Dum Dum Girls - Roisin Dubh, Galway, May 9th, 2014

Good show last Friday night from the girls (and guys) of The Dum Dum Girls. Cool people. Pity drummer Sandy had just flown back to the U.S. for a wedding. Will miss them tonight in Dublin, when I will be at the Drive-By Truckers. Thus, the trip to Galway to see them last night. I must be a fan. Don't double-book me again, ya hear? x

Martha and the Vandellas at The Button Factory, May 8th, 2014

Martha Reeves and The Vandellas at The Button Factory Factory last Thursday night. Either you were there, or you're sad. She can still sing, is still feisty, and still rocks, at 72. One of the great aspects of the show was the pan-generational audience - grannies in their 60s and 70s, and 16-19 year old, all grooving. Smiles all round.

Frank

I saw Frank this evening. Not a bad movie, but nothing to do with Frank Sidebottom. Do not consider it a biopic. A bit suspect the way they make him American. Also a bit suspect the way they retrospectively superimpose social media on a scene for which it had not even been invented. Meh! Alright, but a bit of a cynical exercise.

I loved Adam And Paul, and liked Garage, but with What Kevin Did, and now Frank, 

Lenny Abrahamson has gone right downhill.

A straight's idea of indie music.

A Shonen Knife movie - by a first time director

Shonen Knife at Whelan's, May 6th, 2014

Cracking show by Shonen Knife in Whelan's last night, the third time I've seen them in said venue. They haven't disappointed me so far. As the man said:

"There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love trashy Japanese girl pop/rock, and those who have something wrong with them."

Or as the title of the 1989 tribute album to them goes: Every Band Has A Shonen Knife Who Loves Them:

http://www.allmusic.com/album/every-band-has-a-shonen-knife-who-loves-them-mw0000654531 

PS Also a mention for support Kate's Party. Good tunes, and an adventurously idiosyncratic young guitarist...