Popicalia #8
April Fools’ Day sees Popicalia #8 take place in the usual spot, Shebeen Chic on George’s St.
It’s no ordinary Popicalia, though: it doubles as the launch night for Yeh Deadlies’ unspeakably brilliant new album The First Book of Lessons. You might think that we exist in a permanent state of excitement, and if that’s the case, then this record’s unveiling could potentially kill off some of our number, such is our heightened anticipation.
Those unfortunate folks can take solace in this immortal line-up:
Yeh Deadlies (The First Book of Lessons album launch)
The Dinah Brand
Sea Pinks
with Popical Island DJs ‘til late!
Admission 5 euro, Doors 9:00PM
(The night will accommodate anyone going to Dum Dum Girls: cheap entry with a DDGs ticket and you won’t miss the action, bands will start around the time DDGs finish.)
Yeh Deadlies (Annie, Padraig, Jonny Fun and Dave Green)are founding members of Popical Island, central to everything we do. You might have noticed band members at all the previous Popicalias, DJing, manning the door, playing in various bands, dancing or wearing shades. None of them are writing this blurb, however. This gig serves as the launch for their debut full-length album, The First Book of Lessons, wherein Padraig’s uncanny grasp of pop songwriting is given its fullest expression yet. It’s all here: the punk-pop wordplay of previous 7” single Magazine; the swing-band-meets-Lizzy strangeness of Sophomore Evil; and the droning kraut-rock of Learning Chinese. Elsewhere, Disc Jockey Blues is a cautionary tale from the “frottage industry” of the night club DJ (“No Dignity!”); but the bittersweet new wave pop of The Present Perfect is somewhat more romantic. The title track’s weariness is gorgeous and the albums ends with a thrilling rush in Waiting on the Sun to Rise. The Deadlies are about chemistry, with their group vocals and their interjections and their freakout bits, and this is evident every time they play. Ready? “1-2-3-4-5-SIX! SIX! SIX!”
There aren’t many bands that unite Popical Islanders in their admiration like The Dinah Brand. They make some of the most fully-formed, astute, lyrical and beautiful music that you’ll hear in these parts. Last year’s second album I Can Walk Through was a gem, and well worth the long wait since their debut. They don’t play many gigs, so we’re especially proud to have them along. Not to be missed.
Sea Pinks is the platform for Girls Names’ drummer Neil to foist his own pop stylings on you and me. If Girls Names are a sulky body of water in January, Sea Pinks are that same body of water in June, reflecting brighter skies. Check out last year’s free .mp3 hit Japanese Knotweed to see what we mean.
This month’s poster was brought to you by Big Wow.
