For anyone who says there never is anything to do or see, gigwise, in this dirty ol' town, here is a quick guide to the gigs I am aware of between now and the end of the year. If there are any I have left out, apologies, it's simply because I am not aware of them. If you would like your gig included in future listings, or any other promotional assistance, please contact me through the Paradise City Belfast group on Facebook or email the details to paradisecitybelfast@gmail.com.
Wednesday 11 August
Hooligan + The String Theory: The Pavilion (9pm)
Friday 13 August
Threat Manifesto: The Pavilion (9pm)
Saturday 14 August
Slave Zero + Zombified + TBC: The Limelight (5pm)
Intensive Care + Pocket Billiards + Running Riot + Hard Case: The Pavilion (8pm)
Ragnaröck: Queen’s Speakeasy (9.30pm)
Tuesday 17 August
Canizares, Firefly, Signed By Jeff: The Pavilion (9pm)
Saturday 21 August
Reborn + Death of a Salesman + Oddyssey: The Limelight (5pm)
Envisage + Pospide Lock + Setback + Red Returned + Miryo Ai: The Front Page (8.30pm)
Popside LockSetbackRed ReturnedMiryo ai
Sunday 22 August
Cannibal Corpse + Condemned + Atrax Mantis: Spring And Airbrake (8pm)
Gacys Threads + Murdock + I’ll Eat Your Face: The Pavilion (9pm)
Monday 23 August
Suffocation + Cold War + TBC: The Limelight (8pm)
Thursday 26 August
Black Sun + Slomatics + Wreck of the Hesperus: The Pavilion (9pm)
Saturday 28 August
Swanee River + Dirty Stevie + Mental Deficiency + Kobi + The Dead Presidents + Sweet Taste + Sister Marko + The Vires + Colly Strings + Indigo Fury: Lavery’s Bunker (1pm)
Cursed Sun + Atheos + Immersed Earth + Ozzmium: The Limelight (5pm)
Biffy Clyro + Lostprophets + FWW + Twin Atlantic: Custom House Square (6pm)
The Rubber Plants + Worlds End: The Pavilion (9pm)
Tuesday 31 August
Guns N Roses: Odyssey Arena (8pm)
Saturday 25 September
Lesshelp + Mental Deficiency + William Christ & The One Man Orgy + I’ll Eat Your Face: The Limelight (5pm)
Monday 27 September
Y&T + Support: Spring And Airbrake (8pm)
Thursday 30 September
Reckless Love + Jett Black: The Limelight (8pm)
Saturday 2 October
General Fiasco+ Support: Mandela Hall (6.30pm)
Chimaira + Support: The Stiff Kitten (7pm)
Ricky Warwick (Acoustic Show): Spring And Airbrake (7pm)
Sunday 3 October
My Passion + Dead By April: Auntie Annie’s (All Ages Show) (3pm)
Mudhoney + Unnatural Helpers: The Limelight (8pm)
A Storm Of Light + Stand Up Guy + Slomatics: Spring And Airbrake (8pm)
Saturday 9 October
Glenn Hughes: Spring And Airbrake (7pm)
Tuesday 12 October
Porcupine Tree: Mandela Hall (8pm)
Friday 15 October
Desaster + Altus Astrum + Decayor + Sorcery: Spring And Airbrake (9pm)
Monday 18 October
Ozric Tentacles: Spring And Airbrake (8pm)
Saturday 23 October
Bowling For Soup: Spring And Airbrake (6.30pm)
Tuesday 2 November
Robert Plant and The Band Of Joy: Belfast Waterfront (8pm)
Thursday 4 November
Cancer Bats + Trash Talk: The Limelight (9pm)
Sunday 7 November
Paul Gilbert: Spring And Airbrake (7.30pm)
White Wizzard + Primitai: Auntie Annie’s (8pm)
Sunday 14 November
Fozzy + Support: Spring And Airbrake (9pm)
Saturday 20 November
Diamond Head + Howlin’ Widow + Two Tales Of Woe: Spring And Airbrake (7pm)
Sunday 21 November
Young Guns: Queen’s Speakeasy (3pm)
Gogol Bordello: Mandela Hall (7pm)
Exodus + Man Must Die: Spring And Airbrake (8pm)
Monday 22 November
The Gaslight Anthem: Mandela Hall (8pm)
Friday 26 November
Volbeat + Black Spiders: Spring And Airbrake (9pm)
Sunday 5 December
Airbourne: Ulster Hall (8pm)
Sunday 12 December
The Sword + Support: Stiff Kitten (9pm)
Tuesday 14 December
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club + Support: Mandela Hall (8pm)
Saturday 18 December
You Me At Six + Support: Ulster Hall (8pm)
On top of all these live shows, don't forget that, despite the demise of the Venue, we have a very healthy club scene, with Paradise City on the first Thursday of every month at Madison's on Botanic Avenue, Hangar 18 on the third Thursday of every month at The Pavilion, Cornucopia and Ragnarock on alternating Saturday nights at Queen's, High Voltage each Friday night at Ma Nelson's on the Lisburn Road and two more soon to be launched - Rock N Roost at the very chic Roost Bar in the city centre, starting every Wednesday from 8 September (and hosting the Guns N Roses after show party on 31 August), and the Metal Hammer/Scuzz TV backed Redeemer, heading our way from the end of August...
