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The Stunning Announce December Tour

Posted in Gig Listing, Music, News with tags 2012 tour, Castlebar, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Paradicse in the picturehouse, The Stunning, The Stunning Announce December Tour on November 1, 2012 by Tickets There

Credit: Graham Smith

Irish rockers, The Stunning are coming to a theatre near…some of you this December! The band are set to finish of a very successful year celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of their classic album, Paradise In The Picture House. The band will play five dates in Kilkenny, Dublin, Cork, Castlebar and Galway. Not being lazy, the band have added some nice detail to their list of shows so we’re including as is from thestunning.net.

Sat 8 December – Set Theatre, Kilkenny. Is this the first time The Stunning have played in Kilkenny city? We believe it is. An occasion not to be missed. Tickets from: www.set.ie

Fri Dec 14th – Vicar St. Dublin. Special guests: The Pale. This is the “Paradise Revisited Show” we performed last September in the same venue. It went so well that Vicar St. have invited us back. Tickets €25 + booking fee from Ticketmaster.

Fri Dec 21st – The Savoy, Cork. “Paradise Revisited Show”. The last time we played the Savoy was four years ago so this is going to be an exciting show indeed. Tickets €25 + booking fee from Tickets.ie

Thurs 27th December – Royal Theatre, Castlebar. Mayo it’s been too long! The Stunning have performed many legendary shows in this fabulous venue and are delighted to be back to ring in some Christmas cheer. Tickets: €25 plus booking fee from Ticketmaster.

Sat Dec 29th – Seapoint Ballroom, Galway. “Paradise Revisited Show”. This is going to be a very special show indeed. The Stunning back in Seapoint for Christmas. Tickets: http://www.roisindubh.net/tickets.html

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Arthur’s Day – The ‘Hot’ Stuff?

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, INTO-NOISE!, IRISH NOISE!, Music with tags 'Jape, Arthur's Day, Cast of Cheers, Diageo, Diageo PLC, Fight Like Apes, Guinness, Ham Sandwich, Le Galaxie, Pugwash, St Patrick, Steve Wall, The Minutes, The Stunning, The Walls, Thomas Walsh on October 9, 2012 by Tickets There

Now that things have calmed down, Tickets There would like to further explore the Arthur’s Day controversy the erupted within certain circles of the Irish music scene last month when Walls / Stunning front man, Steve Wall, attacked the day for promoting English artists ahead of Irish talent, given that the spirit of day is a celebration of Ireland’s most famous export – Guinness.

Steve is quoted in the Irish Times as describing this year’s Arthur’s Day celebrations as a “cynical act in pulling the wool over Paddy’s eyes”. A great number of people have supported Steve’s comments while many others (including The Minutes & Thomas Walsh of Pugwash) don’t see what all the fuss is about. From a bog standard point of view, it should be simple, an Irish festival for Irish bands – but that’s just not the way it is unfortunately. This article is not directed at Steve Wall, but rather the points he raised that a lot of other people / musicians agree with.

Diageo PLC, owners of the Guinness Brand and many others, are a British company that decided to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Guinness Brewing Company in 2009 with an international tribute to Arthur Guinness, the man who started it all. They landed in Ireland on September 24^th and spearheaded a massive celebration using international music acts with a massive Proud to be Irish / Guinness drinker theme running through it. Great success, made a bit of dosh for Diageo– everyone happy. However, when it returned a year later people got the message that this was not a once off thing. Obviously the chance to generate a guaranteed annual increase in revenue was a little too lucrative for Diageo to just ignore. Fair enough, this is a recession after all and more revenue equals more money for the country and St. Jame’s Gate employees getting to stay in the job. All good, no?

So the money-making side isn’t what’s annoying Steve and supporters of his comments. It all comes down to the entertainment being used to promote this supposed Irish / Guinness festival. While Diageo promoted that fact that over 500 Irish bands were taking part in this year’s Arthur’s Day celebrations, none of those names were headline artists. Indeed, no Irish act of any sort was chosen to be a headliner at a festival that used Ireland and Irish-ness as its foundation and platform worldwide. Very unfortunate and a little disrespectful to a country long renowned for its powerful traditional music and its massive contribution to the world of internaltional music over the years….not to mention all the pints of the black stuff us good auld Irish have purchased over the years. While Arthur’s Day could have been a chance to allow home-grown talent like Le Galaxie, Jape, Ham Sandwich, Cast of Cheers, (Shudder) Fight Like Apes..etc, etc to shine on an international setting, on a day when the whole world wanted to embrace Ireland and it’s culture. A very fair point, but Tickets There can’t unanimously agree we’re afraid and it’s for one simple reason. Arthur’s Day is a celebration for a man who endorsed the idea of British rule over Ireland and proclaimed himself an Irish Unionist. Therefore, isn’t it more fitting we get British acts in to represent Arthur’s Day rather than Irish ones?

