Archive for Stop The Lights

The Walls – Stop The Lights (Album Review)

Posted in Album Review, IRISH NOISE!, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 7, 2012 by Tickets There

If there’s one thing The Walls can never be accused of, it’s rushing things. It’s been a seven long years since the release of their last album, ‘New Dawn Breaking’, but the brothers haven’t been hanging on their laurels. They’ve toured, both as the Walls and The Stunning, released singles, an EP; all the while working away on their third release. It’s been a long time coming and no easy feat to accomplish, but finally ‘Stop The Lights’ is ready.

People who’ve seen the band live over the past two years will be very familiar with some of the material on Stop The Lights, but it still manages to sound as fresh and enticing on record as it did on stage. ‘Bird In A Cage’ opens the album with it’s wonderful gentle rhetoric and infectious poppy groove. Advance singles ‘Phantom Power’, ‘Carrying the Fire’ and ‘Stop The Lights’ sound reinvigorated and inviting; but the real focus for Tickets is on the more unheard material.

The Great Escape’ and ‘It Goes Without Saying’ are excellent pieces of music. ‘The Great Escape’ is stripped back, lasting and lonely, while ‘It Goes Without Saying’ delivers one of those catchy as a cold choruses the Walls have built their reputation on.  ‘Dead Flowers’ delivers a little rumpus into the room with heavier guitars and keyboards. Not quite ‘Drowning Pool’ but everything you could want. ‘All A Blur’ and ‘Doodlesque’ continue the positive flow before the album reaches its peak with ‘Thanks For The Photographs’ and ‘May The Road Rise’, which are both crowning achievements of the album. Equally they express the passion, honesty and incredible grasp the Wall brothers have for song writing.

Stop The Lights is out officially released on Friday, March 9th from retailers and online stores. It gets its release party in Whelan’s on March 29th before the lads hit the road for shows in Limerick and Galway. Stand by for more dates over the coming weeks.

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The Walls Announce :fund:it Campaign

Posted in IRISH NOISE!, Music, News with tags , , , , , , on January 30, 2012 by Tickets There

Perhaps a slight touch of Déjà vu  this morning for our readers, but The Walls have announced details of their Stop The Lights album :fund:it campaign. Steve and Joe have set themselves 27 days to raise €10,000 to help complete the mastering, artwork and manufacturing of the record which they hope to release in early March this year. There’s a fair whack of rewards available to fans depending on the size of their contribution including signed copies of the album, t-shirts, downloads, bonus releases, the chance to attend a song writing workshop with Joe and Steve Wall and even a once in a life time opportunity to have The Walls perform a show in your house. Please find the details below,

Our new album “Stop the lights” is almost finished and due to be released in early March 2012. It includes last summers radio hit Bird in a Cage and the just-released single Stop the Lights. This will be our third album (not including the Stunning albums). We’re really excited about it and feel the songs are as strong as anything we’ve released in the past.

Fund it is an ideal way for our fans to be part of the process and contribute whatever they feel is appropriate in a secure way…and you get handsomely rewarded for doing so . You can donate using a debit or credit card and its only debited if we reach the target.

We’ve worked with some great people in the making of this album, including Rob Kirwan who’s worked with U2 and recorded PJ Harvey’s recent Mercury Award winning album. Stop the Lights is being mastered by Geoff Pesche in Abbey Road, London. The artwork looks amazing and is being done by Conor & David, one of Ireland’s best graphic design team.

To pay for the mastering, artwork, manufacturing etc. we’d like to raise some money so we’re starting a Fund it campaign. We’ve set the target at €10,000 but we really hope to raise more as the overall costs far exceed that amount. We really appreciate you coming on board! Joe & Steve

To see the full details of all the rewards available to donators, please visit the :fund:it Campaign homepage.

NEW MUSIC: The Walls ‘Stop The Lights’ & The Stunning’s 25th Anniversary

Posted in Music, Music Video, New Music, News with tags , , , , , on January 26, 2012 by Tickets There

It’s all go at the Wall household this year. First of all 2012 seems to be the year The Walls will finally release their third album, Stop The Lighst. This one’s been a long time coming but anyone’s that’s heard previous releases like Bird In A Cage, Phantom Power and Carrying The Fire will agree it’ll be worth it. To kick things off the band have released another single titled ‘Stop The Lights’ and it’s available from all good radio stations who will even take the time and effort to play it for you on the air if you’d be so good as to give them a call. More info on the album as and when we have it…or by TT traditions, 6 months after Goldenplec tell you. For now, have a listen to a live recording of Stop The Lighst below.

