Sun's Got the Darkness on the Run

Johnny MdDaid from Vega4 is BACK!

2009-02-01T05:55:00.003-08:00

Johnny MdDaid from Vega4 is BACK!

2009-02-01T05:55:00.001-08:00

Free Music = :D

2008-12-29T20:58:00.000-08:00

So, the awesome and fantastico Kiernan McMullan sent me two acoustic versions of his songs and is encouraging the sharing of them:

"Grace and Love"
http://www.box.net/shared/niczlyhb06

and

"What Was I Thinking" (my preferred of the two, though I love them both)
http://www.box.net/shared/7l42n5z7jo

Have a listen and if you like, share with YOUR friends!

Still for a limited time $3.99 for the full CD at Amazon.com and iTunes. I think the promo price ends 12/31 so act fast to check him out!!

Perfect People are Boring only $3.99 on iTunes!!

2008-12-16T07:29:00.000-08:00

We heart Kiernan.

How could we not? Just LOOK at those fingers!!

Oh, and there's that whole "awesome sound coming out of those fingers" thing, too. Just imagine what would happen if he sang, too!

Oh, wait.

And, uh, he writes all that smart stuff coming out of his mouth, too.

*sigh*

Some people get all the talent.

Go buy a front-row seat. $3.99. Can't beat that.

New Music Review: Kiernan McMullan - Perfect People Are Boring

2008-11-26T08:50:00.000-08:00

Reposted from Paddy-Whacked Radio™

By Natalie Herman

http://pwradio.net/news/?p=63

“You have no idea how damn entertaining it is to be me.”

So sings Kiernan McMullan on “Stick it Out,” the opening track to his One Eleven Records debut, Perfect People Are Boring. After listening to the CD, one would have to agree.

For one of such a tender age – McMullan is days shy of his 22nd birthday - he manages to combine fun with intelligence, a feat that few artists can pull off. His extensive vocabulary and historical and pop culture references (Ghandi, The Beatles, and Johnny Quest are equally represented) combine with his self-deprecating sense of humour and unwillingness to take himself, his subject matter, or life in general too seriously. Even with his tongue-in-cheek approach, he still manages to pull off sage lyrics and astute observations.

“Cardboard Swords,” a sexy-sounding piece with great drums and captivating keyboards, is a fun-filled homage to the television series, “Venture Brothers.” Kiernan and company have compiled a fitting video from home-movie footage showing the band through everything from setting up and performing to life on the road and how they amuse themselves during downtime. This song, like many on the disc, just begs to be played on “repeat.”

All isn’t fun and games, however; McMullan shows his serious side, touching on issues such as homelessness, teenage parenthood, addiction, and domestic violence with songs such as “Pretend” and “Grace and Love.”

McMullan can lean toward stylistic similarity to Jason Mraz, especially on songs like “Fireworks” and “You’re Only Angry (When You’re Wrong).” Like Jason Mraz, though, it is obvious that McMullan is an individual whose songs mean a great deal to him.

Don’t let titles like that of the funky “Ballad of a Shallow Man” fool you – McMullan’s writings come from somewhere deep and honest. Luckily, he doesn’t let that honesty translate to self-importance, as evidenced by his directive, “If you’re going to go mad, go mad with intention.”

McMullan’s fingers seem to have been made for the strings, which he demonstrates particularly on “Little White Lie.” Anyone who has seen McMullan perform can attest that he has a fascinating way of handling his guitar. Happily, he has found himself surrounded by a group of musicians who seem equally equipped to bring the best from their instruments. The drums over the bridge of “Borderline” or the funky bass in “Do it Right” are perfect examples of what can happen when the right instrument falls in the right hands.

Recorded partially at the famous Grouse Lodge which has birthed albums from the likes of R.E.M. and Michael Jackson, this collection of songs successfully spans many genres while remaining a solid and cohesive album. One wonders if the disc perhaps has taken a bit of the magic of the studio with it.

Perfect People Are Boring, but this album is anything but!

Kiernan is currently on tour in the U.S. promoting his album. He is making his way through the eastern States before taking the stage at SXSW in Austin on March 18.

Natalie Herman provides content for Paddy-Whacked Radio™ News

Copyright © 2008 Natalie Herman and Paddy-Whacked Radio™

"I hate your face but I love your body"

2008-11-21T11:23:00.000-08:00

Okay, so perhaps you have read the PWR review of Kiernan McMullan’s debut CD (and then RUSHED out and downloaded it LEGALLY from iTunes / Amazon / Napster / Rhapsody for your listening pleasure, right??) and wondered what my favorite song off it was?

