Cheebah and all that - Limerick, Ireland

Living in a material world

 

(photo by Paul Tarpey)

The Rubberbandits Mystery Tour-Dec 28th 2009

The Systems work of Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert created the classic templates that have been used in European roadsign design since the mid 60s. Their design template was carefully applied in the layout of the flyer for tonight's hidden performance. This was the first conceit as usually the information delivered  by these templates is emotionless and directional. The info on this flyer however promised a ‘pure’ secret location with the Bandits hosting The Hardy Bucks, Walter Mitty and the Realists followed by ‘Topless Lesbians firebreathers who shift each other’. The second conceit now associated with the flyer is the recasting of the traditional Xmas performance fare as an occasion of a fantastical anti- materialist catharsis. Its in your face while you stuff your face.

In gentler contrast, over in the Southcourt Hotel in Limerick City, Brendan Grace's sold out whimsical take on the season gently loosened another button on its waistcoat.

And so the subliminally charged flyer drifted towards Birdhill where it settled on a tent on the side of the motorway. This is the venue, and as we cross the road we avoid the American styled trucks blaring their horns as they spot the lit up encampment. They must have regretted having to deal with the recession deadlines that prevented them pulling in to enjoy sum sorta hoedown.

In a carpark Limerick club tribes - perhaps the nieces and nephews of 40 year old Limerick Rave veterans - spill from the bus to stake their claim on new territory. The ‘Don't rubbish Tipp’ border sign on the road offering a wan welcome. The local Security team alternated between fixing wristbands while slugging buckfast with a multi tasked calm found only on such county borders. Later, a near naked young man was bounced from the tent by very these same men. After throwing himself from the stage and getting evicted he only found himself rubbed down and returned back under the spotlight for the Bandits encore.That's the service every exhibitionist is guaranteed in Tipp.

From Columbia to Knock

(As we come to the end of the year, I'm going to post up a few articles that were meant to go up earlier in 2009, apologies for the delay)

When B+ brought his tradition in transition show back to his hometown in June, it was a very special night. For a variety of reasons, we didn't get many photographs but it was special. As one well known local rock musician commented to me after "B+ ..was savage ...  Limerick felt like a big city that night". During that week, Brian was a special guest on the Donal Dineen show on Today FM. As a testimony to the special magic of the crazy cumbia funk and off centre tropical beats he was spinning, after one particular mix presenter Donal Dineen told the following story.

Shane

 

Empire

  

If you are in Empire Music on O'Connell Street, over the next few days you can pick up two great Limerick releases from this month. The first is the Rubberbandits ep, "Drawing pictures of each other smoking fags" which features a number of phone pranks along with their best known songs, Bag of glue, Pure Awkward and Gardai. The second is 13 by beatmistress Cait. A full album of 15 tracks, featuring a range of futuristic styles fused by a unforgettable percussion, Caits tracks having been receiving a lot of critical acclaim on Reverbnation. This is the first opportunity to own them physically. Like the Rubberbandits ep it is very reasonably priced at 10 euro. Proceeds from '13' will go to Rainbow support services in Limerick and if you don't make it to Empire, you can also pick it up in Mickey Martins or at the Cauldron Bar in Nicholas Street.

Shane

Uptown Sounds

 

This saturday night, 12th of December, a2df & leon invite you to join them at the underground bakerplace for another Uptown Sounds -playing funk soul disco house jazz and hiphop -this month they have a special guest, Tony Roche (deloreansuite) -on percussion , its only a fiver and there are drink promos on the night

Mysteries of Christmas

The spirit of the late 80s and parties at secret locations seems to be back this xmas. In the course of just three days Limerick will see two major events  in undisclosed locations. First off is the night after Christmas (26th DEC) which promises over 20 DJs and live acts on two soundsystems at  a Limerick location. Then two days later

"Monday 28th December 2009 .Chalk it down ! ... The Rubberbandits have announced a strictly limited capacity Magical Mystery Christmas Show at a secret location on Monday 28th December.Buses will leave the city centre from 6.30pm and the only way to get tickets is by emailing [email protected]"

Video for Rubberbandits Bag of Glue

Viva revolution

Video for Viva Music Studios Limerick

Operating from a very impressive O Connell Street premises Viva Music Studios have really come to be a vital cog in the Limerick music wheel in 2009. From their successful hosting of the WFMU radio broadcast to the production classes which already has students releasing albums (Beatmistress Cait next Thursday) Viva is definitely bringing positive change to its environs. The feature above include contributions from DJ Eggs, Brigadier JC, Dan Sykes and some footage of that 3 hour radio broadcast last March.

Shane

Brother Culture Dubplate

Video for Brother Culture- Roots Factory dubplate

Brother Culture, second generation irish MC out of Brixton drops an exclusive dubplate for Roots Factory. Riddim by Brigadier JC.

Roots factory plan a massive new years eve bash, in (Dolans- my mistake) Bakers with YT, responsible for one of my favourite tunes of the last few years "England story".

Shane

Shafiq Husayn

Lil' Girl from Plug Research on Vimeo.

interview tomorrow night on the block from 9-45 (spin south west) with shafiq husayn who is one third of the all mighty sa-ra creative partners, now and again erykah badu producer and whose fantastic solo album ‘en a free ka’ has just been released…

pc