Also, it’s The Stunning’s 25th anniversary this year so expect news galore on the coming months. Rumour is there’s a tour in the works and even a new release but details remain to be seen. The official update from the band can be found below (there goes my ‘rumour story)

2012 is The Stunning’s 25th anniversary!

It’s hard to believe as we’ve hardly changed over the years and we play even better! But it is indeed 25 years since the band formed. Watch this space for some activity later this year. There’s talk of a new release (including a couple of new songs) and a tour. Stay in touch…..

The Walls: Tour Kicks Off This Week (Video)

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Gig Listing, Music, Music Video, New Music, News with tags , , , , , , , , , , on June 5, 2011 by Tickets There

The Walls are kicking off their summer tour this week at Co. Sligo’s Temple House Festival and Tickets There thought you might like a little preview of what to expect from both their two man live shows and the full band show slotted in for The Sea Sessions in Co. Donegal.

Below are few videos of the band’s new material which you can find on their new E.P.Bird In A Cage‘, and their forthcoming album, Stop The Lights. Enjoy!

and for old times sake, the classic Bone Deep,

Catch The Walls on Tour in 2011

JUNE: 2011
Friday 10th : Temple House Festival, Ballmote, Co. Sligo.
Thursday 16th: De Barras,, Clonakilty, Co. Cork.
Friday 17th : McCarthy’s, Dingle Co. Kerry.
Saturday 18th: Cork Midsummer Festival, Cork city.
Sunday 26th : Sea Sessions, Bundoran, Co.Donegal (Full Band Show).
Thursday 30th: Grand Social Lr. Liffey St. Dublin.

JULY: 2011
Friday 15th : Galway Arts Festival, Monroes Live.

PREVIEW: Temple House Festival 2011

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Gig Listing, IRISH NOISE!, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 26, 2011 by Tickets There

Feel the excitement building? Anyone who was there last year is and with just over two weeks left until launch, Temple House Festival fever has well and truly begun.

Over one hundred incredible bands, 4 stages, countless events and quirks, a medieval village, an arts trail, excellent food and a thousand other attractions, all set over a glorious June bank holiday weekend. Top that with amazing grounds, no major queuing and excellent organization, you’d be mad to miss it. Also it’s set in Co. Sligo so you can’t go too wrong.

Tickets are selling like hot cakes and Tickets There decided it was time to give you a quick preview of just some of the great bands booked for this years event.

Friday: June 10th

ASH (Bavaria Main Stage)

What can anyone say about the incredible Downpatrick pop rock trio that hasn’t already been said a thousand times before? Ash have been one of the highest ranking staples of the Irish and indeed, international music scene for the better part of two decades. From the release of their massively acclaimed album, 1977 in… 1996 to their trail blazing A-Z series, Ash have lead the way for Irish alternative rock and have remained one of the most influential bands ever to emerge out of Northern Ireland.

The Walls (Bavaria Main Stage)

Since the demise of The Stunning in the nineties, Steve and Joe Wall have been using their time very wisely. Under The Walls banner, they’ve released two records, Hi-LO and New Dawn Breaking and for the past two years, the band have been sporadically playing live while recording their third album, Stop The Lights, which is due out later this year. Armed with an adventurous new live show, a set-list packed with enchanting new material and old favourites, The Walls are well and truly on their way to chart storming and a slot in every homes CD rack. Not one you’ll want to miss on Friday.

Fighting With Wire (Bavaria Main Stage)

One of our MySpace finds and an excellent live act. Taking the stage just before the mighty Ash, Fighting With Wire are an exciting new Irish band that are promised to deliver an excellent set. Their style will also fit in nicely with their headliners so Ash fans, don’t miss them.

Ryan Sheridan (Acoustic Stage– Walled Garden ).

One of the best up and coming songwriters in Ireland at the moment. Ryan’s performances have been landing him a lot of attention recently and soon his name will be everywhere. Temple House have Ryan on a lovely, secluded acoustic stage in a lovely garden away from the packed main stage arena so take this opportunity to check him out before he returns as a headliner next year.

ALSO

We’re going easy on ye for now, what with all the camping gear you’ll be lugging, tent pitching and so on that’ll fill up your morning but don’t dare finish up the Friday without checking out The Flaws, Kanyu Tree and Preachers Son (EDIT: Preachers Son have been moved from Friday to Saturday and will now be playing the main stage at 5:00pm)

Saturday: June 11th

Kerbdog (Bavaria Main Stage)

Saturday sees one of the most exciting events of the whole festival, the reunion of the legendary Kerbdog! That’s right, Cormac Battle and the lads will be taking the stage and belting out some of the biggest alt-rock hits any Irish band has ever produced. Sine the bands 1998 split they’ve reformed a few times. Make sure you catch this gig or you may not get another chance. (Also…they’re bloody savage).

