant]

The Boomtown Rats Citizens of Boomtown was very interesting. This little ditty was very true about Ireland at the time

Another bunch of posh posers

 

[DIFFBROOK]

Another bunch of posh posers

Posh? Middle class maybe. But, since when does class prevent you from having an opinion.

Joe Strummer son of a diplomat, who went to boarding school. Spent ages on their carefully planned image.

Sent from my SM-A405FN using Tapatalk

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

Last one for the moment - and I just noticed that they are mostly female artists - Ireland produces a lot of really good female artists.

One of my favourite artists of the last 20 years - rock guitarist singer/ song writer Gemma Hayes from the village of Ballyporeen in Tipperary. Gemma is terrific live. Two videos - the first one is 'Back of my hand' from her first album 'Night on my side' - the second is a cover of a Kate Bush song 'Cloudbursting' - there are not that many people who do covers of Kate bush songs and I think she does a great job in this live version.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

Posh? Middle class maybe. But, since when does class prevent you from having an opinion.

Joe Strummer son of a diplomat, who went to boarding school. Spent ages on their carefully planned image.

Both Hewson and Geldof are two of the biggest posers on the planet - rabbiting on about inequality and poverty and at the same time hiding their wealth to avoid paying tax.

As for Joe Strummer - he rebelled against his background and the fact that he rarely saw his parents through most of his childhood. The government paid for his boarding school because of his father's job. About his boarding school he is quoted as saying' I was left on my own, and went to this school where thick rich people sent their thick rich kids'. He was a lifelong advocate for socialism - "I believe in socialism because it seems more humanitarian, rather than every man for himself and 'I'm alright Jack' and all those ******** businessmen with all the loot. I made up my mind from viewing society from that angle. That's where I'm from and there's where I've made my decisions from. That's why I believe in socialism." You won't find Hewson or Geldof saying anything like that.

 

[joydivisionovengloves]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMi3AGWsm0I

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

Probably the best of the Irish punk bands - The Radiators From Space. Around from mid-70s to the early 80s. Lead singer Phil Chevron later joined the Pogues where he was lead guitarist until his death from cancer in 2013.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

Horslips have been mentioned earlier. Johnny Fean is a past pupil of a local school. Three of my wife's brothers played in a variety of bands with Johnny and his brothers Donal and Ray before Horslips. The school recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding and Johnny, Ray and several members of Horslips turned up and played at a celebratory concert. Ray Fean is a renowned session drummer and at the concert he presented the golden disc he received for his work on the Celtic Women album to the school.

The defining album of Horslips is without a doubt the 'Book of Invasions' - and my favourite track from the album - King of the Morning, Queen of the Day'.

 

[buddyboy01]

So, as someone with an Irish partner, who spends a lot of time there, and has a keen interest in Irish music, some of the omissions on this thread have prompted me to come out of lurkerdom! Third post in about 8 years.

First up - Damien Dempsey. A big back catalogue of dark, gritty social comment and heart-on-sleeve confessional. Sensationally intense live, like this one below:

https://youtu.be/BAuMi8Oo8MM

Next, The Frames / Glen Hansard. I'd argue that the Frames were far better than, and should have been bigger than, U2. The music-buying public outside of Ireland would beg to differ. They've never officially split, but singer Glen Hansard has been doing great solo stuff for a few years now, after winning an Oscar for the soundtrack of the film "Once". The Frames live album "Set List" is monumental, and their back catalogue is excellent, but IMO their best track is "Fitzcarraldo".

https://youtu.be/vMt3ubSVZ1U

Finally, I reckon the best traditional band currently working in Ireland at the moment (and possibly the best band bar none, in a close race with Murder Capital and Fontaines DC) are Lankum. They've recently perfected their sound (a mixture of drone and folk bearing as much relation to Swans or Can as it does to The Dubliners), pop up on 6 music occasionally these days, and are probably the best live band I've seen in the last few years. Couple of tracks below, both immense:

https://youtu.be/khJshMYQ90g

https://youtu.be/Z9mRQK9kCHA

 

[pearl]

Stepaside - named after a village in South Dublin. Lead singer Paul Ashford had previously been a member of the Miami Showband and had left shortly before 3 members of the band were killed in a sectarian massacre near Banbridge in Co. Down in 1975. Ashfod died in 2011.

Again - this is probably their best known song - Last Resort

My uncle was in a band and they were friends with the Miami Show Band.

On a happier note, this thread is amazing! I thought I was aware of Irish music .... Huh!

 

[Cian]

Possibly the most accomplished song to come out of Eurovision - Niamh Kavanagh 'In your eyes' from 1993. This was during the period when Ireland repeatedly won the Eurovision song contest. She subsequently went on to release an acclaimed album but shunned the limelight to spend more time with her family. She occasionally performs and did represent Ireland at the Eurovision again in 2010.

Due to losing the Eurovision-centric nightclub PAs last year, that would be a substantial % of her income, Niamh is now working in Tesco until she can tour again.

Which is a lot better of a thing to do than go whine about being broke, going bankrupt, or whatever most pop stars in a similar situation might do!

 

[Stato]

I wonder how many people are going to try and look cool before a certain poptastic hit is posted

I'm still wondering which poptastic hit you meant. My guess was the one posted at #44. Was I right? (or should I ask 'What Are You Like?')

 

[faoileán]

I never could stand the Boomtown Rats and it annoyed the hell out of me that they snuck into the "punk" category, but I respect his Live Aid efforts. I liked some early U2 and Bono doesn't wind me up because I don't listen to what he has to say.

