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secret fireworks

a music blog with a northern irish twist

 

secret fireworks @ trans: heliopause in the dome

I'm struggling to write this review without cracking at least one geography pun. Something along the lines of the band creating an amazing atmosphere. However, that would detract from one of the most surprisingly stunning gigs I've been at in the last two years. I've followed the band for quite a few months now (Richard was actually my first SF interview) and I thought I knew what to expect, having loved the Dark Matter EP.

From the first track, "Stained Glass", the band start as they mean to go on. Chris' droning guitar creates a shoegazesque cavalcade of noise while Richard's trademark fingerpicked acoustic guitar line means we experience this unusual yet lovely contrast. The vocals are muffled beyond belief, but that adds to the experience: it's a little bit magical, a little bit strange and a little bit hazy. Niall's drumming ranges from the delicate to the furious within the space of 30 seconds.

Most of the material we hear tonight is completely new, but we do get to hear the single Moment Of Recognition with Grace from Cutaways filling in on vocal duties. Interestingly enough, it's the weakest song on show here by a great deal. Despite the fact that the vocals are still indecipherable , the new material sounds very promising.

One or two tracks in particular stand out: one track features Richard crooning "this is everlasting, this is never ending" while Chris jumps in with a slightly more upbeat guitar riff and harmonies that mix together so well. It's a shame Therese wasn't part of the performance: I'm not sure if she's left or just couldn't make the gig but her vocals were the perfect compliment to Richard's and it was one of the standout points of Heliopause.

Chris' dreamy guitar parts return as they ring out in the Dome, with Niall's soft and measured drumming complimenting each other perfectly. I feel like I'm watching When Pilots Eject without keyboards and meaningful lyrics: we hear the odd word from Richard but there's this intense energy within the band that's restrained at times and released at others. It seems there's been a sound shift since the first EP and I welcome that greatly. There's a solo track from Richard which is nice but doesn't live up to the rest of the set: in the band there's an immediate contrast between Richard's restrained nature and Chris' energetic manner, with Niall caught somewhere in the middle. It's this mixture that makes the band unique!

All in all, it was a gorgeous, reflective set that made you stop, think, breathe and relax, a time of peace in a crazy world. The new material sounds ridiculously promising and I hope we get to hear a new EP soon enough but I'd still like to hear some of the older tracks played live, even the heartbreaking, shiver inducing "Mon Peu Rimbaud". A special band in a special venue on a special night: just next time guys, please do a proper soundcheck.

Edit: Thanks Chris for pointing out my mistake: Grace, of course, is in Cutaways, not the Flora, the Fauna. Last time I do late night posting, eh? And thanks to Steve for pointing out my mistake in regards to the Flora, the Fauna.

 
 

secret fireworks' guide to glasgowbury 2009

This Saturday sees the return of the famous Glasgowbury festival to Draperstown and due to the recent revival of local music it promises to be brimming with quality music. And So I Watch You From Afar are set to headline the event (in their own words, their biggest ever show) with numerous bands such as General Fiasco and Cashier No 9 creeping further and further up the billing each year. With four stages, less than 24 hours and just under 50 bands playing I've selected a number of bands that have caught my eye over the past couple of months. There inevitably will be some clashes, but c'est la vie.


This band need no introduction, but just for the hell of it, I'll give them one. Instrumental balls to the wall rock doesn't sound like everyone's cup of tea, but their debut album has gained huge acclaim not only from the usual suspects but mainstream media as well. With truly magical live performances and a seemingly limitless amount of energy, ASIWYFA can turn geeky girls into rock chicks within 30 seconds. A band that were born to play festivals.

General Fiasco (9:45pm-10:15pm)

It's rare for a band to be lauded by serious music magazines like AU and Hotpress and to be able to make thousands of teenagers swoon, but General Fiasco seem to have that magic formula. Nothing complicated about them: just good old pop punk with insanely catchy melodies and great drumming from Leaky. Even if you're not a big fan the guys can put on a lovely show Owen is one of the best live vocalists I've ever heard, so this performance certainly won't be a damp squib. Potential crowd singalong for Rebel Get By.

LaFaro (7:15pm-8:00pm)

Dirty rock with more than a hint of punk, LaFaro have been turning heads in the months leading up to their debut album release. I had the chance to see the band in Oh Yeah Music Centre and they created this amazing atmosphere in the place despite the fact there were only about 15 people there: with a fully stocked crowd and good weather, we could be in for something really special. The new material from the album sounds strong and there's rarely a dull moment in the set, plus of course there's the track of this generation, Tuppenny Nudger.

The Good Fight (2:10pm-2:40pm)

There's a touch of Coldplay about this band, there's no denying that. Good for some people, not so good for others. The Coleraine bunch have been getting plenty of press recently for being the first support act announced for General Fiasco's Ulster Hall gig. With an ear for a good tune and an cracking track in "Landslide" (available free on NI Chart, but it's not great quality) they could be one to watch. I'll be interested to see if Ben can pull off those crazy high vocals live on stage, and that's my one fear about their slot.



It will be my first time seeing the band but from the rave reviews I've heard of live performances this should be something special. A band that combine blues and country with a dose of old school rock Here Comes The Landed Gentry provide are one of those bands that you should go and see even if you haven't listened to them before. Fingers crossed we won't be disappointed. David Roy famously described the band as "a riot in a prison chapel": surely even the least inquisive person amongst us will want to find out what that sounds like.