Now, tell me there's nothing to do or nowhere to go... I dare ye!
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
It's 'on with the show' for Y and T
As the opening track of their excellent new album, 'Facemelter', says, it is definitely 'on with the show' for Y&T's gig at the Spring And Airbrake on 27 September.
The band are fulfilling all touring commitments, despite bassist Phil Kennemore's announcement this week that he is battling cancer. War And Peace's Brad Lang is filling in on live dates until Kennemore is fit to return, as he clearly intends to do, from the following personal statement:
“Up to now you haven’t heard much information (other than about my extreme back pain) because there really hasn’t been much until now. I hated leaving you all in the dark but I didn’t want to say anything until there was something conclusive to say. We do have a lot more information now. The number one thing you need to know is that I have cancer. It wasn’t absolutely formally diagnosed until yesterday.
“With the bad news I also got the good news that along with surgery and treatments, I will be back rockin’ and rollin’. I’ll be getting a hip replacement as well as back surgery, which means I’ll also be more agile. The doctor said that this is treatable and I’ll be walking out of this place and I’ll be able to go on the road and do everything I need to do to continue my rock ‘n’ roll life, in due time.
“I wanted to thank everyone for your well wishes. I’ve been sitting here in the hospital reading all of the things that you’ve all posted online, and I want you to know it means so very much to me to see how much I am loved, supported, and missed. I can really feel the love as I’m reading. I love reading your posts on the web site forum, and, in fact, I need to hear it. From here on out, whatever thoughts and feelings you have, please know that I wish that I could personally respond to each and every one of you, but I’m not able to right now.
“Brad – thank God for Brad (Lang)! I’m so grateful that he stepped in to help keep Y&T on tour, bringing the Facemelter album to the people while I was ordered to the hospital. Right now I think he’s the best guy on earth!
“I’ll be released from the hospital within three-to-four weeks, continuing treatment, and at some point, I’ll be returning to the road. Keep the love and good vibes flowing. Do me a favor and go out and see the band now–Y&T is kicking serious ass–and I’ll be back rocking with you all soon.”
I am sure everyone in the Paradise City community, and the whole NI rock world, will join me in wishing Phil, his family and his bandmates all the best at this difficult time, and wish the man himself a full and speedy recovery.
The band are fulfilling all touring commitments, despite bassist Phil Kennemore's announcement this week that he is battling cancer. War And Peace's Brad Lang is filling in on live dates until Kennemore is fit to return, as he clearly intends to do, from the following personal statement:
“Up to now you haven’t heard much information (other than about my extreme back pain) because there really hasn’t been much until now. I hated leaving you all in the dark but I didn’t want to say anything until there was something conclusive to say. We do have a lot more information now. The number one thing you need to know is that I have cancer. It wasn’t absolutely formally diagnosed until yesterday.
“With the bad news I also got the good news that along with surgery and treatments, I will be back rockin’ and rollin’. I’ll be getting a hip replacement as well as back surgery, which means I’ll also be more agile. The doctor said that this is treatable and I’ll be walking out of this place and I’ll be able to go on the road and do everything I need to do to continue my rock ‘n’ roll life, in due time.
