I took a few days off from the web to keep ahead with my bits and pieces off-line (Yeah, that place that we were at before the internet). But, the show must go on. Therefore today I am sharing some websites and companies that you should check out. Some may be of interest to you, and others mightn’t be. Hopefully you love them all, or most of them.
Harmonix.ie is a new(ish) web portal for Irish musicians, promoters and those in the entertainment or media industry. It’s not quite like the excellent Mediacontact as it’s more of a forum and resource website, which offers a great place to interact professionally and leisurely for great for small-to-medium sized companies, bands, managers or anyone in the target group. I’ve been looking at the site over the past while and its quite good. I spoke to one of the website’s founders, Eoin O’Grady, and he says that it is growing at a strong pace. He believes that user interaction can enable Harmonix become an excellent portal for like-minded and interested people. I’m certain it’ll get bigger and better over time.
Irish Student Blogs is another interesting website where it does exactly as it says on the tin. You can find and read various blogs from Ireland’s upcoming (and some quite captivating) young writers. You’re brought on a journey of regular daily updates and postings relating to the normal goings-on of youth, such as life, love and the Leaving Certificate, without moody shite or Skins-esque fantasies. Regular bloggers include Tommy Collison (AKA. Trust Tommy) and Ian Healy. Oh, and there’s no txtspk (text speak) within miles- so don’t feel ashamed checking them out, as they are certainly not of the Bebo calibre.
If you’re stuck on some exotic island or you’re trapped within T1, the lovely folks at Boards.ie have set-up a new forum dedicated to dealing with the mystery and menace that is the volcanic ash which is circulating kilometres above our heads which is affecting our air travel and generating energy for the rumour-mill. Being a Boards fan, I just gotsa’ share the link.
I cannot stop watching this guy: he’s incredible. Readers, meet KipKay, a nerdy genius from the US of A. Now, take that cheap lighter you have for your smokes. Now, grab some junk from across your house, mash the two together using household tools, and hey presto, you’ve got a Laser Lighter than can set fire to virtually anything, as well as firing up your well deserved cigarette. You could also turn that broken CD or DVD drive into a stash-box. Or, you could cool that can of drink to an icy chill in just two minutes- I know I’ll be trying this one out next weekend. KipKay, it’s like a love child of Lifehacker and those blokes from Mythbusters.
Gogol Bordello are a gypsy punk band that always aim to please a crowd. They jump around, make wonderful noise and are always on form for putting on a great show. And, they’ve just been (at time of print) been confirmed as the special guests for Rage Against The Machine at The O2 in Dublin for their concert later this year- on Tuesday, June 8th. Some had believed that Gallows were to be added to the bill, but now it’s definitely going to the New York Band alongside the winners of Christmas Number 1 last year, after the infamous campaign which beat The X Factor winner Joe McElderry to the top-spot.
Tickets for the gig are on sale now, from €65.70.
As you probably know, volcanic ash has started to flood the air after it came from Iceland, and now flights are starting to get delayed, cancelled and overall, pretty messed up. Ryanair and Aer Lingus have stopped theirs, and now the Irish Aviation Authority are shuting-down the airspace over the country from 12 midday until at least 8pm tonight. I’ve been alerted to a pretty cool website that enables users see the live flights across Europe and the world: FlightRadar24. It shall be interesting over the next few hours to see how the flights become on the site’s map as they’re being picked up by GPS and radar signals. As I look at the images right now, there’s absolutely no airplanes flying over the nation. People on Twitter have started to become quick, with one Twitterer (jokingly, I hope) mentioning, that they “think it’s the start of the Apocalypse”.
In brief, Eminem is to release a new album in June, and it’s going to be called “Recovery”- waving goodbye to the original idea of “Relapse 2″. It’s hitting the stores on the 22nd of that month. Snoop Dogg, Julian Casablancas, U2, MGMT and Stevie Wonder are just some of the names on the bill for this summer’s Glastonbury from June 25-27th. And, don’t forget to support Record Store Day this coming Saturday: it’s all about supporting the local, niche and home-grown music outlets, and it’s already gathering support from the likes of Jack White, Foals and Bruce Springsteen. Support it or you might get an angry call from The Boss.
Gogol Bordello photo credit: Rafael Sieber
If you were in the States yesterday, you would’ve been treated to Crystal Swing on Ellen.
It makes for throughoughly interesting viewing.
The fact that Derek’s rendition of The Hucklebuck was also televised brings a guilty smile of pleasure to my face.
If you can’t see the video above, click here and check it out.
If you’ve never been to Cork, the family trio have also created a tour guide for the city. It too will boost tourism, I think. Sure, Mary’s gone off and got a special unique bottle of whiskey made in the Jameson brewery for her. You’d swear she was selling the stuff. I’d hate to be at a Tupperware party made by her- I’d say I’d leave with tons of kitchen storage products: as she’s got some sales pitch.
And, if you still can’t see that video, watch it here.
I bet you that U2 are getting worried now- as Crystal Swing are dominating America.
I can see it now: “He Drinks Tequila 360″.
. E+OE.