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R.I.P. Les Paul (1915 – 2009)

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music with tags Ace Freley, Jimmy Page, Les Paul, Slash, Steve Clark, Steve Jones, Tickets There on August 13, 2009 by Tickets There

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The legend behind the iconic Gibson Les Paul has just passed away and Tickets There wanted to commemorate his passing by showing a handful of our favourite guitarists that have used his guitar. I never knew a whole pile about Mr. Paul but I’ve loved his guitar since I fist saw a picture of Slash from a live show many, many years ago. In fact, I think the reason I started playing guitar in the first place was so one day I’d be worthy of purchasing and owing a Studio Classic model (that day hasn’t come yet but I did buy a lovely Epiphone LP).

Anyway, R.I.P. Les, you gave rock N roll one of it’s finest assets.

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Tickets There Likes: The Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols

Posted in Album Review, Music, Tickets There Likes: with tags Johnny Rotten, Never Mind the Bollocks, Sex Pistols Review, Tickets There on July 28, 2009 by Tickets There

Never_Mind_the_Bollocks

Tickets There has had a deep rooted fascination with God’s filthiest hooligans. Ever since I first saw the wax work of Johnny Rotten in London’s Rock Circus in the early nineties, I’ve been fascinated. His appearance was so shocking and so different to anything I was used to and the fact that his name was Johnny Rotten only added to my enthusiasm to find out more. Fortunately I didn’t have to wait long as the Rock Circus had another exhibition that featured infamous video’s (I think) and this included Sid Vicious’ video for My Way that shows him shooting several audience members. To yours truly, this was a real event and I was captivated. First you have this sneering, red haired maniac called Johnny Rotten and next you have a murdering psycho Sid Vicious. I was officially hooked…..and then it was back to Ireland where there was no such thing as the Sex Pistols.

I don’t remember when I got the album. I do recall it was several years later but I can’t actually remember the first time I heard it. In fact, I find it very hard to remember a time in my life without it. Never Mind the Bollocks is the ultimate outburst of anger and sarcasm for young people. The music is basic pop with none of the frills the likes of Pink Floyd indulge in, with lyrics so scornful British monarchs and politicians must have thanked god they weren’t handed picked for any tracks…except the Queen of course.

There basically isn’t one song on this album that couldn’t be considered a classic. The opening track Holidays In The Sun is an upbeat pop number with an attacking message on holiday goers taking advantage of other countries problems and misfortunes. In contrast, the angry, hate fueled Bodies rips in straight afterwards with vulgar lyrics and a commonly interoperated message of Pro-Life, which Lydon now denies. Knowing Johnny Rotten, this song is hardly likely to be a simple story. No Feelings is another full on attack of guitars n drums about …well, what’s the point in me describing these things? I think everybody knows exactly what this album is all about. Anyone reading this is more than fully aware what the Sex Pistols stood for and what they accomplished. If you don’t, there are some great things in store for you..Unless you’re one of those soulless weirdo’s I’ve mentioned before.

I think kids would do well to have this album drilled into them. The fight seems to have left their hearts all together and they’ve become to bogged down in the rap/hip-hop/Paris Hilton nonsense. It just seems to be destroying their creativity, their originality and their minds. I’m sure many would disagree with this next statement, but Tickets There firmly believes that Never Mind the Bollocks was a peak that has barley been reached since of youthful aggression, intelligence and makes more of a statement that any other punk album ever released…even more so than the Clash!

What amd I talking about? I don’t know, kind of rushed this one so ShutD-Up!

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MYSPACE REVIEW – THE HASSLE MERCHANTS

Posted in Music, MySpace Review with tags IRISH NOISE!, The Hassle Merchants, The Hassle Merchants review, Tickets There on July 1, 2009 by Tickets There

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Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time again. Welcome to another Tickets There MySpace Review. The Blog that searches through Irish bands, picks one and random and lets you know if their worth checking out or just another over hyped, under talented pile of wasters. Today’s choice is Dublin locals, The Hassle Merchants. They describe themselves as Energetic alternative puck and apparently won Connected Magazine’s Band of the Year award in 2007. So, with the bullshit PR out of the way, lets get down to brace taxes.

As almost usual with these reviews, I haven’t seen them live (that I know off, don’t remember them anyway) and haven’t heard their album (if they have one).

