Cheebah and all that - Limerick, Ireland

Know your City

Last Sunday Newstalk covered Limerick in their documentary series urban beauty, urban blight. The emphasis was definitely on the positive with contributions from the likes of Mary Coll, Jon Kenny, Denis Leonard and Shelia Deegan. There was a snappy vox pop bit at the start with people on the street defending the city strongly. Some interesting pointers as to future city direction including a reference to the need to create a real heart to the city and the suffocating issue that is the boundary extension. If you haven't much idea of the citys architectural development or indeed social geography it is worth a listen (click here). Just treat some of the hyperbole for what it is.
The newstalk documentary didn't look at anything much beyond the last thirty years, but there are interesting lessons to be learnt from further back too. Paul Tarpey, myself and the size2shoes duo were amongst a very healthy group of about fifty people who attended a walking tour of the key sites associated with the Limerick Soviet. This month marks the 90th anniversary of the Soviet and Labour historian Dominic Hough will conduct the tour again this Sunday as part of the commemorations. He will be joined by local playwright and actor Mike Finn. Definitely worth an hour of your time. There is also a number of other events happening. Check here for full details.
Sticking with industrial disputes and indeed republicans both of which are intertwined in the Soviet story, RTE recently rebroadcast the fascinating story of the Ferneka plant in Limerick. Interunion disputes, strikes and kidnapping  all feature. Listen back here.

Shane

Eist VI

My favourite article from the last Crude is an interview with John O Dwyer where he talks about memories of Rock gigs in Limerick in the 70s and 80s. You know there is material there for a much more comprehensive piece. Similarly over the last two months Newstalk have broadcast two documentaries compiled by Orla Rapple. The Musical history of Belfast and The Musical History of Cork, focus on the the last forty years or so in both cities. Both documentaries have some interesting anecdotes including tales of Sean O Neill (manager of Sir Henrys) buying bags of chips for a hungry looking Nirvana and Bap Kennedy talking about the Anarchist Centre in Belfast. Both have a heavy concentration on their main heroes, Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher respectively. Shane Johnson and Greg Dowling's influence on recent Cork history is also well recognised which is refreshing. Unfortunately any of the smaller scenes like reggae in Belfast or punk in Cork are alluded to but not really outlined. Also most surprisingly of over thirty or so voices collectively from both cities, not one was female apart from the presenter. You can listen to both by subscribing to the Newstalk documentaries podcasts.
Not a documentary but last Fridays edition of Eagsuil had a special feature on Road Bowling. Arguably Irelands most underground sport, the show had some great audio from Abbeyfeale where a group of bowlers meet every weekend to play. Then historian Fintan Lane was interviewed and he outlined a very interesting history which included tales of children been killed by stray bowls. He also explored the many political and economic reasons why the sport never really made it outside of its Cork and Armagh strongholds. Listen back here.

Shane

Eist V

• The Hannah Parr arrived from Norway, unintentionally staying in Limerick for 6 weeks back in 1868. Bock has a piece here and we did something as well a few years back. This Friday evening on Lyric FM artszone has a 20 minute audio documentary "great need was our only strength" which revisits and retells this uplifting yet poignant tale. More here
• Brian Cross arrived ahead of the entourage and did some interviews regards Brasilintime shows. He was on Dave Fanning and did well considering the scattergun questioning style Fanning employs. A much more relaxed and enjoyable interview followed that night when he joined Donal Dineen on Today FM. Candid and smooth, I think it really illustrated the passion which B has for this particular project. You can listen back here ( note if link doesn't work- right click- copy link location and open in a media player). Nice buzz building in advance of Sundays show. Be there.

Shane

Eist IV

• Lyric FM seems to be moving further and further away from the stranglehold of just one genre and the schedule is now peppered with really diverse shows. John Kelly, Gerry Godley and Nova grow stronger but last Saturday was the first time I heard the Magic Carpet. Presented by Rachel Blech, it is a pretty diverse mix but noticeable was a piece ten minutes in which featured human beatboxing. Yes! a human beatboxer on national radio on a Saturday afternoon. Listen back here. Rachel has been staying true to this agenda for quite a while and used co-present a show with Limerick's Una Collier on community radio in Donegal not so long ago. Great to see her getting her own regular national show now.

• In another studio in Limerick, K3Bee has been staying true to the game for a long while. Part of the Nu Killa set up he is also now producing some tasty dubstep and has been featured by Colz. Check his material here.

• One of Irelands greatest unsung producers is Berlin based Troubled Soul. A legendary turntablist, his label Equilibrium was responsible for some great releases. He has now available for limited download a dubplate on his myspace page. Download the free one and look through the equilibrium catalogue and buy some of those that you have missed.

• Troubled Soul was a very popular fixture on Power FM when it ran in the late 90s in Dublin on the FM band. Two other presenters from that era have decided to bring a new updated version of their Sunday Service out as a podcast. SurburbanSupaHeroes part one is available here and the first hopefully of many from Krossphader and Dr. Groove. A few technical hitches on the first one and a very laidback style but one worth keeping an eye on. From the team who helped to bring you Going Postal.

