Carty Comes Alive

In Dublin next Tuesday? Then get you arse to the Oak for some rockin'! We're on around 11. Drinks are on you.

The O2 Dublin

This week finally sees the reopening of the old Point Depot down on the docks, now renamed the O2. There's been plenty of hype about how the sound and seats are now perfect, although it couldn't really have got any worse than the old place. We had some great nights there all the same - Bowie, Springsteen, Dylan, Willie Nelson and two of the greatest gigs I've ever seen - The Rolling Stones from about ten feet away and the awesome majesty of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant playing the Zep Catalogue on the night when the Coff and myself appeared to suffer simultaneous heart attacks that resulted in us threatening young lads intent on jumping around with serious violence if we weren't left alone.
I'm heading to the new gaff to see the Kings Of Leon this Friday and I think I'm more looking forward to seeing the new venue than a band that I consider, at best, all right.
Of course, when anything new pops up in Dublin, one man has to get in before everyone else so here is our old friend Bono, with his long suffering mate Dave, at the new venue.

Merry Christmas Baby

Who throws a shoe? I mean, really!

Who can blame the throwee?

The '2 At Christmas

Further evidence that Adam Clayton is the luckiest bastard in the world. Neither plays a note nor gets off his arse, nice.

New Springsteen Single

Class

Guernica

This is hanging in my kitchen. No, not the real one.

Your Funeral, My Trial

"Sonny don't go away". Too late, he's long gone but you can enjoy the fantastic sounds of Sonny Boy Williamson thanks to the Blues Town blog. This is the Chess Years box that's long out of print, the sound quality is fantastic and it's all great but make sure to check out "Fattening Frogs For Snakes", "Keep Your Hand Out Of My Pocket" and "Help Me", there's even a track for Christmas in the form of "Santa Claus". Enjoy

The Greatest Piece Of News Of All Time

In what may be the finest development since beer, it's been announced that the Faces are getting back together with a view to touring. It's in both the NME and the Hot Press.

Ronnie Wood is gonna get in a whole heap of trouble.

The Coff Goes Down The Pub

You may say the quaility is terrible but that's actually the speed at which The Coff dances.

God Bless America

I tried to persuade my daughter that she was watching history unfold on the TV this morning but she was more interested in cartoons and toast. What can you do? Anyway, on such a fantastic day in not only the history of America, but world history, I would like to present this video to you which proves, if further proof was needed, that America is the greatest thing ever. You're unlikley to see this in Russia;

Lay off the pipe boys, lay off the pipe.

Before The Flood

He was on Later with Jools Holland the other night and naturally stole the show so head on over to our old friend JR and check out Allen Toussaint's "What Is Success". Once you get a taste for the New Orleans master's work, get a hold of "Life, Love & Faith" and "Southern Nights". Highly recommended.

Hungry For The Wolf?

Sadly there's only so many Howlin' Wolf recordings in the world and they won't be making any more of them but, luckily for you and me, Mr Arkadin has posted most of them on his site in the form of the Complete Recordings 1951-1969. Not even the worst of idiots could go wrong.

Tears For Levi Stubbs

RIP the Voice

Buy This

Been A Long Time Since I ...

Ages away from this as real life gets in the way, where are the stories of Tom Waits and the Electric Picnic? In the meantime, dig on this;

That's "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" by William Bell and if you want more of the same, here's an early Christmas present recommendation from the boy.

Tom Waits For Every Man

Ahead of my trip to see Uncle Tom on Thursday night, here's his recent concert in Atlanta, available to download for free, courtesy of the venerable National Public Radio.

Performing Admirable Feats

Needless to say Toots and The Maytals were bloody brilliant the other night, had us all jumping around all over the place. Take note Mr. Young. Next up - Tom Waits Thursday week - should be interesting. The last few days have me listening to a lot of Little Feat - here's "Down The Road" from 74's "Feats Don't Fail Me Now"

Toots tonight

The less said about Neil young's "performance" out in Malahide the better (80 blips to watch him spend 25 minutes, yes you read that right, wrestling with a song no one knew) but not to worry for tonight me and the boy Ken are going to see Toots & The Maytals! I've seen them a good few times and they remain one of the best nights you can have without taking off your clothes, well not all of them anyway. Here ya go, "Pomps & Pride" - class.