To be fair, that’s not our real reason. Unlike St. Patrick’s day (incidentally, another plastic paddy festival for a man who was 1, ENGLISH and 2, brought Christianity to Ireland – something a lot of people these days would rather hadn’t happened), Arthur’s Day is an event invented by and run by a company, not a country. Sure pubs chip in and do their part, but they aren’t answerable to Ireland or its people. It’s all for a drink and the man that invented it and it just so happens they came from Ireland. We are fortunate a company has taken a lead at drumming up some good cheer and extra business for our streets, pubs and restaurants during these bleak recession hunkered days, rather than do nothing at all like most of our national companies. None of the Irish bands mentioned in any of this are tearing up the international charts so why would they be booked as major headliners just because of where they’re from? That folks is bias, discrimination and wouldn’t be tolerated in any other form.

We must all be getting sick of Irish people attacking anything and everything in sight. Why don’t we all just attack Oxegen and Electric Picnic for not exclusively booking Irish talent as their key headliners? Or fine MCD and Aiken for not ensuring that 50% of their events are Irish based? If Irish bands want to make it in this life they’ll have to do what every other band has to do, appeal to people, sell albums and make it. They’re not being discriminated against, they’re not be cast away or anything else. This is not 1960’s London, we are no longer below the dogs. We are a respectable country with a proud musical heritage and should be able to make our way in the 21^st century without Bono or hand-outs. If people higher up in the Irish entertainment world have a problem, why don’t they arrange their own festival to celebrate our music? If our bands are as big a draw as they say then certain people will make a fortune and the bands will get a larger platform.

The Irish need to stop blaming their problems on everyone else and take some responsibility for themselves. How can we ever hope to restore our pride and dignity if we keep running back to internationals, pulling on their trousers asking for more? Ireland needs to re-carve its own identity and make other countries look to us with awe and excitement, rather than berate, guilt and sulk our foot through the door.

Incidentally, Steve Wall is a man I have a lot of respect for. He’s one of the greatest song writers Ireland has ever produced and founder / driver of two bands Tickets There (and myself, Robert O’ Connor) greatly admire and enjoy. This is not an attack on him, but a criticism of any Irish band that sits around waiting for ill-gotten hand-outs. It’s tough out there but that is life as a musician (and everyone else for that matter). Stop sitting around waiting for others to open doors and do it yourselves with your music. If Ireland doesn’t suit, re-locate or get a new job. If things are made too easy, everyone will be in a band and the whole scene will water down even further. Steve fairs better than most and works exceptionally hard to keep his bands going, but it’s time Ireland stopped blaming all of its problems on the English and got up and did something about it for ourselves. Let’s just leave Arthur’s Day for what it is, celebrating the black stuff!

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The Stunning Announce Vicar Street Support

Posted in Gig Listing, Music, News with tags Paradise In The Picturehouse, The Stunning, The Would Be's, Vicar Street on September 7, 2012 by Tickets There

With just two weeks to go, The Stunning have announced The Would Be’s as special guest for their Vicar Street show on Friday, September 21st.

In May the band announced plans to perform their classic ‘Paradise In The Picturehouse’ album in full at the show. Tickets are on sale for just E28 plus booking fee.

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The Stunning to Reunite and Perform Classic Album In Full

Posted in Gig Listing, IRISH NOISE!, Music with tags Once Around the World, Paradise In The Picturehouse, The Stunning, tightrope, Vicar Street on May 29, 2012 by Tickets There

Some of you will find this very hard to believe, but it’s been twenty five years since Irish rock legends The Stunning formed!! Fear not though, the band aren’t letting the significance go unnoticed.

To celebrate the twenty fifth anniversary, The Stunning have announced they’ll be reforming for a show at Dublin’s Vicar Street on September 21^st where they’ll perform their classic album, ‘Paradise In The Picturehouse’ in its entirety (and of course other hits from ‘Once Around the World’ and ‘Tightrope’). Tickets go on sale Monday, June 4^th from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide (and ticketmaster.ie) priced €28 plus booking fee. Doors open at 19:00 hrs. with the show kicking off at 20:00.