Well, someone did ask me what my favorite song from this addictive disc was and I was unable to provide an answer. For this reason, I bring you:

The Screeching Fangirl Breakdown of Perfect People Are Boring :D

Stick is Out is fast fun furious
Cardboard Swords is dreamy and campy and fun
That Afternoon - never better dialogue in a song since Bell X1’s “Rocky Took a Lover.” Beautiful harmony vocals
Ballad of a Shallow Man - that is a damn sexy song. I love the “oh-oh-ohhhs” and the incredibly sexy caesurae.
Borderline – hearing this song on the disc was kinda great cos I knew it so well already, but the polishing changes are great and the drums over the bridge - Dec Clarke is really in great form
Grace and Love - heart wrenching and honest and his voice just matches the mood so well
Worst Enemy – Funky all around and wall-tumbling, ass-kicking drums. This song rocks so hard.
Pretend - are you SURE this is a 21-year-old writing this stuff??? Tragic, touching, inspired. Background vocals for the win!
Do It Right - funky, fun, naughty, sexy
What Was I Thinking - so honest and self-reflecting but not preachy or arrogant, just one man recognizing the futility of his ideals - but you still get the idea that he will hang on to them anyway
Fireworks - I love it when Kiernan does that scat thing. Few people can pull that off well, and his voice is all sultry and there is something about the audible fingers on strings that gives me chills. I wrote earlier that he reminds of Mraz on this tune, but upon further listen, I can hear a bit of Sting in his voice, too. Very nice.
You're Only Angry (When You're Wrong) - that is SUCH a brilliant take on relationships and despite it being brutally honest about a crappy situation, it is fun and hopeful, not all emo and self-pitying
Little White Lie - the guitar on this just BLEW ME AWAY. If for nothing other than the guitar fingering, this song is brilliant
Force Me Into the Light – acoustically breaks away from the rest of the CD while maintaining the same intent and grain of the disc. An eye-opening song about having your eyes opened – as you are kinda dragged kicking and screaming into it. Even so, there is no bitterness or anger, just the peace that comes when you finally let go of the things that are holding you down. The light, airy instrumentation echos the release

Talk to me after another 30 listens, I might have more stuff to say.

>.>

<.<

Paddy Casey in Yahoo’s User’s Choice ... and he needs your help

2008-04-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

Yahoo! Music fans get to vote on which featured new artist is their favorite and the winner becomes the featured Who’s Next? artist and goes on to fame, glory, and major Yahoo! Music feature placement! The program features an array of developing rock talent, featuring everything from AAA troubadours to UK darlings to R&B singers & divas…from straight-up rock to hard-edged metal…from commercial alt-rock to really cool indie-rock. You name it! Who’s Next?: Users’ Choice will allow the Yahoo! Music audience the opportunity to pick who they feel has the greatest chance for future success. And this month Paddy Casey is in the mix, but he needs your help to move on. If he wins, you’ll be treated to a very special in-studio performance at the Yahoo Studios next month. So be sure to vote. http://music.yahoo.com/promo-29644410

(reposted from Paddy's Myspace)

Fiction Plane on Tour with The Bravery!

2008-04-09T11:55:00.001-07:00

BALCONYTV NOMINATED FOR BEST VIRAL VIDEO CONTENT FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL

2008-04-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

**reposted**

BALCONYTV NOMINATED FOR BEST VIRAL VIDEO CONTENT FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL
WEBBY AWARDS

BalconyTV.Com on the Shortlist for "Oscars of the Internet"

Dublin, Ireland - 8/04/2008 - The 12th Annual Webby Awards today nominated BalconyTV.Com for the Best Viral Video Content of 2008.

Winners will be announced on May 6, 2008 and honored at The 12th Annual Webby Awards in New York City on June 9th.

Hailed as the "Oscars of the Internet" by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the
Internet, including Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video, and Mobile Websites. The awards are judged by the International
Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a global organization that includes David Bowie, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, AKQA Global Creative
Director Rei Inamoto, "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening, Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington, Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, and The
Weinstein Company's Harvey Weinstein.

"The Webby Awards honors the outstanding work that is setting the standards for the Internet," said David-Michel Davies, executive
director of The Webby Awards. "BalconyTVs Nominee selection is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators."

'We are completely shocked to be nominated for a Webby Award, especially in the Viral Video category where the competition has been of the
highest standard. We owe a debt of gratitude to all the bands and performers who have made BalconyTV what is it today' - Stephen O' Regan,
Co-Founder BalconyTV.Com

As a nominee for a Webby Award, BalconyTV is also eligible to win a People's Voice Award. People's Voice voting, sponsored by Nokia, is open
to the public from April 8th to May 1st at http://pv.webbyawards.com

The 12th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from over 60 countries and all 50 states.

Founded in 1996, The Webby Awards is known worldwide for its famous five-word speeches. Past headline-grabbing speechmakers include Al Gore
("Please dont recount this vote"), Beastie Boys ("Can anyone fix my computer?"), and Prince ("Everything you think is true.")

BalconyTV.Com
Launched in June 2006 by three Dublin flatmates, BalconyTV.Com has become an unique fixture in the Irish music scene. Created by Stephen
O' Regan, Tom Millett and Pauline Freeman, BalconyTV has featured hundreds of musicians and performers. BalconyTV shows have been watched
almost 2 Million times through YouTube. BalconyTV.De was launched in September 2007, based exclusively on a Balcony in Hamburg, Germany.
BalconyTV has featured hundreds of indie acts as well as more established names such as Paddy Casey, Paul Brady, Ash, Dustin The Turkey, Eleanor
McEvoy, Declan O' Rourke and many more.

