Daniel Lynch Writing

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...