The Fallen Drakes (The Music Maker Stage)

One of the biggest success stories from the Irish music scene and one that keeps on going. The Fallen Drakes have only been together for little over a year but already they’ve landed gigs at the O2 Arena and R.D.S. Outdoor Arena (supporting The Commitments and Bon Jovi respectively). When bands like this are on the up and up, you know it’s going to be a show to remember.

Land Lovers (Bavaria Main Stage)

They’ll be on good an early so don’t spend the whole night partying with Ash. The excellent Land Lovers came to our attention many months back and managed to sneak their way into Tickets There’s own personal daily rotation. Wait for the live version of Immovable Feet and you’ll be glad you took the time to see them.

The Danger Is (The Music Maker Stage)

Tickets There were fortunate enough to discover this amazing, talented, all round lovely lady last year and ever since then we’ve have been quite vocal about our love for her music. With a few choices on the market, an EP and a handful of singles, Niamh and her band, The Danger Is will arrive at Temple house and blow you out of the tent. Possibly our strongest recommendation of the weekend.

Mike Joyce (DJ Set) (The Music Maker Stage)

Former Smiths drummer, Mike Joyce is popping into Temple House be this years Peter Hook, He’ll be playing a DJ set at The Music Maker stage on Saturday night so if you’re not a fan of Whipping Boy or the Stero MC’s, you’ll know where to go. Last year Temple House had the legendary Peter Hook doing roughly the same thing and you couldn’t have asked for a better end to the second day. This year Mike will will be ensuring the party doesn’t manage to slip away.

Sunday: June 12th

Aslan (Bavaria Main Stage)

When running the search on Tickets There for ‘Aslan’ results, I was disappointed that this site has never devoted an article to the dublin legends. By far one of the most successful home grown bands we’ve ever produced and standard setters in the live arena. Led by the infamous Christy Dignam, Aslan have been rocking Irish stages since the early eighties and three decades later little has changed. Hits like ‘Lucy Jones Part 2’, ‘Crazy World’, ‘This Is’ and ‘Rainman’ have endeared them to hearts of thousand of Irish people ensuring packed houses where ever they play. Whether you’ve ever been a fan or not, Aslan are more than worth checking in on – no matter what else is on.

Sweet Jane (Bavaria Main Stage)

After releasing one of the most successful independent Irish albums of 2010, Sweet Jane have turned into an unstoppable touring machine. Their songs are fused with energy last seen on the seventies and their appeal is spreading wider. Mainland Europe, the U.K. and America have brought them an impressively large international fan base which continues to grow. They’re taking the main stage on the final night and are sure to deliver one of the festivals best sets.

The Riptide Movement (The Music Maker Stage)

The Riptide Movement have been firm favorites on Tickets There for a long time. Their second album is set to emerge later this year but already they’ve released two crackin’ singles from it and have taken Ireland by storm. Their repeated appearances on Grafton street, not to mention their constant touring has brought them firmly into the public eye and things are only getting better. Last week it was confirmed they would be one of two Irish bands supporting Bon Jovi when they hit the RDS next month. They rocked Temple House last year and you can damn well bet they’ll do it again in two weeks.

Oddsocks Revival (The Music Maker Stage)

One of Sligo’s own bands, Oddsocks Revival have been saved for the last day and judging by the massive crowd they attracted last year, you’ll need to get in early. They’re extremly strong live, have a massive number of killer tracks from their debut album, It’s Time and they’ll rock the place. Prepare for cowboys meets rock ‘n’ roll.
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So that’s it. Like we said, Tickets are going fast – so Act now. Full detials can be found HERE. Enjoy and make sure you check out as many of the other acts as you can, it’s too good a line-up to miss.

