The Q - Big Fubb

I remember once being told a story about a member of Derry band the Q standing on the city's Foyle Street at a bus stop. When approached by an old woman he was asked 'Are you in the Q?' to which he replied - 'Yes, I play guitar..' just as he realised that she meant queue. Funny story but I'm pretty sure it was innocent and no ego was truly involved. However, with this new EP titled Big Fubb the band should be confident - God Knows they worked hard for it.

I've always known the Q were good. I was never always a fan of their music but I still knew they had the spark. From their very first live performances in the Nerve Centre, Derry I was convinced that singer Paul Connolly was set to be a rock star. In the following years the rest of the band followed and they can now throw out riffs and hooks like no other local band - especially no other local band of their age - the average age of the band being around 20/21.

I haven't seen the band live in quite some time but from listening to this EP I can imagine it'll be a more dynamic set up these days. The Q were always a hectic live band to see... and I'd say they still are, however, it seems now they have matured into something that's very special.

Tracks Radio and Trap Door have sublime guitar work and great vocals - only one fault. Both songs go on for far too long. Radio clocks in at almost six minutes long but could have all been over and done with in two and a half minutes. Trap Door is just over four minutes long but feels much longer as it gets just a little repetitive towards the end. But, hell it's fucking worth it for that riff.

The Q's influences are fired all over their music. They're not afraid to show that they've been inspired. You can hear the Undertones, The Rolling Stones and early-U2 in this. They're not very original but that's not what this is about. This is about good music being played well. Magpie is an example of this... This is the best song on the EP and I can already hear it on daytime radio and also being played by a lot of the middle-class posers that Connolly refers to in the song. It's got a chorus George Harrisson would be proud of and this EP should make every local band wake up and watch how it should be done.

Listen to the EP HERE

Morrissey - Omagh Leisure Centre - Fri 1st May 2009

It felt like I was walking into a school dance on Friday past when I arrived at the venue for the Omagh date on Morrissey's Tour of Refusal. Basketball nets at both sides of the hall and a stage that looked slightly out of place in such a building.

We had arrived fairly early so the decision was made that we'd make our way to the bar. Great idea, if there had been one. Instead, we were greeted with a swimming pool that was still in use and a table serving crisps, chocolate and soft drinks.

Things got worse when the support band took to the make-shift stage. Doll and the Kicks, I read somewhere, are a mix up of Blondie and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. To me, the lead singer looked and behaved more like the lead singer of the Ting Tings on speed. It seemed to me that Doll and the Kicks seemed like two different bands. Guitar player and singer were in one band and the rhythm section were in the other. The latter being a much better, more solid and knowing group. The divide was obvious visually and sonically. Perfect support act for when there is a bar open.

However, it wasn't long before Moz took to the stage. It also was very easy to get up close to the man himself. Starting off with 'This Charming Man' I was greeted with the final musical negative of the evening. The melody of the opening song was nothing like the genius that Johnny Marr had laid down on record. Morrissey's current line up were bashing it out at a quality worse than any local pub band. In saying this, Morrissey seemed on top form and his vocal ability hasn't left him after all these years.

The band had redeemed themselves by the time 'How Soon Is Now?' came along. Quickly followed by 'How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?' 'Irish Blood, English Heart', 'Girlfriend In A Coma', it became apparent that we were all in for a treat. You suddenly forgot you were in a leisure centre as the place began to heat up and Morrissey had the whole audience captivated. Morrissey was quick to remind us of the unusual setting for this gig - 'I believe there is no alcohol in the house.. I will be back tomorrow for a game of five-a-side with my shin pads on.'

You couldn't care less that the scent of beer that usually hangs around a music venue was replaced by the smell of chlorine by the time Morrissey had got to 'Some Girls Are Bigger than Others' and the new single 'Something Is Squeezing My Skull' before which he said 'if you have been in any record stores lately you won't have noticed we have a new single.' A swipe at HMV stores who allegedly wouldn't stock the single.

Finishing up with 'Ask', 'I'm Ok By Myself' and an encore of 'First of the Gang To Die' Morrissey proved he is still an extremely relevant performer who hasn't run out of steam. The next day I walked into HMV to discover 'Something Is Squeezing My Skull' in stock. Maybe it was something he said...

Heritage Centre - I Will Protect You

Heritage Centre are here with a brand spanking new single 'I Will Protect You'. Using the method of getting into the back of a van and touring around the country constantly this Dublin based band are destined to be Ireland's finest indie-pop exports..

I woke up with the mother of all hangovers last Thursday morning. Made my way downstairs not even half dressed to check the post. I wasn't expecting anything except bills, however, I found, to my delight, that I had received Heritage Centre's new single sent from their Stoneybatter HQ in Dublin.

My relationship with the song goes back a few years. I got a feeling of nostalgia as Conal McIntyre's (keys, guitar and lead vocals) voice led me into the opening bars of the song. I first heard the tune in 2005 when McIntyre played an acoustic solo gig in Derry's Playhouse. Even then, the potential of this song was obvious. Sometimes bands can end up destroying the beauty of their songs by twisting too many knobs and pushing too many buttons in the studio. However, one of the joys of this single is that Heritage Centre sound confident, experienced and they know how to rock. It makes you want to be with them in that room when they laid down the tracks. A gifted bunch they are with melodies and harmonies to die for they are a live act that is definitely worth checking out.

I for one can not wait to see them on the 'I Will Protect You Tour'.
www.myspace.com/heritagecentre

I Will Protect You is released this Friday 8th of May.

Tour dates:
May 3 2009 8:00P Spirit Store Dundalk, Louth
May 5 2009 8:00P Academy 2 s/Sky Larkin D1
May 8 2009 8:00P WHELANS SINGLE LAUNCH Dublin
May 9 2009 8:00P McGarrigles Sligo
May 11 2009 10:00P 2FM Session Broadcast Dublin
May 16 2009 8:00P Cypruss Avenue s/ Delorentos Cork
May 22 2009 8:00P Whelans s/ Delorentos
May 30 2009 8:00P Bound for Boston Derry
Jun 6 2009 8:00P The Pumphouse Kilkenny
Jun 7 2009 8:00P Spirit Store Dundalk
Jun 12 2009 8:00P TMW Showcase - De Barras Cork

More dates to be announced........