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News & Reviews
***MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2013
2013 see's 8 of our favorite bands release new albums out into the world. For us this is great news, not only do we get to hear and enjoy new material but these bands are also part of the collection of bands in Ireland that are keeping good music alive
Leaders Of Men in such a short space of time gained the media's attention, blew audiences away and have 2 excellent E.P's under their belt with the highly anticipated Debut Album due out at some stage during this year.
The Hot Sprockets, The Minutes and Bipolar Empire all released their Debut albums out into the world in the same month of 2011 (April) and after a 2 year stint of touring and writing new material they are back with announcements of a new album from each of them.
Kodaline, well what to say about Kodaline. They are at the top of their game and taking the world of music loving ears by storm, making themselves heard and gaining the success and support that they rightfully deserve. Again another band with 2 highly successful E.P's under their belt and a debut album due out June 2013, called "In A Perfect World".
Codes released their Debut Album in 2010 which was featured in Hotpress Magazines top 200 albums of all time and nominated for a Choice Music Prize. While they’ve been busying themselves demoing and recording tracks for their new record, they thought they'd put out a totally different album to the prior one and make it more instrumental/experimental. And if their new track "Triangulum" is anything to go by then their new album will be mind blowingly good with crazy timing throughout.
Sweet Jane having signed to acclaimed Irish indie label "Reekus" released their debut album, ‘Sugar For My Soul’ to superb reviews in 2010. The following year they toured America and Asia taking in major festivals such as SXSW in Texas, and Music Matters in Singapore, while the many festival appearances at home included Oxegen and Electric Picnic . Other highlights that year included being invited by Suede as guests on all three of their Olympia gigs in Dublin. On the 26th October 2012 Sweet Jane released “I Wanna Be In Love”, the first taster of their highly anticipated second album.
The Chapters released their Debut Album "Perfect Stranger" in 2009, Since then they have been receiving critical acclaim after Perfect Stranger hit the shelves rocketing into the Hotpress Top 30 albums of 2009, one of only 5 Irish albums in the Top 30. The album also went straight into the same publications Top Irish Albums of all time. After a brief hiatus, The Chapters return with a change of line-up and musical direction. Their second album "Blood feels warm" sees a shift towards simple, heartwarming songwriting and understated but mature musicianship. The current line up swells in size for recording and live purposes adding both grunt and texture with pedal steel, accordian, harp, strings and vocal arrangements to the fore.
2013 is gonna be a great year for Irish music as a whole, nothing more we like hearing than good hard working bands getting what they deserve!! Well actually there is one thing, their music!!!!
Thursday and Saturday, the 10th and 12th of April in The Workmans Club saw the semi finals of Control Promotions/The Workmans Club Battle of the Bands. Seven acts performed to the audience's in total and a select panel of judges for the chance to win an amazing opportunity to record with Gavin Glass Orphan Recording Studios, a headline show at The Workmans Club and a slot at 2014's Summer Showcase.
Only 2 acts from each night were able to go through. Which leaves 4 acts for the final on the 9th May 2014@The Workmans Club, Dublin.
The first being Meridian Sway >>>
Meridian Sway topped the online votes along with receiving a big audience vote and the judges vote, which certainly proved they brought their A game on the night.
Second act to go through on the thursday was Kerencia >>>
Kerencia were brought back in as a wild card into the competition after an act pulled out on account of them breaking up but it was only by a fine line they didnt make the first cut. But when they came back in to battle it out again they certainly brought their A game. Possibly played one of their strongst sets to date.
Guitar technique from each guitarist was really tight and harmonies were on point but for the finals they are going to have to pull something amazing out of their bag with the quality of talent in the final.
Third act which hands down topped the judges vote on the night and had the most notable talents on the night were The Journals >>>
The Journals are a four piece Indie/Alternative Rock'n'Roll band is the only way for us to describe them. They came with all guns blazing and played a pretty sweet set. Their audience interactiveness was lacking but their sheer talent for good guitar licks and riffs added to pretty decent songs saw them top the night.
Fourth act through was The Klares >>>
The Klares being the youngest band in the competition certainly held their own on the night against the more mature acts and smashed it with their online campaign, having models and radio stations sharing their stat's and encouraging folks to get involved. They didnt top the poll but they did come second and generated a pretty good buzz about it in terms of the online front.
On the night they sounded tighter than the prior round and gave it socks interacting with the crowd and trying to create a buzz.
The Klares are definitely an act that can hold their own against the big boys and bring their A game.
And that sums up our finalists and why/how it is they have come to be our finalists.
Battle Of The Bands Final will be the 9th May 2014, Admission €5. Put it in your diary.
