In Their Thousands EP Launch Review

I first stumbled upon In Their Thousands in a damp Whelan’s on a cold November’s night last year at Hot Press and 2FM’s Play on the Day final. Having seen The Hot Sprockets blaze through the Leinster leg of the finals I was all set for a repeat performance from the Dublin soul brothers. Queue In Their Thousand’s, a band with such beautiful harmonies and incredible synchronicity that you could have heard a pin drop on the Wexford Street venue’s floor while they played their opening number. A crowd left stunned and in awe.

Fast forward almost a year later as they launch their second EP, ‘Between The Waters’ in the romantic surroundings of Dublin’s Odessa Club, and the lads have grown in depth and sound while still managing to hang on to that unique togetherness in performing  that makes them such a spectacle.

Support duties on the night came from their amazing fellow Donegal native Rosie Carney. A wise man once said that true beauty is about being unapologetically true to whom you are and throughout Rosie’s set we saw glimpses of that intermittent with shyness and an unfounded lack of confidence. Undoubtedly comparisons will come in their throngs with Laura Marling but to be likened to such a brilliant artist this early in her career should be nothing but a massive pat on the back. There was wonderful warmth in her guitar playing and accompanied with the fragile beauty of her voice her music really suited the mood in the room and set up the night well. Highlights would definitely be her hair rising cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’.

In Their Thousands approached the stage with passion pumping through their veins. They smashed out their first three tracks with such ferocity and hunger that Jim McGuinness would have been proud to have them in the black and gold jersey against Monaghan earlier in the month (ouch too soon?). Here we find a band that can do no wrong at the moment going from strength to strength with what seems like effortless ease. The new material taken from ‘Between The Waters’ furthers the claim that they are the most versatile band in Irish music right now with the ability to jump between genres like a frog across lily pads.

With the two front men already brimming over with vocal talent when the drummer then weighs in with his own piece of lead singing on one of the newer songs you can’t help but think that this wealth of talent in one band is a little unfair. With the excitement over flowing from their energy on stage you can tell the band have been living for this night.

In Their Thousands have been everywhere the past few months from magazine covers to radio stations and all the in-betweens so I suppose it should come as no surprise to us that the lads need a bit of a break. A sentiment confirmed by lead singer Declan as they closed the set with the fantastic ‘The Pattern’ he said “When we finish everything with the new EP we’ll be having a little break so if anyone’s looking for me I’ll be in a kayak somewhere of the coast of the West”, writing more songs we hope. 

A brilliant night held by a brilliant band and it won’t be long now until they will be filling venues much bigger than The Odessa with fans coming in their thousands (sorry I just had to get one now in didn’t I?).

Words: Adam Higgins

In conversation with James Cramer of Tupelo

Tupelo are an exciting, original, acoustic roots act consisting of an eclectic line-up of instruments which includes banjo, guitar, fiddle, double bass, mandolin, harmonica and dobro. 

They have just announced a 4-track EP teaser "Ballerinas Call" taken from their upcoming studio album PUSH ON which was produced by Joe Chester and mixed by Greg Calbi  (Beth Orton, The National, Fallout Boy, Bruce Springsteen) and gets its official release in early 2014. But for now the EP ‘Ballerinas Call’ showcases the variety and musicianship from one of Ireland rising bands and it out Sept 6^th on iTunes. We caught up with front man James Cramer to see what he has been up to and what his influences are.

