The Class of 2013: A few of Limerick’s finest musical moments
Hermitage Green
Hermitage Green’s debut album ‘Live at Whelan’s’ hit the top of the download charts within hours of its release in December. It was the culmination of a very busy year for the quintet. For Hermitage Green’s Dan Murphy, the highlight of the touring schedule was playing to a full Electric Arena tent at Electric Picnic.
“We have travelled all over the world, Australia twice, been to Abu Dhabi, France and UK. The highlight, I think I can speak for all the whole lot of us, was Electric Picnic. We played the Electric Arena which is the main tent at picnic on the Sunday afternoon. “We had been going to the picnic as spectators for years – there is something very special about it as a festival. We played two years ago on the Salty Dog, which is a minor stage in front of 200 people. We were thrilled with that so to go back 12 months later and play to 6,000 on a Sunday afternoon. That was a massive highlight for us.”
Chic
The ‘good times’ came to Limerick in October when Nile Rodgers and Chic brought the party Live at The Big Top. The ‘70s disco legend has written, produced or played on $2billion worth of worldwide chart hits. He stole the show at Glastonbury 2013 and produced Daft Punk’s Summer hit, ‘Get Lucky’. Formed in 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards, Chic produced some of the best known and most influential hits of the disco era, such as ‘Good Times’, ‘I Want Your Love’, ‘Everybody Dance’, ‘We are Family’ and ‘Le Freak’.
Nile Rodgers and Chic played all the hits for a gig that will be long remembered as one of the best live shows to happen in the city. For anyone at the gig, it did feel that in the surrounds of the Milk Market, a venue that has the atmosphere of a great festival stage, that the good times were back and with a year of City of Culture events set to begin in a matter of days, there are no limits to what heights Limerick can aspire.
Windings
THE album ‘I Am Not The Crow’ from Limerick band Windings on Out On A Limb Records album was nominated in a shortlist of 10 albums for the Choice Music Prize in January. The prize eventually went to Delorentos, but rumours at the announcement indicated that Windings came a close second in the judges deliberations.
Leading Armies
Leading Armies and The Markevin Light Orchestra recorded two tracks at Dance Limerick at Daghdha Space for their LP ‘Lets Get Serious’. Both tracks are available on YouTube. The short films are a wonderful snapshot of a band in progression and the high quality of Limerick creativity in capturing these moments. The videos were directed and edited by Shane Serrano, sound recording by Dave O’Brien, helped by large video and audio crews. Leading Armies will play the City of Culture NYE Concert at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Out on a Limb
LIMERICK’S independent record label Out On A Limb Records celebrated ten years of putting out quality releases in August. The gig featured Owensie, Hidden Highways, and Peter Delaney in Seoda Shows and later in Dolan’s Giveamanakick, Crayonsmith, Elk, Jogging and Windings rocked the Warehouse stage.To date, the label has released 16 albums, 4 EPs and five 7” singles. In this era of diminishing returns for the record industry, Out on a Limb have been more prolific than ever, proving there is a receptive audience for quality, cutting edge new artists.
Bruce Springsteen
OVER 30,000 Bruce Springsteen fans gave ‘The Boss’ and The E Street Band a Thomond Park welcome last July. Every Springsteen concert is more than just a gig and here in Limerick, a city baked in sunny days and basking in GAA Munster Final glory days, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band delivered an epic event. “We are here to fill you with the everlasting power of rock ‘n’ roll,” Springsteen roared to his faithful fans as the band launched into ‘This Little Light of Mine’. The crowd sang along to ‘Hungry Heart’ and ‘The River’. A fan handed Bruce a beer that he downed in one go, another fan gave the 63 year-old rocker a giant Irish passport which he brought on stage. After an epic three hours and 18 minutes, Bruce bade farewell, “Thank you Ireland, thank you Limerick”, with a frantic version of ‘Shout’. A legendary energetic performance from Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band that rocked the city, the party continued in Limerick city centre well into the morning.
Tumbledown
LIMERICK band Tumbledown released a video in July for ‘Chink In My Armour’. The video was shot on location in Cobblestone Joe’s Bar and directed, shot and edited by Shane Serrano.
Bleeding Heart Pigeons
LIMERICK trio. Bleeding Heart Pigeons are now signed to Virgin Records. Their debut EP was released on December 16. They first came to attention nationally playing an acoustic set on RTÉ’s ‘Other Voices’ earlier this year. ‘Visiting Myself In Hospital’ is the lead track on the debut EP. Melodic, sweeping and inventive dream music. Terrific stuff. Bleeding Heart Pigeons are Mícheál Keating (vocals/ guitar), Cathal Histon (synths, samples and vocals) and Brendan McInerney (drums).
Seoda Shows
ITS the little venue with the big ideas. Seoda is a labour of love, to be treasured, bringing new emerging acts to the city and some unexpected headliners such as PINS, Jake Clemons, Little Green Cars, No Age, Cathy Davey, O Emperor, Pugwash and White Hills.
Dead Red Light
Dead Red Light released a video for their riff-tastic indie stomper ‘Out Of Time’. DRL’s gaudy anthem is essential viewing.
Theme Tune Boy
LIMERICK band Theme Tune Boy launched their video ‘Recess’ in October featuring dozens of brave Limerick citizens who lent their lip syncing skills at the recent video shoot at The Music Hub. Theme Tune Boy is the most recent incarnation of Niall Quinn (drummer/ songwriter with The Hitchers). TTB’s debut album ‘The Return of the Living Dead’ was released in Spring 2013 and the single ‘Recess’ was Live 95fm’s Irish Single of 2013 on its weekly ‘Green and Live’ show.
Nubus
MACRONITE resident/ promoter Paddy Mulcahy a.k.a nubus released his new album ‘Enter Morning’ in July. The eight track album is a collection of lush dreamscape electronica that was nine months in the making.
