Keep on keeping on, Nicodemus

Sherlock...

2012-01-04T20:18:00.003Z

The BBC One series SHERLOCK returned on New Year's Day and it didn't disappoint. It's not often you get such a high standard of literal puzzles crammed into one episode of a detective drama. You were left gasping for breath at the end and needed to re-watch certain parts as they went by in a blizzard of conundrums.

The two leading men are excellent, as are all the supporting cast.

Another strength of the series is the way it brings the stories from Arthur Conan Doyle into to-day's world.

Ingenious. In every sense of the world.

From Championship To Premiership...

2011-08-27T03:17:00.003+01:00

It's quite amazing the amount of media attention a football club gets in The Premiership compared to the Championship.

I've been made acutely aware of this since QPR got promoted in May.

Whilst they lingered in the lower leagues I had to search for any stories or info about the club. (They were virtually non-existent in the Irish 'papers). Now, I get kept up to date just by flicking open the sports pages or by just watching the news on the telly.

Also, there are no more midnight hour late nights to see the goals as they can be seen at more civilised times on RTE & BBC on Saturday or Sunday evenings.

Championship Player Of The Year...

2011-04-06T12:09:00.003+01:00

The #VinB Twitter Phenonemon...

2011-04-01T03:00:00.005+01:00

The Tonight With Vincent Browne tv show (& it's sister show on Friday night) is a perfect vehicle for the social media site twitter.com (search #VinB)

The twitter chat about the show reached it's zenith last Friday night with the Jedward appearance on the show. The show was itself was highly entertaining Friday night crack which was raised another notch by the twitter chat during it.

It's very hard describing the appeal of twitter to people who don't use it. It's a bit like trying to describe the taste of water.

But try this: The next time you watch a popular favourite tv show, go onto twitter.com and search for live comments about the show. It should give you the flavour.

Stress Tested In Ireland...

2011-04-01T02:48:00.005+01:00

So, we're are putting another €24 Billion into the banks. This brings the total since September 2008 to €71Billion (click HERE).

Comprehending this figure is impossible but what's more incredible is how it was allowed to happen.

We're now going to go back to just 2 commercial banks in the country. Therefore a duopoly will probably occur. No foreign banks will be coming here for a long time. Competition is effectively gone.

Competition in the marketplace is always reeled out as the answer to everything.

What's the answer now?

Extravagant But Nice...

2011-03-29T12:18:00.003+01:00

I recently ordered this holder for all my Bob Dylan cd's. It certainly wasn't necessary but I justified it as restoring LP sized album artwork to my collection (I gave away any Dylan albums I had on vinyl when cd's came in years ago).

It being my birthday in the coming weeks was a further justification. Also, it looks rather lovely:

Cowen & The Bankers.....

2011-01-13T22:35:00.003Z

As we watch the last days of these Fianna Fáil led governments it really is worth dwelling on the day of golfing that Cowen had with Seanie Fitz of Anglo Irish Bank.

This highlighted the type of people Cowen, Bertie, Harney, McCreevy et al go to for "chats" about the economy. That is gamblers & people who move money around. Not people who actually generate wealth.

But apart from all that, this behaviour displayed to all regulators & Central Bank officials who they shouldn't hassle with, ehhhh, regulation. I mean, can you imagine an official trying to rein in Seanie knowing he socialises with the Prime Minister?

It's all tawdry and incestuous. I've always reckoned it's been down to just a few people that the whole country is in the desperate state it's in. Hearing about Cowen, Seanie & 2 other Anglo related men hanging out on a "day off" I don't need to alter that position.

Of course, the call now is "we're all in this together". Yeah, cheers lads. Hole in one.

One Day by David Nicholls...

2011-01-12T21:03:00.004Z

Finally got around to reading this acclaimed book. And it was every bit as good as everyone said.

A great story very well written with characters you can believe in. I started it on Saturday and finished it on Wednesday which is some kind of a record for a slow reader like me.

Unsurprisingly, there's talk of it being made into a film. They'll be doing well to recreate it on the screen.

9 Dart Finish...

2011-01-08T17:42:00.003Z

... in the WORLD FINAL!

I always enjoy the darts after Christmas. As I don't have Sky Sports I'm left with the inferior BBC version. But here's a hell of a leg from the S/Sports one (thanks to Richard for the link):

Blog & Twitter...

2011-01-05T23:28:00.005Z

I've been spending a lot of time on twitter.com so I've added a twitter feed gadget thingy to the right hand side of this page to keep non-twitter people up to date. It will keep this blog fresher during any periods of absence.

There may be links of interest to you appearing there from time to time (and other banter) so, do have a quick read..

I like twitter. The trick is to follow people of interest to you and to stop following people that annoy you. Its purely your own choice. Another, really strong, advantage is the speed of breaking news, eeerr, breaking. But again choose your news source wisely. Anyway, that's the end of my twitter advert (and they were doing okay without me anyway!)

Happy New Year, and thanks for reading.

Dylan Debate...