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

Posted in Music, Music Video, New Music, News with tags Bird In A Cage, carrying the fire, phantom power, Stop The Lights, The Stunning, The Walls 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 25^th 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…..

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Dublin ‘Gig for Michael D. featuring The Stunning’ Announced

Posted in Gig Listing, IRISH NOISE!, Music with tags A Gig For Michael D. featureing The Stunning, Michael D. Higgins, The Stunning, The Village on October 21, 2011 by Tickets There

That’s right, one of Irelands most successful bands, The Stunning are coming back to Dublin…This SUNDAY! A Gig 4 Michael D. has been set up to raise funds for presidential hopeful Michael D. Higgins and the Stunning are lending a hand. This will be the group’s first Dublin show in two years and promises to be a savage night featuring a full set of all their hits.

It all takes place this Sunday, October 23^rd at the Village. Tickets are €16.50 and are available from the WAV ticket office outside the venue (beside Whelan’s). There’s be two support acts on the night (yet to be announced) and discounts for unwaged and students. Entertainment.ie press release below,

The Stunning have been confirmed as headliners for a special show in The Village, in support of Higgins’ Presidential campaign.

The gig, which will be The Stunning’s first Dublin show in two years, takes place upstairs in The Village, on Sunday October 23, with doors opening at 7pm.

Michael D., who was Minister for Arts, Culture and an Gaeltacht during the ’90s, remains passionate about the role of the arts, and sees creativity as a central plank of his vision for the presidency. “As a candidate for President,” he says, “I offer a vision of a radically inclusive citizenship, in a creative society, worthy of a real Republic – making us proud to be Irish in the world.”

The Stunning will play a full set, making it a great chance to see these Irish rock legends play their most intimate Dublin show since reforming. Two support acts will be announced over the coming days. The gig follows a summer of acclaimed Stunning performances to expectant crowds at a variety of festivals over the summer – from the Sea Sessions to Sligo.

There will be DJs of all shades downstairs on the night, with plenty of surprises in store.

Tickets There will be there. Politics aside – no one should miss an opportunity to rock out with the Stunning. For more information, check out Entertainment.ie

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Green Village ‘Music & Arts Festival’ – This Saturday

Posted in Gig Listing, IRISH NOISE!, Music with tags Bipolar Empire, camping, Co. Westmeath, Green Village Music and Arts Festival, line-up, Mullingar, Ryan Sheridan, The Aftermath, The Riptide Movement, The Stunning on September 20, 2011 by Tickets There

Look what happens, we go quiet for a few months and ye stick The Stunning and The Aftermath on a festival bill together to entice us back! It worked J

The Green Village Music and Arts festival takes place this weekend (Saturday, September 24^th ) in Co. Westmeath and promises to be a terrific, recession busting priced event. Major acts on the bill include The Stunning, Ryan Sheridan, The Aftermath, Bipolar Empire and The Riptide Movement (full acts, stage times..etc can be viewed here – http://greenvillage.ie/festival/brochure.pdf)

There’ll also be fun, food, talks, DJ’s – the whole nine yards. Tickets are only €35 per person with cheaper tickets available for OAP’s and Students. Children under 12 go free and camping is also free with the ticket price. Make sure you check this out because quite honestly, this is an event that’ll be hard to miss.

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Tickets There – Off To Temple House Music Festival!!

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music, News with tags Steve Wall, Temple House, Temple House Music Festival, The Aftermath, The Riptide Movement, The Stunning, The Undetones, The Walls, TKO on September 9, 2010 by Tickets There

Well folks, the time has pretty much arrived. This evening we’ll be grabbing the train with our glorious Editor to Sligo for showers, Big 4 (and maybe a pint if we’re allowed) and tomorrow it’s off to the Temple House Music Festival In Ballymote, Co. Sligo.

If you want to see updates, head over to Tickets There’s Editors Twitter Page and he’ll let ye know how things are going.

In the meantime, why not check out this Interview with Steve Wall from The Stunning & The Walls over at Goldenplec.com.

Talk to you all on Monday and have a great weekend!! (pray for sun!)

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Temple House Music Festival Preview!

