Tonight on the nine o’clock news RTÉ ran an item about celebrations at Queens University, Belfast. Seamus Heaney recieved a Lifetime Achievement Award during the University’s Centenary Charter Day celebration.
Beginning his report over images of fireworks exploding above the gothic facade of Queens Tommy Gorman said, “loud bangs in south Belfast tonight, but legal ones”.
Oh Mr. Gorman. Must we really keep reminding the public what the North is really famous for? Hmm?
Categories: media
Tagged: belfast, fireworks, news, northern ireland, queens, RTÉ, seamus heaney, tommy gorman
Over at Yellow Roman Candles they posted a top ten of Temple Bar. Though, shockingly, they failed to mention DiFontaines pizza. The ideal post-gig, pre-pub snack, if you ask me.
The problem with DiFontaines, aside from knowing you’re helping a Fun Lovin’ Criminal out financially, is its location. Y’see, Eamon Dorans is next door and as anyone who has lived through a rough ‘n’ ready gig in the basement or a nightmarish weekend night upstairs will know, this is a pub best avoided.
Which brings me to listing, and discussing, ten venues in Dublin of note. It’s not a top ten as many, if not most, of the venues have problems and those languishing at the bottom will find these recessiontastic times hard to pull through. It is worth noting now that this list is based completely on personal experiences and the gigs seen within the venues’ walls. Though what else could it be based on?
10: The Sugar Club
A venue that tends to host smaller acts owing to a pretty tiny capacity and strange seating arrangements. This is the type of venue that will suit some gigs more than others. Lykke Li’s first gig in Dublin took place here and suffered from strange lighting – dim the lights, anyone? – and a musician whose music requires dancing to, not sitting in semi circles observing from afar. The trick with the sugar club is to avoid anything adventurous. Or anything you may feel the need to do more than tap your foot to.
9: Crawdaddy
Tiny. So tiny. If you’re not standing between the sound desk and the stage you’re going to miss something. Like the gig. But with the right band, The Redneck Manifesto rocked it, it can be a magical place. A tiny magical place.
Dark but fun. Nice sized venue with decent sound. Suffers somewhat from a complete lack of talent in the booking department. The bar downstairs is rubbish. Avoid karaoke there at all costs.
7: The Academy or whatever they’re calling it this week.
Formerly every name under the sun the actual music venue section of the Academy is quite small and can feel crammed quickly. It has started to host some decent bands and is filling the role of a mid-sized venue for up and coming acts quite well.
6: The Ambassador
Old and musty, the Ambassador is clinging onto its fading charm and status as a northside Olympia. If you happen to be behind the sounddesk the sound is non-existant. Having never been in the stalls I can only imagine it’s not the greatest there either. Though it does have charm and when they’re not refereeing a scrum for the cloakroom the staff are decent folk. If it was cleaned up a bit and new sound was installed this place could be great.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. The bastion of the Dublin Music Scene has always been Whelans and this hasn’t changed despite the huge renovations over the past few months. A little space has been added along with a newish soundsystem. But where are the artists? Of late I’ve rarely been tempted by anything on offer in Whelans, even less so by the acts frequenting the upstairs bar: the imaginatively titled “Upstairs at Whelans”. Whelans seems kind of past its peak as fans move from the Irish singer songwriter phase onto pastures new. As evidenced by a great night at Chrome Hoof this year they can still book ‘em and for the most part, we will still come.
Terrible name. Terrible. But nice place. Decent sized bar and hanging-about area. Sound is as close to perfect as I’m able to identify and they book some great acts: Jenny Lewis, Lykke Li, Jape etc. As a club it is less endearing but as a venue it ticks all the boxes.
Were it not for the sentimenal attachment gig goers have to numbers one and two I think this could be number one. It’s kind of great. The standing area is a great size (I’m not familiar with the balcony) and the bar area out back is great for skipping the queue inside and chilling out between acts.
2: The Olympia
A faded glory with the stickiest floor in all of Dublin. Standing at the Olympia is the best way to go. Sitting is cramped, uncomfortable and if you’re in possession of legs longer than the average toddler’s you’re best to walk away now. The upper tier is so high it’s vertigo-inducing so don’t sit there either. Don’t sit. Stand. Greatest gig moment in the Olympia? When Dave Grohl climbed into the boxes (who doesn’t love a venue with boxes?) and around the lower balcony all the while playing a guitar solo on Foo Fighter’s There is Nothing Left to Lose Tour. It’s the kind of place bands play before they hit stadium size: Kings of Leon, The Killers et al. Over 100 years old and showing the signs here’s hoping it puts more leg room in and keeps on trucking.
I’m completely bias here owing to a great gig there at Wolf Parade on Saturday night and some other crackers throughout the year – Broken Social Scene, Battles, Fleet Foxes – but is that not what this is all about? It’s a great place. Sitting is almost as fun as standing and, if you’re not feeling the crowd mentality, you can easily charm the affable bouncers into letting you stand upstairs where the views are great. The bars are nice, the location is fine – some good pubs nearby and a chance to mingle with the NCAD scenesters – what’s not to love? The winner.
What think ye?
Is the heart confusing the head and ears on this one?
Categories: music
Tagged: academy, ambassador, battles, broken social scene, crawdaddy, dublin, gigs, live concerts, lykke li, music, olympia, the button factory, the village, top ten, tripod, venues, vicar street, whelans, wolf parade