2011-01-05T23:20:00.002Z

Michael Gray v David Quantick on BBC Radio4 (for the next 6 days only)

Click HERE.

Bruce Springsteen in 1972, Growing Up....

2010-11-02T22:25:00.000Z

And This Is What Our Ex-Taoiseach Is Up To Now...

2010-10-04T14:09:00.002+01:00

Cowen Isn't A Morning Person...

2010-09-15T02:50:00.003+01:00

Can you imagine if you were booked in for an interview, on the the most listened to radio show in your country, in the morning? Now, would you stay up singin' and drinking until 3am?

Ok, now add on top of that scenario that you were the Prime Minister of that country in the middle of the worst economic downturn ever. Still no?

Ok here's An Taoiseach Brian Cowen:

Present Likes...

2010-09-08T02:06:00.005+01:00

Music:

The Divine Comedy - Bang Goes The Knighthood

Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs"

Isobel Campbell - Hawk

Brandon Flowers - Flamingo

TV:

MadMen (season4 on BBCFOUR)

Book:

Charlie Brooker - Dawn Of The Dumb

And most of all my new iPad. We've become quite attached. In fact I'm beginning to get worried.

What Was Dylan Doing 41yrs Ago To-day?

2010-08-31T23:41:00.002+01:00

THIS:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTY3NzU4OTMy.html

and HERE is one of his great tracks from Blonde On Blonde.

Frank Sinatra sings Cycles...

2010-08-25T21:32:00.002+01:00

Mr. Frank looking "Mr.Cool" as usual:

The Last Waltz by The Group...

2010-08-15T23:52:00.003+01:00

Went to the Wexford Opera House last night to see the re-enactment of the famous The Last Waltz concert by The Band by a Dublin based ensemble. The troupe did a great job and it was a most entertaining night. If it comes around your neck of the woods you should go along. The Wexford venue, by the way, was as good as any venue I have ever been in. Top notch.

Holmes From Holmes...

2010-08-15T02:08:00.004+01:00

Since I've come back from holidays (Rome & Sorrento, since you ask), I've caught up on the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes film and also the first two editions of the new BBC1 drama "Sherlock".

The Ritchie version left me cold. It totally concentrated on the pugilistic skills of the great detective, whilst placing the deductive aspects in the background. It might as well have been an Indiana Jones film for all it added to the Sherlock Holmes canon.

However, the BBC drama was much more aligned to the Conan Doyle original. Although placed in modern day London, it not only lost none of the late 19th century appeal, but also added to the original by staying true to Doyle's intriguing, and still enduring, creation. I particularly found fun in the adaptation of Holmes' deductions set in the modern age. And was still pleased at the old fashioned settings of the rooms in 221b Baker Street (with coal fire burning and all).

I look forward to catching up on the next episode. Sadly, I cannot say the same about the Mr. Ritchie's.

New Modern Day Sherlock Holmes...

2010-07-23T04:44:00.003+01:00

BBC are showing a new take on Shelock Holmes in three 90minute dramas on BBC1 in the coming Sundays.

What an enduring character Conan Doyle's creation has proven to be; with endless incarnations of the sleuth since his inception in Victorian London.

I still haven't got around to seeing what Guy Ritchie did to him but I'm looking forward to this production.

Click HERE for a piece from the BBC website.

Newport (Ymerodraeth State of Mind)...

2010-07-22T00:47:00.001+01:00

Beats Weird Al Yankovic anyday:

The Agony Of Sport...

2010-07-16T02:48:00.005+01:00

I'm only getting around to the stomach churning events of the last seconds of, my home team, Louth's defeat by their bigger neighbours Meath last Sunday afternoon in the GAA football Leinster Final.

For those who don't know it would have been the first time Louth won this since NINETEEN-FIFTY-SEVEN, so it meant more than a little.

The winning goal was illegal. There is no debate about this as all sides, including the ref, agreed to this after the event. Of course, if they had to agree to it during the event it would have been a lot easier.

I am the eternal pessimist in sport due to supporting teams with track records like Louth and QPR along, of course, with the Irish soccer team so I never expect much when any of "my teams" are playing.

However last Sunday when the game was into it's fourth minute of injury time (and when it had been declared that only three minutes would be played) I started to believe that, yes, my home county Louth was going to win one of the toughest provinces in Gaelic football.

As soon as I dared let myself believe this the ball was carried/thrown/bundled over our goal line. And it mattered not that it was done outside the rules of the game.

Later that evening I won €700 from a work draw when Spain won the World Cup; but the good fortune of that didn't come close to misery of my afternoon.

Still A Great Pop Song...

2010-07-06T00:54:00.002+01:00

OUTKAST - Hey Ya!

Dr. Dog: Shadow People...

2010-07-04T12:20:00.001+01:00

Another of this blog's faves this year:

The Divine Comedy: Bang Goes The Knighthood...

2010-07-03T01:34:00.003+01:00

I've been playing the above compact disc collection of songs from Mr. Neil Hannon for the past two weeks in my automobile and I must say it's a real belter.

