Libidoswitch On Again! 16/5/13

Image Compliments of Vanessa Brown

Local hardcore punk/metal band Libidoswitch is launching back into the music scene with a ‘final push’ on making music. Andy Anderson, guitarist and vocalist of the job goes into the bands history of ten years from their formation until today.

 “We put the band together at the start, we were three friends with similar tastes in music, we’d all come from previous bands and had a shared interest that brought us together. Started giggin’ locally and did a bit of recording, we put our first recording, an EP together in 2003 which done well and helped us finance the second one in 2006. We were on a bit of a hiatus between 2008 and 2010 playing the odd show just to remind ourselves we were still in a band. We decided to give it a push in 2011 and we’ve been here ever since. Luckily we’ve held a lot of the interest that we’d gathered with the first push and we’re just trying to capitalise on that now."

A ten year span is not something many other bands have under their belt but there have been good times, and bad, in the mix for Libidoswitch. “We got to do plenty, we got to play with some of our hero’s, we got to open for the Anti-Nowhere League and we got to meet a lot of interesting people; a lot of promoters. One thing I’d have to say is that we’ve done everything the hard way because we’re a niche market musical genre you don’t get anything handed to you and you’re limited to where you can play. Even your audience is very limited so you have to love what you do because there’s no money in it and it’s definitely a labour of love.”

One of the most recent pieces of news to hit the music scene was the departure of bassist Squinty from the group. Here Andy explains that the change in line-up was down to nothing more than personal choice, no drama or fall outs involved and new bassist Gerry has been warmly welcomed. “I have to say because everybody keeps asking this, the separation is totally amicable and always was, it was Squinty’s decision and he’s very supportive of Gerry’s role in the band. He’s been out and the shows and he’s said it’s been very interesting for him seeing it from a new perspective watching the music on stage. That was great and there’s no point in telling lies about it, it was a very difficult time for us and we questioned where to go on with the project. The introduction of Gerry is like a breath of fresh air, he’s brought a new dynamic to the sound. At the minute we’re building up the set-list, there’s a lot of new music in the set-list as it stands but we haven’t started properly writing and integrating Gerry yet but he’s adding his own touches to old favourites already and it shows in the music, it’s really positive and we’ve had a great response.”

So, how was Gerry Craig chosen for what was bound to be a very sought after place in Libidoswitch? Talent, is the answer. “We knew that he was very experienced and we knew the level of his talent but they were open platform auditions and we had a few great people and it’s important to say thanks to everyone that showed interest, we were very flattered and humbled by it. Everybody got a chance and Gerry was the most compatible man, he wasn’t involved with anybody full-time so it worked on that basis alone, it was his talent over our relationship with Gerry and now it’s a nice happy medium of both.”

The group are thrilled to be making another push at the music scene and this week will see Gerry’s debut as bassist in a headlining gig. “This has only just begun, where we’re standing right now it’s very simple logics, we’ve had twenty years playing in bands now I think we kind of half know what we’re doing. Right now the prime objectives of the year are to get merchandise which is already in the works which will hopefully finance a recording that we’re hoping to do as soon as possible, that’s already being worked on as we speak, with an aim to finance a tour before the end of the year, maybe a UK wide tour. That’s definitely going to happen, we’re finalising all the details at the minute and all these things take time. It’s a milestone, it’s the first headline gig on the 17^th with Gerry on board, we’ve done a few shows around the province just to break him in and he’s enjoying it which is the most important thing and so are we. It felt like work for a long time and now it’s back to being something that we enjoy.

Andy feels that there is something in the band now that hasn’t been there for a while, it could even be a change in himself but it’s being reflected in the writing. “There’s a new imperative in the unit that hadn’t been there for a long time. There’s a spirit in the band that maybe hasn’t been there since 2005/06. It’s got nothing to do with Squity leaving, that’s a lot to do with me personally. There’s something new happening and it’s reflected in the new music we’re writing, there’s something fresh. We were never out to break new ground. I think in the genre of music that we play which is alternative/hardcore/metal/punk whatever you want to call it, everything has already been done so we were never about breaking new ground, we were just about writing three minute heavy tunes with a good hook that are strong enough to stand on their own two feet in a set. Make it all killer no filler.”

Finally Andy made the point that the hardcore scene in the area is flourishing and that personally he’s excited to be working with new groups which are up and coming, overall an exciting time for Libidoswitch to be making a comeback. “Getting to work with a lot of the younger bands that are coming through now is just amazing. Just seeing the potential in bands like Making Monsters, doing something really fresh. Bands like M.O.T.H, Acari, Seneron, Zia Régime; a really progressive sound happening there, you’ve got the old guard like TRIGGERMAN, Zero Point Zero, Janette Hutton Band, it’s like a list of name checks. You just have so much happening in the town now and it’s just an absolute privilege to share the stage with these new up and coming bands that are breaking through. A lot of them are breaking ground too, some to watch for the future like Mandala Skies from Strabane or Dying Breed from Dungiven or Axecatcher and Black Sonnet from Limavady, they’re bands that I would keep a close eye on in the future. The hardcore scene is very healthy at the moment and it’s a good time for us to have a good clash at it and see how we get on.