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music, News with tags R.S.A.G., Song temple house line-up, Steve Wall, Temple House Music Festival, Temple House Music Festival preview, The Aftermath, The Saw Doctors, The Stunning, The Undertones, The Wailers, The Walls, TKO on August 28, 2010 by Tickets There

The Temple House Music Festival is just two weeks away and Tickets There is finding it hard to keep the excitement down. Three days of music, drinking, music, drinking, drinking, drinking, music and camping sounds like a lovely way to end a summer that’s already been pretty fantastic.

So now that the date is getting closer, we decided to do the very first ever Tickets There preview of a music festival. The day by day has been released by the organizers so now it’s time for TT to share the bands we’ll be viewing over the course of the three days. Please note copious alcohol consumption is not a band, this is an activity.

DAY 01: Friday September 10^th

This is the day we’re really thrilled about. This is when almost all the names that prompted us to buy the tickets in the first place come together, make some noise and provide ‘the perfect opening line’ to a very promising weekend.

Tennents Main Stage

The Undertones: Obviously we’re going to see The Undertones. These boys are headlining the whole thing pretty much so there’s no missing them. Feargal Sharkey may be loooong gone but there a must for any proud Irish music fan. Catch them on the Tennents Stage.

The Stunning: Our Irish music heroes. The Stunning are easily the highlight of this whole weekend. Since splitting in the early nineties, they’ve reformed a handful of times and every performance always prompts the question, ‘why did these guys ever pack it in?’ Led by the amazing Steve Wall, this is guaranteed to be the real headline event of the whole weekend.

The Walls:Ok, so why did The Stunning ever pack it in? Because Joe and Steve Wall needed to create The Walls and in all fairness, that’s a damn fine reason. The Walls will caress you, make you feel calm and happy and then smack you around with a good dose of Drowning Pool. Not happy with that? Well wait till you hear their newest singles Carrying The Fire and Phantom Power and then you’ll be sold. The lads are coming with their two man show, a must viewing for all lovers of music, trust us.

Lucozade Stage

Peter Hook (DJ Set): Does this need a reason to go and see? It’s Peter Frickin’ Hooky for gods sake. The legend of New Order & Joy Divisoon. Always considered the most out spoken member of both bands and never a man to avoid necessary controversy. Unfortuantly it’ just a DJ set but his precene will cement this festival! He’s a must for all fans of everything post-punk, even if you just pop by to say hello on your way to The Stunning and The Undertones.

DAY 02: Saturday September 11^th

Will disaster loom with this auspicious day? Did we mean auspicious, I think not. But here’s a chance for it to bring some luck back and with the bands in store for festival goers, this will be the perfect hard rocking / pop rock-tastic day to nurse hangovers and give birth to ‘the beyond’. What exactly happens to tent habitants with hangovers on day two of a festival?

Tennents Main Stage

The Riptide Movement: This is a band Tickets There is watching with great interest. We’ve done their MySpace Review and carried on with a single review over on Drop-D.ie. Now it’s time for the full guns blazing gig experience. Their newest single Hot Tramp is a perfect little slice of rock heaven and you can expect to see us front and center singling along with Hard To Explain.

Donal Dineen: Because you can’t not go and see Donal Dineen.

Lucozade Stage

The Aftermath: Our vote for the real Saturday head-liners. Anyone out there whose a fan of The Stunning will do very well to get their arses over to the Lucozade stage on Saturday and hear some perfect pop-sing along-rock from one of Ireland’s most perfect bands. Their début album, Friendlier Up Here hasn’t got a bad moment on it and judging by their newest single, Lost Procession, their second album will be a perfect follow-up. Six Days to Saturday? Not a chance, day has arrived!

RSAG: Would you believe, we’ve never seen R.S.A.G. live but all that’s about to change. Known for his incredible live performances, this is definitely one to check out for curious folks looking for the future of live performing (unless KISS have their way). Also heck the Walls two man show, both will be fantastic.

Four acts on the Saturday? Well, there’s a lot going on but with hangovers, ‘activities‘ and general wandering about, we’ll try and catch a few more but no promises.

DAY 03: Sunday September 12^th

This will be a day mostly based around being destroyed with drink, being tired and not wanting to move from the stuffy, tiny tent. Never the less, we’ll do our best to catch the following groups shake their groove things.

Tennents Main Stage

The Saw Doctors: We’ve seen The Saw Doctors before and they’re well worth viewing. Great fun, classic Irish anthems you’d never buy in a million years but live all those fond eighties/nineties memories will come flooding back and a smile may even break those staunch, indie-cooler than cool faces. Don’t worry, Dublin won’t find out.

