01?

I talk too much. About everything. And nothing. You know the term "empty vessels make the most noise"? I'm in danger of living up to that. So that's the purpose of this blog-instead of boring others with my thoughts, I'll ramble them here and if you want to read them, be my guest! Seemingly this is the done thing with blogs, writing a mission statement. But that's exactly what I shouldn't do. I don't know what I'm going to put in here. For someone who wants to make a career out of journalism, I write shockingly little. I want my area to be music, so what I'll say for now is that this will be a music blog with some of my own thoughts thrown in to bore you and as therapy for me. Don't like it? Go read something else then.

I suppose I should give a little musical background?
I was born and raised in a crappy little town in north-west Ireland. My family is extremely musical on both sides. So much so that until I was about 8 I assumed everyone's dad played in a band. [a wedding/pub band that is, not talking professionals here] I listened to what everyone else listened to -pop and chart music- until I was around 13 and I began listening to the Rick O'Shea show after school. His show was different to others in that he played whatever he wanted regardless of genre. He had requests but only played them if he felt like it. I found myself becoming more drawn to the alternative content on his shows. My first big band was the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I was obsessed with them and they opened me up to everything I'd been missing. Eventually I found my way to the punk and-dare I say it- emo side of things and I don't think I've really looked back.


So right now it's 01:30 on a Friday morning and I'm pretty sure I have nothing to write about.
Oh no, wait.

Today was a good day. After waiting months [yes, wow..whole months] for The Gaslight Anthem to announce an Irish date, they have for 2009.
To go about explaining the appeal of this band seems to me like having to tell someone sex is an enjoyable act. It should be common knowledge. As was the case of several people I've discussed the band with, the attraction wasn't instant. Like when you meet someone but think they're ok, possibly a bit boring but become friends after you've had a long talk over tea or a memorable experience together. That's how me and TGA were introduced. I learned their name through friends on The Blood Pact [that's an Alkaline Trio fanclub, for those who don't know, but that's a different day and probably several different blogs] shortly before The'59 Sound came out. I don't remember what I first head on their Myspace profile, but whatever it was didn't blow me away. I forgot about them for a month or so until I heard "We Came To Dance".
That was it, our memorable experience together.
I had to own everything they put out.
Of course they have filler material but there are very few bands that don't. They make me dance and cry and miss my teens even though I'm still in them. They make me wish I went to dance halls and played jukeboxes and dated boys who drove White Lincoln cars and listened to the radio with my family. They seem to be transported from a different era, yet what they're doing seems to be one of the most innovative, fresh and exciting sounds to emerge in recent years. I seem to seek out other fans just to share in the gushing. Where I live there's a grand total of four people who have heard of them, but I expect that to change soon enough.
So they're finally coming here and playing a wee venue. I can't wait.


Now how can we convince The King Blues to support them?