Daniel Lynch Writing

10-9-12  http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/174753/9 Thursday saw the release of Belfast band Stillpoint’s second E.P. ‘Some Lessons Hurt Like The Truths They Contain.’ Support bands Droids, Window Seats and Deadlights didn’t just make up the numbers with performances of the highest quality, but it was Stillpoint who deservedly stole their own show. Mixing songs from their eponymous first E.P and the new release, the trio showed that they are a force to be reckoned with both locally and further afield. The E.P. itself is considerably more refined than their debut. Stillpoint seem to have honed their sound into something that is both unique and is still a reflection of their respective influences. Structurally more complex than previous songs ‘Some Lessons...’ exhibits the rapid progression of a band that, less than a year ago, underwent a complete line-up change. ‘Blind Drunk In Sastas’ is a strong opener, setting the tone with its sheer pace and hard hitting lyrics....

24-7-12  http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/173858/9 It appears to be business as usual for The Gaslight Anthem with their fourth studio album ‘Handwritten’. Their punk laden debut ‘Sink or Swim’ quickly gave way to a more commercial effort in the hugely successful ’59 Sound,’ while their third effort ‘American Slang’ disappointed many fans with poorer production detracting from what was undoubtedly a collection of excellent songs. The transition from ‘Sink or Swim’ to ‘American Slang’ and a side project with the Horrible Crowes has developed the overall sound into a much more complete and balanced package. Critics will fall into the old trap of saying the band sound exactly the same as their previous two albums but there is a maturity and a professionalism about ‘Handwritten’ that has replaced the rawness of earlier records. Fallon’s writing topics are those of a man grown and no longer those of an embittered teenager fuelled by rage and a sense of injustice. The focu...

13-4-12   http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/171919/9 It’s always good to see local support on the bill when touring bands come to town but the evening’s first band couldn’t have been farther from local. ME, a Melbourne quartet, kicked off proceedings with an excellent set. With a hugely varied set some songs could be placed alongside the likes of Muse with piercing vocals and spacey guitars, while others had the infectious kick of more contemporary rock. Highlight of the set, ‘Westward Backwards,’ involved lead singer Luke taking Michael’s bass guitar while the bassist thumped a drum, creating a phenomenal layering of instruments and effects to cap off an exhilarating opening performance.  ME were followed by local heavy weights Axis Of who could have a run in with a steamroller wielding a wrecking ball and still come out on top. It’s more noise than a three piece should be able to make but they carry it off with aplomb. Unlike ME, Axis Of really get the crow...

13-4-12  http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/171920/9 I caught up with Sam McTrusty and Craig Kneale from Twin Atlantic before their gig in Belfast’s Mandela Hall. Armed with only a packet of wine gums and a dodgy old school dictaphone I quizzed the pair about their recent tour in America, the prospect of a new album and their excellent fan base. So how are things with Twin Atlantic, how does it feel to be back in Belfast? Sam: Yeah we’re really excited. Craig: We played here about a year ago at the venue upstairs, The Speakeasy, and that was great. We played a little place in Derry called Masons the first time we were here. It was one of the craziest gigs I’ve ever played! People were jumping on the stage and stuff. Last night in Derry there were a lot more people there, it was really cool to see so many mental people come to see us. S: We played Belsonic too, that was great fun! You guys are just back from a tour of America, how did that go? What were the h...

3-4-12   http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/171729/9 Once upon a time, crossing the threshold of Messers Courtney and McKendry heralded the starting point of a raucous night of partying and music. Jack Courtney (bass) and Dave McKendry (guitar and vocals) have been a musical partnership since their mid-teens in bands such as Custom Gauge, but this latest manifestation of their combined talent is the most progressive, most exciting and most promising to date. As front man, McKendry is the leader of the discussion, taking conversation where he wants it to go in the same way he can control an audience. Conversely, bassist Courtney sits back and takes everything going on around him in, like his bass playing he’s always there, but not always in the foreground.  Only when it has been carefully considered does he enter the dialogue and when he does you make damn sure you listen. The trio, completed by drummer William Woods, have just returned from a five week Do-It-Yours...