I asked radio presenter Ronan Collins to play a tune from it called I LIKE and, lo and behold, he played it at the very start of his RTÉ1 programme on Friday morning. And if you click HERE, and move the time slider thing on by four-minutes you can hear it too.

You really should buy the album. We need more of this sort of thing on our radio stations.

England's World Cup Exit...

2010-06-30T02:23:00.006+01:00

Since England's very tame defeat in the 2nd round of the World Cup soccer people have again been scratching their heads wondering who or what is to blame. The most popular excuse in 2010 is that the English club teams have loads of "foreign" players instead of English ones. [These "foreign" players seemingly make the English players look better than they are.]

However, as far as I can remember, from following soccer since the mid '70's, this World Cup finish is the standard for the English national team. In fact, compared to some previous campaigns it's even better.

I don't remember 1974 but they didn't even qualify for those Finals. In Argentina'78 which I do remember (ticker tape was the "vuvuzella" of 1978) again England did not qualify.

Of course, there were little or no "foreign" players (apart from Scottish, Irish and Welsh) pre-1978. Indeed I remember the excitement when Ossie Ardiles and Ricaro Villa joined Spurs after the '78 World cup because it was so unusual. I can't remember the popular excuse for English failure back then. It was probably, "we need to introduce "foreign" players into the League to help improve us".

In the ensuing eight Finals England have got to the semi-finals once. Apart from that it's been a quarter-final exit or worse (they didn't qualify again in 1994).

All the talk about managers, foreign players, tiredness, the pressure from the Press etc. mask the real issue that something is very wrong with the coaching and encouragement of skills in the English game. And it has been that way for at least 40years.

It'll take a hell of an effort to correct it but, until they do, this is as good as it gets.

Simone Felice Returns...

2010-06-28T01:32:00.002+01:00

Simone Felice had a very serious heart scare that required equally serious surgery. But he's on the mend and he joined his brothers for at the Clearwater Revival.

Here he is:

A Good Day To Have Off...

2010-06-24T02:46:00.004+01:00

Got to see the England/Slovenia game. England winning one-nil. The usual good crack of watching the wildly different views of the BBC panel against the RTE one. You really would think they were watching two completely different games. For what it's worth, my view is that Slovenia were poor but, while the better side, England couldn't kill them off and ended up "holding on" for a one - nil victory. Of course, seeing as their next game is against the old enemy Germany I expect they will do a lot better but you cannot foretell what nerves will do to them. Sadly I'll be working on Sunday (which also means I'll miss seeing Louth versus Westmeath in the Leinster semi-final).

After cooking dinner (grilled chicken breast, new-season potatoes and beans, since you ask) I stumbled across the longest tennis game ever at Wimbledon 2010. At 59 (yes, fifty-nine) games each in the final set, and after circa10hrs playing, they had to stop due to poor light. Fascinating.

Next up was Lennon Naked on BBC4. A drama about John Lennon 1967 - 1971. I'd read about this period in Lennon's life before and the programme didn't shirk away from displaying his descent into an (admittedly, already there) selfishness and nastyness. Coupled with his own sense of artistic and world importance it was quite painful to watch. It reminded me why I still prefer the early Beatles songs to the ones from Sgt. Peppers on.

The WORD's Summer Song Picks...

2010-06-22T00:50:00.003+01:00

... from this month's magazine edition are now on-line.

Quirky and nice. Click HERE for a diverting moment or two.

Ray Davies is 66...

2010-06-22T00:38:00.003+01:00

Ray Davies is one of THE great pop songwriters. A true melody maker. Here's one of my favourites:

What I Did With Some Time-Off...

2010-06-19T12:20:00.004+01:00

We had a mid-summer break for a few days. These are the places we hit:

THE BAILEY for Brother-In-Law plus his wife's 40th Birhtday Party.

Kildare Village Out-Let Store.

Hook Head Lighthouse.

To Dublin for two nights. Stayed in The Shelbourne Hotel. Sauntered down Grafton Street. Bought the new Divine Comedy and Mary Gauthier albums. Strolled around St. Stephen's Green in the sunshine. Visited Wilde statue. Drank the night away in THE DUKE pub. Visited The National Gallery to view the Taking Stock Exhibition (and very good it is too). Later walked around Trinity College.

Got pretty good weather.

Another World Cup Post...

2010-06-09T19:02:00.001+01:00

... but this time by Tony Cascarino:

http://community.footballpools.com/blog/2010/06/09/tony-cascarino-playing-in-italia90-world-cup-was-a-whole-new-level/

The World Cup Still Works...

2010-06-09T00:44:00.005+01:00

The World Cup is about to start and I always look forward to it when it comes around. Soccer was the first sport I loved watching and it remains my sporting choice. British tv called it Football but that was too inaccurate for me because we also had Gaelic Football here in Ireland. I heard, years later, that Americans had the same difficulty with this description of the word "football" also.