Damien Dempsey: Spent so many years slagging the man, we feel we owe him a chance. If nothing else, we’ll enjoy singing along in the hardest Dublin accent you’ll find this side of Finglas.

The Wailer’s: A must! What can you say?

Lucozade Stage

TKO: One of the best younger live bands you’ll catch on the Irish circuit these days. With inspirations like Bruce Springsteen, you’ll be hard pushed to find these guys playing a bad show.

And that’s pretty much it from us and you know what, it’s enough. There’s only so much diversity we can handle in a short space of time and we always think sitting back and appreciating few is always more enjoyable than rushing through many. Some people like to mention the 8,000 bands they fell in love with an hour ago but we’re a lot happier finding one excellent act instead. Fortunately, we have a good 20 to enjoy.

Two weeks folks, tickets are selling fast but you can still get them from Tickets.ie. This will be a great festival!

Temple House Festival Daily Line Up

Friday, 10th September
Music from 1pm – 1am
Tennents Main Stage
• The Undertones • The Stunning • The Chapters •
• The Walls • The Dub Doctor Sound System •
Lucozade Stage
• Peter Hook (DJ Set) • NYPC • Paddy Usher Band •
• Oddsocks Revival • Society X •
Acoustic Stage
• Hamlet Sweeney • Jezzebelle •

Saturday, 11th September
Music from 12noon – 1am
Tennents Main Stage
• Howard Jones • Donal Dineen • Reef • 202s • O Emperor •
• Miracle Bell • CODES • The Riptide Movement •
Lucozade Stage
• Terry Hall (DJ Set) • RSAG • Shouting at Planes • Noise Control •
• The Trampz • The Aftermath • Little Beauties •
• The Revolutionary Commandos of the 3rd Secret of Fatima •
• Merchants of Fortune •
Acoustic Stage
• Ronan O’Snodaigh • John Conneely • Jackk & Jones •
• Bubba • James Morrin • Ester • Test 4 Echo •

Sunday, 12th September
Music from 12noon – 1am
Tennents Main Stage
• The Wailers • Damien Dempsey • The Saw Doctors •
• The Whiteliars • Preachers Son • Bipolar Empire • The Josephs •
Lucozade Stage
• The Beat Poets • My Evil Ex •
• The Danger is (Niamh Danger) • TKO • Relief •
Acoustic Stage
• Lisa McLaughlin • SIVE •
• Majella Murphy • Davide Swarup •

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Temple House Music Festival – New Additions

Posted in IRISH NOISE!, Music, News with tags Reef, Temple House Music Festival, Temple House Music Festival Sligo, The Stunning, The Undertones, The Wailers, The Walls on August 12, 2010 by Tickets There

The line-up for this years Temple House Music Festival in Sligo just keeps on growing. TH has announced the following additions the their lineup.

Preachers Son, Bipolar Empire, Majella Murphy, The Dub Doctor Sound System, The Curtain Thieves, Shouting At Planes, The Revolutionary Commandos Of The Third Secret Of Fatima, The Little Beauties, The Trampz, James Morrin, Styla Man, Karma Parking, TKO, The Danger Is and Lisa McLaughlin. (thanks HotPress)

This is on top of already announced acts The Undertones, The Wailers, The Stunning, Reef, Peter Hook (Joy Division / New Order), The Walls and many, many more.

There’s an early bird special on until August 15^th with 25% of tickets. Three days camping for €59! Now how are ya gonna argue with that?

Visit their official Website by Clicking Here.

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Review: The Walls – Live @ The Odessa, Dublin (July 8th, 2010)

Posted in Gig Review, IRISH NOISE!, Music with tags Bone Deep, carrying the fire, Joe Wall, Live @ The Odessa, Live at the Odessa, phantom power, Steve Wall, The Odessa Club, The Stunning, The Walls, The walls odessa club, the walls odessa club review, The walls reviews, to the bright and shinning sun on July 9, 2010 by Tickets There

Recession or no recession, the Odessa hasn’t changed a bit. Tickets There’s willing to bet that every man who gets their hair styled in Dublin is in tonight to sample the fine food, drink finest bottles of wine from the bar and soak up the pompous, ego pumped atmosphere. Why do we do bother? Because Live At The Odessa just won’t stop bringing good bands into the fecking place.