Day to Day Breakdown In Full:

Friday, 10th June
Bavaria Main Stage : The Late Session with “Wiggle”, Ash, Fighting with Wire, The Walls, The Flaws, The Kanyu Tree, Inteference, 1922’s
The Music Maker stage : DJ Wool, Arveene & Misk, The Minutes, Pilotlight, Shouting at Planes, Readers Wives, Chuckys River, Boy Lights Fire
Acoustic Stage – Walled Garden : Ryan Sheridan, James Humson Niceol Blue, Michael Stafford, On/off, Tommy McNulty, Laura Sheeran, Ari Sheehan, Helen Smits
Bandwagon TV Stage –Rose Garden : Yngve & The Innocent, Machine Gun Baby, Joy Booth and B & The Honeyboy

Saturday, 11th June
Bavaria Main Stage : Late Session – The Amazing Few , Stereo MCs, Whipping Boy, Kerbdog, Stand, Miracle Bell, Preachers Son, Landlovers, Hogan, Karma Parking, Redbrick House, Nova Static
The Music Maker Stage: Silent Disco, Mike Joyce DJ Set (ex Smiths), Declan O’Rourke, Andy McKee, The Danger is, The Fallen Drakes, Cool Hand Dukes, Souls, Dub Doctor Sound System, Merchants of Fortune, Tim Cobain & band, King Kong Club BOB, Lost Colours
Acoustic Stage – Walled Garden: Rory and The Island, Rory Faithfield, Aisling O’Reilly, The Ball & Chain, Bailer, David Burke, Wyvern Lingo, Finnian Kelleher, Deirdre Keelan, Peter Baldwin
Bandwagon TV Stage – Rose Garden : Henrietta Game, Neptune City, Eugene Donegan, Clive Barnes, Sanszkrit

Sunday, 12th June
Bavaria Main Stage : Aslan, Something Happens, Lisa Hannigan, Jamie Lawson, CW Stoneking, The Raglans, Storyfold, Tupelo, Sweet Jane, 2Minutes2Midnight,
The Music Maker Stage : Bipolar Empire, Riptide Movement, Oddsocks Revival, Roisin O, Heathers,GMiley & The Soul Street Orchestra, The Barley Mob, Colin Scallan, Electric Penguins, The Hoop, Slap!
Acoustic Stage – Walled Garden : Mark Black, Hamlet Sweeney, My Bad Self, John Smith, Rhob Cunningham, Jason Clarke, Stephanie Rainey, Eoin Glackin, Glenn Cal, Damian Nash
Bandwagon TV Stage -Rose Garden : Paul Crean and the changing band, Willie Kelly, Red Queen Contest, A Smile Just Came, Saramai & The Swords, Gog and The Grinders

(Updated) The Walls Announce June Dublin Show

Posted in IRISH NOISE!, Music, News with tags , , , , , , , , , on May 24, 2011 by Tickets There

The Walls have announced their first Dublin show of 2011. In between a host of summer festivals, the band will stop of in the capital with their highly praised two man live show. Ticket’s are priced €13.50 and are on sale now through Entertainment.ie and it’s all taking place at Liffey street’s Grand Social venue on June 30th.

Last month The Walls released the Bird In A Cage EP, the first new material since 2005’s New Dawn Breaking. They’re currently building up hype for the release of their third album, Stop The Lights, which is rumoured to hit shelves next year.

See the Walls live in 2011:

June
Friday 10th – Temple House Festival, Ballymote Co. Sligo (Two Man Show)
Thursday 16th – DeBarras, Clonakilty, Co. Cork (Two Man Show)
Friday 17th – McCarthy’s, Dingle, Co. Kerry (Acoustic / electric show)
Saturday 18th – Cork Midsummer Festival, Cork City (Two Man Show)
Sunday 26th – Sea Sessions, Bundoran, Co. Donegal (Full Band)
Thursday 30th – Grand Social, Dublin City (Two Man Show)

July
Friday 15th – Galway Arts Festival – Monroes Live, Galway (Two Man Show)

The Walls –Bird In A Cage EP (EP Review)

Posted in EP Review, IRISH NOISE!, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , on April 7, 2011 by Tickets There

Last year, Dublin / Clare rockers The Walls promised a new EP in early 2011 with an album to follow later in the year. So far they’ve delivering on queue! After spending most of 2010 perfecting and touring their two man live show, this is the first solid release of new material since 2005’s New Dawn Breaking and it has been worth the wait.

Taking material from their forthcoming album, Stop The Lights and sticking in a couple of EP only bonuses, Bird In A Cage is an excellent introduction to the bands revived , laid back sound with that striking talent for song-writing Joe and Steve Wall have made their backs on. Opening with the EP’s title track, you’re introduced to a very personal, biographical glimpse into Steve’s childhood with an uplifting chorus that’s sure to bring you back for more.

