Hi Everyone,
Hope all is good…
Well, Record Shop Day is done and dusted for another year and I have a few things to say (when don’t i).
This could be a bit like an Oscar’s acceptance speech….tears and all!!
Those of you reading these ramblings for a while now will know I would have done a bit of moaning (when don’t i) about RSD in the past.
I would have moaned about the langers going on eBay…enterprising they think….dirty touts I think.
I wrongly or rightly quizzed a few strangers early doors last Saturday….good homes for the records is what we want not some ballbag making a quick buck.
I would have moaned about the record companies being the only winner…..still the case….they don’t lose….little 25% Sale or Return or Exchange facility with the companies would be a nice touch.
RSD was set up initially to find a way to help and support independent record shops……..and man that is what happened in our shop last Saturday.
There was just a lovely buzz in the shop from pre shutter opening to post shutter closing….made special by so many of ye loyal folks who visited us on the day.
It was quite humbling the support the shop got….sincere thank you again to all who genuinely made an effort to come in and support us…..sincere thanks.
Aside from the sales ( which were great, don’t get me wrong…two bad weeks business or a week and a half good weeks, in a day) there was just a lovely ambience in the shop all day.
So aside from ye guys…there was another group of people who made the day really special, and that was the musicians.
These guys are legends….coming in to play a few tunes to support the shop…..tough slog, a labour of love for them at times I would think.
So a big massive thank you once again to JOHN BLEK, who was his usual brilliant self, THE SHAKER HYMN who oozed class and found themselves a few new fans while oozing that class…top talented lads, JOHN SPILLANE, who had the crowd wrapped around his finger….the chorus of ORO SE DO BHEATHA ABHAILE being sung by everyone in the shop will live long in the memory, RAISING JUPITER, who as there name suggests raised the roof off the gaff ,to one passing woman’s great annoyance about the noise, as she took a bite out of Shane at the counter over the noise!!
Shane took one for the team there!!!!
Myself and Bobby were busy at the time…..hiding!
(I was doing the meet and greet Ray!)
FOX JAW from Limerick were great…really good sound, tight….we were very impressed…..hard working….done three RSD in stores…fair play to em.
Lastly, we had THE HARD GROUND who got the graveyard shift….probably not starting till about 6….there was only about 8 people saw them but man those 8 got a treat…it was beautiful….perfect end to a perfect day.
THE HARD GROUND are very close to being play listed on Today FM…..so an aul text in to request new single “ pucker” would not go a miss if you find 15 seconds….think of it as your good deed for tomorrow!!….that’s if you like it (were not x factor here) text 53102 and request it….have another listen, it grows
Lastly, I want to thank Bobby, Shane and Ciaran for their help and work all week….#onlyforye
So once again a big thank you to all those who sang for us and sang with us, drank with us, and couldn’t drink with us, shouted at us or shouted for us and supported us all day….we are blessed….
I shall drive on with what is happening for tomorrow week the 1st of May.
Massive release, most preordered this year is the third MUMFORD AND SONS record “wilder man” through Island/Universal.
The banjo’s are ditched for the electric…..not causing as big a stir as Mr. Zimmermann did……top five selling albums of the year??….i liked their first two records anyway.
Universal also has a nice ANNIE LENNOX DVD and the BLONDIE catalogue reissued on Vinyl Record including “parallel lines” and “eat to the beat”.
PIAS has the new record by ROISIN MURPHY which has being well received by press…..leftfield and non conformist….a young female Scott Walker….sorry left out the better looking bit….sorryScott..
Another class release from Pias for the 8th of May is the new record by THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH on Dead Oceans
Other releases of note are BARBAROSSA, BERNARD & EDITH, GOD DAMN and CATHAL SMYTH of MADNESS.
Sony has a few metal releases on Metalblade from SIX FEET UNDER and SATANS WRATH.
Warner has a new record from DJANGO DJANGO , VINYL RECORD reissues from DISTURBED “ indestructible” and “ the sickness” and JETHRO TULL’s “ minstrel in the gallery” gets the reissue treatment as well as red vinyl 10” reissue of Roxette’s “ it must have being love”.
MUSIC ON VINYL has some nice re issues coming up….for the 11th of May they have a J.J CALE 4 LP collection spanning 49 tracks, CAPTAIN BEEFHEART’s “blue jeans and moonbeams” and the Grammy winning LP from TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND “ REVELATOR”.
MUSIC ON VINYL for the 18th of May have the million selling “Graceland “ by Mr. PAUL SIMON, MINISTRY “ dark side of the spoon” , MICK RONSON ‘S “ heaven and hull” and YES “talk” .
ESSENTIAL have a new FALL album….i don’t know if Mr. Smith could tell you how many albums he has….is it over 30 studio albums….something like that anyway….i would bet my signed RSD turntable he couldn’t name all the albums ………I have an unsigned RSD turntable…..signature can be arranged.
Local band THE SHED are launching there third record “stealing away” in the Crane Lane tomorrow night …..Doors at 8. http://www.reverbnation.com/theshed/song/23281609-genie
THE SHED are supported by local Douglas young fellas SKRUJAX who have an EP out…..raw but promising….check out the first track here….early JOY DIVISION??…..i think it’s a great track…
https://soundcloud.com/skrujax/sets/the-skrujax-ep
Check out the aul website for bits coming and hopefully going…
Sin e for this week I think,
Thanks for listening,
Slan,
Ray.