As usual, Tickets There (purposely) manages to miss tonight’s support. Last thing we need is a singer songwriter to get us in the mood for the legendary Wall brothers. Instead, trips to local McKenna’s in Dun Laoghaire and O’Reilly’s under Tara are all the support we need. With Murphy’s in hand (of course they don’t have Guinness, that would be too common), it’s time to stand back and soak up some relaxing new material from The Walls.

Opening with their newest single, Carrying The Fire, Steve and Joe begin the show solo with some added beats courtesy of the musical prodigy that is Joe Wall. Swapping vocals, multiple instruments and harmonies mark the early set with their experimental new live style adding a nice vibe to the show. Rather than bringing a full band on tour, The Walls are testing out a new audio-visual show which allows the rest of the band to appear on a screen behind the brothers, letting them play and interact with each other. Surprisingly enough, this new style of performing loses little of the vibe you get from a full band show with everything rehearsed and timed to a T.

Treating fans to a nice selection of material from their up and coming third album, Stop The Lights, the band are keeping their stripped back, cooler than Alaska sound going with atmospheric, ear pleasing tunes. Phantom Power sees Joe take over vocal duties with Steve mostly adding background harmonies. Having never gotten a chance to see The Walls live before tonight, Tickets There’s pleasantly surprised to see Joe knows his way around a lead guitar just as well as a bass.

Not to shy away from their older material, the band manage to knock out classics such as Passing Through, To The Bright and Shinning Sun and a thunderous performance of Drowning Pool before closing the main set and retuning for an encore comprised of Rusty Old River, a song they originally recorded as The Stunning and the Walls very own, Bone Deep.

With the gig over, it’s time to scraper and seek refuge in the cozy confines of The Stags Head with a good, Dublin born pint of the black stuff. Great night from a great band, Tickets There have our eyes focused on the next albums release. More Walls in 2010 will be a lovely thing.

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The Walls – Carrying the Fire / Phantom Power (Single Review)

Posted in IRISH NOISE!, Music, Single Review with tags Brewing Up a Storm, Joe Wall, Steve Wall, The Stunning, The Walls, the walls 2010, The Walls Carrying the fire, the walls new material, The walls Phantom Power, The walls reviews, the walls third album on June 1, 2010 by Tickets There

If you’re going to start a band in Ireland there are several bench marks of comparison. Do you aim for the hard rock hero status of Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy? Or go a traditional direction and aspire to bands like The Dubliners and Planxty. Maybe, since this a recession and we’re all broke and the dreams of five star hotels, a house on the Vico Road and a stage set bigger than your national stadium appeal leaving the U2 option open. There are many choices depending on the style you want but one fundamental stone needs to be put in place first, the fine art of writing a good song.

Ireland is crammed with bands, so many that unless you’re working full time in the industry you’d be hard pushed to know them all and even then it would be a struggle. Unfortunately, a lot of our national bands expire before they ever truly get going and this is down to one simple reason, style over substance. Too many bands focus on the cult status elements of their heroes and forget that behind every Joy Division there’s a Love Will Tear Us Apart Again. Bands need to re-learn the simple art of writing songs that appeal to the masses or they have almost no chance of surviving long. To learn this art, there’s no better instructors than the legendary brothers, Steve and Joe Wall.

In their time, The Stunning were the biggest act in the country and to this day they’re remembered more fondly than almost any other rock band we’ve ever produced. In cities, tows and villages all across the country you’re always guaranteed to find Brewing Up A Storm playing somewhere every night. Unfortunately The Stunning eventually split under the pressure of international acclaim eluding them but their music has lived on a lot longer than anyone could have anticipated and each time they reform for a few shows, they pack the venues out.

Since the demise of The Stunning, Steve and Joe have been working on another musical project together, The Wall’s and hit another high point with 2002’s To The Bright And Shinning Sun. Working more as an experimentation model than The Stunning used to, The Wall’s have released two massively acclaimed albums in their 12 years together and this year looks set to see their third finally hit Irish and international shelves.

In the build up to the release, the band have put up some previews of the new material and we can happily inform you that Carrying the Fire continues the lads long tradition of writing poppy, simplistic and catchy as hell tunes. The whole track flows so nicely and it’s instantly catchy. Nothing to flaw here and an easy contender for this summer’s feel good hit.

The B-Side, Phantom Power is equally enticing. Described by the band as the song The Walls, MGMT and Flaming Lips would come up with if they were stuck in a room together. Another feel good, upbeat hit put across in The Wall’s defining stripped back coolness. It’s gentle, it’s non-invasive and it’ll stick in your head like superglue.

