welcome in

The assembled cast in The Welcome Inn last night were quite a bunch. I had the Galafari to my left. He was still partying from the night before and the wear and tear was beginning to show. Seated to his left was Barry Delta who had also been partying the previous night but obviously values life's simpler pleasures such as sleeping. Galafari and Barry had of course been celebrating the Reach 2nd Birthday Bash in The Twisted Pepper. Happy second birthday to them. To their left again was the Don of Irish Junglism, the man himself, Naphta. I forgot to tell him last night that I'd only been listening to his 'Long Time Burning' album during the week. Although released last December I only listened to it a couple of times since. During the week I decided that I'd dig it out for another listen and it truly is the finest junglism to have come out of this town. To Naphta's left was another lover and maker of beats, hailing from the UK, weighing in at 13 stone it was the one, the only, Equinox. Moving left again the Mullet took his place between Equinox on one side and Dublin's legendary techno pusher Eamonn Doyle of D1 Records (check him out below with the lovely Welcome Inn behind him). The cameo appearances were put in by myself and the Don Rosco. There was one reason and one reason only for this musical meeting of minds. We were all off to see Rollers Sparkers in the Joy Gallery on Rutland Place.

Rutland Place itself holds a few memories from my distant past. There was a party gaff at the end of it that saw many rave casualties pass both in and out its doors. Fond memories indeed from a time when most of the week would be spent recuperating from the weekends exertions. They were simpler times back then.

Myself and Rosco were eager to move the assembled crew around to the gallery but they're a fairly lethargic lot. We did make it in time to see the last tune by Children Under Hoof. I'm glad we made it because although they were a bit frayed around the edges I enjoyed the buzz about them. I guess that they are in their early twenties at most as they had an affectation about them that was somewhat innocent. The tune was a krautrock/psychedelic prog effort but most bands forget that this type of thing is actually really hard to pull off. To maintain the driving rhythm required for this type of music the heartbeat of the band needs to be spot on. At times during their last tune they could have done with a pacemaker. The bass player and drummer didn't seem to be playing in the same time. The guitarist, who looked a little bit like Catweazel, went a bit wonky at the end and in Mark E Smith fashion went over and started belting away at the cymbals. This was the last thing the drummer needed given the difficulties he was already experiencing. The keyboard player kept looking at the drummer and bassist trying to give thenm the nod to end the song but they were ignoring him. In the midst of all this sat the only female member of the band and it looked like she was playing a Nintendo DS. It seems she has other musical abilities as there was a range of instruments adorning the table in front of her, however any such abilities were kept under cover as she completed the next level of Donkey Kong. Song finished, there was a ramshackle attempt at a Von Trapp family bow. To be fair this was their finale tune so they may have just decided to go apeshit. Next up, Rollers Sparkers.

Knowing the members of Rollers Sparkers, my critical faculties are somewhat skewed. I think that they're great and have done since the first time I saw them a few years ago. That said, they were pretty ramshackle the first time I heard them so the kids from Children Under Hoof can take hope. After what seemed like a long time of fixing gear and fiddling with knobs, they were off. Not that most people noticed. The crowd kept chatting away until a few minutes into the first tune. I'm not sure how the band describe their music but suffice to say its slightly leftfield. They make great use of the array of effects on both their voices and instruments. Their tunes build from a basic rhythm into swathes of driving bass, vocal harmonies and electronic effects and pull the listener along with them. It's not the type of stuff you dance to. Those hearing it are usually more inclined to nod their heads a little. In fact much more time is spent focussing on the contributions from the trio and trying to distinguish exactly who is making what sound. I could only hang around for the first three tunes but it was great. Apparently it was their last live show for a while as they go back to write and rehearse material for a new album. I for one will be looking forward to it.

