R.I.P.

 R.I.P.

Thanks for the memories

Last weekend, i was walking in Pery Square and my heart sunk when i discover that door...
fully repainted in black - how suiting, with a number nailed on it. 

The place is being reconverted into offices, peering though some window i could see the demolition work in progress. Sad day, the closing and reconversion happened months ago, but being away at that time, i did not notice it happening.
This place used to be "The Wicked Chicken", an iconic place of the limerick nightlife for many of us, and also for me a place of many fond memories, where i met many of my past and current friends.
Gone is the red door...

With the sign on the left side...

The little sign ...

The graffitis in the smoking area have been painted over... 

I still remember the first time i step into the place, the atmosphere was hypnotic, the music had my heart stopping, and the crowd looks genuinely friendly and happy, it was a mix of open minded different nationalities.

At one stage the place was the required meeting point for the start of any good night out. 

 
I remember going there on sunday night and monday night for a quiet chat, the barman preparing our drinks before we even ask, and looking surprised every-time we would change from our habitual drink of choice.

I remember the first time i saw people in that place, that i now consider my friends, the 3 sisters at the end of the bar, the ever wearing cap barman, the man from castlegregory ... etc ...

Maybe I should have taken more pictures of the place, as I am searching through my files, and being annoyed not to find a photo of this or this particular feature, like the headless chicken or the pictures on the wall, some picture of friends - some deceased. 

Like this Giger painting, which funnily i also had in my student bedroom, years ago back in France.
I shall not forget the DJ in that place, which made it came alive, when on a friday or saturday night all the bodies would come pouring in the tiny place around 11, for a good old bop.

In the basement

There was also a downstairs, were some gigs were held, from punk-rock, to hip-hop new-york singer. I saw DJ Andy Smith down there, for some of the nothern soul mix i've heard in a club, along with some amazing boppers.

Sadly everything must comes to an end, people moved on, to other countries, to having babies... and slowly there was less and less people. At one stage the place closed down - in 2011 I think, I am happy i was there for the party on that day, it was impressive to see some many of the old figures coming back to say goodbye to a place of so many memories.

Article from the limerick post ... when it closed initially

And after that there was an attempt to reopen it, I spend a memorable new year day in 2012 there, with the barman pouring Jaggermaster at midnight on the customer... on a personal point of view... that night in the wicked chicken, certainly kickstarted the journey i am now embarked upon till this day.


It is all gone in a blur...

And so now number 14 on the 99 reasons to visit Limerick is gone ( http://flipittv.tumblr.com/post/22412708706/99-reasons-to-visit-limerick ).
Anyway thanks for the memories to all the DJ, the barmen, the barmaid, the owner, and all the people who made that place what it was.

The flame is not dead, other venues in Limerick have been taking over, go checkout Bourkes, The Blind Pig, Dr John ... and make your own music memories.

Ham Sandwich in Dolans - December 2012

So i was in back in Dolans for another taste of the brilliant Ham Sandwich.

They had the nice addition of 2 trumpets this time, to go along with confettis and ballons antics, and they were amazing as usual.

The crowd was enthusiastic, or as Podge McNamee put it " a bizarrely amazing crowd"

Ham Sandwich on the main stage

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Additional pictures on Shane Serrano tumblr : here

Venezuela in UCH - Limerick

So this sunday, I went to the University Concert Hall to attend a wonderful performance from the Venezuelan Percussion Ensemble

 

You can see more of there stuff here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ensamblepercuve?feature=watch

Fantastic concert, funny, live, fully entertaining and giving you terrible envy to shake your body.

The ensemble is a product of "El Systema" ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Sistema ), which is a wonderful idea to promote education through Music.

The idea expressed by the founder José Antonio Abreu:
"Music has to be recognised as an agent of social development, in the highest sense because it transmits the highest values - solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion. And it has the ability to unite an entire community, and to express sublime feelings."

The concert was organised by the Irish Chamber Orchestra ( http://www.irishchamberorchestra.com/ ) which is responsible for a wonderful project as part of the regeneration project in Limerick: Sing Out With String.

Note: I recommend that post about some of the concert: http://magicbulletin.me/2012/05/sing-out-with-strings-this-wednesday/

Ham Sandwich in Dolans

After missing them at the SeaSession and apparently 3 times at the Electric Picnic ( all this year ), I manage to see the band Ham Sandwich live... in the Dolans warehouse.
Brilliant and full of energy, your man was on drunken fire to the delight of the crowd....

instagram capture

guitar + bass 

I feel loved ...

Ham Sanwich

:D

Everybody all right ?

guitar hero ?

x

balloons and confettis

xxx

xxx

xxx

Playing with balloon

You can follow them here : http://hamsandwichmusic.com/





UPDATE:

• Another photographer of the nigght, picture can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darraghcorrigan/sets/72157631552267605/with/7993441701/
• Gig Review from Paul O'Sullivan:
  http://www.thesoundout.com/2012/09/attending-ham-sandwichs-show-in.html

Toby Kaar in Bourkes

Class gig last thursday ( 14 September 2012 )  in Bourkes, with a Toby Kaar in great form...

Mirror view

Toby Kaar ...

You can listen to his sound there : http://breakingtunes.com/tobykaar
and on soundcloud : http://soundcloud.com/tobykaar

Tieranniesaur Tier-repetita and Dolans Summer Party

For the third time this year, I had the pleasure to see Tieranniesaur live, this time in Dolans for the Summer Party. A great event with a gret line up from the Windings, to Girl Band .. basically a 5 euro well spent.