But I have to go back. When I was a 7 year old I fell in love with comics. After a couple of months of chasing copies of TIGER & SCORCHER, BATTLE, WARLORD & BULLET, and after my Mam decided to give me 25pence pocket-money a week, I became a person who "booked" his comic of choice. I decided on the mainly sport oriented "Tiger & Scorcher". This meant having that week's copy of the latest edition waiting for me when I went up on a Thursday after school. The newsagent taking it from under the counter, with the name McArdle handwritten across the top right corner. I switched later to "Roy Of The Rovers", as he left the parent publication probably to make more money on his own. Little did I know that this was exactly the way real soccer life would turn out to be.

During those years I fell for Queen's Park Rangers because of their attractive stylish football, Stan Bowles, and because every tv station said they were "family friendly". But mostly because they were heading for the title; because my older brother followed them; and because I liked their strip.

As I've grown older, I've lost my taste for comics and any liking for the actual football industry. However, I now love getting texts from my 10yr old nephew about how his team (Arsenal) is doing, and how mine (yes, still QPR) are struggling to get to the Premiership. He really wants us to get there (but I'm sure it's only so Arsenal can wallop us).

So, I start to watch a month of football full of players I have no idea about; full of teams I don't know, and managers that are quite as mad as I remember managers to be. All commentated on by people that have no idea what will happen next.

Just like I remember football before we got swamped with over exposure, analysis and experts.

The Mother Fuyer post...

2010-06-06T02:58:00.005+01:00

I put up the great Dirty Red track MOTHER FUYER on a different site. Hopefully you'll enjoy it here:

Click HERE.

Sex And The City by Kermode...

2010-06-02T01:49:00.002+01:00

I know he's only on about the latest film but Mr. K says everything I want to say about the whole SATC franchise far better than I ever could HERE.

John Prine On Letterman with Jim James...

2010-05-28T17:17:00.001+01:00

Bob Dylan's "Love & Theft"...

2010-05-24T21:23:00.004+01:00

... is his best recent album. Here's a good collection of the music that influenced it:

"Love And Theft" from dagb on Vimeo.

Bob Dylan's 69th Birthday...

2010-05-24T15:47:00.007+01:00

Was awoken this May24th to texts from friends asking did I hear the Bob Dylan discussion "Is He Any Good?" on The Tubridy Radio show on RTÉ Radio. I hadn't, but I replayed it HERE later.

Most people don't think much of Dylan and all the usual points are put forward in this radio discussion, i.e. "can't sing", "grumpy", "doesn't talk enough in concert", "his songs are better sung by other people" etc.

These are all valid points that I disagree with but the idea that I could try and change the mindsets of people who believe these things has long passed. Indeed, it's a bit like trying to convince an alco-pops drinker that Guinness is a nice drink, so I'm not going to start doing it here.

The Dylan admirer these days is positively in the minority, and has to suffer the derision, bemusement, and dismissal of everyone else.

But, don't think twice, it's alright; we're used to it.

The Future Is Here And It's Creepy...

2010-05-24T11:40:00.000+01:00

Dusty Sings Van...

2010-05-16T23:41:00.002+01:00

Ireland's Tiresome Chat Show Guests...

2010-05-15T12:03:00.002+01:00

On The Late Late Show on RTE1 last night I see that Bill bloody Cullen was a guest, then I see that Idele "have we talked enough about me yet? no way. Did you know I used to be called Twink" King was on. I was gonna write something about the tiredness of this stuff but THIS sketch says it all:

Brown's Last Moments in Number 10 In Pictures...

2010-05-12T14:22:00.001+01:00

Quite evocative:

Click HERE.

Vote Liberal Democrat get Conservative...

2010-05-11T22:26:00.004+01:00

With to-day's announcement that the Lib Dems have gone into coalition with the Tories to make David Cameron prime-minister, I can't help feeling there must be an awful lot of pretty disappointed Clegg voters.

As an outsider looking in, the Liberals always looked closer to the Labourites. Also the Liberal Democrats are a very pro-European party and the Conservatives, let's be kind, aren't.

And of course, if Irish history is anything to go by, it's the junior party in a coalition that always gets hammered in any subsequent General Election.

A big gamble by Mr. Clegg who remember, actually lost seats in the recent election.

Scott Walker Sings Dylan...

2010-05-04T13:33:00.001+01:00

This is nice:

The Duke & The King: The Academy 2

2010-05-04T01:06:00.005+01:00

The Duke & And The King were in Dublin for the last show of their British/Irish tour. And so it was off to The Academy to find out it was actually the underground part that we, and the band, were corralled in to. Simone Felice wasn't happy but, after letting his feelings been known about his London agent putting everyone into the pit of Hades, things went heavenly.

It's hard not to use religious imagery when describing my first time seeing The Duke & The King (and Simone since The Felice Brothers' magnificent show in The Sugar Club in 2008). After hearing the main man singing "If You Ever Get Famous" back-to-back with "The Morning I Get To Hell" I could have finished my pint of stout, grabbed my coat, and went to the next pub happy. However, the other members had even more to bring to the congregation. Even though there were only three more persons in the band, and maybe 100 people in the audience, you had to look around and wonder who was making whichever angelic sound was resting on your ears. Every voice had that kind of spooky. Of course, you could also be asked for a dance and a twirl by whichever band member didn't have a part to play at that particular time. The spirits were always high.