ABOUT THE WEBBY AWARDS:
Hailed as the "Oscars of the Internet" by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the
Internet, including Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video, and Mobile Websites. Established in 1996, the 12th Annual Webby
Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards is presented by The International
Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: Adobe; Nokia; The Creative Group; .ORG; Getty Images;
Level3; The Barbarian Group; Adweek; Reuters; Variety; Wired; IDG: Brightcove; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced.Net; KobeMail and Museum
of the Moving Image.

Fiction Plane on tour with The Bravery!

2008-03-17T10:17:00.001-07:00

Jenna Nicholls Debut CD Release Party!

2008-03-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

www.myspace.com/jennanicholls
www.myspace.com/brendanoshea

Michael Brunnock gets a write up in The Irish Emigrant

2008-03-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

Michael Brunnock
The Irish Emigrant

FairplayCollective from Joe's Pub March 6, 2008

2008-03-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

Here’s a little something for those of you who couldn’t make it to FairplayCollective at Joe’s Pub on March 6:

Michael Brunnock

Mark Dignam

Jenna Nicholls

Brendan O’Shea

Thanks to Li for posting these!

Fiction Plane - DRINK

2008-03-03T08:50:00.001-08:00

Kiernan McMullan is coming to the States! Check him out in Ireland while you still can.

2008-03-01T08:13:00.001-08:00

Kiernan McMullan, in addition to being a great musician and singer and songwriter and all that also makes me LAUGH OUT LOUD.

Read his latest blog and check out his last-for-now Ireland shows in Dublin and in Limerick.

That's right, baby. We get him next!!

For those of you who are too lazy to go to his actual blog (you know who you are) I am reposting its contents here. COS YOU NEED TO LAUGH OUT LOUD TOO.

-------------

Hey Everyone,

Ok so it looks like I'm gonna be heading off to the states after these shows touring, etc so this will probably be the last dublin and limerick shows for a while. So please tell a friend, a neighbor, a neighbors dog, a neghbors dog's best friends sandwhich that its gonna be the grooviest thing since george bush waved at stevie wonder....well it ll be fun anyway!!!

the tickets are on sale now from www.tickets.ie for the dublin show and
www.dolans.ie for the limerick show
the price on the page includes booking fee and all so please get a bunch of tickets and we will see you there

April 5th - Dolans (Limerick) www.dolans.ie
April 20th- Crawdaddy (Dublin) www.pod.ie

for the exact page go here

http://www.tickets.ie/secure/booking...

http://www.dolans.ie/booking/results...

Thank you so much and feel free to mail if there are any problems!

Kiernan

Paddy Casey

2008-02-29T04:02:00.000-08:00

Just. . . wow.

Yeah.

http://www.paddycasey.com/
http://www.myspace.com/thepaddyspacey
http://www.balconytv.com
http://www.myspace.com/paulinefreeman

Once - Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova and the Oscars!

2008-02-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

Reposted from the official Myspace for ONCE

Date: Feb 7, 2008 7:09 PM

So, February is going to be an eventful month by the look of it.

Grammy, Oscar and other shinny statuettes are making their appearances in Glen and Mar's calendar...

There are a few weeks till the events (in the Grammy's case it is more of the case of a few days...) but here is a few updates for you to make the waiting more enjoyable and a eventful...

RTÉ Arts & Media Correspondent Sinéad Crowley did a phone interview with Glen just after the Academy Awards nominations had come out. You can listen to the almost 5 minute long podcast here...

Also there are some bits and bobs, covering the oscar nomination of the pair in the L.A. Times ,The Billboard and an interview with Glen on the Paste Magazine website.

Glen and Marketa attended this week to the Oscar Nominees Luncheon in L.A. where they did a short interview and played a part of "Falling Slowly" a cappella style.The footage can be viewed here....

Those who prefer a bit of a live action: Ovation TV is planning to air The Artists Den performance of The Swell Season from their last U.S. tour on the 28th of February. Unfortunately the station is only available in certain areas but if it makes it to a site which has a wider availability then i will put the link up here. Till then there is already a trailer of the gig on the site; Glen and Mar performing 'Lies' with Colm and Joe. (the trailer is viewable without restriction)
www.ovationtv.com/the_artists_den

and for the Irish peeps...The Other Voices will premiere its 6th installment this month on the telly. The show was recorded last December in Dingle, Co. Kerry. This year the programme features The Swell Season and Colm Mac Con Iomaire of The Frames, who played a solo set on the show.
Glen and Mar's piece will air on Programme 4 – Wednesday 5th of March, while Colm will be on Programme 6 - Wednesday 19th March on RTE 2. More info will be available later as the airing of the show draws closer. Unfortunately it is again something that only will be viewable in Ireland but RTE archives the performance so the folks abroad won't be left out of the fun for too long....

