Bobby Green review “Sun House” from Crojayn
Review by Bobby Green (Bobs Joint) Crojayn are an alternative style blues based rock band from the peoples republic. If you’ve not heard of them yet you very soon will. Their explosive sound is like dynamite to the senses and will leave you trembling with excitement. They formed in September 2013, at the ages of 13 – 15 and have been honing their craft ever since. They have remained a self-managed band releasing their début eponymous EP in August 2015 to critical acclaim, building on their following they completing their first ever Irish tour in 2016 where they supported “The Strypes” picking up even more fans along the way and now, releasing their new blistering 4 track EP in 2017. This fantastic second EP is everything I love about blues based rock, there must be something in the Irish water because this next generation of young musicians are creating a scene reminiscent of the 60’s where the next interpretation on the blues is stepping forward and staking its claim at the musical top table and the quality on offer just gets better and better. With the right management there would be no stopping Crojayn, their sound is worthy of the world stage and could easily compete with their peers. I’m genuinely excited about this next generations interpretation of the blues and the emerging scene it’s creating, and with this EP Crojayn are becoming major players. These are very exciting times for the music scene in Ireland and the likes of Crojayn and their peers are a major reason for this. The EP is available on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play and various other platforms now. You can preview “Sun House”...
freezerRoom gear up for Hazel Wood launch with new album
After months of speculation and teaser releases Cork collaborators freezerRoom are due to release their full length album Fire on the Ocean September 1 with a live launch September 2 at midnight in the Hazel Wood Stage at Electric Picnic accompanied onstage by no less than 20 musicians. The core of freezerRoom is production duo Graham White and Rory Dempsey. The pair has been making music together for over 15 years since they first met in acclaimed Irish downbeat act The Shades. On Fire on the Ocean they continue their brand of alternative rock with electronic and orchestral elements and are joined on the album by many luminaries from the Irish music scene and beyond. Always keen to collaborate, White and Dempsey have teamed up with some of their favourite singers to craft a collection of breathtaking songs. Fire on the Ocean features an array of guest vocalists writing songs such as Joe O’Leary (Fred), Fish Go Deep hitmaker Tracey K, Jack O’Rourke, Ray Scannell, Berlin’s Clara Hill and Wallis Bird on backing vocal duties. As on previous releases Christian Eigner (Depeche Mode) recorded drums in Austria with Graham, Tracey K and Clara Hill writing and adding vocals in Berlin and Rory roped in the string talents of some of his Heritage Orchestra friends in London to create a broader palette. With freezerRoom as the foundation it allows Fire on the Ocean to absorb the essence of its contributing vocalists. Ranging from the funky rhythm on “I’m not Waiting” featuring Joe O’Leary, to the spectral with Ray Scannall’s “On The Surface” with its inference of The Shades’ single ‘Cider Horizon’ and the experimental baroque electronica of “Friends That Bite” featuring Jack O’Rourke. freezerRoom have provided the perfect songwriters haven allowing collaborators freedom to make their mark while the production duo of White and Dempsey add depth and edge by drawing out strengths and qualities from both sides that stretch and lengthen the creative scope. Catch freezerRoom live at The Hazel Wood Stage, Saturday September...
Hvmmingbyrd set to impress with new release
Kildare/Dublin duo Hvmmingbyrd have been growing in stature and confidence since we last met them. The band have spent the summer touring but this by no way explains their latest release ‘Gozo’ which is out now. The confidence in their writing and sound is perfectly illustrated with this latest release. Combining traditional Irish song writing troupes with a bleepy electronic soundscape that sounds more international means the duo have been listening, learning and know exactly what they want to produce. Expect to hear these two playing more international festivals next year so make sure you catch them while you can on these shores where they have three remaining dates on their national tour. Aug 31 – DeBarra’s, Clonakilty Oct 13 – The Spirit Store, Dundalk Nov 17 – Leo’s Tavern,...
