The Summer is Nigh

You know the summer is coming when you hear the Electric Picnic line-up being announced, the summer is on its way and I cannot wait. Even when I look out my balcony window now, it is pissing from the heavens, I haven't seen rain quite like it in 2011 as of yet. It is what my grandfather would of called 'very wet rain'.

'Jaysus, that’s shockin wet rain, that is. I'm tellin ye, you'd get awful wet in that.'

But my point is, rain or no fucking rain, the summer is coming, and it will be here before we know it. It will be savage.

The 2 moments, I believe, that are synonymous with the coming of the summer are, they're not the tweeting of the birds or the warm breeze in your face. They are the Paddy's Day session in the Bernard Shaw and the announcement of the Electric Picnic line-up. Do you think they come within a week of each other for the good of their health, bollix, they kick it off like a motherfucker, they get everybody pepped for the next 6 months unadulterated fun. Let's go!

Electric Picnic 2011 from Electric Picnic on Vimeo.

I have to say the line-up for this year's Picnic has not captured my imagination. If I'm gonna be honest, it hasn't for the last few years, okay, Leftfield was ridicules last year but since 2007, the Picnic line-up hasn't been blowing me away, but who gives a bollix, when it comes down to it, it's very rarely about the line-up but were gonna talk about it anyway

Let’s look at the line-up

The main headliners -

Arcade Fire - the more commercial act of the lot, they won a shit load of awards and had a massive album, lots of cullchies will love this addition to the line-up. I think the last time they were at the Picnic it was the second one, back in 2005 and they were . . . . . . . pleasant.

Pulp - The usual nostalgic act that always finds itself on the Picnic line-up, I love Pulp and I cannot wait to see this show. It will be like going to see the Pet Shop Boys a few years ago, everyone knows the tunes, everyone singing the tunes, it will be a buzz.

The Chemical Brothers - I don't know what it is about the Chemical Brothers but even though they have only played the Picnic the once, it seems like they play it every year, if that makes sense. They will be good, they always are.

Interpol - Never really gave this band a chance and I probably never will, I couldn't give a bollix about them.

PJ Harvey - Okay, if I told you that there was a chance of me checking out PJ Harvey whenever she is on on the weekend, I would probably be lying to you. Not an act to be sticking in the headliners list.

Beirut - Again, this is an act, I have yet to consider, I haven't given them the time of day, but if someone was going to them over the weekend, I’d probably join them. I hope to get to know more over the coming months.

Other big acts -

DJ Shadow - Sometimes I feel Hip-Hop finds it hard to fit in or have an impact at a festival. Saying that J-5 were unreal at the first Picnic - Bring Back J-5 - but I went to see DJ Shadow twice over my years at the Picnic and both times, I felt bored shitless to be perfectly honest. I probably won't be attending this on the weekend.

The Charlatans - This band, and I know a lot of people disagree with me, I think are sweet, they have a fuck load of tunes I love, I've never seen them before and a bit of Brit Pop at a festival never hurt anyone. Pulp aren't enough. I will be here 100%


Sinead O'Connor - If I'm not mistaken, she is like Mundy, she plays pretty much every year and I always miss the baldy bitch. I always threaten to check her out, just out of curiosity but I never get around to it. I'm probably too busy getting cosmic at the Bacardi Bar. Will probably miss it again this year for similar reasons but if I so happened to be walking by, I might pop in.

Death in Vagas - I love this act and I've never got the chance to see them, I have been listening to The Contino Sessions & Scorpio Rising for years and I can’t wait to check them out live. I hope they are on early in the day but either way I'll be giving them a gander


Boyz Noize - Depends how I’m feeling, it's been a while. Last time I saw Boyz Noize was at the 2007 Trinity Ball and to say we were reaching for the lasers would be an understatement, good buzz, if I haven't worn myself to a thread by the time they are on.

Paul Kalkbrenner - The highlight of the weekend for me, I cannot wait to see this cunt. He is fucking savage, I got into him after seeing a film that he wrote, directed, scored and stared in, called Berlin Calling. He is the one I reckon going to be the talk of the festival. I will not be missing this for the life of me. Check out this scene from a festival in the movie.


Trentemoller - My mate, Aaron's choice of the line-up, I know his stuff and will be defo checking it out

Adam Beyer - Depends on my mood, if he is on on the Sunday Night, you can forget it.

Dave Clacke - The same as Beyer, it all depends on what night he is on. I'm very fragile on the last night.

Gavin Friday - 6 months ago, I would of rather stick pins in my eyes but I saw a very good documentary about Bono's best mate, Gavin Friday, and his band sounded a bit interesting, The Virgin Prunes. Like Sinead, only if I'm walking by

If you ask me, I think a few more big acts need to be added over the next couple of months, not massive acts but if they want people to buy tickets worth 250 yoyos, well, you got to entice them more. At the end of the day, I couldn't give a toss about the line-up; I very rarely see any of the acts anyway. I spent most of my weekend last year in the Movember Tent, listening to the likes of Russell and Aido and Chewy so not to worry Electric Picnic, I don't mind. What it has done is excite the balls off me. I can’t wait for the fucking Picnic! I can’t wait for the fucking summer!

NY77 - The Coolest Year in Hell

I caught this documentary a while ago on VH1 and thought it was fucking savage but could never find it again on the internet . . . . until now. I headed onto the This Greedy Pig web-site (http://www.thisgreedypig.com), onto their blog page and low and behold there it was, there it was staring me in the face. Check this bad boi out because, for the next hour and a half I am gonna let 1977 New York wash over me. Thanks Lads - here is the link

http://www.thisgreedypig.com/ny77-the-coolest-year-in-hell/

Recommended Tune - Lindstrom

Last weekend was my mate, Aaron's Birthday, we started things in a very civilized manner, with a nice meal in Green Nineteen, tasty food, good service and very affordable. We did the cake thing, brought the bike out, we bought it for Aaron a few days earlier, everyone was having a fine celebration.

Then onto Sean MacD's in Harold's Cross for plenty of fun and frollix, where Greg and Aaron are running their night, Native Tongues. No mad clubbing, just a pub with good tunes and a decent smoking section. Anyway, about halfway through the night, there is Rubio, giving everything he's got on the decks and he plays this tune. I know it as well as can be, I've heard it being played a million times, it's just I've never known the name of it. 'I fucking love this track.' I said to myself, and with that my attention was dragged else where so I never got to ask Rubio what the name of it was.

About 5 hours later, we are all squeezed into Aaron & Rubio's cottage, I'm swaying left and right at this stage, there is Conor Dunne giving it as much of his all as Rubio was back in the place and what do you know, on comes this tune again. 'Fuckin Hell, that tune is savage.' I thought. I gander over and there is Damo, dancing with a look of sheer passion on his face to the tune. I look over, I clock his eye -

'What a fucking tune, bro!' I say

And he replies 'Fucking savage, man, spacey as fuck'

'Yeah, a real fuckin Blade Runner quality about it.' I say

And on we go about how deadly the tune is. I get the name of the track off Damo and by the time, I finish up at the session, back in mine, then bed, up the next day, I completely forget it. There I am texting Damo, Rubio and Conor Dunne like a mad yoke the next day, trying to get the name of this fucking track again. Damo is the first to get back to me and he has no recollection of even having a conversation with me at the party, Rubio sends me the names of 3 tunes that could not of been further from the tune and third time lucky, Conor Dunne texts - 'I think ur talkin about Lindstrom - I Feel Space' and he was right - Get this beast into you!

Movie Recommandation - Vicki Christina Barca

I have recently had the pleasure of experiencing Sky Movies for the last 2 weeks and, okay, 30 squid a month is a little affluant for my current income but let me tell you, it is worth it, it is amazing. I woke up the other night at about 4am, couldn't get back to sleep, I was pacing the gaf, on my second cup of tea, I knew I wasn't getting back to sleep, simple as that. I flicked the TV on, expecting the only thing on to be the Sky Sports News carosel but no, I forgot . . . . . . . for a few minutes I had completely forgotten about the Sky Movies, get the fuck in there, you little beauty. Firstly, I thought to myself, 'Ye know what, they will be showing nothing but bollix on at this time.' Oh my God, was I wrong. I watched Vicki Christina Barcalona, I thought it was fucking savage and I thought to myself, what a great way to start a day. So if anyone is looking for solid movie to watch over the coming weekend, checkout Woody Allen's best movie he has done in years - Vicki Christina Barcalona - PS For the rest of the day, I was fucking knackered.

Tune Recommendation - Number 1

Andy Durkan played this track for me there a few months ago, it was the wee hours of the morning, everyone needed a whopper tune that was going to lift the spirits of the party, to say the least, it worked. I thought it was kick ass, Check it out

Recommended Movie - Number 1

If you are looking for a sweet ass movie at any stage this week, check this out. Sean Penn's last movie, Into The Wild.

Video Project

Today, myself and my bro, Max, start our long talked about video project that is going to talk our lifetime to complete, we are finally getting the finger out and actually starting it. It is going to take a full life time to do, but I reckon it will be worth it, even if we don't get to see the finished product ourselves.

This also means that some of the people that I know and respect will not get to see it either. In fact, now that I think about it, the only people that are really going to give a bollix about it, is some wanky generation that is yet to be born. I will be there, on my death bed, dying of some horrible incurable disease that has yet to come along and it is really, really painful, some arty little shit will be in my face telling me how deadly the idea is. I will be unable to talk because this disease will probably effect the mouth, but I will be thinking very cynical thoughts at that moment.

Lets Go! Hope the little shit is out of bed

Oscar This

After a nice weekends sessioning that began with the Man Utd - Wigan game on Saturday afternoon in Coffeys gaf, myself and Shocko found ourselves 2 pubs and 3 gaffs later on my couch, surrounded by passed out mates and we were engaging in some seriously in-depth chatter about this year's films. There we were, feet up, chilling, after spending 45 euro on nine Cobra beers from that Indian in Portobello, awaiting the announcement of this years academy awards.


I didn't want this year to be the same as every other year, me sitting there, awake, scanning the internet for the Oscars live and failing miserably. I don't know, why is it I get so frantic about watching them, I have to see them and I have to see them live. I hate those edited hour long versions on RTE the next night, they always get someone who has had a lobotomy to edit the thing. The funny thing is on the rare occasion where I actually get to watch them live; I do nothing but roar obscenities at the TV or bitch to whoever it is I'm with, about how shallow and crass the whole fuckin thing is. I can’t explain it, I just want it, I don't want to miss it, I can’t do with out it. So what did I do, I ring up Sky

'Hello, Sky.'

'Eh, Hi . . . how much is it to get the movies.

'It is thirty one euro a month.'

' . . . . . . . . Do I have to take them for the whole month?'

'Minimum a month, sir.'

'Okay, fuck it, give them to me.'

31 euro, . . . . . am I insane? . . . . Ah, to hell with it, I'll have the movies for a month aswell as the Oscars, so not all bad. I’ll finally get to see the Human Centipede after all.



As always I tried to see as many of the films nominated as I possible before the faithful night and I didn't do too badly this year, everything bar True Grit & The Fighter. This year, the awards themselves looked to be bit obvious, very little surprises, Best Film & Best Director between Social Network & The Kings Speech, with the latter being the favourite and would end up taking it, weird because my money was on The Social Network.



First off, Tom Hooper has very little to his name if you ask me, The Damned United, one of the Prime Suspects and Eastenders and that’s about it. Not much to warrant a best director award, even if the Kings Speech is a quality movie. Remember this is the award that Kubrick, Hitchcock, Altman or Sergio never got, a disgrace. I believe the Best Director award is the only award that is given in the ceremony that past work kind of comes into play. It cant be flukey first movie, if it is to be your first movie, it better be pretty fuckin savage, and the Kings Speech certainly wasn’t that.



This brings me onto my second point, The Kings Speech is a quality movie, it is solid as a motherfucker, you can’t fault it. It's just a bit nice, but nice is good. It is also very lovely, but lovely is also good. It just didn't blow my bollix off if you know what I mean, but I do remember leaving the cinema with a spring in my step, thinking to myself - 'Yeah, that was worth the fiver (I know, a fiver, I love being a student). The film didn't give me that Best Film, Oscar buzz, the only Oscar buzz I got off it was Colin Firth which was a given, seeing that he gave the performance of his life in 'A Single Man' last year and missed to Jeff Bridges in, what I thought was an average performance in an average movie.



Another thing about The Kings Speech that made me doubt it, was that it wasn't The Social Network. To me, The Social Network had Oscar written all over it, it was the film of the year. Firstly, Fincher, it was to be Dave Fincher's time. Seven, The Game, Fight Club, Zodiac (I'm not going mention Benjamin Button, even though it's the only one he's been nominated for, coz I just thought it was muck) so that, if you look at it, is some back log of movies, and I'm afraid something tells me that Captain Nemo isn't gonna earn him another nod so this is gonna be the only nomination for a while.



Something else that had me waving The Social Network flag was the importance of the movie, the importance of Facebook in today’s society. Facebook, only over the last few weeks, had been the centre of communication for 3 Revolutions in Africa for fuck sake. Its existence has changed the world for the better and no one can deny that and something was telling me the Academy was going to give it some notoriety.



Also I believe the film was a better movie, and believe it or not, I couldn't stand it when I saw it first. It took the second viewing to realize, 'Holy Shit, this is a quality fucking movie.' The reason I hated the movie to begin with was the same reason I hated There Will Be Blood to begin with, I simply despised every character in the film. When I see a film for the first time, there is something in me, I don't know why, I have to, kind of, like the protagonist. Even if it is Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, for some reason, I kind of like him . . . . . . . . . eh, I think like is the wrong word . . . but you know what I mean. Just like Daniel in There Will Be Blood, I hated Mark Zukerberg, I hated Justin Timberlake and I fucking hated those twins. After the film, I didn't give a fuck about any of them, they were all so rich, they were all so talented, it angered me, I left fuming. For the next week, I'm waxing lyrical to everyone how I didn't like the movie and every where I turned, I was told to shut the fuck up and watch it again. I did, and guess what, I really liked it, in fact, I've watched it several times since including just before writing this blog and I love it. It is a quality ass movie and I was very disappointed it didn't take the the Oscars home in the end.



On the upside, as a massive West Wing fan, it was great to see Aaron Sorkin take the Screenplay award home, although I think he had that in the bag as Paddy Power had him at 1/20. Another award going to The Social Network was to the lead singer of a childhood band of mine, Nine Inch Nail's Trent Reznor for Original Score which a quality series of music, I downloaded the fuck out of it last week and it is kick ass.

Anyway, myself and Seamas skulled our extremely over-priced Cobra's, there was a hint of morning light through the window and as the ceremony came to a close so were our eye-lids, a fine way to end a 2 day bender if you ask me.

21 days in

Okay 21 days in is a bit of a lie, but since New Years I have only smoked and drank on one occasion. I was very proud of the fact that I lasted 14 days, 2 weeks with out touching a drop or sparking up . . . . . or even getting one into me. Then, of course, Kate Brennan's birthday slash going away party comes along, this was going to be impossible to get through.

I said to myself, Fuck it, I would reward myself for being so good up to now, 14 days, I was very impressed with myself, it is funny that even in my thirtieth year I still manage to impress myself. How would I reward myself? I would go on the fucking rip. But this was all on one condition, that I jumped back on the wagon as soon as Sunday hit. Kate's party was on the Friday so I waited until that clock hit twelve midnight, it was Saturday, officially, lets get stuck into it for the next day. 24 hours, 80 smokes, 30 beers, 8 little fellas, a 2CB and a bag of weed later I pass out in my own bed, in my own place would you believe. That was the fucking craic!


Me in the middle of having craic - 15th Jan '11

I wake up back on the wagon again. I go another week and here I am, at the forefoot of another weekend. I really don't want to do anything mad because I'm going to London next week and I will certainly be drinking there.

'Then just don't drink or smoke or give it the big boy shit this weekend' I hear you saying

Easier said than done, it's my mate Paddy Canada's going away thing in the Sugar Club on Saturday night, we're all checking out Ali Shaheed Muhammad from A Tribe Called Quest and I have no doubt in my mind that by the end of Saturday, we will be throwing our hands up in the air and wavin them around like we just don't care. First weekend in February doesn't have anything . . . i think . . . does it?



I hope I can hold it together - wish me luck!

Documentary of the Year

As we enter into award season, I love checking out some of the potential nominees. I always start on the Best Documentary catagory, what docs are more than likely going to be in the short list for accolades over the coming months, the first I checked out has blown my mind. It's the documentary directed by Banksy, 'Exit Through The Gift Shop', fucking quality. You enter into it expecting a simple doc which explains and delves into the rise of Street Art but the film takes a completely turn. Just check it out - here is the link to check the whole film and a trailer to get you aroused.

http://watch-movies.ro/movie/exit_through_the_gift_shop_(2010)