We’re not going overboard on the descriptions because there’s a full album to come but judging by these two tracks, the lads have something very special up their sleeves and Tickets There for three cannot wait to hear it. Young bands of the country, time to sit up and take notice. This is how it’s done.

Carrying the Fire will be available to download from thewalls.ie from 1st June.

Both tracks will be available to download from i-Tunes and most other digital store in late June. Click Here to hear both tracks on the bands official Facebook Page.

Click Here to read The Walls – Live @ The Odessa, Dublin (July 8th – Live Review)

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Sligo – Sony Ericsson Temple House Festival: Line up Announced

Posted in Music, News with tags Peter Hook Sligo, Peter Hook Sligo Festival, Temple House Festival, Temple House Festival sligo, Temple House Festival Sligo The Undertones, Temple House news, The Stunning, The Stunning shows 2010, The Stunning Sligo, The Undertones Sligo, The Undetones, The Walls Sligo on May 20, 2010 by Tickets There

*** – Read our TEMPLE HOUSE FESTIVAL PREVIEW by clicking this sentence – ***

Seems there’s a new festival down ion Tickets There’s neck of the woods. With the Sligo Live festival turning a tad stale, we must look to new blood to liven things up…no pun intended. Temple House seem to be the guys to do it and today’s Line Up Announcement is sure to send a few thrills through the music scene.

The Undertones, The Stunning & The Walls (Apparently….awesome), Peter Hook, New Young Pony Club, 202s, Exit Calm, Ronan O Snodaigh, Donal Dineen, Davide Swarup and John Conneely, Arveene & Misk (Live), Barry Redsetta, Clampdown DJs, Motion control, The Whiteliars and Maser….whoever most of them are.

Now, many names on the line-up are totally unknown to us and normally a Sligo festival for €59 would be pushing it…but three days, camping included and the incredible Steve Wall performing with both The Stunning and The Walls! Well, that’s hard to refuse. On top of that you get the legendary Undertones and a DJ set from Peter Hook!! Our advice, use this festival to finally visit Sligo, something most people always put off doing.

Tickets are priced €59 for adults and there’s going to be heaps of markets and arts stuff going on so should be great craic and yes, even Tickets There will leave the confines of cozy Laoghaire to visit our homeland….especially if Steve ‘The Legend’ Wall is going.

Visit their Official Website for full detials about the line-up, extra events, tickets, camping..etc, etc.

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MySpace Review – The DC Experiment

Posted in IRISH NOISE!, Music, MySpace Review with tags Dublin Rocks Festival, Dublin Rocks!, REM, The DC Experiment, The DC Experiment reviews, The Stunning on November 3, 2009 by Tickets There

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The 2009 Dublin Rocks! Festival is taking place on November 13^th and 14^th in the Village on Wexford Street. To celebrate a rock festival (or mourn actual rock music), Tickets There is taking a look at all six acts that have been announced. We didn’t have too much joy with The Alphastates but things tool a turn for the better when we heard The Beat Poets. Now it’s time to look at Dub Country….but unfortunately, we can’t find their MySpace. Instead,. We’ll jump straight along to The DC Experiment who are scheduled to play on the 14^th.

As usual, Tickets There hasn’t seen the band live or heard their record.

Right, The DC Experiment actually list themselves as rock, so that helps. The openings bars and vocal styles of first song, The Game would fool you though,. A tad too wishy washy to be considered rock n roll. ‘You’re a rock n roller, you’re a renegade’. Little too cliché for TT’s tastes and it sounds like Moby covering Rock N Roll Kids by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan. Very dull, very plain and very uninteresting. Still though, never judge a book and all that.

Now, second song Cassius Clay is a little more in keeping with the kind of style this band should stick to. It’s more along the style of bands like The Stunning. Melodic country rock with that ever so slightly horsey yet smooth voice. If the lyrics were a little more free flowing and certain words didn’t suddenly jump out then this song would be a much more stable piece of music. At the moment its holding its own and Tickets There is turned around a little and actually looking forward to the next one. See what I said about the book?

Tonight is like a mix of funk and The Game. The opening verse is kind of annoying but the chorus goes back to that smooth Irish country rock. There’s a nice bass solo at the bridge which will get your feet tapping. Something bugs me about the vocals. The singer (Dave Conway) can definitely sing, you can really hear it during the chorus. It’s a very distinct voice, cool voice and just a couple of tweaks would need to be made to turn this into a pretty great track.