Check out the free gig tomorrow at Masons for a listen to Libidoswitch and some other great acts details of which can all be found online if you check out the guy’s Facebook page.

Johanna's Music Maneuver! 9/5/13

Image compliments of GC Photographics

Johanna Fegan is a bit of a local legend when it comes to the music scene in the city. Her power house vocals do not fail to impress alongside her stage energy and plain raw talent. Johanna has now revealed that after years of hard girl rock she’s looking to her softer side and things are due to mellow out. Johanna began playing music while still at primary school picking up the guitar at the tender age of 8. Immediately she was writing songs but didn’t fancy herself as a singer from the start.

“I developed song writing buzz, started writing a few wee tunes but never thought of myself as a singer but I loved writing. When I was in secondary school in St. Mary’s I wrote a few tunes, one was called ‘Opening number’, ‘No Denial’ and I would just play them on my own. I used to hound my best friend at the time and get her to listen to them but some of them would be while dark and morbid and she would be like: “What are you writing that for?”. 

Even then I still didn’t even think, you know I thought I had a decent enough voice. I used to sit and sing up in my room, like 4 Non Blondes and stuff like that and my mammy would be coming up the straight all: “Would you stop that singing! Everybody can hear ye from down the street!”. So I used to mess about with those kinds of songs, loved the Cranberries. My writing became that type of style.”

Turning her hand to arts of another direction Johanna was interested in acting but funnily enough it was through her performance arts that she really discovered she wanted to do music. “I went to lower sixth and then left to join performance arts because I was more into being an actress at the time. I wanted to go to America and all and do all that craic. I just thought my singing and guitar playing was just a hobby. When I went  performing arts I sang for my audition and I ended up playing my guitar for everyone else to do their auditions so I had awe bit of confidence then because everyone was all: ‘That’s brilliant, you picked that up really quick’ and I was thinking, so I did. One of the tutors David McGookin, he thought I had a really good voice along with my other two tutors Ann and Pauline. He worked with part of the popular music section in the tech and he was all: “Look, I’d love you to record something”. There was one wee place called Church House and there was this wee group of boys and they were working with our show. They were in a really good band called ‘Price’ and they were tight and did all Skunk Anansie and proper rock and that. There were two female singers and we used to go and watch them in the Bound For, I used to just want to be in that band. He had decided to ask them to do the music for my CD, he wanted me to record my own songs. We all ended up recording three of my songs and it sounded really good, that just sent me off on one then, I wanted to do music after that. Then the two girls that were in the band had to leave for uni and that. The boys asked me to join the band, so after that then I was all into rock, girl rock, Alanis  Morissette, No Doubt, Skunk Anansie, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, anything kind of heavy that was my thing, it still kind of is.

Of course with these kind of influences it’s no surprise that the sound Johanna was pitching for was a strong gutsy female vocal but now she’s finding her softer side. “I learnt to sing aggressively because Skunk Anansie, she was a big idol to me. It’s only now, years down the line, 15 years down the line I’m kind of teaching myself to soften up and get more nice softer, more mature , to drag something out from within myself rather than shouting and screaming like a teenager. So, taking a different approach to things now, a lot more mellow in my old age.”

Her journey to a more melodic style of vocal has seen Johanna on a path of discovery of what she is actually capable of. “I’m not smoking anymore so I’m finding I can get those wee notes so I’m really enjoying discovering my voice again, which is exactly what it’s like. It’s like I’m discovering parts of it I’ve never ever been introduced to before because I’ve always been a smoker. Since I joined bands and even after gigs I’d end up wrecking my voice because I had never learned how to warm it up properly until about three years ago, I was just hardcore. I never ever took care of my talent and my throat and stuff. Now at this stage it’s like I’m learning everything I should’ve learnt back then but it’s good, like a new lease of life. I’m a lot more protective now, not as open. When I was younger up until a few years ago I used to give my whole life away through songs. Whether people knew that or not I don’t know, I knew it. In some ways that has helped younger females which gives me back so much, it really does but now I just feel like I want this for me. I want to get real, I want to figure out what my strong parts are and what I enjoy. Times have changed and people are singing differently and I want to evolve with that, not to fit in but to replenish and find myself and touch all elements. I want to be a proper singer and writer. I have found dynamically it can take things to another level. I’ve sat and written more songs but because they’re slower and I’m not giving it the bit, I kind of doubt myself a wee bit in it. Are they going to be as good? Until I’m ready to put them out there and get the reaction then I’ll kind of know myself, it’ll confirm things with me but I’m liking it and I like the change and I’m finding that it’s a change that isn’t just physical it’s internal too. It’s a progression and it’s happening because of the way I’m feeling inside wanting to evolve.