The sun and an almost clear blue sky even invited himslef for the party before the darkness.

There was also a presentation of an interesting compilation:
Strange Passion - Explorations in Irish Post Punk, DIY and Electronic music 1980-83:

 http://www.nialler9.com/album-week-strange-passion-explorations-irish-post-punk-diy-electronic-music-198083/

Tieranniesaur ready to take the main stage in the warehouse

Tieranniesaur

Another band I've seen recently in Bourkes was Girl Band (Update now renames Gilla Band):

Upstairs: Girl Band

Upstairs I also discovered Melodica Deathship, you can listen there here: http://mdsdub13.bandcamp.com/

The night line up, feel free to check them out:

• Warehouse Stage (Curated by Out On A Limb Records):
  Crayonsmith // Dead Red Light // Elk // The Jimmy Cake // Jogging // So Cow // Ten Past Seven // Tieranniesaur//
• Upstairs Stage (Curated by windings)
  Dott // Girl Band // The Great Balloon Race // Land Lovers // Magic Pockets // Melodica Deathship // MynameisjOhn // Percolator // windings
• Bar (Curated by A Love Supreme): DJs, Acoustic Sets, Collaborations.

Nouvelle Vague in Dolans

Last saturday I had the extreme pleasure to be in Dolans, for another great gig. This time it was "Nouvelle Vague" a french concept band, the coolest to the extreme....
I am still subdued on this sunday morning...

Nouvelle Vague on Stage - Instagram

Airy ... and dancing... with themsleves

Singing

French Woman ... lethal and dangerous ;)

French woman ... quirky and talented

Bemused audience and Fascinated crowd

Songs played ( from what i remember , sure  I am forgetting some ):

• Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division) 
• Ophelie est zoophile ( Jad Wio cover )
• Putain Putain (Arno)
• Mala Vida ( Mano Negra cover )
• Too Drunk to Fuck (Dead Kennedys) 
• Making Plans for Nigel (XTC) 
• Teenage Kicks (The Undertones)
• Ever Fallen in Love (Buzzcocks)
• Dancing with Myself (Billy Idol)
• Master and Servant - (Depeche Mode)
• Blister in the Sun - (Violent Femmes)
• God save The Queen - (The Sex Pistols)

A taste of their music :

Finishing with a Bang

The weekend finished with a bang, first with my smashed phone - but incredibly still working :

HTC after 3 storey high fall....

Then after some park wandering, art considerations, dog watching, tea drinking - with chocolate pastries :) , and a vibrant american  Choke Comedy improv in Dolans , the final bang was the fireworks by the river:

A good start for the Month of May

Bank May Holiday, with his now traditional Riverfest, was planned to be a busy weekend. The weather at times was menacing, but everything turned out great.

All started out with a chill out session on Friday night in the infamous Wicked Chicken, all with good tunes and excellent company (K & P )

The infamous Wicked Chicken....

We could not end up the night like that, so off we went finish ourselves to the Costello, his sticky carpet, and relax dance-floor, made some brilliant encounter down there, from past DJ (now teacher of the place) to Mr Scruff gig's friends.

Costello godess overlooking the dancefloor...

Water the drink of legends ;)

Definitely the perfect warm up for the long weekend.

On Saturday the big BBQ cook off, took place on Arthur Quay's, we manage to preserve ourselves a table, well guarded by bubbles gun.

Almost shining on a busy Arthur Quay...

Nice free food, and free music along with great people, mostly musician and psychology student, with the odd intrusion from work colleagues.

After an afternoon baking in the - at times - sun, it was time for me to go to Thomond Park, to enjoy a game of Rugby (Munster vs Ulster )

Munster Mascot

Munster on the attack....

This end up my day, but from what I heard the festivities were to continue long after my departure.

I had an excuse to leave early (10pm), as I was going diving in Doolin the following day.

On sunday morning, I arrive in Doolin, after escaping the gates in place for the Great Limerick Run.

Stoned view from Doolin pier

It did not take long to launch the boat, and off we went to the Aran Island ( Inis Mor ) to dive the wormhole ( I am still in the process of editing the video, so wait for the next post ).

In the afternoon we went for another one, along the Cliffs of Moher, under the sun.

The Cliffs viewed from the sea....

Once we were done, we had to take care of the boat, and after complicated exchange with some locals ( not facilitated by the foreigner accent of our diving club - including mine ), we ended up finding a suitable place to park it overnight. And it was time for fulfilling dinner.

A bit later, I had the extreme pleasure to be join by G&T in McDermott pub , around some nice guinness, enjoyable trad music session, for a nice chat. And it was not till well past 1AM that we had to say goodbye.

Guiness for strength in McDermotts

The legendary G&T

Up came monday, after a restful night - not enjoyed by everybody due to the weather conditions. 

And we were off, for another dive, this time  the club boat was hosting many guests from different clubs ( Cork SAC, Burren, and Ennis )

Aughinish Boat

Delightful dive, starting with an impressive wall of Anemones displaying all their colors in patches ( Orange, Yellow, Purple, blue.... ).

Aughinish Diving boat making way for the happy hooker.

And on our way back, we were greeted by a jumping dolphin, following us up to the pier.
You can actually read a bit more about this May dive weekend on the Aughinish website:
http://www.aughinishdivingclub.com/news/159-dolphin-the-cliffs-and-worm-hole


Some more....

Happy Hooked in Doolin ... ( the ferry  name ;)

The Cliffs viewed from Doolin....