James is the second on the left with the banjo. 1. When and why did you start playing? I heard Van Morrison singing when I was 9-10 and it dragged me in . 2. Which instruments do you play? I play guitar , banjo , harmonica and bozouki. 3. What was the first tune(s) you learned?  I learned 'In to the mystic' on the guitar. 4. Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?  I admire Andy Irvine for his commitment to the song , Van Morrison for his soul and singlemindness and Bruce Springsteen for all those songs and showing people how to put on a SHOW. 5. Which famous musicians have you learned from? We played some gigs with Imelda May a few years back and we were having a pint after the gig and she said 'Just keep going , it'll happen' . There is no better thing in life when perservence and belief collide. 6. Describe your first instrument.  My first instrument was a piano my Nana bought me when I was about 3-4. She came from the tenements in town in Summerhill and then they moved to Cabra . She told me she never had the money to buy her children an instrument or send them to lessons so she saved up and bought me one. I wrote my first songs on that piano and I suppose that's where it all began. 7. What are your fondest musical memories? I started a band when I was 14. I booked us our 1st gig in Frazer's in O Connell St in Dublin. We had 2 songs together , so by booking the gig it put the pressure on . We rehearsed every day all day that summer and we had 20 songs ready for the big gig! We soundchecked and everything was great , we went off for a bag of chips and came back to go and do the gig , the bouncer wouldn't let us in to our own show. We were all 14,15,16. The promoter had to sneak us in up the back stairs. 8. Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones? Yes , all I listened to was old music when I started out and still do mainly. Country , Gospel , Blues and proper R n B . When I got into Van I was reading up on what he used to listen to. So what you do is you go back , you must go back, and its a treasure trove for a kid who has not been exposed to this ever. I used to listen to on repeat Leadbelly 'Midnight Special' album, Hank Williams'Cold Cold Heart ' album, and John Lee Hookers ' Collection' over and over. 9. Who are your favorite musicians? Groups? CD's?  I love Pete Seeger , Bruce , Dylan , Van, Liam Clancy , Luke Kelly , Tommy Makem, Richard Thompson, it goes on , how long is this interview! The Stones and Them are my band's. Current ones are The Avett Bros , Bon Iver, Band of Horses, Old Crow Medicine Show. 10. How do you handle mistakes during a performance?  Mistakes happen , but that's where rehearsal and an understanding as a band comes in . Sometimes a mistake brings something great because it opens up a space and some thing needs to fill it , and that then creates spontaneity which is the 'Magic'. 11. How often and for how long do you practice?  At least 2 hours a day sometimes 4-5 . 12. The new EP has a very different sound to it from the  older material, how did this transition occur or did you make the decision as a band to try a new sound? It wasn't a conscious thing its just the songs I was writing at that particular time were different to the first album , like the songs I'm writing now they are totally different to the new album coming. There is no point making the same album again, you have to keep it moving for the band , your audience and your sanity. Thanks, James

Haim have a brand new single and its pretty darn good

Can Haim write a bad song. Nope. Didn't think so. Californian sisters HAIM have yet to release an LP, but when they do, it is going to be an absolute masterpiece of robust rock n roll that will shake some tail feathers. The trio's batch of singles just get better and bigger with each release, and “The Wire” doesn't disappoint.  Check it out!

Punk aint dead. It's alive and kicking in Dublin

Punk aint dead. It's alive and kicking in Dublin..via The Furious Haze. Amidst the sun dazed season we are having, comes an epic intro to a Punk band originating from Dublin. After six years of breaking strings, stage invasions, brawl breakouts, glass rockets in and out, road trips that went very wrong, crowd dives that turned bloody, broken and thrashed gear, vomit on stage, civil war, falling through windows and doors, honouring the faithful, and a lot of alcohol taken...The Furious Haze will release their digital EP in a matter of weeks.

Its an adrenaline fuelled affair of utter cool. Crank it up on loud. This is a band to watch.

In Their Thousands to launch Ep tomorrow in Odessa, Dublin

Sure you'd be mad to miss out on this buzzing band who are becoming vastly cooler than sliced bread.

In Their Thousands are launching their latest E.P at the Odessa Club in Dublin tomorrow July 25th. 'Between the Waters' is the third in a series of four Power EP's from the group support on the night comes from talented young folk songstress Rosie Carney. Doors 8.30pm, tickets are on sale now at Entertainment.ie.

Their single 'Tear It All Apart' reached No. 23 in the Irish alternative iTunes charts. A finely textured song that showcases the bands epic harmonies, which will open many doors for them. 

Check it out below:

New Sunset Hotel

NEW SUNSET HOTEL have just released their new self titled EP. Now available on iTunes, the band blend an infectious mix of Indie pop and Mainstream effortlessly. They will be playing Indiependence in early August, well worth checking out live: http://www.indiependencefestival.com