King Kong Company release new music ahead of Picnic date
To celebrate the end of their busiest summer yet King Kong Company have released “Involved”. It’s their first new track since last year’s acclaimed self-titled debut album. It’s also a little taster of what to expect at their Electric Picnic gig. A gig that could be their biggest one yet. The track was written and recorded on the road. We mean literally on the road, in the band van. The lo-fi video was entirely shot on mobile phones by the band, by the crew and by fans in the crowds who sent in their gig footage. You might even recognise the jammed Body & Soul set, if you were lucky enough to get in. If you’ve seen King Kong Company this summer, you’ve heard iterations of “Involved”. It’s the slow building banger that’s been opening the gigs at Glastonbury, Boomtown, Townlands, Body & Soul, Sunflower Fest and their hometown gig on the streets of Waterford for Spraoi. A gig that attracted the largest crowd in Spraoi’s 25 year history and an experience the band called humbling and unforgettable. “Involved” might be the fruits of a summer on the road, but the summer’s not over yet and King Kong Company have one almighty send off planned this weekend. at Electric Picnic and at Festival of Drift in Kilkenny (Saturday). Upcoming King Kong Company gigs; Festival of Drift, Kilkenny Saturday September 2nd Electric Picnic, September 1st – Sunday 3rd Skylite Room, Warrenpoint, Friday September 9th Limelight, Belfast, Friday September 15th Cork Opera House, Friday October...
A Weekend Away impress with EP
Review by Bobby Green A Weekend Away jumped onto the music scene during the Spring of 2013. Initially with 6 members, they were praised for mixing a jaw dropping punk sound with Indie influenced rhythm and lead guitar. In the Winter of 2016, pianist Patrick O’Shaughnessy and singer Josh Acosta parted ways with A Weekend Away due to other commitments. Singer/songwriter, Peader Storey stepped into the scene making A Weekend Away a 5-piece act. What followed were a string of exceptional live performances and the pressure was on to capture this energy in the recording studio. I love it when a band can translate a live feel and sound to tape, this is as much to the credit of the producer as the band, but ultimately if the songs are a bit shit in the first place then it’s up to the producer to polish a turd. With A Weekend Away EP I think producer, band, engineer and mastering guys have done a superb job by capturing a live feel in all its raw beauty and simply reproducing this for the EP. A Weekend Away’s debut EP contains 6 tracks recorded by Mike Gavin (Even Audio), Tony Monaghan (Music Generation) and Ciaran Woulfe (Woulfe) and was mastered by Richard Dowling of WAV Mastering. Speaking about the ep A Weekend Away said “I think this is really a bigger sounding song than any we’ve written before. When we heard it finished for the first time we were kinda taken aback a little. We were all packed into Patrick’s car listening to it at 3am following a 3 day rush to get a headline gig together, record 5 songs and print them as a demo. It was just the most surreal moment, it’s really when I started feeling that we could actually do this. We’ve been really busy the last couple of months but playing with the lads is one of the best things to do. Because of how busy we have been recently we’re like a well oiled machine. Over the past month we have been overflowing with gigs, events and production. Like winning UL Battle of the Bands was definitely a highlight but we have so much more in the pipeline. This really is a cracking ep stacked full of bluesy ball tickling rock n roll with an indie punkie...
Bobby Green takes at a look at the new single from The Felonies
Review by Bobby Green “Drunk (3am)” is the third single from Wicklow’s alternative rock groovers The Felonies, and they feel it’s their best song to date. One of the most exciting upcoming live bands on the Irish music scene for a while now building on blazing through 2015 with a string of great live sets and releasing their debut EP. 2016 saw them picking up the Searchlight Development Deal, where the band spent the next five months in live pre-production in The Button Factory, and recording new material in Temple Lane Studios. Now in 2017, with 2 Single’s under their belt so far, The Felonies look set to re-cement their position as one of Ireland’s most exciting bands with a tour to promote the release of “Drunk (3am)”. The single romps thorough 4 minutes of everything an Indie anthem needs, sing along chorus, chugging rhythms and a thunderous bass sounding like a finely tuned Ducati. Drop outs, solos but above all quality song writing. And I also tried it, it does sound amazing when you’re drunk at 3am. I know that might be ironic considering the single looks at alcoholism, but quality music will always sound good no matter what your surrounding influences are. Check out Felonies live.. You won’t regret it....