Chrome Heart brings back some early Wall’s styles with paced lead guitars, low tempo vocals and a chucky bass shoulder to lean on. Being the Walls, the song retracts and expands like nothing else but never loses it’s dead straight composure. All A Blur, also taken from the next album highlights the bands incredible talent for simple, catchy music with no frills needed to make their music any more appealing that it already is.

The Big Freeze brings to a close on a down note. Not that it’s bad, but as instrumentals go there’s not much here. Any fan out there knows the Walls are capable of much better, something that is not only obvious from their previous records, but also from the new material they’ve been playing live over the past year. All that means is we get some crackin’ tunes now and an amazing album later in the year. Not too shabby for Tickets There!

The EP can be downloaded now for €3 from The Wall’s Bandcamp page. Title track Bird In A Cage is also available as a free download on the same page.

The Walls – Stop The Lights (Album Preview)

Posted in IRISH NOISE!, Music, News with tags , , , , , , on November 24, 2010 by Tickets There

It may not be any great secret, but The Walls are currently Tickets There personal favourite Irish band (oh yes). How did they achieve this mighty honour? By release two albums of great material and lining up a third one which could be their best yet.

Over the past six months, The Walls have been playing shows (three of which we’ve been fortunate to catch), released two album previews (Carrying The Fire / Phantom Power) and music videos for the album’s first single, Bird In A Cage and new song Stop The Lights.

 On top of this, they’ve invented a whole new stage show to aid the new albums promotion by making it cost effective for the band to travel far and wide without comprising the music or resorting to the bog standard two lads and guitar. We have DVD’s now and don’t need no Dylan’s!

Anyhow, with the album’s release year getting close, Tickets There thought we’d share the info we have so far with you fine people so you can start creaming yourselves in anticipation just like us….in a non weird way.

What do we know? Well we have the set-list from the bands show at The Sugar Club earlier this month. We’re not saying that the majority of those tracks will be on the final cut but there’s several titles for ye to play with.

Then we have the two previews, Phantom Power and Carrying The Fire which were released on ITunes earlier this month. To hear these, simply visit The Walls Last.FM profile (Click here). Oh, as of Friday Nov. 26th, you can now Download Carrying The Fire – FOR FREE- Click This Link.

And finally, videos. We have two official videos from the band and both can be viewed below. Believe us, this material is well worth seeing and hearing. Both fantastic, lovely songs that will add a little light into this bleak week of financial ruin for the country. One spin of Stop The Lights and problems shall recede.


(Video Trivia Bird In A Cage was shot at the first ever Temple House Festival held in Co. Sligo this year while Stop The Lights was filmed at half time during the Ireland Vs Australia Rules match in Croke Park and features Gavin Fox (of Idelwild / TURN / Concerto for Constantine fame) handling Bass duties while Joe plays keyboards and guitar)

Follow The Walls on Tickets There and more importantly the following sites,

The Walls Release New Video: Bird In A Cage

Posted in IRISH NOISE!, Music, Music Video, News with tags , , , on October 21, 2010 by Tickets There

YES!! The Walls have released a live recording of Bird In A Cage from their forthcoming album, Stop The Lights.

Tickets There has been waiting for this moment with bated breath, sweaty palms and excited trousers for nearly five months. It’s been stuck in our heads on solid rotation for the better part of four weeks and now that it’s out, we’ll be responsible for half the plays on YouTube until you good folks take the plunge, change the norm and invest your time in some high quality tunes from one of Ireland’s greatest bands.

So without further spewing from us, feast your eyes and ears on the High-Def, surround sound, pro-shot video for Bird In A Cage. When you’re done, keep your eyes peeled on Tickets There for more Walls news…..or, you could just go see them when they headline The Sugar Club on November 5th. Oh Yeah!

The Walls Announce Dublin Show

Posted in Gig Listing, IRISH NOISE!, Music, News with tags , , , , on October 21, 2010 by Tickets There

Great news to cheer everyone up this morning! The Walls have announced a Dublin show for November 5th in The Sugar Club.

Currently preparing for the release of their third album Stop The Lights, The Walls have been playing warm up shows around the country this summer using their new 2 man show which involves an array of audio/visual effects and of course, the legendary Steve and Joe Wall performing semi-acoustically. The band released a taster from the album in June in the form of a double A-side single titled Carrying The Fire / Phantom Power and the band have plans to release an EP before the end of the year.

For anyone that hasn’t seen The Walls live yet, this show is a must! You might even get a chance to see a very drunk Tickets There passed out in the smoking area if you’re lucky. It is the Sugar Club after all. We’ll add ticket and support details as soon as they’re released.