Those of you who are making their ways out to Indio this year...The Swell Season is among the artists confirmed for the Coachella Festival. They will play on the first day, the 25th of April.
The single day tickets are sold out already but you can still buy the 3-day passes if you go to
www.coachella.com

Also , the pair is penned in for Bonnaroo this year. The tickets for this 4-day music extravaganza, held in Manchester, Tennessee in June, will be available from the 16th of February on the festival's official website www.bonnaroo.com

......so get ur tent and try to find a good suntan lotion:P

ok that's it...tis oh so quiet now but knowing Glen and Mar and the lads that won't be the case for very much longer, so enjoy the "silence" while u can and dust off those Frames CDs..:)

photo by Zoran Orlic. To look at the whole album of The Swell Season's performance in Chicago by Zoran go to www.zerostudio.net/swellseasonchicago07

xxx
n

www.myspace.com/theswellseason
www.myspace.com/theframesofficial
www.theframes.ie

Paddy-Whacked Radio™ Returns to FM!!

2008-02-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

From our great friends over at PWR . . .

Paddy-Whacked Radio™ makes a return to the FM airwaves Tomorrow, Tuesday, 5 February, 2008, from noon to 2pm!!

On this first FM broadcast on WQFS in Greensboro, we will be featuring new music from Foy Vance and Connor O'Tuama! What a way to bring it back, I say.

There are some changes to the format that long time listeners should know.
One is that WQFS is not yet on-line. Fear not, though, as I will make the show available as a download as soon as humanly possible... probably tomorrow night. Plus, there are forces at work to bring the station live on line by the end of the year (man, that seems far away).

Second, I am required to play 6 to 7 songs per hour (almost half the show) from the heavy rotation at the station. This will be til at least June of this year, and then I need to apply for a "specialty" show, which will bring back the PWRadio double hour of POWER (Power, power...). Fear not, however, as the heavy rotation is pretty darn good at this station. We could all stand to branch out, learn new things, experience... Yes. Experience.

So, thanks again everyone who has stuck around and offered very kind words. PWRadio is for you all, and I am overjoyed to be able to bring it back!

While you're here, subscribe to the blog and keep current with all the goings on of PWRadio and Irish Indie music. Oh and hey... we may have a brand new Irish music news segment as part of the whole Paddy-Whacked Radio&trade thang. We'll let you know as soon as the details are sorted. :)

JUNO FALLS - New song free download!

2008-02-03T18:25:00.000-08:00

JUNO FALLS has uploaded and is offering a new song for download (for this week only) called "Shooting Apples." It is kinda reminiscent of Songs for Dustmites, particularly "Henry Krinkle's Lament." ♥

Definitely check this guy out.

Kiernan McMullan - "That Afternoon"

2008-02-03T17:53:00.000-08:00

Kiernan McMullan offers us an exclusive sneak peek at the anticipated new album, in the works. He's done it again with tight lyrics and a gripping hook, and here, he's doing it unaccompanied.

One thing about Kiernan McMullan's guitar playing is that it is a fascinating thing to watch. Kiernan was born with the strings under his fingers, it seems.

Pay close attention to the lyrical candy he presents us.

I heart the smart boys. :)

Check him out:
Kiernan McMullan Official MySpace
Kiernan McMullan on Bebo.com
Kiernan McMullan on Facebook
Subscribe to Kiernan McMullan videos on YouTube Check out the way Kiernan plays the guitar. It's fascinating!

And if you happen to be in Dublin Feb 9, check him out at the Sugar Club!

Once

2008-02-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

I know you all, reading this, are going to judge me. Don't worry, I judge myself.

Before we start my defense, allow me my opening statement, as in any good jury trial. Shall we, then?

Anyone who knows me even an iota knows how much I love U2. Well, know, then, that I have a large number of U2 concerts on video that I have compulsively obtained and hoarded, but which have remained unwatched. It is not easy for me to expose myself to something new without the benefit of giving it my full attention. And my full attention is rarely mine to give - I am rather well-known for being a multi-tasker.

That said, I rarely can devote the 1-1/2 to 2 hours to watch a new movie unless 1) I go to the theatre and have no choice but to pay attention; 2) someone else is watching it with me and I have no choice but to pay attention; 3) an outcome of some sort is expected of me from having watched the movie. Even if it's something that I am highly anticipating or that I desperately want to watch, as in the above-cited example.

Once has been on my to-do list for quite some time.

Well, yeah?? 1) Glen Hansard of The Frames. I'm on board! 2) Highly recommended by a number of people 3) Personally recommended - well, actually, that is not a strong enough word. I believe the edict from my brother was "Go. Watch it tonight. And buy the soundtrack." - by my brother. Fear not, dear brother, I bought the soundtrack as directed and of course, it is phenomenal as expected. 4) The gut feeling that it is just an amazing film. 5) A slew of fancy awards and whatnots. Not that I ever really let another's opinion sway me to or against something.