Apart from almost all the "Nothing Gold Can Stay" album there were also cover versions of Felice Brothers' songs alongside a spiritual version of the Neil Young song Helpless.

A quite beautiful night.

Dr. Dog - Shadow People...

2010-04-30T02:07:00.001+01:00

,,, another track from one of my new 3 favourite albums (see earlier post):

Jakob Dylan: Nothing But The Whole Wide World...

2010-04-29T02:12:00.001+01:00

Channel4 News...

2010-04-29T01:46:00.003+01:00

Channel4 News has been the number one choice of U.K. & international news for me for a long time. It's quite different than the rest of the U.K. news programmes. To-day, when Gordon Brown's BigotGate story broke, is a good time to show them in action:

1st the whole incident in one minute:

Click HERE.

Then their sign-off at the end of their main news at 7pm:

Click HERE.

Of course, this is a slight story that fits on my blog quite easily, but their unique independent covering of news (both well known and less so) on their tv and website really is to be admired.

Got Any Spare Coppers For The Coppers?

2010-04-28T02:56:00.010+01:00

I actually thought I was hallucinating when I heard Mr P.J. Stone of the Garda Representation Association demand that serving Gardai be "allowed to take part-time jobs" as barmen and as security men on their days off from the force (click HERE). He also stated that there is a good chance that Gardai will become corrupt if asked to live on their present wages alone.

Apart from the fact that I've never seen a poor Garda and have witnessed them being treated like privileged people getting into nightclubs for free, getting free drinks in pubs and generally being (cough!) looked after in the local community, do they really think they should be first in the queue for these jobs, that could be a genuine life-line to more deserving people? As regards to becoming "vulnerable to corruption" if they are not allowed take these jobs, well Mr. Stone if they would become vulnerable to corruption, for this reason, they probably already are. I mean a part-time barman's wages isn't going to do much about that.

3 really good new albums...

2010-04-24T11:59:00.004+01:00

I've been lucky enough to come across three new cds are that really very good.

The first When The Devil's Loose is by A.A. Bondy;

the second is by Dr. Dog and it's called Shame, Shame;

whilst the third one is Women & Country by Jakob Dylan.

You can get pre-listen to samples of these on youtube and on other parts of the web if you want to see if they float your boat (and if you don't trust me !).

Popular British/Irish Politicians...

2010-04-18T23:35:00.007+01:00

Listening to the fact that Nick Clegg & Eamon Gilmore are topping the polls got me thinking.

There is a similar trend in politics in the U.K & Ireland and it's this: if you haven't had power, and you say the right things, you do well in the polls. There is nothing particularly new in this but it's always worth remembering.

In the meantime the (senior) civil servants rumble along & run the (respective) country regardless.

However, it's not totally un-democratic as they are swayed greatly by the perception of the media. So, the next time you expect your news information to be free, please remember it's right to pay for it. Otherwise, the power-mongers will have free reign themselves.

It's up to you which news source to pay for, of course.

Crystal Swing Go Stateside...

2010-04-12T20:43:00.002+01:00

There's just no stopping this juggernaut:

Click HERE.

John Prine Tribute Album...

2010-04-10T20:13:00.002+01:00

Some cool, groovy artists have been assembled to do a tribute album of John Prine songs.

About time.

Click HERE for some early details (not released until June 2010).

Jakob Dylan Performance...

2010-04-06T22:31:00.003+01:00

Went to buy JD's new cd Women & Country to-day in HMV in Dundrum S.C but was told it ain't out here until next week. In the meantime this'll have to do:

http://online.wsj.com/video/jakob-dylan-performs-everybody-hurting/C54215CD-3142-41EF-8217-9D2A8C4C426B.html

The Spirit Store in "Best Small Music Venues" list...

2010-04-02T14:09:00.005+01:00

Duke Special has written a little piece, in The Guardian's list of "best small music venues in the world", on Dundalk's Spirit Store. I have had a few great nights there. Anyway, the article can be read HERE.

"new" Irish National Anthem by Duckworth Lewis Method...

2010-04-01T17:20:00.002+01:00

(thanks to ravishingrickrude for the link)

The Daily Mail Song...

2010-03-29T16:31:00.002+01:00

Just found this on twitter. Brilliant:

This Song Came Into My Head To-day...

2010-03-29T15:34:00.000+01:00

Enjoy:

Just Put My Creative Zen X-Fi2 On Random...

