July 24th was a sad day for Dublin as one of the most revered music establishments to grace the city shut it's door for the final time. Road Records had stood as a haven for local music lovers and a helping hand to many aspiring Irish artists for over 13 years but sadly it's time had come. The manner in which we acquire music had simply changed too much, the world itself had simply changed too much and as the final statement from owners Dave and Julie concluded there was simply "no room in it for kooky little indie stores like ourselves".
All great entity's deserve a great send off and thus independent concert promoters u:mack are hosting a farewell party for Road to take place in the Button Factory on Friday September 10th. Originally ear-marked for last Friday, the festivities were withheld to ensure a suitable could line-up could be assembled and they've done a great job with funk-instrumentalist's The Redneck Manifesto and the genre-hopping brilliance of Patrick Kelleher (download latest single Conact Sports for free anseo) among the artists. Kelleher recently played Road Records during Record Store Day, while TRM's early singles were released via the Road Records endorsed label Road Relish and it's great to see acts who have benefited from Road's work returning to send them off. Running a record store in modern day Ireland is no easy feat so it's likely that Dave and Julie have amassed some debts in their plight to keep their store alive. Thus, this is perfect way to show your appreciation, to ensure their hard work over the years is recognised and to say farewell to one of Dublin's greatest musical signposts.
The full line-up is below and tickets priced €16 are on sale now City Discs, Sound Cellar and online at www.tickets.ie/umack
The Redneck Manifesto Female Hercules
Legion Of Two
Patrick Kelleher and his Cold Dead Hands
Cian Nugent
& Road Records DJ’s
Squarehead are a band you should listen to. Having first come to my attention through the truly excellent Popical Island compilation (free stream HERE) earlier this year, I then caught them last week at the Love SCOOP, Hate Racism night in Sweeney Mongrels and they nailed it. They also did a nifty collaboration with Patrick Kelleher on the night which would be well worth another look if I could get my mitts on it. Alas, these tunes will have to suffice for the time being. Standing somewhere between surfer-sunshine pop and a languid Weezer these lads sound a million miles away from the homely environs of Rathmines, where they're based, and are all the better for it.
You can see them live for yourself at this years Hard Working Class Heroes, which incidentally has an incredible line up.
Having played his You Look Cold LP to death since it's release last year I've been desperate for new material from Patrick Kelleher, such was the effect that hypnotic debut had on me. While that record was characterized by a beautiful bleakness this new single, released by Skinny Wolves earlier in the year, is glisteningly romantic and marks an unexpected foray into 80's synth-pop. Brooding and original, it signifies an exciting dismissal of the status quo and ensures my anticipation of new material is only set to grow.
The Redneck Manifesto