“I wanted to thank everyone for your well wishes. I’ve been sitting here in the hospital reading all of the things that you’ve all posted online, and I want you to know it means so very much to me to see how much I am loved, supported, and missed. I can really feel the love as I’m reading. I love reading your posts on the web site forum, and, in fact, I need to hear it. From here on out, whatever thoughts and feelings you have, please know that I wish that I could personally respond to each and every one of you, but I’m not able to right now.
“Brad – thank God for Brad (Lang)! I’m so grateful that he stepped in to help keep Y&T on tour, bringing the Facemelter album to the people while I was ordered to the hospital. Right now I think he’s the best guy on earth!
“I’ll be released from the hospital within three-to-four weeks, continuing treatment, and at some point, I’ll be returning to the road. Keep the love and good vibes flowing. Do me a favor and go out and see the band now–Y&T is kicking serious ass–and I’ll be back rocking with you all soon.”
I am sure everyone in the Paradise City community, and the whole NI rock world, will join me in wishing Phil, his family and his bandmates all the best at this difficult time, and wish the man himself a full and speedy recovery.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Prepare to get Katatonic
Tonight sees the third in the series of gigs that have become known as the ‘Summer of Slaughter’ at the Limelight complex.
To be honest, while I had been cognisant of the name Katatonia for around a decade, I had not been overly familiar with their music, which existed by and large on the periphery of my musical radar. In fact, I paid much more attention to the side project of two of the band members – the black metal supergroup Bloodbath.
All that changed a few months ago, when Belfast’s own ‘Mr Metal’, James Loveday, announced that he had attracted this seminal Swedish outfit to a local stage.
Katatonia, in fact, have been around for almost two decades, releasing eight albums in that period. The band was formed in Stockholm by childhood friends Anders Nystrom and Jonas Renske (who were born less than a month apart, trivia fans) in 1991, and released their acclaimed demo, ‘Jhva Elohim Meth’ (please don’t ask me to translate) around a year later. This led to a one-off deal with the legendary Swedish No Fashion label, which resulted in their debut album, ‘Dance of December Souls’, released – suitably enough – in December 1993.
Just as things looked like they were starting to take off for the pair (who recruited additional musicians on an ad hoc basis for recording and live purposes), they then embarked on a move which was to become somewhat of a distinguishing feature of their career – they took a break.
Finally, having recruited guitarist Fred Norman, the band returned to recording in early 1996, emerging back onto the scene with ‘Brave New Day’ later that year.
Over the next decade, and between various side projects (it’s a feature of the Swedish death metal scene that even the biggest acts have members who are in a number of different bands), the band released albums – and contributed to various compilation efforts - at fairly regular, by their standards anyway, intervals, inking a deal with Peaceville Records along the way (1999). All of this culminated in the album that well and truly catapulted them into the international limelight – 2006’s ‘The Great Cold Distance’. Following extensive touring the band then, yes you’ve guessed it, went into hibernation again (well, it’s cold in Sweden!).
They emerged again last year with the long-awaited and highly acclaimed ‘Night Is The New Day’ – described by non other than Opeth frontman Mikael Akerfeldt as the “heaviest album of the year”: but, opinion is subjective and there are many who would argue that there were heavier albums released in 2009, but it’s still a damn fine slice of dark metal and bodes well for a great gig tonight.
See you all there.
To be honest, while I had been cognisant of the name Katatonia for around a decade, I had not been overly familiar with their music, which existed by and large on the periphery of my musical radar. In fact, I paid much more attention to the side project of two of the band members – the black metal supergroup Bloodbath.
All that changed a few months ago, when Belfast’s own ‘Mr Metal’, James Loveday, announced that he had attracted this seminal Swedish outfit to a local stage.
Katatonia, in fact, have been around for almost two decades, releasing eight albums in that period. The band was formed in Stockholm by childhood friends Anders Nystrom and Jonas Renske (who were born less than a month apart, trivia fans) in 1991, and released their acclaimed demo, ‘Jhva Elohim Meth’ (please don’t ask me to translate) around a year later. This led to a one-off deal with the legendary Swedish No Fashion label, which resulted in their debut album, ‘Dance of December Souls’, released – suitably enough – in December 1993.
Just as things looked like they were starting to take off for the pair (who recruited additional musicians on an ad hoc basis for recording and live purposes), they then embarked on a move which was to become somewhat of a distinguishing feature of their career – they took a break.