Finally, perhaps influenced by my complete inability to sleep like a normal person and therefore being awake really early after staying up really late, I decided enough was enough and it was time to watch Once.

I am so glad I did not watch this movie in the company of other human beings. Most people would not understand my inexplicable weeping every time a song played. I knew this would happen, but I didn't realize the extent of it all. There is so much power in the music of this film that it put whatever part of my brain that controls my emotions on "override" and just completely took over the place.

Thank God for the little bits of comedy in the movie. Without it, I fear the taxation of my being would have been too much.

This movie and the music that accompanies it is beyond brilliant. So gripping, so powerful, so poignant, so amazing.

I mean, I knew it would be amazing - I myself have recommended it without having watched it - but I had NO. CLUE.

I think I must watch it again tonight.

Infant Irish group?

2008-02-02T06:18:00.000-08:00

Hell, it worked once.

~~And I like their bass player better.~~

They're pretty fierce for a buncha gurriers. ;)

And I want that rugby shirt. /aside

Check em out:
The Revolts
BalconyTV

JUNO FALLS on The Late Late Show

2008-02-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

"This Song is Your Own"

The "finished" version of this song is very good, and it is interesting to see the different directions Myles O'Reilly takes it live. This song has really grown on me. I love songs that either teach me something or encourage me to learn something on my own. All of that while sounding really good!

According to the video, JUNO FALLS toured with Travis. I haven't had the chance to check out their music, but I know a few of my friends are big fans.

And I suppose my mentioning the attractiveness of the singer would be juvenile, right? ;)

Whoops.

Eleanor McEvoy

2008-02-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

I don't have female role models often (go figure), but . . .

I want to be her. :X

Official Website
Official Myspace
BalconyTV.com
BalconyTV on Myspace

Win tickets to see FairplayCollective at Joes Pub

2008-01-30T10:04:00.000-08:00

For more info, see:
FairplayCollective
Joe's Pub
Michael Brunnock
Mark Dignam
Jenna Nicholls
Brendan O'Shea

You had me from "Hey hey, sha la la"

2008-01-28T09:47:00.000-08:00

originally posted August 7, 2007

I saw an interview recently in which Larry said that when he listens to "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses," he cringes because it is so bad and he feels like they could have done so much better with that song.

So I want to say to Larry:

I had always been, at best, a casual U2 fan. Sure, I liked U2. If someone asked me if I did, I would say yes, although I really only knew what I heard on the radio. But I counted myself among the "fans." I was not prepared for what would happen to me when I first heard "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses."

It not only opened a new chapter in my life, it broke open a brand-new book, fresh empty pages begging to be written.

The cassette single (well, now I am dating myself, aren't I?) was the first item of U2 merchandise I ever purchased. I listened to "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" and the included extra songs over and over. It was like that song - that one moment in time as I walked through the living room and caught the video (playing on some station which I can only assume was MTV back when they played videos) and froze in my tracks - changed who I was. Everything that I thought about music was about to change and it was that song which awakened me to this.

I bought Achtung, Baby and played it until I knew every song in my sleep. Then I bought Zooropa and I continued my musical feast. I went backward in time and purchased all of the previously-released U2 CDs I could find - and I mean ALL; I paid dearly for some bootlegs before I saw the light and learned about u2torrents.com.

Although I was all about Bono - I practically worshipped him - I appreciated the other parts of the songs as well. I can see it now that I hear music in separate tracks as opposed to as a merged whole and my ears anticipate a bass line, a guitar riff, a cymbal crash. It's like you guys unzipped music for me, taught me how to dissect a song and reconstruct it again even as I listen to it. I never really paid attention to who did what or who sung what (which has caused many an uproarious moment in my recent life as I learn time and again that I have been inadvertently perving over The Edge for the past 12 years :/) or who was married or who was single or who said what or did what. It was all about the music for me.

I bought your biographies and didn't read them. I bought the magazines and didn't look at them or read the interviews. I taped the TV appearances and never watched them. It was all about the music for me.

I jokingly say that until January of this year, I didn't know that there were three other guys in the band. But just now, in the car, listening to "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" to see why it makes you, Larry, cringe, I know that that is a lie. Edge's guitar is in my brain. Your drums are in my brain. Adam's bass is in my brain. You four became not just a part of but a representation of my life.

And it all started with "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses."

Fiction Plane on Tour

2008-01-23T09:30:00.000-08:00

THE SAN DIEGO FIRE RELIEF CD BENEFIT LAUNCH!!!

2008-01-17T14:54:00.000-08:00

WHEN: Thursday, January, 17
7 pm – Midnight

WHERE: Anthology in Little Italy/Downtown San Diego
1337 India Street
www.anthologysd.com

WHAT: Benefit Launch for the San Diego Fire Relief compilation CD.
The CD features 18 songs by San Diego musicians {national, up-and-comers, and San Diego favorites, like me!)

Proceeds from the CD go to the After the Fire Fund 2007, a division of the San Diego Foundation.