Both Hewson and Geldof are two of the biggest posers on the planet - rabbiting on about inequality and poverty and at the same time hiding their wealth to avoid paying tax.

As for Joe Strummer - he rebelled against his background and the fact that he rarely saw his parents through most of his childhood. The government paid for his boarding school because of his father's job. About his boarding school he is quoted as saying' I was left on my own, and went to this school where thick rich people sent their thick rich kids'. He was a lifelong advocate for socialism - "I believe in socialism because it seems more humanitarian, rather than every man for himself and 'I'm alright Jack' and all those ******** businessmen with all the loot. I made up my mind from viewing society from that angle. That's where I'm from and there's where I've made my decisions from. That's why I believe in socialism." You won't find Hewson or Geldof saying anything like that.

 

[DIFFBROOK]

Accept that you dont like the Boomtown Rats, but I dont think the band ever thought themselves as punk. More likely lazy journalism at the time and just put any new band in the punk category. Journalist even categorize Squeeze as punk - which is ridiculous

I never could stand the Boomtown Rats and it annoyed the hell out of me that they snuck into the "punk" category, but I respect his Live Aid efforts. I liked some early U2 and Bono doesn't wind me up because I don't listen to what he has to say.

 

[faoileán]

Hmmm...I can't say I agree with that. I saw them in 1977/78 at The Croydon Greyhound which at the time was only really promoting punk bands and Bob and the boys were wearing all the gear, plastic trousers, plastic sunglasses, safety-pins, etc. It sounded to me like they had taken all their old songs and were delivering them "punk style". I mean Mary of the Fourth Form FFS! Even at the age of 16 I could see that they were a bunch of band-wagon jumpers and not the real deal.

Accept that you dont like the Boomtown Rats, but I dont think the band ever thought themselves as punk. More likely lazy journalism at the time and just put any new band in the punk category. Journalist even categorize Squeeze as punk - which is ridiculous

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

Taking a bit of a traditional turn - this is Anuna, an Irish choral group that re-arrange old Irish (and other) folk songs etc. The group is the brainchild of Irish composer Michael McGlynn. I particularly like these two arrangements - the first is 'Siúil a Rúin' a Irish lament dating probably from the late 18th century. The song is in macaronic style with the verses in English and the chorus in Irish - the second video is 'Fionnghuala' - a song based on Irish mythology. In Irish mythology Fionnghuala was the daughter of Lir, and appeared in many Irish tales such as the 'Children of Lir', in which she was cursed. The song was originally written in Scots Gaelic.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin was an Irish pianist, composer and educationalist. His musical arrangements were remarkable and complex and a treat to the ear. The arrangements are very difficult to reproduce as Micheál had a unique talent and style. These two videos demonstrate his talents. The first is entitled 'Woodbrook' from the album Gaiseadh / Flowing from 1992. It is based on a traditional Irish hornpipe (dance tune) 'the Plains of Boyle'. Micheál rearranged it into a haunting tune barely recognisable from the original. The second video is Lumen. In 1995 Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin was commissioned to compose the interval act for the Eurovision. Most people are aware of the impact of Riverdance which originated as an interval act at Eurovision, not so many people know this one. For me Lumen is a far more impressive piece of work. Encompassing orchestral music, the voices of the monks of Glenstal Abbey, Brian Kennedy as the male soloist, the female soloist Nóirín Ní Riain (Micheál's wife), Máire Ní Bhraonáin from Clannad and her sisters, Bridín, Olive, Deirdre and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin was an educationalist while I was a student in the University of Limerick. He was generous with his time and I enjoyed the brief chats that I had with him while studying there. Sadly he passed away in 2018.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

These guys were one of my favourite bands during the 1970s and 80s. Scullion are an Irish three piece folk rock / trad group. Vocalist Phillip King was the driving force behind the group and Sonny Condell the musical inspiration. Greg Boland was the perfect compliment to both of the others with his outstanding guitar play. I first met Scullion when in college. I was a member of the A/V society and we filmed their concert in the college that they later used for promotional purposes. I met them (particularly Phillip King) on several other occasions and they are inspirational artists.

The first song is 'Down in the City' which is a masterpiece by Sonny Condell recorded in 1977. Sonny has had a long and successful music career initially with Tir na nÓg, then as a solo artist and finally with Scullion with well over 20 albums to his name. The second song is 'John the Baptist', the John Martyn song. Phillip King's vocal talent really comes through in the song and gives it a unique sound. The third song, 'The Cat She Went 'Hunting', is from Scullion's self-titled first album, written by Sonny Condell it marries Irish traditional and folk sounds and themes. The last song is '18' from Scullion's second (and best) album, Balance and Control, with the music by King and Condell and the lyrics by Phillip King.

 

[Lenny Rider]

Just had this on a service, hugely underrated singer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNRCHZnV_LY

 

[half time scores]

That Petrol Emotion Big Decision ·

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zptt2e5JIwM

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

One of the leading performers in Ireland in the 1970s was Cobh born Freddie White. I met Freddie a few times and always found him quite stand-offish and dismissive, as if people weren't good enough to talk to him. Many others seem to have the same opinion. He is still performing at nearly 70. Despite my dislike of him personally, he did have a terrific voice. He mainly did cover versions in his own unique style. The first song is 'Tenderness on the Block' by Warren Zevon. The second is a live version of a Guy Clark song 'Desperados Waiting for a Train' recoded in 1978. The third is a Tom Waits song 'Martha'.