• There was always a political tinge to the Going Postal crew and it is good to be reminded that hip hop and spoken word can still upset the powers that be. Al Jazeera had a great documentary in it's People and Power series on the 'Book Cafe' in Harare in Zimbabwe which runs events that are constantly been monitored and broken up by the authorities. Worth watching on this important day in the country's history. Part One and Part Two.

• If you wish to seek out some fresh new sounds from the African continent, listen up to African hip hop radio podcast. Liking that  Zaki Ibrahim track in particular.(via wayne&wax who has some great other african related links here)

• Finally, I have burned the ear off a lot of people in recent weeks about the 1,000 true fans article and suggested models. Has a lot of people talking. 4hero are asking their fans what route they should go here. Meanwhile Robin from Theatre of Noise in Limerick has a very interesting piece on various funding avenues that artists might pursue. Worth reading.

Shane

Eist III

Reading piece on pippy reminded me of another talent he has for graf and how back in the early 90s he designed a striking street piece for a short lived hip hop night in the city with Stevie G and ruff cherry's James McGrath. Well, like pippy, Stevie motors on downsouth, playing quality music and I think it would be fair to argue that his tapes were in equal demand (to pippy's) for a long period of time shannonside as well. In fact I remember, one morning in 99 finding my car broken into in the southside of the city, but nothing taken except my coveted stevie g tapes and one by Greg and Shane!. If you suffered at the hands of the same thief, you will be glad to know that the Black on red host has put up a huge array of mixes at podomatic. Tru skool to nu soul to yo latino!. It's all there.

Another hip hop fiend and legend DJ Mek has discovered some old dusty mix tapes of his and is sharing snippets on his blog.

Irish hiphop most prolific songwriter of the last few years Captain moonlight stepped into the indiehour on Dublin City FM a couple of weeks back and talked about early influences, writing rhymes, 'that track' and fatherhood. No predictions for the hurling though.

That track was of course released by all city on 7" (they have moonlights stuff to buy here). The Dublin based label will be releasing 7 tracks on 7 inch to celebrate 7 years this year. They chose Peter Curtins 'The Block' show for the worldwide exclusive airing of some of the tracks from this beatstrumental series. Great stuff, you can listen back to the show here.

And finally if you are smiling at the thought of that Moonlight track, take a listen to this and read the article from the New York Times. Cork born, hurling playing but nightmare living. Ireland 2008.

Shane

Eist II

• Mamuska is back for a special unfringed version this Friday and one of the pieces on the night will be by composer Jon Greenwood, "an electroacoustic piece called I am Luv, a piece about luv coming to the Limerick market on the first day of spring"

Bock has some good pictures of the market and environs from that day here.

• Best comment we've ever had on Paul Tarpeys video for Captain Moonlight posted today by septictank27. Someone tell Dustin?

• Peter Curtin's The Block from Spin Southwest is back available to listen to online. “a music programme for music lovers and unlike anything else on the airwaves ‘The Block’ will aim to cover a broad span of musical spectrums from hip-hop to funk, soul, reggae, jazz and everything else in between”.  Last Friday night included an hour long tribute to J Dilla. Worth checking, you can subscribe here.

• Limerick's other major funkster a2df has a great new funk mix up on the chop shop podcast.

• According to Helen Shaw, more and more of us are and will be downloading podcasts for use in mp3 players, cars etc. This of course opens up a whole new world of radio which previously was unavailable to us. In particular American public radio can come up with the goods. N.P.R has a large list of podcasts here. Not podcasted but streamed is a good series, NPR ran last summer Hip hop past present and future. Good style and range of guests. Interested in this one where MC Lyte, Tricia Rose (who Paul references extensively here) and Monie Love talk about Female rappers. Always good to hear Monie Love again.

• And bringing it back home, that is Monie Love's brother who is playing in Limerick this month, Dave Angel is Strutts latest guest in Dolans on February 23^rd.

Shane

Eist

• Brigadier JC is behind an idea which is gathering a lot of steam. A compilation of Limerick Electronic Producers is the plan. Go to the group page here, listen to tracks suggest names or even funding. Judging will happen at end of month. Paul Tarpey, Paul Webb and Aoife Ni Canna are amongst the judges. A bit like the Southern Fried compilation which Prime time put out featuring Cork producers a long time ago (but still getting played-check this Billy Jam show). It should help to unify people anyway, lot of interest, support it.
• Staying with Limerick, prank phone call experts The Rubberbandits have turned to hip hop. "Pure Awkward" is another level, as hurling sets Ice Cube and snoop off on a drug fueled homo erotic adventure or something like that.
• Moving away from fantasy, fans of the wire are keen to stress it's realness. Wayne & Wax have an excellent piece here on music in the show. He also goes one step further and remixes the theme tune. The comments make for an interesting read if you are hooked on the series.
• Eagsuil has been keeping it real for the last three years. The hour long arts show goes out on west Limerick 102 and covers loads of stuff from Limerick City back to Tralee. Now finally the weekly show is available as a podcast. Check here for more information and subscribe.

Shane