2010-03-29T00:18:00.007+01:00

... opened a bottle of Corona, wedged in a slice of lime, and these were the first ten tracks it played on my BOSE Noise Reducing Headphones (man, I should ask for sponsorship):

PJ Harvey: Good Fortune (album Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea)

Bob Dylan: Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat (Blonde on blonde)

Nina Simone: Put A Little Sugar In My Bowl (Nina Simone the greatest hits)

The Ramones: Needles And Pins (Anthology: Hey! Ho! Let's Go)

Jackie Wilson/Linda Hopkins: Shake A Hand (Sweetest Feelin': The Very Best Of Jackie Wilson)

Leroy Carr: Papa's On The Housetop (Theme Time Radio Hour with your host Bob Dylan)

The Beautiful South: Blitzkrieg Bop (Golddiggas, Headnodders & Pholk Songs)

Bob Dylan: Dead Man, Dead Man (Bob Dylan Live 1961 - 2000)

Carl Perkins: Honey Don't (Boppin' Blue Suede Shoes - The Sun Sessions)

Beatstalkers: Silver Tree Top School For Boys (oh! you pretty things: the songs of David Bowie)

John Humpreys v Ian Paisley...

2010-03-29T00:04:00.002+01:00

... put 11mins aside for this BBC Radio4 interview:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8590000/8590523.stm

A.A. Bondy - When The Devil's Loose...

2010-03-25T13:38:00.002Z

Saw this guy open for The Felice Brothers a while back. Currently digging his album. Here's the title track:

Snapped At Enniscorthy Parade Earlier To-day...

2010-03-17T21:02:00.003Z

Damn! The paparazzi are good.

At Least Someone Thinks We're Doing Something Right...

2010-03-14T22:41:00.001Z

Click HERE.

Crystal Swing On The Late Late Show...

2010-03-12T23:53:00.002Z

To-night's performance:

I Wish I Was In New Jersey To-Night...

2010-03-12T14:08:00.003Z

What a show in the WELLMONT THEATRE to-night.

Keep On Twittering On, Nicodemus...

2010-03-12T02:20:00.010Z

Yes, I said I couldn't see it taking off..... it did.

Yes, I couldn't see it lasting..... it has.

Yes, I am now tracking tweets from over 80 people on it.

And, yes, I am brutal at predicting trends. I mean, I still use VHS* to record stuff.

For erratic, short, quick, less than 140 character updates, go HERE.

*Just watched IN THE LOOP through that age old mechanism. Best tirade from Malcome Tucker was: "You told the press we're "climbing the mountain of conflict"? You sounded like a Nazi Julie Andrews!""

They Could Have Made More Of An Effort....

2010-03-10T09:45:00.001Z

By a band called OK GO. Quite a good tune too:

Musicians Still Throw Televisions...

2010-03-04T15:02:00.003Z

and ,eeerr, kill cats with them. Or do they? Let Judge Judy decide:

3 More Years Working. YIPPEE!!!!

2010-03-03T18:47:00.003Z

The Irish Government is increasing the pension qualifying age to 68 (details HERE).

More good news on top of all the other stuff we've been hit with over the past two years.

Sure hope all those guys and gals in the property, political and banking game, who were living high on the hog and beyond their means, had a good time.

David Bowie : A Reality Tour...

2010-03-03T02:33:00.007Z

I've had the above on dvd for a few years and now Columbia have released it on CD, so I can now listen to it in the car too.

It's a great collection of (33) tracks very well played with nice in-between song chatter from The Dame's two concerts in Dublin in November 2003. The Thin White Duke's voice is in amazingly good shape after all these years.
These were shows I missed at the time because I was "between jobs" and had bugger-all spare cash. They were famous for their longevity and the fantastic sample of tunes from a vast songbook. So I'm mighty glad to have them on these two formats now.

You can get it HERE for a measly €14.99. I recommend everyone buy it to-day!

Man Eats Ryanair Scratchcard...

2010-02-27T15:24:00.001Z

Even winners on Ryanair get annoyed. Story HERE.

The Duke & The King Short Film...

2010-02-25T21:19:00.002Z

Nice little Channel4 11min piece on The Duke & The King HERE.

[Available for the next 29days only]

UNBELIEVABLE! UNBELIEVABLE! UNBELIEVABLE!

2010-02-25T13:12:00.002Z

Found this on Graham Linehan's blog and had to pass it on. This is a genuine family band from Cork.

Bailey on De Burgh....

2010-02-25T11:34:00.001Z

Quick Thought...

2010-02-24T20:35:00.005Z

... having Gerry Ryan present weight-loss programme OPERATION TRANSFORMATION is like getting Graham Norton to present Match Of The Day.

Who's Resigning Next...

2010-02-23T22:30:00.006Z

First George (F)Lee, then Deirdre (Ban)De Burcha, next was Willie (Pants On Fire) O'Dea and now Trevor (Carry On) Sergent.

Meanwhile Ashley Cole has been caught sending nude photos of himself to flirt with some girl (I wouldn't recommend this approach for everyone); and the wife has reigned from the marriage.

Tiger Woods stages the most staged of staged apologies to tell everyone that he is still, for the time being, retired from all ball sports.

I'm going for THIS man to resign next (and he hasn't even been appointed yet!).

The Duke & The King Tour...

