Promoting the Next Gig: St. Joseph's Hall, Omagh

And Visit Horslypse Tribute Band on MySpace.

From the Email Suggestion Bag: Derry, March 2004

Eamon Carr on Regina Spektor

I've long hoped that the Evening Herald would go online in some format so I could keep up with Eamon Carr's music reviews. But, perhaps a good sign here, this article turned up in the Unison.ie world.

Musicbox with Eamon Carr

BORN in Moscow, raised in the Bronx, Regina Spektor’s domain is the landscape of dreams, shifting realities and the oddly normal.

Earlier adventures in sound such as Mary Ann Meets The Grave Diggers And Other Short Stories, a “greatest hits” package culled from her three hand-to-mouth indie albums, signalled the presence of a prodigious talent brimming with ideas, desire and fairytale ambition.

The question that album begged was, would The Strokes-endorsed queen of the New York anti-folk scene survive to develop her talent or would she spontaneously combust. More likely, it seemed, she might become one of the oddball characters that people her songs and disappear into the labyrinth that is Hell’s Kitchen.

But, despite her dizzying beauty and kookie image, 26-year-old Spektor is...

More at the link. Requires registration. And today is another blasted Spare the Air day!

"Horslips - One of my absolute favorite bands from the late 70's!!!!!"

A great 'find' of a six-year old discussion in the alt.music.byrds group. Although the topic is rock reference books, a casual mention of 'Nighttown Boy' spurs a number of posts on Horslips with information on several North American gigs.

Off topic: Rock music and recordings reference books. Your Opinions

I saw them in '78 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., and again a few days later at William Paterson College in Wayne, N.J., and interviewed Carr backstage at that gig. A year or two later I interviewed him again at Mercury Records for the "Short Stories" album and saw the band at The Show Place in Dover,
N.J. Johnny Fean sang a great version of "Shakin' All Over" at that gig. -- Jim Bohen

Whole discussion thread at link.

Waterford News & Star on Johnny Fean and Steve Travers

An article from last June, but it was just sent to me via email.

Check out Horslips legend Johnny Fean at the Forum

Johnny Fean’s Celtic Rock history is a matter of record. To this very day he is still regarded as the definitive celtic rock guitarist. Raised in the Co. Limerick/Clare area of Ireland, his love affair with the guitar began at the tender age of 10.

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For his appearance at Stage 2 acclaimed guitarist Johnny Fean will be joined by renowned Irish bass guitarist, Steve Travers well known for his work with The Miami and master of the Steinberger 5- string headless bass.

On the night, fans can look forward to a mix of Rock, Blues and Trad and of course some thunderous Horslips classics, including we are told, an electrifying 10 minute version of the anthemic ‘Dearg Doom’.

I'm feeling a little less grouchy about Chicago now.

Fean and Travers Official Site

Vintage Web: Horslips mentioned in alt.gothic.fashion

I really do love the old-fashioned alt discussion groups! The web's equivalent of the party line phone at the general store, they were almost strangled by spam a few years ago. Google got in there and cleaned house and now I find little treats in the archives like this thread on Riverdance and Celtic music.

Be advised that the opinions of just about everyone posting -- with the possible exception of Atalanta Pendragonne and Sparrowe -- are not my own. It's also cool that Atalanta was using a quote from Sword of Light as her sig back in '97.

"Audiences don't know somebody sits down and writes a picture;

they think the actors make it up as they go along."
Joe Gillis

May dates for Mid Ulster Film Festival

The third Mid Ulster Film Festival at An Creagan Centre, situated halfway between Omagh and Cookstown, Co Tyrone, will take place over the weekend of 5, 6 and 7 May.

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A programme of workshops includes Post Production with Lawrence Fee, Scriptwriting with Barry Devlin, and Channel 4 IDEASFACTORY Northern Ireland will present a two-day workshop on the craft of documentary film making.

More at the link.