The Q (4:30pm-5:00pm)

I thought this Derry band were robbed in the ATL Rock School competition, but they're still going strong. Armed to the teeth with hooks, lively guitars and witty lyrics the Q have turning heads over the past few years with Neil Hannon and Stu Bailie self proclaimed fans. Think of the Jam and the Undertones blended together with a dash of modernity and a shot of energy and you'll be halfway there to understanding the Q.

Kowalski (1:10pm-1:40pm)

It's time for Kowalski to stand up and be counted. Things have been pretty quiet from the band recently but apparently we'll see some new material at Glasgowbury. A fun band to watch and they've been promising for years but a new EP is important. Look out for "Japanese Waterfall" which the band are really excited about: will it stack up to earlier material? I hope so. We need Kowalski to kick ass.

A Plastic Rose (12:50pm-1:20pm)

Great live performers and super songwriters, A Plastic Rose have made shoegaze and passionate rock just that little bit more acceptable. With some of the nicest harmonies I've heard in a long long time and energetic drumming it's possible to be beautiful and devestating at the same time. Kids Don't Behave Like This is one of my favourite tracks of 2009, a song that builds and builds before exploding beautifully in a cavalcade of shouty vocals and crashing cymbals. One of the most exciting acts I've seen so far.

The Best Of The Rest...

The Jane Bradfords: no new material, apparently, will be featured but always a great act to see live. Deci Gallen's vocals have improved tenfold and everything seems to be clicking into place for the band.

Edit: I've been told that the guys will be playing one unreleased song that they've been playing for the past few months. This will probably be the end of The Jane Bradfords Mk 1: the acoustic gig in QUBSU with The Tallest Man On Earth will be the dawn of the JBs Mk 2, playing the new record and featuring an expanded lineup. Cheers!

Cashier No 9: not everyone's cup of tea, but the folk rock electronica shenanigans are always fun and the lads always deliver a stonking performance.
.
Skruff: if only to listen to This Is Not OK. What a song.

Yes Cadets: if the weather is good and you don't mind missing the start of A Plastic Rose's set, check these guys out. They don't provide a wall of hugs, but their sugar coated dancey indie pop sound will be a great way to kick off the festival weather permitting.

Joe Echo: one of the strongest local singer songwriters I've heard over the past couple of years, Ciaran's proved that there is life after Leya. Risky experimental pop is his game and an incredible cover of If I Were A Boy reinvents the song completely. An eagerly awaited set.

Dutch Schultz: the pole dancers may not be taking part in this performance but these boys are a talented bunch of rockers. They haven't quite settled on a sound yet, but there's still plenty of time.

Inishowen Gospel Choir: probably best known for their Urban Hymns performance, this could turn into a wonderful happy clappy gig. And that's fine by me.

Pocket Promise: releasing their debut album and with one of the singles of 2009 Pocket Promise could be the surprise of the festival.

 
 

secret fireworks @ trans: john shelly and the creatures

*tenuous link here, bear with me*


Who would want to work for the Northern Irish Tourist Board? It must be up there with being Michael Owen's physio, Pete Doherty's minder or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's PR representative. Norn Iron is known abroad for bombs, bullets, Bibles and blustery weather: whoever said "any publicity is good publicity" is clearly talking rubbish. A multimullion advertising campaign showing the landscape and countryside of Northern Ireland (as well as the general craic in our wee country) is a drop in the ocean compared to the round the clock news coverage when something wrong here. How do we change that perception that prospective tourists have? What does Northern Ireland mean to us?

Well, today's little performance in the Ulster Hall cafe by John Shelly and the Creatures would have been the perfect TV advert for Northern Ireland, if there had been any cameras knocking about. Or people, for that matter. Yes, I was able to have a good cup of tea sitting inside the newly revamped Ulster Hall while the band put on a great performance as the sun shone outside. Rational thinking, public investment, a resurgent music scene and global warming now feature in Northern Ireland, and we're all the better for it.

Kicking off the set with "Angeline", it feels like I'm watching a different band to the one I had seen at Trans:mission last week. As a full band JSC are good, but in an intimate acoustic performance like this, they really shine. Walter's vocals are much stronger than the previous Waterfront show, while all of the instrumental parts grab your attention. There's a warmth in this gig that was devoid in previous performances: it seems that once you unplug the electric guitars and remove the barriers JSC come to life. "Soft To The Bone" (well, I'm calling it that, I'm not sure of the proper title) sounds lush with three part harmonies interlinking and mixing together so well. It's a sign of good songwriting that a track can hold up in different situations: I would argue that 90% of this set was better than a full band performance. The little things stand out in these performances and they were on show today as the bassline takes prominence time and time again.

We're treated to a twee number featuring a mouth organ and mandolins which is reminiscent of Turin Brakes, nothing too complicated but simply a song that warms your soul. The lead vocals seem to swap between Ger, Walter and Phil: it's not necessarily a problem but it can make a set a little inconsistent as sometimes the vocalist can't break into their stride. However considering the fact every song seems to contain a harmony or two we didn't encounter that problem today. "Blinded and Cross" can only be appreciated truly in this setting: a simple little song that features those lovely three part harmonies that are hauntingly beautiful. The folk kings and queens of Belfast seem to be The Lowly Knights at the minute, a band I love but a band built on shaky foundations. John Shelly and the Creatures are an act built upon damn good songwriting, great melodies and glorious harmonies. There most certainly is a challenge for the crown.