OK, first song on their MySpace is Friendly Neighbourhood Scumbag. I won’t lie, I like this song title. I also like the intro. Nice acoustic downer in little bursts with a good bass’ed up kick drum, pounding away slowly. Oh, things go a little way wire about a minute into the song and things start to sound a little scattered. The verse is pretty good but the bridge is a little too familiar for my tastes and the chorus starts well but then goes into a nah, nah, nah kind of bollocks and won’t just let loose. An amateur lead guitar and bad production really shit on things more and more towards the end. Little boring and not what I was hoping for. Still a good title though.

Boy Go Home’s up next. Very empty sounding but that’s just the affects. Vocals sound a bit better, kind of a Drop Kick Murphy’s number but not as good. Ah, there’s the bridge again, boring. Chorus sounds like a thousand other bad punk songs so that kind of gives the game away. I can see what they’re trying to do but it aint working.

The worst thing about modern punk bands is that they still try and recreate that anger, angst, rebellion and anarchist spirit kids in the mid seventies harnessed and made work, without trying to develop it. How can a music that’s over thirty years old revolutionize anything? You didn’t see the Sid Vicious sweating about reproducing Frank Sinatra did ya? Sun of A Nun is next. Again, not a bad intro. Even when things kick in it’s not too bad. Very simple and nothing worth shouting about but definitely a marked improvement after the other two songs. They actually manage to make the whole thing sound planned out on this one. The title is probably meant to be their ‘Shocking Number’ but Tickets There see’s no such infamy. Even the guitar solo manages to sound a little more polished and rehearsed this time. Yep, Tickets There is finally enjoying the Hassle Merchants. Let’s hope it carries on because I have another five reviews to write today and I don’t want to lose my caffeine buzz.

Echoes in Empty Hall’s is next and another good intro, best yet actually. Agh God, until that fucking stupid low toned riff comes in. Bands, stop using that, it’s fucking sickening. (Anyways, In the mean time) things are going pretty well. The Libertines keep popping into my mind for some reason, even though this crowd don’t really sound much like them, I’m just getting this kind of FAKE buzz from their sound. Like their good songs are only good by accident. You can hear the Clash pouring through on this track and that only makes things worse because now I want to listen to them instead. Agh, I’m a little bored.

Get Your Finger Out brings us to our second last track and it’s pretty bad. The main Riff is so used before, I’m pretty sure they collected the insurance payout. They’ve gone from having two relatively well constructed songs to the standards of the first two and made it a little more childish. It’s short but still manages to drag on longer than Lord of the Rings. Waiter, next song please. The final track is called Acoustic Dublin’s Screaming Murder Live (I’m sure the words Acoustic and Live were added due to this being an acoustic song preformed live. Ya see, Math and Physics mixed with logic does get you places). Now this is alright. Pretty much about people in Dublin getting shot and not much happening about it. I’m not 100% sure, but their blaming it on some pretentious cunts. Not sure if they’re talking about the Whelan’s or Odessa Club crowd on a Saturday night but I hope so. All shit aside, it’s not a bad song. Worth checking out if you’re bored and one of the three half decent tracks here.

Overall…not too bad. As you probably noticed my enthusiasm is waning a little but they definitely aren’t the worst lot out there but also haven’t matured enough yet to deserve the worlds attention. Maybe in a couple of years.

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Friday June 19th 1992/2009 – THE MIGHTY LEPP (Seventeen Years Later)

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Gig Review with tags Def Leppard, The Point Depot, Tickets There on June 19, 2009 by Tickets There

1992

Today (Friday the 19th June) is the 17th anniversary of the first time I saw Def Leppard in concert. I don’t remember massive amounts from it since I was eight years old, but I clearly remember walking into the Point Depot and being more excited than I’d ever been before. I also remember being very surprised at the fact that a band as big as them would actually be playing a show in Ireland. I don’t recall (starting to sound like Forest Gump now :D) as much about the show as I’d like and much of what I remember is just based on fact checking rather than real memory. One thing I will never forget is sitting on the balcony facing that stage with my little leather jacket on that I got in Birmingham (Leppard and Guns N Roses influence). The walls were dark and the arena felt more like a massive theatre rather than a cold empty hall. The red velvet curtains, yellow railings and trimmings and carpet added such class to the character filled Depot.

I’ll also never forget the moment when the house lights went black, surrounding the crowd in darkness. A voice shot out from the PA as the classic Dirty Harry intro boomed out while the massive black curtains surrounding the stage lit up as strobe and laser lights exploded behind them. The stage was in the round and the curtains remained hanging even when the guitars burst out playing the opening notes of Stagefright. With the anticipation building and the curtains still hanging, things hit fever pitch when they eventually dropped to reveal the mighty Leppard just as the bridge kicked in. Classic!!