27-2-12 Anybody in the audience could have been forgiven for thinking four lads had wandered in to the Limelight and just happened to find themselves on stage when Broken Hands emerged from among the crowd. Having not previously been aware there was a support band; they were an intriguing prospect, and ultimately a pleasant surprise. Without so much as a ‘hi, we’re the band’ the quartet propelled themselves into a frenzy of rocking guitars and aggressive, catchy vocals. The rawness of the White Stripes and reminiscences of the usual classic rock culprits was combined to devastating effect with the edge and energy of an exciting new band just waiting to hit the big time. Their onstage modesty could be attributed to the nerves of inexperience, but when they got going each song had the polish of excellently composed rock and roll. Broken Hands will be back, but next time it’ll be them needing a support act! By the time Band of Skulls took to the stage the venue was buzzing with ac...

1-10-11  http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/168127/9 Raucous, acoustic, folky punk rock 'n' roll was on the agenda at Dublin's Academy as a sell-out crowd welcomed the Revival tour to town. The pack of musicians, led by founder of the tour Chuck Ragan, included Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon, Alkaline Trio's Dan Andriano and Dave Hause from the Loved Ones. The premise of the tour, according to Ragan is 'the camaraderie and the way people are drawn to each other' through music, and this was much in evidence throughout Thursday's show. Acoustic guitars, mandolin, violin and an upright bass were the weapons of choice as the quartet played a selection of covers and their own songs, accompanied by Jon Gaunt on fiddle and Joe Ginsberg on upright bass. Every song sounded huge in the reasonably large venue, whether with solo vocal and guitar or, as was the case with almost every song, the main performer was joined onstage by one of his comrades to s...

4-4-11 While Sunday nights in the Empire are usually associated with the bluesy musings of one Ken Haddock, tonight it was the turn of Dublin indie-rockers The Coronas to take centre stage. Having already sold out the venue for their Saturday gig here and Derry’s Nerve Centre on Friday, the quartet, accompanied by Colenso Parade and Microlip, completed the hat-trick and ensured the sell out crowd left happy again tonight. First up was Omagh four-piece Colenso Parade and although it’s probably a while since they last opened a gig, they proved they can more than handle any occasion. The Empire crowd is thrown back to the swingin’ sixties with a sound more than reminiscent of the Beatles or the Monkees. Vocal melodies and catchy hooks are par for the course as the lads deliver a string of quality songs including the ever popular ‘Not For Diamonds’ and new track ‘The Truth That Ran Us Down.’ It’s well trodden ground musically, but the upbeat tempo and feel good factor are infectiou...

31-3-11 For any fan of Phil Lynott this is a must read.  ‘My Boy: The Philip Lynott Story’ by his mother, Philomena, was originally published in 1995 but has since been updated and provides a detailed account of Lynott’s early life which is at times overlooked in assessment of his career. It is, for the first time, a completely honest and unabridged version of the life of a man who has influenced countless people. The reader is given insight into the circumstances of Philip’s birth, and the struggle faced by his mother in the following years. Two chapters have been added in which Philomena reveals the birth of two siblings Philip never met, who Philomena was forced to put up for adoption as infants in the early 1950s. Philomena’s status as the single mother of a mixed race child made it difficult for her to find work and lodgings in England and she makes it clear that regrettably, she had no choice. Such conditions were to lead to Philip moving to Dublin aged 3 to live with...

16-2-11  http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/163613/9 Despite changing personnel about as often as Spinal Tap, band fall outs, bust ups and the untimely passing of members, Thin Lizzy remain one of the best bands the world has ever seen. Long gone are the days when Lynott would prowl the stage in leather trousers stomping to Downey’s drum and flanked by Gorham and ‘Robbo,’ but this new line up have the power to transport the audience back to the band’s heyday. For those lucky enough to have seen the original Thin Lizzy it’s a return to their youth, and for those too young to have experienced Lynott et al it’s a unique chance to see (at least some of) their idols play their favourite songs live. Belfast’s Waterfront Hall sold out for the return of Thin Lizzy and fans were out in force to see the penultimate show of the tour. ‘Are You Ready’ kicked off the set and was closely followed by ‘Jailbreak.’ Front-man Ricky Warwick skilfully avoided the trap of sounding too like ...