Finally, having recruited guitarist Fred Norman, the band returned to recording in early 1996, emerging back onto the scene with ‘Brave New Day’ later that year.
Over the next decade, and between various side projects (it’s a feature of the Swedish death metal scene that even the biggest acts have members who are in a number of different bands), the band released albums – and contributed to various compilation efforts - at fairly regular, by their standards anyway, intervals, inking a deal with Peaceville Records along the way (1999). All of this culminated in the album that well and truly catapulted them into the international limelight – 2006’s ‘The Great Cold Distance’. Following extensive touring the band then, yes you’ve guessed it, went into hibernation again (well, it’s cold in Sweden!).
They emerged again last year with the long-awaited and highly acclaimed ‘Night Is The New Day’ – described by non other than Opeth frontman Mikael Akerfeldt as the “heaviest album of the year”: but, opinion is subjective and there are many who would argue that there were heavier albums released in 2009, but it’s still a damn fine slice of dark metal and bodes well for a great gig tonight.
See you all there.
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Soulfly in Belfast - first review
Read the first review of Soulfly in Belfast at our sister blog, Belfast Fucking Rocks:
http://piedpiperbelfast.blogspot.com/2010/08/soul-hardly-flies-in-belfast.html
http://piedpiperbelfast.blogspot.com/2010/08/soul-hardly-flies-in-belfast.html
Monday, 2 August 2010
Devilish Truckers
Over the past year or so, there is one band name I have seen on flyers, posters, etc., which has meant that, whenever I go to see them, they guarantee me one helluva fucking good time. And that name, of course, is Trucker Diablo.
Finally, the party hard quartet have released their debut opus, The Devil Rhythm - and, by fuck, has it been worth the wait!
Put quite simply, this is ten blistering beer-, diesel- and whiskey-soaked powerhouse tunes which roll out of your speakers with the demonic intent of... well... a beer- and whiskey-soaked trucker - and then some.
Tom, Simon, Glenn and Terry set out their stall with the opening bars of the self-explanatory 'Drink Beer, Destroy', with its catchy suvern blooze infused hooks and equally catchy, nay infectious, chorus. The band are as tight as fuck, with Tom and Simon's guitars both complementing and bouncing off each other as required, while Glenn and Terry provide a backdrop tighter than a nun's crack! 'Juggernaut' features the band's old friend Ricky Warwick, who parties just as hard as the rest of the band.
Other highlights include the live favourite 'Big Truck', the bluesier 'Voodoo', the wonderful 'Dirty Love' and closer 'Rattelhead', which features the best banjo intro I have heard on a rock song since Blackfoot's seminal 'Rattlesnake Rock n Roller'.
And the Blackfoot comparison is a fair one. The album has the overall feel of 'Marauder' era Medlocke, coupled with the rawness of early ZZ Top, the catchiness of the Black Crowes and the passion of our own Thin Lizzy. And its all perfectly delivered thanks to a great production by Frankie McClay - clean and crisp but with enough dirt on its boots to capture the spirit of TD's always superb live shows.
This, quite frankly, is essential listening.
Available directly from the band @ www.myspace.com/truckerdiablo
Finally, the party hard quartet have released their debut opus, The Devil Rhythm - and, by fuck, has it been worth the wait!
Put quite simply, this is ten blistering beer-, diesel- and whiskey-soaked powerhouse tunes which roll out of your speakers with the demonic intent of... well... a beer- and whiskey-soaked trucker - and then some.
Tom, Simon, Glenn and Terry set out their stall with the opening bars of the self-explanatory 'Drink Beer, Destroy', with its catchy suvern blooze infused hooks and equally catchy, nay infectious, chorus. The band are as tight as fuck, with Tom and Simon's guitars both complementing and bouncing off each other as required, while Glenn and Terry provide a backdrop tighter than a nun's crack! 'Juggernaut' features the band's old friend Ricky Warwick, who parties just as hard as the rest of the band.
Other highlights include the live favourite 'Big Truck', the bluesier 'Voodoo', the wonderful 'Dirty Love' and closer 'Rattelhead', which features the best banjo intro I have heard on a rock song since Blackfoot's seminal 'Rattlesnake Rock n Roller'.
