..How was it for you? My head hurts. I missed Saturday due to Kraftwerk. Doing visuals for the Boners meant I was in the Meeting House Square all night. The sound restrictions were a pain. While impressive as an idea, I’m not sure the square is totally suitable for showcasing new acts. The bands were complaining about it which is something you don’t want. The club in Andrew’s Lane was a great idea and was rammed on Friday. On Sunday, I saw impressive sets from One Day International, New Amusement, Robotnik, Heathers and Spook of the Thirteenth Lock. Best of all, I got to be The Edge to The Vinny Club’s Bono by working some power moves on Guitar Hero in Dorans at the afterparty. Sleep is a requirement…
The Vinny Club photo is by Damo.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
Hit any bummers Nialler?
😉
Probably Gav, probably.
Vinny pulled off two great sets this weekend. Was in ALT all weekend so in no particular order… Crayonsmith, GPO, Frightened Rabbit, Hurray For Humans, Sideproject, Exit: Pursued by a Bear and then We Are the Physics, Best Scottish band of the weekend.
only got to go friday, was really re-impressed by SEBP and then ended up fairly locked havin the craic in ALT after a pitstop in 4dame lane.
I only went down on Saturday, cos I knew you wouldn’t be there.
Snap!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdamo/sets/72157607304361460/
For me Frightened Rabbit were awesome.
Really impressed with Heathers and One Day International aswell
It was a pity the visuals were to the side in Meeting House Square. SEBP was cool, but it definitely could’ve done with louder drums (which they said, and were ignored), and more everything.
So Cow was the best thing I saw I think, but GPO, Flapes, Robotnik and Bats were all good too.
A poorly attended weekend did you not think?! Down to the slightly pricey tickets and the not very impressive line up I think! So I know everyone was saying it, but it was. Like were were Subplots and Adebisi Shank? Both got new material out and easily two of the finest guitar bands in Dublin. IF they did apply and did not get in I am a little annoyed they were ignored. Also there seemed to be no one about Sunday? Did anyone even go to Sons and Daughters in the end where ever they were moved to?
Highlights off the top of my head were: GPO, Frightened Rabbit, Holy Roman Army, Robotnik(although I think he hated it by the end with his set being cut!), Halves, More Tiny Giants, Chequerboard, Heathers, New Amusement(despite being soaking), The Vinny Club, Kill Krinkle Club, FANGS were quite entertaining too. I also managed to avoid Dorans too!
Lowlights: Pocket Promise, Supermodel Twins, Fox face, Little xs for eyes(biggest disappointment!) and missing So Cow as I was stranded in the Academy. balls.
Skream and Plastician, goddammit. Not a mention! What a night that was. (Not part of HWCH, put still…)
Only made it to Button Factory on Sun night. One Day International were pretty impressive, even though it was quite poorly attended they prdouced some great energy in their tunes, the last one in particular. Didnt have much love for Carly Sings, too much chatter in bar so couldnt hear her properly didnt help her cause. Autamata played some quality tracks and their singers voice is lovely.
I love how Colin gives a highlights list and names pretty much every band he went to see. Ha!
I’ll keep mine short: The Vinny Club – fucking brilliant!
Annoyances: That girl singing for Autamata. Also the singer from FANGS annoyed me. I had to leave. Couldn’t handle the Ting Tings rip off.
My first HWCH was a blinder! Such a good idea and pulled off with aplomb. I was a bit surprised that Subplots were ommitted, but also surprised that General Fiasco & Cashier No.9 weren’t part of the northern contingent.
Still, highlights were Vinny Club (with Crayonsmith’s Ronan as the Edge this time), Holy Roman Army, Tom McShane and Cutaways.
Lowlights were Little Xs, Walter Mitty and the much-aped Fight Like Apes.
Still, well worth the trip.
It did feel largely underattended true.
The Vinny Club, Heathers and One Day International were my highlights.
Karl – If only you’d been in that roon while I was there. Remember the alarm that was going off nearby. IT WAS TWO FEET FROM MY SKULL IN THE PROJECTOR ROOM. FUUUUUCK.
Ape – Heard it was good apart from Skream’s constant reee-winds.
Unfortunate having it on at the same time as the Fringe Festival, not to mention Kraftwerk.
Bit of a tragic aul festival really. I wasn’t looking forward to playing it and it was only the beer that numbed the pain and dried my bones.
So, where to begin…
Let’s start with the line-up, it was prrrretty pathetic. There were quite a few “big name” Irish bands that appear to be going nowhere,the type of bands that should be above the whole HWCH after being on the scene for a few years. I thought the festival was about showcasing the best of new unsigned Irish bands? I can accept bigger names in headlining roles, but that really wasn’t the case.
Then there were some noticeable names missing from the line-up, bands that have been making waves everywhere but FMC land I guess.
Then there was the choice of locations for bands… SEBP should have been in a more clubby atmosphere, Carly Sings should have been in somewhere quieter (had no idea she was actually performing, that’s how bad it was).
The lack of contingency plan for wet weather (Wow, thought we were in Ireland) meant Sons and Daughters and We are The Physics were in ALT, so who got cut? I dunno if anyone did, but with all the venues full… I’m assuming someone was.
I’m also confused by people repeatedly telling me that “this festival has no money” , I mean, does the festival not make a profit? Every single aspect of the thing seems to have a sponsor, plus the Scottish Arts Council and (I think) the Irish Arts Council. Now, obviously there are costs involved, but the whole perception of it being a broke festival has to be looked at.
HWCH is a great idea and I really enjoyed it last year, but I think people are really starting to lose sight of what they’re trying to do.
I’d be completely in favour of the Pod complex for next year, this year there was a complete lack of a buzz in most places (bar the club bits after each night)
This is true. I hadn’t been to HWCH for a couple of years until last year, when I was swayed by the very good line up and the promising Pod set-up. Last year’s festival worked very well and I think the “spiritual home of Temple Bar” stuff is obvious bullshit. I mean, whatever about losing your main sponsor late in the game, why couldn’t they still have used the venue. Wandering around Temple Bar and the other venues, the buzz around town was nothing to do with HWCH, more to do with people who had been drinking in the good weather since the Utd v Liv macth at 12:45.
The Meeting House Sq thing is a bit of a fiasco from what I know. It’s pointless to allow these festivals to take place and grant them a licence and then reduce the sound to completely futile levels. Next year – better bands, Pod complex. Easy.
I have to agree with the festival being held in Pod Complex. I thought last year was the best organized out of the 6 years I’ve been attending.
Nialler, stick up the photo of you as the edge!!!
Aye, Skream were proper drunk by the end, so rewinds were in plentiful supply! But both himself and Plastician played a savage set, even dropping the Skream remix of Distance’s “Nightvision”, which is probably my favourite dubstep track, like, evah. Good lads too and a great buzz in the place.
POD complex is a good idea for that festival, but I’d imagine the decision to have it in a bunch of different venues was motivated by dollar bills (correct me if I’m wrong), in the same way that DEAF split its Storehouse wonderland into a load of small gigs to generate waaaaay more cash and breed discontent among those who attended and loved the first couple of years. Boo to that.
P.s. Gav: homophobic violence will not be tolerated!
Loreana,
http://a471.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/79/l_cc7a8775f999fbc8d231b7700e79dd0e.jpg
@Ape:
Just a running joke between me and Nialler from when the mighty blogger wielded an axe rather than a laptop.
Bummer=bum note.
Wahey!
🙂
Ok, there were a few duds and the tickets were a bit pricey but FRIGHTENED RABBIT made it all worthwhile. Fantastic band and i bet we will be paying a lot more to see them pretty soon.