After that I don’t remember a whole pile. Same with the second show I saw them play in 1996, also in the Point. Over the years, I’ve managed to see them a total of ten times and every time they play I try to absorb everything I can so in seventeen years time I don’t have to base my memories on facts from the web.

Here’s to another seveteen lads, I’ll have a pint tonight!!

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MURPHY’S LIVE SEMI-FINALS 2008 – BRAVADO Vs Stagger Lee + CATHY DAVEY

Posted in Gig Review, IRISH NOISE!, Music with tags Cathy Davey, Dagger Lee, Murphys Live 2008, Stagger Lees, The Murder Clues, Tickets There, Whelans on April 5, 2008 by Tickets There

Whelan’s was packed to the rafters as it hosted the ’Murphy’s Live 2008’ semi finals. Even after the doors had been opened there was still a queue of people stretching back to the front of the pub. The heat inside the venue was so heavy you could barely move without breaking sweat. The tickets hadn’t lied about having to be inside early.

Two bands were on hand to compete against each other for a place in the final round of the competition. ’Stagger Lee’ an incredibly talented and professional quartet with a sound that fuses ’PJ Harvey, Garbage and Sonic Youth’ and ’Bravado’ a fresh young band who are proving themselves with every performance they give. On first sight it’s easy to be pessimistic due to their age but once they play you can hear great potential in their future. Also on the bill, as special guest headliner, is the Award winning and extremely talented and energetic ’Cathy Davey’ who won the award for ’Best Irish Female’ and was nominated in the ’Best Irish Album’ category for her second studio output ’Tales of Silversleeve’ at last years Meteor’s.

First up was ’Stagger Lee’ who did everything in their power to get the crowd energetic from the word go. They had already upped their promotion by providing free badges at the door for all in attendance and were also selling promotional T-shirts. Everything about Stagger’s performance was tight, despite a couple of instances involving high heels and microphone cables; they had their set down to a T, delivering a nice mixture of punk esque rock songs and slower relaxed material. Donna McCabe (vocals) voice gave the songs a ’PJ Harvey, Siouxsie Sioux, Shirley Mason’ feel and the music had an overall 90’s grunge sound about it with some crunchy Bass lines. Tracks such as ’Between Control Confusion, Misery River and their debut single ’Bad shoes’ serve as a taste of thing’s to come when they release their next EP.

’Bravado’ came on second and so did their fans. One thing about being in one of these competitions, ensure your friends, family and fans are there on the night to cheer you on. The lads were a little slower to relax into their set, which I’m sure was on account of the massive crowd in front of them and their inexperience with shows this size, however lead singer Brian Whittington didn’t seem phased in the slightest as he belted into tracks from their first EP including Running, Artificial AngelsOne Day and more recent material like ’Any Other Way, Take your Pick and Too Tired to Sleep’ and

This was the second time I have seen Bravado and they have grown enormously since the quarter finals. On first sight of Stager Lee the thought passed my mind that Bravado were now out of their depth, however they once again surprised me and I’m sure many others. The judges have a very tough decision in front of them and no matter who gets through to the finals; both bands have proven they’ve got what it takes.

As the judges reconvened on the balcony to discuss Bravado and Stager Lee’s performances, Cathy Davey came on stage to a rapturous cheer. Cathy’s recent residency shows around the country, awards and recent singles are really paying off and this could be one of the last chances to see her, not only for free, but in a venue as intimate as Whelan’s. She is set to play the Olympia in June and hopefully, she will follow in the footsteps of Damien Rice, Bell X1, Glen Hansard and Paddy Casey to international acclaim and stardom.

Although this wasn’t Cathy’s night, she preformed with the same grace, power and energy she always does. Opening with ’Mr Kill’ from her new album, she played a fantastic set which included old favorites such as Swing It, Yak Yak’ and new material from ’Tales of Silversleeve’ such as ’Reuben, Sing for your Supper, Collector’ and ’Moving’ which blended perfectly with her debut album material.

Mouth pressed firmly into the microphone, covered in sweat (like every one else in the venue), Cathy closed the night with a single encore and proceeded straight to the fresh cold air awaiting us all outside. Another hugely enjoyable Murphy’s Live evening of music and certainly a reason to start applying for tickets to the final as your guaranteed at least one incredible talent to go through from tonight.

Cathy Davey