It was great to see a space like the Joy Gallery being used for stuff like this. It was my first time there but I reckon they could be on to something in using it as a venue. They've held a few such gigs there since it opened earlier this year. I can imagine this kind of thing is de riguer in places like Berlin but it was refreshing to see it happen here in Dublin. There were sixty or seventy people packed into a tight space and buzzing off a couple of bands. Having no licence to sell alcohol the attendees were invited to bring their own booze along if they felt like it. The basic ingredients for a successful recipe are there for them. I wish them every success if their venture continues in this vein.

On other fronts I picked up an album on Grand Royal called New York State of Mind. It features a whole load of Beastie Boy tunes that have been reworked by Green Lantern. These tunes have seen the light of day before on earlier 12inch release and on various Green Lantern mixtapes but I think this album is the first time its been put together on vinyl. One reason for thinking that is that I've been googling it and I can find it mentioned in fuck all places. I think it only got a release at the end of October but its been slow to appear in shops. I was over the the Beastie Boys site trying to get some info when I came across this page. Right in the top middle of the photo is a Saba McDisc just like mine. Nice one.

I also picked up the vinyl release of 'Peeek - an earful of Irish Underground' which has been given a limited free issue on vinyl by the nice Analogue people. I got the CD a few weeks ago but to be honest I never play CD's in the house, or the car, or anywhere else for that matter. I'm not much of a CD guy I guess. As such i was most pleased to get the tunes on vinyl including the contributions by Ugly Megan and Katie Kim. It's only as I write that I realise that there's a tune by Children Under Hoof on it too. I'll have to listen to that later.

I also picked up a limited release seven inch that's from earlier this year. It's a tune called Id Engager and it's by Of Montreal. It's on Polyvinyl Records and its got a nice electro groove to it. It's not what I expected at all. I'm not really familiar with Of Montreal and it was a blind buy but I'm liking it.

Right so. I'm off to cry about Arsenal's unfulfilled potential so far this season. You can catch me playing live on www.powerfm.org on Monday night between 11pm and 1am GMT. Drop in and have a listen to me talk shite in between the good music. Later

I love Arsenal

I've just witnessed the best game of football for years. It was the Arse versus AC Milan and Arsenal won two - nil. I bought some records today but I'll tell you about them tomorrow. Any Arsenal fans could do worse than buy one of these t-shirts from my mate Joe.

the calm before the storm

There was a silent protest of sorts in the Phoenix Park tonight. Arcade Fire played the first of their two gigs here in Dublin. The gig is taking place about 800m from my house as the crow flies. They must be doing an acoustic set because I haven't heard a bloody thing all night. Of course when Robbie Williams was playing a couple of years ago in the park I couldn't drown the sound out for love nor money. It's an awful feeling, standing in your kitchen and hearing the fucker sing 'Angels' and not being able to turn him off.

I'm going to the Arcade Fire gig tomorrow so it will be interesting to hear how it went tonight. On a separate note I've been strolling around town over the last few days and there's a proliferation of posters about the place advertising 'A celebration of the Russian Revolution'. If you're into ice picks in the back of the head, salt mines, mass extermination and queueing for bread then this is the event for you.

Finally, I've just watched Arsenal win 7-0 in their Champions League match against Slavia Prague. I was really embarrassed for the Czech team who were pretty close to useless. I put €20 on Arsenal to win the Premiership this season but I've already got €20 worth of value out of them and its still only October. I only started supporting them 27 years ago because a bloke walked into school with a red over the shoulder plastic Arsenal bag with 'The Gunners' emblazoned on it. Thank you Graham Doolin.

It's a funny old game

After a couple of years of dithering Thierry has finally taken his leave of Arsenal FC. Firstly I would like to wish him all the best in the future. As a football fan I approve of a move to another football club that tries to play football as it is meant to be played. In Barcelona he has found a team that will suit his style of play. Secondly I thank him for all of the wonderful goals and memories he has served up to Arsenal fans and all football fans over the last 8 seasons of Premier League football. I do not believe there is another player who has been as consistently wonderful on the pitch over such a sustained period of time.