Johanna has mentioned that the all new style won’t be unleashed straight away but rather will be something that will come with time and only when she’s ready. However, there may be a sneaky peak sooner than expected. She will play tonight at Sandinos as part of the IU SHE charity night which is raising funds to help Child Victims of Sex Trafficking in Asia. A worthy cause and great entertainment so do not miss out.

Lost Gereneration Seek Success! 6/5/13

Image compliments of Gareth Johnston

Local band Lost Generation have recently reformed and are now pitching for great success in an all Ireland music competition online. The competition hosted on http://www.redbullbedroomjam.ie/ could give the group a chance to record a new album and tour Ireland. They aim to gain some support and hopefully take the lead in the competition.

Gareth, drummer and vocalist explains how they got together and that it hasn’t all been plain sailing along the way. “We originally formed in January 2012 with Susie-Blue as the singer and a different bassist who was playing recently with Rozza and the Boat Club. After a while it was going well and we played in the Playhouse and Masons and stuff but it wasn’t quite what we expected it to be after a while."

"We entered a competition called the Irish Youth Music Awards, our song, one of our original songs got Best Song, Truth for Me, a band from Magherafelt, two young boys singing went on to win the competition, which enabled us to get free recording time down in Dublin in National Ireland Recording Studios but before that happened the band split up. Recently reformed again in October and been writing and playing since then with the new members.”

Susie-Blue, who has also featured in Off the Record before used to be part of the line up but since her move to working solo, Gareth has been the main songwriter in the group. “Susan had written the lyrics a long time ago, she had a book of lots of lyrics she’d written and poems and stuff like that, that were going to use eventually but our guitarist, he just comes up with this insane riffs out of nowhere. I try and say then that we’ll develop it and we’ll work on it and get the structure and it all just comes together then, with solos here and there, stuff like that. Then we recorded into a wee recording module I had, it’s basically nothing but we could record and put stuff up online for people to listen to it, it helped.

There’s me, Gareth Johnston playing the drums and signing backing vocals and some other songs; Conor McConnellogue playing bass; Ruairi McGuigan playing lead guitar and vocals and then there’s a new member being introduced, he hasn’t played with us or recorded with us yet, his name is Mark O’Brian, he plays rhythm with a bit of lead and keys. I’ve been writing the lyrics for all our songs, the lads love lyrics as well and the people listening to the music say they’re great as well. I sort of try and bass them on experiences I’ve had and they just sort of come together. I think once you start you just can’t stop, once you get the first few lines you keep going.”

It’s not always an easy thing to try and sum up the sound or genre of a band, particularly one which has not quite finished crafting their sound but Gareth gives it a go and it’s clear some of his and the other members influences are effecting the overall sound they’re going for. “We are a rock band but at the same time we will play songs, I mean covers, to suit the people that are in the venues that were playing. For example, we’re playing some song like by The Coral, Dreaming of you, that has keys in it so Mark can play that one on the keys and just not use guitar for that song. We are trying to include some other songs as well, like Queens of the Stone Age, Make it Wit Chu, their song has keys in it and I would say they’re extremely rock.

Originally myself and the guitarist had been playing for about 5 years together, 6 years now. We would have just played Led Zeppelin, The Who, bands like that , and now more recently we’re starting to sound a bit more like Foo Fighters, maybe a little bit of Queens of the Stone Age, but it’s still all coming together. We are trying to find a kind of more original sound for ourselves.

Over the summer, after the bands had broken up, we had had a lot of plans for the band to play everywhere but that just sort of disappeared. It was left as it always was just myself and Ruairi the guitarist. We did do a few two piece gigs just for a bit of craic and it went well. We didn’t do any recording but after a while we sort of realized it wasn’t going to go anywhere, we wanted a thicker sound and more melodies. We were in school and Ruairi had come to the College with myself and Conor had been on at me for ages about starting a band but after the whole experience of the break-up the idea of another band, I didn’t know if I could be bothered with it again. We got together and started practicing and I was thinking it was sound all right, sounding good, and decided to keep practicing and try and get our music out there.”