TICKETS: $27 per person gets you this:
-a copy of the CD
-9 of the bands featured on the CD will perform Live
-food & drink specials
-opportunity drawings
-All Ages!

OR YOU CAN ORDER THE CD ONLINE - www.firereliefcd.com

just passing along a tip from your Uncle Jason
Posted by Jason Mraz at his myspace and his blog

Cool song titles are half the battle

2008-01-16T18:35:00.000-08:00

Seriously. How could I NOT love a band who has a song called "Strait Jacket?"

Just a link . . .

2008-01-16T10:53:00.001-08:00

. . .to Michael Brunnock's permanent home on Fearlessmusic.tv.

And I never need another excuse to check out his wonderful performance of "Niagara Falls".

Keep an eye on this site (above link AND yours truly) for more appearances from Michael on Fearless Music TV.

In the meantime, check him out as always:

Myspace
CD Baby
iTunes

Michael Brunnock on fearlessmusic.tv

2008-01-09T13:16:00.000-08:00

Michael Brunnock's performance of "Niagara Falls" is one of the Featured Videos on Fearless Music TV's website. Keep an eye on this one. He is SKYROCKETING.

Come on out to Joe's with me and see for yourself.

Did someone order an extra helping of awesome?

2008-01-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

Right here, folks.

Get it while it's hot.

HEAR MORE!
http://www.myspace.com/michaelbrunnock
http://www.fearlessmusic.tv
BUY THE CD!
http://www.cdbaby.com/michaelbrunnock
iTunes

I am ridiculously excited despite living in one of those useless non-viewing areas

2008-01-05T14:37:00.000-08:00

Check out MICHAEL BRUNNOCK performing "NIAGARA FALLS" on Fearless Music TV. It airs in NYC tonight, JANUARY 5, at 12:30am on Fox 5. Not in NYC? Not a problem! Click here to see the ever growing list of cities that broadcast Fearless Music.

Michael Brunnock on Fox 5's "Fearless Music" this Saturday

2008-01-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

Hey guys-Happy New Year!

Just letting you know that Michael Brunnock will be on Fearless Music TV in NYC this Saturday night, January 5, performing "Niagara Falls". Fearless Music TV is on Saturday nights at 12:30am on Fox 5 in NYC.

If you're not in NYC, check out the time and channel listing on their website at http://www.fearlessmusic.tv/channels.html to find out when and where else it airs.

Also tickets are available for The FairplayCollective event at Joes Pub.

With any luck, you might see me there. ;)

wHole

2007-12-31T22:35:00.000-08:00

The title track, "wHole," in its third-place position on the album, serves to define the entire tone of the album. The song "wHole," itself, is a play on words, and the songs you will find here are the stories of individuals who are anything but "whole." The songs collected on this sophomoric CD from Little Palace are all searching for those missing pieces to complete the self, the situation, the search. "Is this me under my skin?" The journey to find the self begins with this idea.

The most stand-out song is "Tourniquet," with its infectious bass line, superior percussion, and guitar solos that compel you to sit up and take notice. Combine this with melodic harmonies and the easy way that the lyrics spill from Brunnock's generous store of brilliant material and lines which seem plucked from the Theatre of the Absurd, and you have a song of unmatched caliber.

"End Game" finds Brunnock's usually tender voice stripped and raw. His voice digs its heels in the dirt and launches at you, quelled only when joined by Ann-Louise Mulvaney's chilling harmony. The strings which intro this song mirror Brunnock's voice, simultaneously course and refined. This piece is an instant favorite.

"Soft White and Indigo" is an earnest offering which on the surface seems so simple, but it is an exercise of both vocal and string feats of excellence.

It is clear from songs such as "Tourniquet," "My Way," and "wHole" that Brunnock is comfortable with language and that language is equally comfortable to pour forth from Brunnock like a stream running swiftly down a mountain, taking the curves where needed without missing a beat.

Percussion is a definite strong point on this album and its employment serves as the mortar the binds the ballads to the rockers.

One does not need to understand Gaelic to recognize the incompleteness expressive in the lonesome vocal strains of the beautiful elegy, "An Buan".

Invoking gems of wisdom ("Every path is the one when walked by companions," and the deliciously dual-meaninged, "pride is enough to bring a nation to its knees"), posing thought-provoking ideas with no explanatory redundancy ("Happiness was born a twin"), and lamenting the inevitable situations when "sympathy is a luxury," this is a thinking person's compilation.

Despite the excellent musical talents that contribute to make this album, the vocals of the three members of Little Palace are what really define this band. Their voices rise together, pass through one another, become one, and just as easily return to themselves like beams of colored light crossing and changing and separating again. Occasionally, a guitar will sneak itself into the trio to become the fourth vocalist.

Unfortunately, Little Palace disbanded in 2000, but Brunnock has continued as a solo artist, releasing his solo debut, the brilliant So I Do, in June of 2007. It is a slight departure from his work with Little Palace, but continues in the same vein of imaginative and intelligent songwriting found on Whole. On one point, Brunnock hits the nail on the head: he is, indeed, on his way.