23-11-10 Welcoming the early arrivals into the Ulster Hall tonight were ‘Sharks.’ Not unlike tonight’s headliners in style, ‘Sharks’ delivered a strong set of rock with a twist of indie and punk thrown in to the mix. Captivating the growing crowd the jiving jelly-legged lead guitarist really made some of the songs stand out with blistering lead breaks and moves to match. With probably the most difficult of jobs in being first on, ‘Sharks’ were more than up to the task and were an excellent addition to the bill. Stand out song ‘Three Houses’ and a cover of ‘True Believers’ with the help of Chuck Ragan and some of the Gaslight Anthem brought the set to an epic climax and ‘Sharks’ were cheered off the stage by a suitably warmed up crowd. Having made a rather impromptu entrance to join in the ‘Sharks’ final song, Chuck Ragan nonchalantly plugged in his guitar and commenced proceedings. With a full band behind him he’d maybe be classed as punk/rock n’ roll, but stripped back to an...

Published Stereoboard.com http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/161241/9 11-08-10 Little did I know standing in a sweaty, packed out tent at Oxegen a few years ago that the band I was listening to would very soon become one of my favourite bands. I was hugely sceptical of the whole Indie genre having been brought up on a staple diet of rock, metal and blues, but with no other bands on at the same time I had any interest in, I had thought why not. After being dragged to the tent by a friend who had heard these guys were good, I was less than enthusiastic when the five-piece took to the stage. The band conformed to my preconceived idea of five lads in skinny jeans, top shop t shirts, pointy shoes and funny haircuts and I felt myself groan at the thought of being bombarded by the latest in indie offerings. A far cry from my staples of rock and blues, but I forced myself to be open minded and give the band a chance. Very quickly however, my whole attitude changed. Dancy upb...

Published BBC ATL http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/atl/review_specific342456.shtml 30-06-10 By the time The Virgin Marys take to the stage Queen's Mandela Hall is already nearing capacity. The crowd laps up the rock hybrid offering and more than a few heads are bobbing to some excellently composed songs punctuated by offbeat rhythms, unexpected silences and equally unforeseen explosions of noise. Comparisons with Biffy Clyro and even Led Zeppelin have been made of the trio and aren't exaggerations by any stretch. Classic/hard rock is a difficult genre to find originality in, but The Virgin Marys have managed to do the impossible. Combining classic rock with a more modern Biffy-esque stop-start staccato rhythmic twist gives the trio a unique dynamic enjoyed by very few, if any, other bands. The irresistible blues shuffle of 'Out Of Mind' and catchy riffs in 'Bang Bang Bang' leave the crowd near stunned and The Virgin Marys leave the stage to rap...

15-06-10 It has been said more times than I care to count that I was born a generation late. Many of my own family and friends award me this label, and really, it’s not one I’m overly ashamed of. Why should I hide the fact that my idols are the greats of yesteryear who, for the most part, have already passed on untimely or otherwise? This weekend I was reassured that I wasn’t the only one of my kind. Chaos descended on the Donegal town of Ballyshannon as thousands of fans of Rory Gallagher flocked to the area for a 5-day celebration of the man and his music. For many of the younger fans that didn’t get a chance to see Gallagher in action, this is about as close as you can get to the real thing with scores of tribute acts playing in the various venues the town has to offer. The beginning of the festival was marked by the unveiling of a fantastic statue of Gallagher in the centre of the town. Unlike the dignified pose of the Phil Lynott statue in Dublin, this captures Gal...