2010-02-23T09:04:00.003Z

The DUKE & THE KING are coming to Dublin on 30APR10 and tickets have been purchased (a recession busting €12.50!!). Looking forward to seeing, the very talented, Simone Felice previously of The Felice Brothers again.

Here's a video to celebrate:

Beer Wars Trailer...

2010-02-18T19:09:00.000Z

Looks like an interesting docufilm:

Noel Edmond's TV Show Ideas Rip Off Partridge...

2010-02-17T19:28:00.004Z

Only one (made-up) word for THIS:

Un-bloody-believable!

The BRITS 2010...

2010-02-16T22:15:00.003Z

Just watched Lady GaGa dominate The BRITS on u.tv. She came away with three awards and was polite and quiet as a mouse in all her acceptance speeches. I thought from her extremely unique look she'd be mad as a hatter but no. Just a very talented and original pop star, which has to be a good thing.

Sam Fox still hasn't learnt how to read an autocue; Liam Gallagher seems to have really grown up and matured....not! And Cheryl Cole opted to mime her way thru' her performance, which really is just not cricket. While Robbie Williams now is the established senior man of British music. When did that happen?

Hadn't a clue who Lady GaGa was this time last year when she appeared with the Pet Shop Boys. Wonder what new star we'll be on about in 12months...

New Mp3 Player Purchase...

2010-02-15T21:41:00.006Z

To-night I've bought a CREATIVE ZEN X-Fi2 32Gb audio player online.

My beloved CREATIVE VISION:M battery is running out of steam (it now just about lasts one Guinness fuelled night in my living room!).

This will be my fourth mp3 player. I started with a ZEN Xtra (30Gb), then a VISION:M 60Gb (which I banjaxed by placing in an iPod docking station). Then I learnt that Creative abandoned making players over 32Gb after being trounced by Apple in the market.

I've avoided the extremely popular Apple iPod, and therefore higher capacity, due to a peculiar personal awkwardness that I can't explain.

Now looking forward to the delivery like a child waits for Christmas.

Dylan At The White House...

2010-02-11T12:16:00.002Z

George Flee Ex-TD...

2010-02-09T12:58:00.003Z

All the coverage of George Lee leaving his new role of a member of parliament after only nine months and no-one mentioning the fact that he had to leave now in order to be guaranteed re-employment of RTE (he was on one year's leave of absence form the station).

Why didn't he leave RTE fully last year?

Now, seemingly he has to have a few years "de-contamination" before he can go back into political/economical coverage of Irish current affairs. This, of course, means that the US Correspondent position that Charlie Bird is vacating is a pretty perfect fit.

Lee has also being moaning about not being asked for "input" on economic policy yet he never volunteered any writings or talks on the subject off his own bat in his short time as a TD. Not one radical idea for a man that wanted to "fix the economy".

It's simple: he didn't like his new job. It didn't suit him. He wanted to return to the cushier job of shouting from the sidelines. He couldn't hack it as a player. And he had to make the break before the 12months was up.

Everything else is just guff

Click HERE for his performance on Tonight With Vincent Browne (it's the 08FEB10 edition).

"It's One For Our Side"...

2010-02-02T15:19:00.004Z

I see one of this blog's favourite cds has won a Grammy. Levon Helm's ELECTRIC DIRT won for Best Americana Album.

Click HERE for the story, and quote, from Poughkeepsie, Upstate New York.

Here's a track:

Newspapers...

2010-01-30T03:06:00.006Z

With this week's launch of the iPad the death knell has been sounded (again) for newspapers.

I am a fan of newspapers and can't begin to think of them being replaced by a screen. There is something about the feel and look of a newspaper (preferably broadsheet) that plastic encased technology lacks.

And you can't run around your living room and whack a fly with an iPad either.

Mad Men returns..

2010-01-28T14:15:00.005Z

MAD MEN Series3 began on RTE1 and BBC4 this week. It was like having an old friend back. Quality television.

I wasn't surprised it won the Golden Globe earlier this month, for best TV Drama, but I am somewhat stunned at the scheduling time on RTE. i.e 11:40pm....... on a Monday night, and BBC have put it on one of their "minority" channels!

Best set your Sky+/DVD Recorder/VCR; but make sure you've watched series 1 & 2 first.

Q.P.R.'s New Management Team?

2010-01-28T13:43:00.001Z

Click HERE.

Hail Competition, Broadband & other things...

2010-01-25T16:05:00.008Z

Just upgraded to 7Mb broadband with u.tv, from 2Mb, for a Euro less a month. This low rate of €44.99 was probably brought in due to competition from the new Vodafone At Home service (who recently took over the BT domestic business).

When I first got hooked up to the Internet back in the old days my 2 monthly phone bill was over €130 for just dial-up from Eircom! Good to see the free-market working in something. What'll probably happen next is that one or two big firms will buy up all the teleco's and we'll be back to square one.

By the way, have you noticed the maths-minx Rachel Riley on COUNTDOWN on Channel4 TV lately? I can't tell my vowels from my consonants anymore never mind concentrate on making a word!

