“I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully”

Before he leaves and we never hear from him again – I can’t see him making a fortune alá Clinton on the lecture circuit – amuse yourself with the Guardian’s Bushisms random generator.

Obama will never be this much fun.

worth keeping an eye/ear out for

While on Christmas sojourn in my homeland of the midlands I saw a new act you may want to check out the next time you see one of their posters near your local musical establishment.

‘Waiting to Explode Vs Marty Mulligan’ is a pretty cumbersome moniker. Roll off the tongue it does not. ‘Waiting to Explode‘ are a Mullingar-based foursome who have been gigging sporadically around Ireland for a few years. Their influences are varied, you could spends days drawing comparisons with bands like Mogwai, the Redneck Manifesto, At the Drive In and Explosions in the Sky. Though two of the band’s members, Paul Feery and Tommy Moore, contribute vocals when playing live and in studio I happen to think they have only now found their voice in the guise of super slam poet Marty Mulligan [from Mullingar!].

Mulligan is a poet, resident in Galway, originally from Mullingar, responsible for organizing slam poetry nights in places like the Roisín Dubh in Galway and curating events in the Leviathan tent at Electric Picnic. It was at last summer’s Picnic that Waiting to Explode and Mulligan first got together to write and perform music to poetry.

Though I, sadly, missed the Picnic shows I caught a shorter set from the group on Saturday 27th December in the Stables. The combination of Mulligan’s vocals, poetry and his rather unique onstage persona – imagine Zach de La Rocha impersonating Elvis in a sharp suit and you’re almost there – with the powerful blend of bass-driven funk-rock was enthralling. Their set was pretty short as they were supporting another act but the impact it left on me was not lessened by its brevity.

There is something happening in the backwaters of Mullingar, quite where this unlikely combination will go is yet to be seen. I recommend you check them out while, and when, you still can.

Waiting To Explode