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BATTLE OF THE BANDS SEMI FINALS
Battle Of The Bands Final 2014
Ok so its been about 2 weeks since the fianl of our Battle Of The Bands in association with The Workmans Club, Dublin. We had 3 great bands battling it out for that top prize of a days recording with Gavin Glass at Orphan Recording, headline show at The Workmans Club, Dublin and a slot at this years Summer Showcase 2014.
First to take to the stage was the young rockers "The Klares". Their setlist comprised of mostly originals which we like and 2 covers from what we recall. The most notable of the 2 covers would be the brillaint Voodoo Child.
Originals such as "I dont really like you" and "dirty birds" are such cool tunes, its hard to believe they came from such a young band. But never the less they can be serious contenders if they make the right moves and move the right way.
Following The Klares to the stage was our 2014 Battle Of The Bands winners "Meridian Sway". The live performances that Meridian Sway offer are entertaining and definitely capture the feeling and essence of a Meridian Sway gig.
The online vote winners for the semi finals and the final were tipped as the public's favourite from their persistance in trying to better each performance from battle after battle with us.
From rocking the house down with their Fleetwood Mac cover to playing originals suchs as "St James, All Falls Down and Lions Den", Meridian Sway certainly have the onstage persona for a band aswell as the live aspect covered.
Whilst being announced as winners 2014, the Workmans Club screamed out with applause and called for Meridian Sway to get back on stage and give them more. So they did with even more enthusiasm and sense of accomplishment. Worthy winners with barrells full of potential.
Last to take to the stage was "The Journals" a band who are no strangers to a good hook and a catchy riff with songs like "Habits and Recreations" and "Sirens". Their beefy bassed up sound and almost angelic guitar arrangements are ear catching to say the least.
The 4 piece band that hail from Dublin have spent a lil while devoping their sound and we got to hear it in all its glory during each battle they played for us. On the night the judges were highly impressed but they just fell short when it came to the online votes and audience vote. In the end it came down to a democratic vote which saw them come second in our Battle Of The Bands
We hope to hear more from each of our finalists and indeed our semi finalists in the future. There's some truely raw and impressive talent on this Island of ours and we are doing our best to bring it to the surface.
Photos courtesy of:Terry Warren
Edits by: Control Promotions
>>>Battle Of The Bands Recap 2015<<<
So 2 months on from our Battle Of The Bands final at The Workmans Club,
Wellington Quay, Dublin and what a final it was. The 4 finalists all played
quality sets but as you guys now know Laura Keane was the over all winner.
Gary O'Neill kicked the show off with a beautiful set filled with beautiful songs.
Behind the songs was a really tight band tied in with the songs smooth
arrangements and flawless flow and added in was a sax player just to spice things
up. Terrific start to a terrific night. Gary is still gigging around Ireland selling copies
of his E.P. and we highly recommend checking him and his sweet band out.
https://www.facebook.com/GaryONeillMusic
Karla Chubb was second to take to the stage. Now known as "Kevyn" (diffirent but could
be a grower). With her raw, raspy vocals that could easily give paramores "Hayley Williams"
a run for her money. In terms of original song content they were good and catchy but
slightly lacked imagination. And what we mean by imagination is that when the songs
reached a certain point and you expected them to take off into a whole different level
they didnt. And when you werent expecting them to take off they did.
But thats a song- writing skill that can be worked on. When to put what, in where.
That was the only thing that nudged them out of the race. Strong points were on stage
presence, crowd interaction and muscianship. They had barrels of energy and a ton of potential.
Kevyn are currently gigging around around Ireland , building a profile for themselves and
there's no doubt that in time they'll be taking Ireland by storm.
https://www.facebook.com/kevyntheband
Good Time Villains (GTV) came second in the online poll and first in the 1st round battle. They
were definitely ones to watch for but unfortunately when it came to the final, the talent was so
strong and the race was so close they fell that bit short.
They brought the loudest crowd and the good time chill factor to the table. Song wise for the genre
of music that they are in, there's no complaints. They know how to write good songs. Performance
wise there was some tuning issues and harmonies falling flat. But that's just a case of nerves getting
the better of them we feel or it could have just been a bad gig for them. But we have seen them play without the tuning and harmony issues and they may have won it on another night.
Currently the lads are working on new songs and gigging about the place.
https://www.facebook.com/goodtimevillains
And now onto the winner of this years Battle Of The Bands 2015, Laura Keane. Again another act
with a really tight band to accompany her tied in with a serious solid bunch of songs. Very
album ready and radio friendly. Definitely the tightest band on the night and also had the better collection of songs that the judges felt moved by.
Currently Laura is gearing up to go into Temple Lane Recording Studio's which was part of the prize to record a few tracks. And she will also be performing at this years Autumn Showcase along with a few other gigs that can be found here: www.facebook.com/laurakeanemusic