Buy wHole at CDBaby

Buy wHole on iTunes

http://www.myspace.com/michaelbrunnock

That voice can melt the ice

2007-12-20T13:02:00.000-08:00

STAND performs on BalconyTV 12/19/07

What a song and what a voice, right? Amiright? I'm right.

And the beautiful thing is that Michael Brunnock (I knew you were waiting for me to mention him) is playing to support them at the Bowery Ballroom on 2/23/08. (The Blue Jackets are also support)

Because there is no excuse for not giving a damn

2007-12-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

Bad customer service makes Baby Jesus cry

Reposted from: http://ken-jennings.com/blog/?p=671

This is a post about the true meaning of Christmas: revenge.

Back in October, Mindy ordered a rocking horse from BackToBasicsToys.com (their plush spring horse) for Caitlin’s birthday. As the weeks went by, the estimated delivery date slipped three times, and the horse never showed up.

Caitlin’s birthday passed, with no horse. When the third delivery date passed with no horse, Mindy called Back to Basics Toys. “Yes, we canceled that order. There must have been some issue with your credit card.”

“And you didn’t tell me or note the cancellation on your website, which still lists the order as active?” Mindy wasn’t happy with the screwup (needless to say, the credit card was just fine) but the guy reassured her that he could replace the order and the horse would make it here in time for Christmas.

One week later, no horse. Mindy notices the new order isn’t even showing up on-line at backtobasicstoys.com and calls Back to Basics Toys, er, back. They can’t find any trace of the second order, and now they can’t get us the horse by Christmas, because they’re sold out. They also came to our house wearing boots and kicked our kids in the head.

Mindy was pissed. “So that’s it? After screwing up twice, there’s nothing else you’re willing to do to try and keep me as a customer?”

“Uh, well, I guess we could give you 15% off in January when the item’s back in stock.”

So that’s exactly what my customerness is worth to them. That’s also their idea of the fair-market value of a little girl’s ruined birthday and Christmas. The 15%-off coupon that they probably e-mail out to “We Want You Back” onetime customers anyway.

Hey, their call. I looked around online and found other horror stories from scarred BackToBasicsToys customers. These guy may sell nice toys, but they have no clue what they’re doing when they sell them, and try very hard to give the impression that they don’t care. At all.

As a consumer, I don’t have very many options. In a perfectly elastic market, people would immediately figure out that Back to Basics Toys sucks and they would either have to fix the problems or go under. But capitalism isn’t nearly that efficient, sadly.

I do have one thing Back to Basics Toys doesn’t: a blog that gets read by tens of thousands of people and Googles up fairly readily. So the least I can do for you this holiday season, Back to Basics Toys, is try to make sure everyone knows how incompetent you are. Hey, this wasn’t my choice. We asked what it was worth to you to keep us as a customer and the answer was “Almost nothing.”

So I’ll mention their name a lot here and maybe this will be a prominent result in future when someone searches on-line for “Back to Basics Toys” or wants to buy a plush spring horse. (From backtobasicstoys.com. Which allegedly sells plush spring horses. Got that, Google?) And they’ll know to stay far, far away.

Tell your friends. Back to Basics Toys sucks. Maybe this can be the Hot New Internet Thing. Spread it around. “Petty Jeopardy! guy declares war on rocking-horse company” isn’t really as memorable a Christmas meme as “OfficeMax will make you dance like an elf” but it has a certain charm.

Brendan O'Shea - "No Mystery"

2007-12-18T18:34:00.000-08:00

Brendan O' Shea "No Mystery"

What an incredible video and a beautiful song. What a great time to be in Ireland.

AlexCuba On Bravo Television On December 18th

2007-12-12T18:12:00.000-08:00

I am writing it down so I don't miss it.

And you, too, should check it out, even if you don't speak Spanish. Music defies language barriers.

Bravo television is airing a documentary entitled "The Making Of AlexCuba" on December 18th at 7:30 pm ET. The Documentary is part of an exciting new Canadian-Caribbean musician profile series called HEART BEAT, and produced by LEDA SERENE FILMS & CARIBBEANTALES in association with Bravo and Gayelle The Channel (Trinidad)

For more information, see:
AlexCuba and
http://www.myspace.com/thealexcubaband

Jenna Nicholls new music and show

2007-12-12T10:49:00.000-08:00

A smokey room, a beautiful songstress in a slinky black floor-length dress with elbow-length gloves . . .

A WWII dancehall with a lone spotlight on the darkened stage . . .

A black-and-white film where the heroine walks away, glancing once over her shoulder before the film ends. . .

These are the images that are conjured up by Jenna Nicholls's beautiful new songs; her debut album in the works.

Sneak peek it here. Pay attention for the delicious tenor sax on "Winter." Close your eyes and let it envelop you. She manages to combine sultry and sweet in a seamless fashion.

And if you are in the New York area, go see her perform live tomorrow night.