And amazingly a week has gone by without a QPR manager being sacked or appointed!

Finally, sorry for the lack of postings recently. Been a bit busy in "real-life". I must do better!

A Great Fall On The Ice...

2010-01-18T12:35:00.002Z

The Duckworth Lewis Radiophonic Blunderbus...

2010-01-16T15:41:00.003Z

One of this blog's favourite albums in 2009 was The Duckworth Lewis Method. Now Tom Walsh and Neil Hannon have been given the Sunday 5pm to 7pm slot on RTE 2Fm to spin their favourite tunes for a few weeks.

The first one was last Sunday and the next one is to-morrow. Well worth a listen.

Click HERE for the most recent show.

Darts On BBC2...

2010-01-09T00:39:00.003Z

Loving the World Championship Darts on BBC2 but what an annoying presenter.

[Excuse me name dropping Iris and Peter's fave but].... God, that's my second Norn Iron post in a row.

Coo-Coo-Ca-Choo Mrs. Robinson...

2010-01-08T00:49:00.005Z

Just want to thank Iris & Peter Robinson for keeping me heartily entertained whilst I was snowed-in for the last couple of days.

This included the BBC exposure of their money-grabbing expenses claiming (and a further claim of £150,000 in wages for four relatives, including two of their children); her affair with a 19yr-old son of a friend and sourcing him £50,000 from business people to start up a café (but then asking him for £5,000 of it for herself); and, to top it all, their calculated, pitiful, throwing of themselves on the public airwaves for sympathy (by the way, does Tommie Gorman specialise in accommodating this kind of thing? Does he charge a fee?).

Wouldn't normally show such schadenfreude but these two characters always took the high moral ground on every issue I ever heard them spout about whilst name-dropping God at every opportunity.

Details HERE.

I Thought RTE Had No Money...

2010-01-05T23:59:00.004Z

We keep being told that RTE have no money, so why the hell are they starting up yet another chat show on saturday nights? Everyone knows one chat show is enough for the size of the country. I mean, have you seen the line up we've had so far on Friday nights this year, when there has been no Saturday night competition?

They had the opportunity to abandon this waste of space idea after Kenny vacated the Friday night slot to the previous saturday night host Tubridy.

To compound the insult they've got the awful Brendan O'Connor to host the damn thing.

It's Been A Long Christmas Break...

2010-01-05T00:30:00.008Z

... but most enjoyable:

I discovered that:

I loved Dylan's Christmas album (it's now put away with the decorations),

The Felice Brothers' Frankie's Gun was sang-along-to at the end of the OUTNUMBERED Christmas special.

Gavin,Stacey,Smithy & Nessa live happily ever after.

Raced through my dvds of series 1&2 of Midsomer Murders without guessing the plot once! Lovely.

Ronan Keating now has the same hairstyle as Hitler.

Shudder to think what Guy Ritchie has done to Sherlock Holmes (but will still go to see it),

This blog got listed on the irishblogdirectory somewhere between "Colm O'Gorman" & "Mountain-Biking In Ireland".

Enjoyed both new editions of Top Of The Pops on the BBC and realised how much it is missed from our tv schedules (it should be on once a month).

Van has a new son/ Van hasn't a new son/Van might have a new son etc. etc.

QPR continue to break my heart and lose to Keane-o's Ipswich.

Loved the freezing cold weather in front of the fire when I hadn't to go anywhere.

Then on, January 2nd, saw an ad on tv for Cadbury's Creme Eggs!

Happy New Year.

Christmas Request...

2009-12-17T14:47:00.003Z

Someone with exquisite taste got Christmas Island from Bob Dylan's new album played on the Ronan Collins radio show to-day.

Click HERE , drag the slider to 23mins and sit back with a mince pie and a pineapple.

[NOTE: link only available for one week]

Here We Go Again...

2009-12-17T14:20:00.002Z

... Ex-Portsmouth head Paul Hart appointed new QPR manager with Mick Harford as assistant. I'm saying nothing!

http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1907437,00.html

A Christmas Promise...

2009-12-17T01:12:00.004Z

Filling up my old mp3 player with Christmas carols, hymns and songs to-night and listening back to it on "random" has given me a warm happy feeling; so I've decided to try and ignore all current affairs as best I can for the rest of the month of December.

Wish me luck!

Bob Dylan's Christmas In The Heart...

2009-12-13T22:22:00.002Z

I've been playing Dylan's Christmas album for the past week (I was holding back until December) and I'm loving it.

He plays it straight and he obviously has a great affection for the songs, both secular and spiritual.

His only interview in connection with the release is HERE.

Two official videos are available by clicking on the song titles below:

MUST BE SANTA

LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

Gogarty had just finished The Sopranos DVD Box-set...

2009-12-13T06:21:00.002Z

... the night before:

Fave Songs of 2009 Part 3...

2009-12-12T21:56:00.003Z

THE LIBERTY OF NORTON FOLGATE - Madness:

WHEN I GO AWAY - Levon Helm: