Galway Advertiser 2002/2002_09_26/GA_26092002_E1_060.pdf 

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Label and Clann Zu double bill

Marc Roberts @ Roisin Dubh

SOU

MPS
T O C E L E B R A T E one year of the ' W i r e d ' nights a t Cuba*, there will be a live double bill of Label (below) and Clann Zu (above) on Wednesday October 2.

KEVIN McGUIRE

A bi-monthly review of n e w r e l e a s e s , and forthcoming albums

Bag Of Hits - F u n
Lovin' Criminals
HUEY A N D the boys brought out this compilation of 'Noo Yawk's finest' some weeks ago. The canny Criminals brought forth a distinctive gangster sound with tracks such as 'Scooby S n a c k s ' (with a significant contribution from Quentin Tarantino), 'The Fun Lovin' Criminal' and others. Their sound is equal parts swing, jazz, hip-hop, and rock'n'roll. They're the bad boys girls love. The sound which launched The Crims was first shown on Come Find Yourself. 'Scooby Snacks' told the story of modem day bank robbers going from bank to bank while being "whacked on the Scooby Snacks". Huey makes eyes at the pretty teller and asks: "Is there some kind of love thing happening here?" as the teller flickers her eyelashes flirtatiously back. In another song the guys call for the release of notorious Mafia king John Gotti. It's a cry from the streets for the mob to once more regain control with more than a little tongue in cheek! In The Criminals' records a new world order is created as the gangsta wins the day with charm and a smile. The group known as Huey, Fast, and Eddie play the role of loveable rogues. They steal from the rich and give to the poor. The Big Apple's Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Albums such as 100 per cent Colombian, (no explanation needed as to what that means!) and Loco, followed as the love for The Fun Lovin' Criminals grew and grew. This body of work now falls under the category of this Bag Of Hits, (another tongue in cheek reference). Zhivago offer this greatest hits along with other top names such as John Lennon, Led Zeppelin, U2, The Beatles, and many more in their two for 35 section. Check Huey and the boys out. 8 out of 10

Clann Zu is a five piece band from Melbourne, Australia. Featuring four Aussies and one Irishman, they set out with an agenda to make music without boundaries. The line up is Russell Fawcus on violin and keyboards, Benjamin Andrews on guitar, bodhran, and djembe, Pip Atherstone-Reid on drums, percussion, and loops and Nathan Greaves on bass and double bass. Vocalist Declan de Barra from Waterford sings as Gaeilge agus as Bearla. Dublin's Label are described as "a four piece kick ass rock band" culled from former members of The Frames, Mundy. and The Maryjanes. Their repertoire ranges from blistering guitar based songs to the more delicate and eclectic. Check out their EP Tailspin to hear what the guys are all about, then go see the gig.

ON TUESDAY O c t o b e r 1, s i n g e r - s o n g w r i t e r and broadcaster Marc Roberts makes his debut appearance at the Roisin Dubh. Most Galway people know Roberts from his sell-out shows in the Town Hall Theatre where he pays tribute to the music of John Denver and from the Feel Good Factor, his Saturday afternoon programme on Galway Bay FM. Roberts is primarily a singer/songwriter and the Roisin gig will allow the audience to get "up close and personal" with the artist in the intimate surroundings of the R6isfn Dubh. On the night he will preview newly written songs from his forthcoming album, work from his previous record, and songs by John Denver, Dan Fogelberg, and James Taylor. He will be joined by his musical director Paul Gurney on guitar and keyboards, and special guests. Tickets available from Zhivago Records, Mulligan Records and the Rdisin Dubh.

Imagine - Eva Cassidy
EVA C A S S I D Y died of melanoma at the premature age of 3 3 in N o v e m b e r of 1996. Among the champions of her work included Sting, Terry Wogan, Paul McCartney, and her parents Hugh and Barbara Cassidy. The first album release, after her death was Songbird (Blix Records) featuring tracks from Live At Blues Alley and Eva by Heart, along with Eva's re-defining version of 'Over the Rainbow'. It is significantly poignant that Cassidy captured the melancholy that original singer Judy Garland never got the poetic licence to do. Garland's life was marred by tragedy as was Cassidy's. Cassidy began singing at age nine. By the time of her death she was on the verge of a break through. She inhabited songs such as 'Over the Rainbow' and 'Fields of Gold' and made them her own. Now this next posthumous recording sees such classics as 'Danny Boy' 'Fever', 'Imagine' and "The Tennessee Waltz'. While John Lennon will forever be the only artist who gave 'Imagine' the true significance, Cassidy comes close with her own slant on the much-covered song. The old country standard of 'Tennessee Waltz' covered by artists such as The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Hank Williams, is truly the most beautiful version to date. Imagine is another album in the two for 35 section worth checking out. What a gift Eva Cassidy left behind her after death. The world is a lesser place for her passing, the music oyster has lost one of the most precious pearls. One of the records of the year. 9 out of 10

Albums supplied by, and are available at all branches of, Zhivago

THE AMBULANCE Chaser Project is t h e first release from A m b u l a n c e Chaser Records and the theme of this compilation is individuality. The Ambulance Chaser Project will go on sale on Friday September 27. This independent record label - run by musicians for musicians - has set the task of gaining entry into the Irish charts with their debut release. The Project is a collection of mastered demos which they hope will shed light on the Galway and western music scene. According to Darren Fahy, MD of Ambulance Chaser Records, and front man with Mail Order Messiahs (formerly known as Eskimo): "The Ambulance chaser Project is designed to take the listener on a musical journey. It will retail in Zhivago Records Shop Street branch only. Over the course of our run we aim to sell 500 copies at 10 each. A series of promotional gigs have also been arranged with an official launch in the Town Hall tonight Thursday September 26." The gig is invite only. "Ambulance Chaser Records has several releases planned for the coming year." he says. "These will be distributed nationally as we strive to promote music from the West of Ireland with enthusiasm and honesty. We hope

Album of new Galway artists released tomorrow

people enjoy listening to The Ambulance Chaser Project. It has been a labour of love that deserves to be acknowledged." Most of these acts are new on the scene and it opens with one of the most exciting in the shape of Sidewinder. They sound uncannily like Ash with their raw punk/pop. Milori, a Czech living in Galway, falls somewhere between Bjork, Tori Amos and Shirley M.ms. 'ii of Garbage. There's acoustic music from Kildare native Eoghan Burke and Ronan Quinn, who gives a slight country twang to his track with elements of Johnny Cash and Robbie Robertson. The excellence in songwriting continues in the shape of the composition by Alain Aerts. A track

with a dreamy quality, it draws comparisons with The Doves. 'Supersoul' establishes the "virtual music" heart of the Ambulance Chaser Project, intelligent and refreshing. Sometimes quirky - it is definitely one that will have critics divided on how to define it. Also included is Steve Gibbons, an artist with a variety of influences that comes together in a rainbow of sounds. The last few tracks see a harder edge. Exofurian serving up the meaty 'Gulag'. Corrupted also fly the flag for hard rock. The final track goes to underground heroes One Man Down. They've been there or thereabout for major competition wins over the last few years. Perhaps this will be the record to put them on the musical map. Another interesting group is Beretta who recently graced the 0 2 New Band Competition in the company of Relish. Beretta come from the ashes of Gardner. The Ambulance Chaser Project is a much needed emergency service for the music scene west of the Shannon. It is a truly unique project. Go out and buy a copy. This is a time capsule of Ireland's top up-and-comers. For more information e-mail: ambulancechaserrecords@yahoo.com Kevin McGuire