I'm not sure about all the bollix surrounding his departure. There was a lot of shite talk about him being upset by the departure of David Dein from Arsenal. He has also suggested that Arsene Wenger, his long-standing mentor may not be at Arsenal for much longer. Whatever the case I don't believe he has to justify his reason for leaving. He gave his all when at Arsenal and I'm pretty sure the majority of Arsenal fans wish him well. As with Patrick Viera, Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars there comes a time when it's as good for the club as for the player that they move on elsewhere. When its done with grace and little enmity it suits all concerned. Sometimes the moves work out for the players, sometimes they don't. Let's wait and see what happens with Thierry.

Thierry was up there in my top three Arsenal players. He lay ahead of Ian Wright but never overtook Dennis Bergkamp in my estimation. Dennis 'Iceman' Bergkamp's contribution to Arsenal was second to none (except for the not flying bit). His commitment to the very end of his professional career will not be replicated by another Arsenal player for many years to come. Thierry for all his talk of committing to Arsenal for the rest of his career seemed to lose some focus last season when he was out injured. He acknowledged this time last year that he was nearing the end of his career. The truth be told he is most likely past his footballing prime and he obviously has to keep one eye on the future. He has been peddling himself as a clothes horse in the last couple of years even though he's an exceptionally well paid footballer. I didn't mind a few car advertisements at the start but it became farcical in the last year as his face and name started to be attached to various other bits and pieces. I'm wearing an item of clothing by one of the fashion labels he has chosen to endorse. It shares the same initials as the man himself. To all intents and purposes, my item of clothing looks the part but on closer inspection I note that it's made in China. As with footballers words, the reality of something is often far removed from the original proposition.

The moment footballers start to think about anything other than football, they've lost an essential part of their make-up. If you have a full-time job that pays well and gives you a lifestyle that is beyond 99% of the world, why do you want to take on a part-time job, or two part-time jobs, or three.......etc. It doesn't really make sense to me. Anyway, I'm pretty sure Thierry doesn't give a shite about what I think about his career in or out of football. He'll be paid handsomely at Barcelona and will no doubt pick up a few more endorsements after this high profile move. Good luck to him. It's now down to Mr Wenger to try and put some spark back into the Arsenal team. Who knows who he'll sign. I'm pretty confident that a fully fit Van Persie, an imperious Fabregas and a more confident Walcott can fill much of the void left by Henry. And in a couple of years time when they move on somewhere else it will all start again. It's a funny old game.

put the needle on the record

After yesterdays trawl through the charity shops it was back to the regular retail outlets today. A visit to the ever affable staff of Road Records here in Dublin had me satisfied in jig time.

The first tune I picked up there was one by a lady I had heard nothing about prior to today. She's on the cover and looks a little like a kooky Tori Amos. However, I have it on record from Dylan in Road Records that this lady is sexy. The lady in question is Regina Spektor who hails from New York. She has no plans to tour Europe at present but I think she might be worth checking out if she lands over this side of the pond. I picked up her seven inch single 'fidelity' and you can listen to it at the Regina Spektor link above. Thanks for brightening up my day Ms Spektor.

I also picked up the new seven inch from LCD Soundsystem entitled 'North American Scum' which you can listen to if you click on the link. Also based in New York, he ranks Hot Chip amongst his myspace friends.

I'm not sure about this internet friend business. It would be much better if I could imagine Hot Chip calling around to LCD's house to see if he was coming out to play football, like real friends do.

Another purchase today was a tune by The Maccabees called 'About your dress'. Hailing from Brighton they also have some interesting myspace friends including Jamie T (whose seven inch 'Calm Down Dearest' was a recent purchase) and The Futureheads. I reckon there's quite a good chance that Jamie might call round to The Maccabees for a game of ball.

On the subject of games of football, I have just finished watching Arsenal draw with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. As such they are now out of the competition. If Arsene Wenger or any of the team are reading this blog at this disappointing juncture in their lives I would just like to say a quick thanks for all the good football over the past few years. keep your chins up.