Category: Entries 2010 P-T

The Taxmen – Mystic Magic

In their own words….

The Taxmen are a lively four piece band are based in County Cork.
The Taxmen boast a huge back catologue of original self-penned “tried and tested” material with styles ranging from rock, country, reggae and blues.
The Taxmen are :
Terry Datson , Guitar and Vocals.
Justin Flynn , Bass Guitar.
Con O’Donovan , Drums.
Ivan Holden , Lead Guitar.

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John Tinger – Billy’s Song

In their own words….

Some of life’s most powerful interests and avenues of expression begin at an early age. In my case, the desire to play the guitar started at the tender age of eight. A neighbor first exposed me to the wonders of this marvelous instrument, and watching her play immediately sparked my interest. At that point in life, I was hooked and knew that music would play a major role in later years.
It took little convincing to persuade my parents to purchase a guitar so that I could begin learning the art. The first one I held was a modestly priced instrument, red, white and blue, of questionable quality, but certainly adequate at that stage of my musical development.
Looking back on that time, I now realize that many youngsters have not been as fortunate as I. Children have an innate need for expression, but frequently they are not afforded the opportunity for a variety of reasons. In my case, I was provided with an avenue of expression – music – and that has led to enormous fulfillment and personal satisfaction.
Essential to my development as a musician was formal instruction, which began shortly after I was introduced to the guitar. With tremendous motivation and dedication, even at that young age, I made rapid progress in my studies. By the time I had reached early adulthood, my talents were such that I was able to enter into collaboration with like-minded musicians, eventually leading to the creation of a band focusing on cutting-edge experimental rock and heavy metal.
After many well received live engagements and promising recording sessions, my disillusionment with the commercial music scene began to grow. This eventually led to my putting aside my beloved instrument, a hiatus lasting some nine years.
During that time, I grew personally, explored other methods of artistic expression, and put my music career in perspective. I began to realize just how important music was to me. It was becoming more apparent with each passing year that the genuine expression of my musical soul might best be articulated in acoustic styles rather than the more provocative and energetic electric medium I had confined myself to in earlier years. Fingerstyle artists such as Alex Degrassi (with whom I have studied) and Michael Hedges spoke to me in ways that other guitar virtuosos had not. It was their commanding influence that brought me back to music, this time focusing on the acoustic medium exclusively.
By 2005, I was once again dedicated to music with a passion I had never before experienced. It was as if a higher power were guiding me to a deeper, more spiritual involvement with this medium. The result is a satisfaction and fulfillment unmatched in my younger days.
In addition to the personal gratification I have gleaned from my music pursuits, I hope that, in some way, I can reach and inspire others to similar interest and expression. Ultimately, arousing and nurturing such interest in others is undeniably even more fulfilling. This would explain my compelling desire to instruct others willing to study music and the guitar, a pursuit that has harnessed my wholehearted commitment.

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Queen Elvis – Easy

In their own words….

Goats Don’t Shave

“You have a uniquely wondrous sound!!!”

Josie (Univers Folk Radio Montreal)

“I just fell in love with Rockabye Baby. Could I play it on my radio show?”

Russ (The French Flier/ Radio Liberte, France.)

“It is always a pleasure to listen to the music of you guys – so please send me mp3s whenever you want”

Veronica Jones (Ronnie B Goode)

“Why your music could make Christy Brown do jigs with the right foot, give Shane back his million

dollar smile, make a hippy out of Ian Paisley, end the deforestation problems in Brazil and even make

Anne Widdecomebe pretty … Hang on – may be not that, but you’re the best thing since everybody started

Kung Fu Fightin, and we loves ya”

This EP is highly recommended as a fine listening experience.

Once heard, it’ll be difficult to forget the journey

that is Queen Elvis.

Guaranteed!

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The Alex Mathias Quartet – Goin’ Roamin’

In their own words….

“The audience was captivated by the notes of a true master musician” (Bray Arts Journal, January 2010). Since graduating  as a scholarship student from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in 2006, Bray-based saxophonist Alex Mathias has established himself as a major performer on the Irish jazz scene. The Alex Mathias Quartet consists of some of Ireland’s most creative and versatile young jazz musicians, Johnny Taylor (piano), James Little (bass) and Dominic Mullan (drums) and together they perform Alex’s original music which he draws from jazz, funk/fusion and rock music

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The Resistance – Better I Take A Breather

In their own words….

There are few bands out there that write intelligent music. There are few bands that come up with perfect harmony lines that capture your attention immediately. But when the right ingredients come to play and a right meeting of minds, there are no boundaries. This band began with a meeting of minds -“Rob and Dave” wrote all these well thought and crafted songs at home. Next came the additional musicians to give it new dimensions. Thus making up The Resistance. With a number of accolades already on their belt (Pick of the Week on Phantom FM, Pick of the Fortnight in Hotpress Magazine and numerous radio support Nationwide) the band have just completed their debut album (Bag of Bones).

Their fine musical texture, which is very hard to find nowadays in new bands, is a very important part of this debut Album- comprised of Rob Mc Donnell, David Patterson, Eanan Patterson, Rob Allen, Diarmuid Breathnach a collection of instruments which make their way onto the record (double bass, Guitar, Violin, Keys, electronica, and glockenspiel. There’s even a salt cellar in there somewhere!).

Last year saw the releases 2 singles from their debet album and a nationwide tour with Press and media coverage including supports with the likes of Cathy Davey, Delorentos and JackL . The summer also saw the band open the Dublin City Soul Festival “Soul Picnic” in merrion square to a raputous welcome.

Bag of Bones is currently avaiable on itunes and various independent record shops in the country. The end of 2009 saw them travel to Peter Gabriels Real world Studios in the UK to begin the recording of their follow up due later this year.

You can try to ‘resist’ the temptation to listen to their music but Adam & Eve wouldn’t approve of that now would they.

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