Dec 13 2007 10:00P
The Living Room NYC New York, New York

March 6, 2008

2007-12-11T17:32:00.000-08:00

For more information:
http://myspace.com/fairplaycollective
http://myspace.com/brendanoshea
http://myspace.com/michaelbrunnock
http://myspace.com/markdignam
http://myspace.com/jennanicholls
Joe's Pub

So I Do

2007-12-11T17:16:00.000-08:00

One does not simply listen to a Michael Brunnock song – one experiences it. Michael Brunnock's songs, while pleasingly smooth and unobtrusive, somehow refuse to remain "background music," and they pull the listener in to their ephemeral existence. So it is with So I Do.

Mournful without being sad. Emotional without being "emo". Evocative without being self-indulgent.

I first heard "Fallen Leaves," about four months ago, and before the song was even complete, I knew that I had to become familiar with the entire music catalog of this artist whose name I did not yet know. More than a hundred listens later, "Fallen Leaves" is both completely ingrained in my mind and brand-new simultaneously. Each listen is as the first; the string solo employed in lieu of a bridge held me captive, and when the drums returned with brilliant force, I found myself struggling to catch the breath that I didn't even realize I was holding for the past four measures.

Michael Brunnock's performance is straight-forward and unassuming. However, don't be fool enough to dismiss this artist as a simple countryman; his lyrics reveal an intelligent and well-educated man behind his gentle melodies. Listen carefully and you will hear literary allusions, complex metaphors, and well-placed puns along with political commentary and disdain for mindless militancy.

"Little Boy Blue," perhaps the most political song in his repertoire, is also the most evocative. It employs strong imagery both lyrically and musically – one can almost picture the small orchestra backing him as he sings his complex simplicities.

"Dance to the Wind" is a beautiful piece which displays both Brunnock's impressive vocal diversity and his imaginative lyric writing; the anthropomorphic song is told from the point of view of a wise old tree in a tale reminiscent of Dr. Seuss's The Lorax.

Not to be dismissed as a minstrel, Brunnock pulls "Born Again" and "Niagara Falls" from up his sleeve, showing that he can rock with the best of them.

Jenna Nicholls's backing vocals on "Man Overboard" and "Breastplate" both blend with and complement Brunnock's voice seamlessly. Nicholls's airy vocals at the end of the penultimate of the original tunes somehow punctuate the mood of the album.

Michael Brunnock revamps "Secret," a powerful song from his days with Little Palace, to round out the CD, convincingly evidencing that he is fully capable as a solo artist.

One would be hard-pressed to find a more well-pieced collection of songs that satisfy both the spirit and the intellect. So I Do does so both humbly and almost with a shrug. Brunnock is not out to please anyone with his offering – it is clearly a labour of love.

For more information, see:
http://www.myspace.com/michaelbrunnock
http://ww.cdbaby.com/michaelbrunnock
Little Palace - Whole
Little Palace - Beekeeper
http://www.myspace.com/jennanicholls

I, Covet

2007-12-04T13:56:00.001-08:00

Rick Springfield (the Ricky in my Baby) has a new book out.

WANT.

Look at the lovely. Baby-faced thing.

(I like him better now.)

I still want the book. GIMME.

KIERNAN MCMULLAN! <3

2007-12-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

Kiernan McMullan - Check out his site for more!

KTV

2007-11-30T11:37:00.001-08:00

MUSIC = LOVE

2007-11-28T06:23:00.000-08:00

If you are in or about the Boston area, check out Michael Brunnock, supporting Ari Hest, on December 5 in Club Passim.

Also, come get me here in Florida and TAKE ME WITH YOU.

Kthnxbye.

I love these guys

2007-11-16T08:51:00.001-08:00

Stop the Presses

2007-10-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

“I think it’s about time I signed off on him in any kind of artistic or creative way,” Leo says with a mildly amused frankness. The particular reason was Bono’s turn as the Walrus in the thoroughly overcooked Beatles musical Across the Universe. According to Leo, that’s just going too damn far. “Acting out your John Lennon fantasy in a boomer nostalgia musical is just too much. I defended him before, but I’m not listening to anything after Rattle and Hum from now on.” - Some Unknown Random Dude.

Bono was available for comment and said this: "I guess I will just have to pick up the pieces and move on with my life."

BONO OWNS YOU. :D

2007-10-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

Bono Must Die have been forced to change their name because Bono (yes, the Bono) has trademarked his name: "alas we feel we have to change our name in order for us not to lose our houses and give any potential record sales to one man because he happened to trademark his name," the band revealed in a statement today.

"We don't really want to do it. But we do not have enough choice... or money."

So, their new name is:

oRPHANS [FKABMD]

The [FKABMD] stands for [Formerly Known as BoNO MUST DIE].

They'll be playing their last ever gig as BMD this evening (October 9th) for Trash Fashion's EP launch party in London.

BONO RULES. Write it down. ~~And then take a picture.~~

Don't EFF with the big boys.