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Showing posts from November, 2023

2024-07-05 Sugababes - Iveagh Gardens, Dublin

I've been a Sugababes fan since I first heard Overload way back in 2000.  It was, and still is, a pop classic.  Over the years, I managed to catch them live a couple of times.   The first time I caught Sugababes live was way back at Creamfields 2002.  Unfortunately Siobhan had left the band by then and been replaced by Heidi, so I never got to see the original lineup.  Did it matter much at the time to me?  No, not at all, I was just their to party!  As a side note, post Sugababes, Siobhan went on to release two solo albums, Revolution in Me in 2003 and Ghosts in 2007. The next time I saw them was at Oxegen 2008, and by then Mutya had left the band and was replaced by Amelle, leaving Keisha as the only remaining original member.  It was a tad strange seeing the band with only one remaining member, but again, it was a festival and all we were looking for was a good time, which we definitely got! Another side note, just like Siobhan, Mutya went on to release her own solo work, a gr
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2023-11-05 Aurora Borealis - Ballynafagh Church, Kildare

Ever since I heard about the Aurora Borealis as a child, I wanted to see it. Over the years, many drunken, and some sober, plans were made to go to the Arctic to see it, but none ever came to fruition. So, when a friend rang and asked if I fancied trying to see it from only a few miles out the road, I had to take that chance.  Mind you, I thought we'd absolutely no chance of seeing it, who ever heard of an Aurora Borealis sighting here?  Not me! We hit the road and drove the short 20 minutes to Ballynafagh Church out past Prosperous ( Christy Moore fans will know that place!) and parked down a dark, tight country lane. No need to hop fences or climb over gates in the dark of night thankfully, as there was a small entrance into what used to be church grounds.  Pretty soon my camera was set up on the tripod and we were ankle deep in mud! Only then did I come to the realisation, I hadn't a clue what I was doing! Thankfully there were a few other photographers there on the night
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2023-11-08 Berlin or Bust

Hallo. Mein Name ist MJ. Ich bin einundzwanzig. Ich komme aus Irland. Danke schön. And that, dear reader, is the sum total of my ability to speak German.  It should be noted that I am no longer 21.  I was, many years ago when I studied German in college.  Anyway. it gave my Uber Driver a good laugh! So, what am I doing in Berlin?  That's a good question.  I don't really have an answer.  I was browsing the internet, somehow ended up on the Aer Lingus site booking a cheap flight to Berlin.  I do like to fly Aer Lingus when I can.  The seats are just that bit more comfortable than Ryanair, and when you have a shit spine, it makes all the difference. Since I booked the flight, I though I better book some accommodation.  When travelling on my own, I'm not fussy where I stay as long as it is clean, safe and cheap and Space Night Capsule Hostel was just that.  I could try and explain what a POD / Capsule is, but just click on the link above and you'll see. So, what did I get
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2023-10-29 VetoCode - Moat Theatre, Naas

It's a brave move for a young, local band to book out the Moat Theatre for a headline show.  Brave and expensive, but that's just what VetoCode did! VetoCode rose out of the ashes from the now defunct Kovanta.  A new drummer, a change of singer and slimming down to a 3 piece, has made them a tighter unit. Whilst they might be a 3 piecebnow, they seem more than happy to have various singers and performers guest with them.  Tonight was no different and they were joined by the fantastic  Brinda Irani  on vocals and keyboard and equally fantastic  Aoife Murphy , also on vocals. Their set consisted of original and cover material including some Evanescence and Queens of the Stone Age.  The crowd, who, like me, were ready to rock, and they lapped it up. After that, there's not a lot to say.  If you see these young folk gigging, I'd recommend checking them out. So, with that in mind, here are some photos:
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