Last song (there’s two more demo’s after this but we’ll leave it at this, give them a chance to finish the tracks before we jump on em). Who Are You has some nice harmonies in there. It’s actually a demo aswell so they haven’t been finished but the chorus will be a must hear when it’s done. The verse again is a little weak but overall the song has alot of potential.

Well, may not have been the most positive review I’ve ever done. There are a couple of things that bug me but Tickets There would recommend The DC Experiment If you’re a fan of bands like REM or the Stunning, then they’re a good choice to keep an eye on for the future. Just listening to A Weight (one of the last two demos) and it’s pretty upbeat and sweet so there’s more there than Tickets There has called out.

Check out their MySpace Now by Clicking Here.

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Missing Electric Picnic?

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, IRISH NOISE!, Music with tags Electric Picnic, Electric Picnic 08, Electric Picnic 2008, hippies, The Sex Pistols, The Stunning on September 5, 2009 by Tickets There

Well don’t be upset, there’s much better things you can do with €240, the line-ups crap and lets be honest, it attracts 30,000 of Ireland’s wannabe hippies. The sort of people who love their hemp trousers, their pathetic looking dreadlocks and complaining that socialism is the way our country should go. Even worse is the families which are now being encouraged to go.

Anyways, don’t be upset. Here’s a couple if clips from last years festival to scrape the blues away.

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The Stunning – Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin (July 23rd – Live Review)

Posted in Gig Review, Music with tags Brewing Up a Storm, Bulmers Live, Joe Wall, Leopardstown racecourse, Steve Wall, The Stunning on July 27, 2009 by Tickets There

Stunning

Every few years, the mighty Stunning emerge from the bowels of County Clare, Galway and Dublin to assault the Irish people with their infectiously catchy, effortlessly cool and charismatic back catalogue of Hits that still need a good milking. Their career was sadly cut short in the mid-nineties but only after the band became one of the biggest indigenous groups this country has ever seen. While they didn’t look to astonish you with grand ballads like U2 or pound your face in like Thin Lizzy, instead they merged the country and music style the existed in every single dance hall in the country with a fender driven dose of rock N roll swagger and a wit and talent for story telling that only the Irish (and Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen and a handful of other’s) can master.

Tonight’s show at Leopardstown racecourse is a far cry from the normally jam packed audiences the Stunning normally command. They’re playing as part of the Bulmers Live Event that’s taking place all summer. At first sight of the stage and music area, things look a little more bleak than dodgy. As the races end and swarms of people march towards the exit, the Stunning arrive on and kick things off with Got to Get Away while people continue walking past the stage on their way home, with very few stopping to see the show. Large empty spaces with more children than adults are very evident around the front and the only thing missing to make this show a joke is a clown and face painting. Not that any of this bothers Steve, Joe, Jim, Derek or Cormac and the band carry on with hits such as Town for Sale and Everything that Rises.

After a few songs the crowd suddenly starts to swell thanks to a mixture of people arriving late and the racing crowd finally being able to get the pint they were waiting for. The blues driven Tightrope Walker ushers in the night time as the stage lights lift off to reveal that there are now several hundred people gathered to show give the Stunning the audience they need to kick things into overdrive. Head’s, December Sky, Mr. Ginger, Half Past Two see’s the crowd singing every word along with Steve before fan favorite Romeo’s on Fire sends the die-hards and interested observers into bliss.

Since the Stunning split, Steve and Joe Wall have been working hard on their new band The Walls and tonight the band decided to give one of their most popular songs an airing. With a teaser intro of Brewing Up a Storm, Steve and Joe play a stripped back rendition of To The Bright and Shining Sun with Jim on light percussion. The band re-join the brothers on stage for a cover of MGMT’s Kids, which many in attendance swear if better than the original, before closing the night off with a boisterous performance of Brewing Up a Storm, citing mass sing alongs’ as far back as the eye can see.
While it may not have been U2 on a stage the size of Croke Park or KISS with more pyrotechnics than..well, a normal KISS concert, it was everything music is meant to be, entertainment. Steve and Joe’s charisma mixed with the bands polished and perfected performance is just so enjoyable to watch live it’s hard to put into words. Unfortunately Steve announced towards the end of the show that this will be the Stunnings final gig for a couple of years so if you haven’t experienced them yet, you’ll have to wait.

At the end of the show, the band stayed at the side of the stage to sign autographs and take pictures. Was Tickets There too cool to line up?? Not at hope, we were first in line 😉

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