Ramble on Jack White Published Stereoboard.com http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/97494/9 21-05-10 It’s the kind of thing my dad would call racket. Heck to me it’s a hell of a racket too, but for some inexplicable reason, it’s fantastic. To start with, somebody who’d only started playing a week before could have been drumming. And yet, the simplicity works. It lets the rest of the music and melody (for want of a better word) do the work. The rest of the music emanates from a variety of beaten up, plastic in some cases, dishevelled guitars. For any guitarist who knows their stuff, ‘tone’ is something of a holy grail. You either got it or you ain’t. Variables can be guitar wood, room temperature, even the sweat on your hands according to some connoisseurs. A plastic guitar is almost sacrilege.   And when the second guitar was obtained in exchange for moving a fridge, you know you’re not dealing with the best of equipment. But somehow it sounds amazing. It’s the absolu...

Published BBC ATL http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/atl/review_specific330776.shtml 06-05-10 On any other bill, all of tonight’s bands could have been headliners. Opening band Phoenix Fire toy with the delicacy of shy, unassuming pop for no more than a few bars, before breaking into a frenzy of finely tuned chaos. As ever, the dual vocals of David Jackson and Fiona O’Kane are the driving force and are used to devastating effect. Each song arrives in waves with music and vocals creating a tsunami of a climactic cadence before guitars and drums retreat to the still waters of stripped back musical serenity. An impressive crowd responds to Jackson’s boyish charm; his enthusiasm and sheer enjoyment of the experience infect the crowd as one and the band leave the crowd practically begging for more. Here Comes The Landed Gentry take to the stage to a smattering of applause before stealing the crowds attention with a relentless set. Theirs is a very different affair to Phoenix Fir...

Can't remember where this was published. But it was inspired by a trip to Dublin with The Varionis and after seeing the great bands on Grafton Street. Having just played a gig in Dublin this weekend, the comment by Rory McConnell in an interview on this very site more than hit home. Reading it first time I did agree, I thought I understood what he meant and I moved on to the next sentence. It was only when I got to Dublin on Saturday afternoon that the words took on a new magnitude. ‘ We’re just beginning to catch up with the rest of the UK and Ireland . It’s a good start, but we’ve a long way to go.’ Prior to my most recent visit to Dublin this weekend, I was there in February for a brief stay and a few pints. Although it didn’t strike me at the time as overly nouvelle, I looked on with admiration in Grafton Street as full bands plugged in and played. This is a far cry from your man down the town with the violumpet (so named by my brother, whether it’s the p...

Published BBC ATL  http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/atl/review_specific317762.shtml 04-03-10 SO:NI line ups these days are becoming quite predictable. Maybe it’s due to a lack of suitable bands in an indie dominated city, or simply a result of the quality of the bands so frequently on the bill, who knows? What’s certain is, the bands on show face an uphill task of sounding truly original in a very limited genre. Although not strictly classic rock, tonight’s openers ‘The Dead Presidents’ more than hold their own on tonight’s bill. It’s clear front-man/bassist Matt Wilson was in a Thin Lizzy tribute band- he oozes the confidence, charisma and showmanship Phil Lynott was famous for. Matt however, is his own man, and has written a strong set of songs that has recently earned the band many fans as word spreads. Tom Downey on guitar draws heavy influence from the likes of John Frusciante, transforming the performance from straight classic rock, to a more funky, soulful aff...

This review was subsequently butchered, putting it kindly, by the kind editorial team at the Gown Newspaper (QUB newspaper). The 'editor' completely changed the format, adding a narrative which at times didn't make sense and used words (s)he did not know the meaning of. Fortunately, not many people read the Gown.... Here's the interview as it was originally submitted. I was lucky enough to steal a minute with local rockers A Plastic Rose backstage after their headline Radar gig at the Speakeasy. The lads buck the obnoxious, self-centred musician trend in style, instead coming across as four really down to earth, approachable, everyday guys. As expected they are surrounded by well-wishers but I managed to extract Gerry, Ian, Troy and Dave from the melee of fans to quiz them about the gig, their self-created genre, their upcoming tour and their imminent single launch. Ian (vocals, guitar): ‘Playing the Speakeasy you get a buzz, there’s lots of random passers ...