Saturday in Cork
Hash browns and runny eggs while chuckling away as animated chameleon Rango gets up to all sorts of crazy capers is a pretty good start to any human’s Saturday. The feast of sizzling live music that was to be served up later that evening would top the most celebrated of non-working (for some) days off quite nicely.
And starters were served quite early with Cork’s folky favourites John Blek & The Rats playing an instore in Crowley’s at 5pm. A crowd of 40-50 gathered to take in an hour long set that included ‘Take Me Home’, ‘Please Remain The Same’, and ‘Old St. Catherine’ – John & co.’s soon to be released single courtesy of a successful fund-it campaign. The gig was organised to entice people through the doors of one of Cork’s oldest music stores and to simply remind folks that Crowley’s is still there, alive and well on MacCurtain Street. Up until February 12th anyone who likes the official facebook page is entitled to 30% off which I availed of myself on Saturday picking up a set of brand new strings on the way out.
www.facebook.com/John-blek-The-Rats-Official/
www.facebook.com/CrowleysMusic
A few hours later and it was off to the super impressive Sample Studios on Sullivan’s Quay for a class in “how to be untouchable at post/math-rock” with Ten Past Seven and Rest the tutors for the evening. A blistering set from Cork’s adopted Kerry trio – including an intense version of ‘One Armed Scissor’ that At The Drive In would have been well proud of to end the first half of the night – and a handful of just as searing compositions from doom proggers Rest had the 100 or so onlookers transfixed before fingers were waggled and the night was ended prematurely due to red tape excuses.
www.tenpastseven.net
www.facebook.com/wearerest
http://sample-studios.com
This interruption did create the chance to scuttle across the road to the Triskel where Plugd played host to electro eagles Somadrone in the revitalised white-walled theatre just in time to catch the Dubliner’s last few tricks of the night.
www.iamsomadrone.com
www.facebook.com/pages/plugd
www.triskelartscentre.ie
2012 is looking just as good as 2011 – if not even more handsome – for the country’s second city. Now all we need to do is petition the government to create three day weekends. If the fuckers can keep thinking of new ways to steal/waste the little money we have they can surely sort something out.