Gareth and the rest of Lost Generation are keen to get the message across to all lovers of music locally that they are in need of great help and support to see them break into the second stage of what could be a very successful music career ahead. “At the moment we’ve been taking a break due to A-Levels which are pretty intense and we don’t have time to practice as much but Conor had just sent me a message saying ‘I’m going to enter our song in this competition, will you put it up on YouTube’ and I said: ‘right ok, I’ll do it now’. I wasn’t sure if we would even get anywhere in it. There are over 150 bands , maybe 200 bands in it throughout Ireland, some great quality musicians in it. He just sent me a text saying we’re number 7 on the list and I couldn’t believe it and went on to check. I said we’d have to do more to get ourselves up a bit more. Basically how it works is, people go on to the site , they can listen to the song that’s on there and can rate it out of five stars, like it, tweet about it and leave a comment. The amount of likes, the amount of ratings and the comments all come together to see who generating the most buzz on the website. As it stands ours is the highest rated song in the competition, it’s got 4.7 out of 5, but it’s got the least, well not the least comments but we don’t have a lot of comments mainly because it more support from friends and family and people we know. We just want to try and get more people to go on and take part and help us out.” The link is as above so try and log on, rate, leave a comment and share, the local talent needs you.

Jim McDermott and Friends - River Inn 3/5/13

Jim McDermott and Friends and the River Inn

When the Jazz Festival comes around each year it is the one and single event of the weekend I DO NOT miss. I dandered down the steps of the River Inn to see jim and friends on stage. The place was packed and everyone enjoying the show. Switching from flute, to sax and to clarinet things were kept fresh and lively but a particular highlight for me was seeing Jim take to the mic for a song and playing his alto sax between verses.
I will admit, I am entirely biassed when it comes to Jim McDermott. Having been a pupil at St Mary's College, I first met Jim in the practice rooms of the old St Mary's building which is no longer there. I learned saxophone from Jim for 5 years. By the time it came for him to retire I thought of him not as a teacher but as a friend.
A nice long set was played and the crowd seemed to thoroughly enjoy every minute, people sang along and some could be seen waving to the band onstage, friends like myself who'd come along for the show.

Gay McIntyre & Joe Quigley at The Rocking Chair 3pm 3/5/13

Joe Quigley & Gay McIntyre at The Rocking Chair

He never fails to impress, Gay McIntyre, playing here in The Rocking Chair lounge with accompaniment from Joe Quigley. I've never been in the lounge here before and on my way here wondered how all the people that would come to see Gay would fit in. I came, I saw, I learned, their lounge is quite big and so is the crowd that has come along.
Again the family element shine through with both young and old filling the room to listen to the intricate melodies coming from both Joe and Gay. As I've stated before in the previous blog this is another case of where there IS jazz in the Jazz Festival, and quality jazz at that. At Gay's age, and it's no secret he's pushing on a bit, his music is still fluid, alive and faultless. It's no wonder he's a local celebrity and will continue to be. Could you imagine a Jazz Festival without him? I don't think I could, his performances with his son, Paul, are a special treat too if you get the chance. Paul will be playing tomorrow at 2pm in the Playhouse Theater. Ever seen a PhD level pianist? there's your chance!

Cafe Jazz Project at Cafe Del Mondo 2pm 3/5/13

Cafe Jazz Project at Cafe Del Mondo

The answer: Here! The question: Where is the jazz in the Jazz Festival? Many have made joke about this Festival not really being a jazz festival but rather a general music festival, I tell you now the music being performed here in Cafe Del Mondo is none other than top quality jazz clarinet and guitar playing. The Cafe Jazz Project could not be better named. The the music is soothing, rich, melodic and so well executed. This my friends, is Jazz.
This is definitely the kind of thing I look forward to when the Jazz Festival comes along. To watch a jazz guitarist play is a "where's wally" of chords I have the ability to play myself and although I've never tried my hand at clarinet I did play the alto sax for a few years so am suitable agog at the talent on display. If you can't catch them over the weekend get a jook online even. Here's a clip of them playing at Fitzroys Restaurant also in Derry.

R Paul at The Richmond Centre 2pm 3/5/13

R Paul at Our Venue in the Richmond Center

R Paul is blasting out a bunch or bouncing tunes in the Richmond Center as I type! The Richmond has it’s very own venue or should I say, “Our Venue”. They have cleared a spot on the second floor and shoppers are being entertained! R Paul has drawn in a crowd enjoying the music. A saxophone, a voice and a backing track or two has turned the Richmond Center into a musical haven all created by R Paul from 2pm today. The dulcet tones can be heard echoed up and throughout those mirrored stairs.  Ideal but of entertainment for those of us who otherwise might not be able to catch up with all the goings-on of the festival this weekend.

Call up and you’ll be able to hear some of those, jazz, swing and blues classics that R Paul’s voice suits down to a tee! I don’t know about you folks but I don’t know how I haven’t heard of him before, I’m definitely sure I’ll be hearing more of him in the future!