And the Blackfoot comparison is a fair one. The album has the overall feel of 'Marauder' era Medlocke, coupled with the rawness of early ZZ Top, the catchiness of the Black Crowes and the passion of our own Thin Lizzy. And its all perfectly delivered thanks to a great production by Frankie McClay - clean and crisp but with enough dirt on its boots to capture the spirit of TD's always superb live shows.
This, quite frankly, is essential listening.
Available directly from the band @ www.myspace.com/truckerdiablo
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Back to blogging
Sorry that the Paradise City blog has been inactive for a while, but we've been really busy over the past few months and sometimes some things fall by the wayside. Anyway, we're going to be blogging on a more regular basis, with news on Paradise City activities, and on the Belfast rock scene, as well as gig and album reviews.
So, first a quick update on all things Paradise City... as some of you will know, we have returned to our roots, with a new monthly residency at Madison's Hotel on Botanic Avenue (we're down in the basement bar, which we've lovingly renamed the 'new Rock Bottom'). We're on the first Thursday of every month - which means this coming Thursday night, 5 August, peeps - with doors open at 9.30pm and admission a mere £3 (or free if you're an early bird and get down before 10.30). Since our last posting, Phil has progressed from co-promoter to DJ as well, and is doing really well, and he'll be opening proceedings, followed by the main man, the mysterious Monk and then our resident eye candy for the girlies, Stefano. We'll also have a request slot, so either post something online at www.facebook.com/paradisecitybelfast or speak to one of the terrible triumvirate on the night.
We're also launching a second night. Called Hangar 18, it's a bit heavier, with the emphasis more on the metal end of the spectrum, but still the same philosophy - it's old school! H18 launches at The Pavilion on Friday 20 August, and then will be on the third Friday of every month. As with PC, doors are 9.30pm and admission is £3. DJs on the first night will be Monk and Phil. Join us at www.facebook.com/hangar18belfast for updates and general banter.
Last weekend, we had the pleasure of working with our good friends RockRadioNI, as guest DJs at their first live night, also at the Pavilion. We're hoping to work with Philip and the team again very soon, with the possibility of some major news in the very near future, so please keep checking this blog and our Facebook for the news as it happens. We're also hoping to have news of another PC/RRNI development in the very near future, so again please keep checking back for updates on that.
That's about it for the moment. As I said, we're going to be blogging on a much more regular basis from now on, with our next post being a review of the brand new and long anticipated debut album from one of our favourite party bands, Trucker Diablo.
Ciao, peace, respect and \m/
So, first a quick update on all things Paradise City... as some of you will know, we have returned to our roots, with a new monthly residency at Madison's Hotel on Botanic Avenue (we're down in the basement bar, which we've lovingly renamed the 'new Rock Bottom'). We're on the first Thursday of every month - which means this coming Thursday night, 5 August, peeps - with doors open at 9.30pm and admission a mere £3 (or free if you're an early bird and get down before 10.30). Since our last posting, Phil has progressed from co-promoter to DJ as well, and is doing really well, and he'll be opening proceedings, followed by the main man, the mysterious Monk and then our resident eye candy for the girlies, Stefano. We'll also have a request slot, so either post something online at www.facebook.com/paradisecitybelfast or speak to one of the terrible triumvirate on the night.
We're also launching a second night. Called Hangar 18, it's a bit heavier, with the emphasis more on the metal end of the spectrum, but still the same philosophy - it's old school! H18 launches at The Pavilion on Friday 20 August, and then will be on the third Friday of every month. As with PC, doors are 9.30pm and admission is £3. DJs on the first night will be Monk and Phil. Join us at www.facebook.com/hangar18belfast for updates and general banter.
Last weekend, we had the pleasure of working with our good friends RockRadioNI, as guest DJs at their first live night, also at the Pavilion. We're hoping to work with Philip and the team again very soon, with the possibility of some major news in the very near future, so please keep checking this blog and our Facebook for the news as it happens. We're also hoping to have news of another PC/RRNI development in the very near future, so again please keep checking back for updates on that.
That's about it for the moment. As I said, we're going to be blogging on a much more regular basis from now on, with our next post being a review of the brand new and long anticipated debut album from one of our favourite party bands, Trucker Diablo.
Ciao, peace, respect and \m/
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