Songs move from generation to generation like lighting fagbutt with fagbutt

Songlines is a project I’ve been doing for some years recording the answer to the question “What song or piece of music means the most to you and why?” from all kinds of people. I feel a new burst of recordings coming on so now’s a good time to gather a few of the already published ones…

MC Hammer – Hammertime (the recording only)

The Blues (the recording)

Dayenu (trad.) (the recording)

The Pogues – Rain Street (the recording)

I’ve loved the song “Winter Winds” by the London-based folk-rock band Mumford & Sons since I first heard it about two weeks ago on XFM London. It’s just a beautiful piece of music, a song that really gets under the skin. It brings to mind the best work of The Pogues and The Waterboys.

Mumford & Sons get their name from lead vocalist Marcus Mumford. “Winter Winds” is one of the tracks on the band’s debut album, Sign No More.

To watch the video for “Winter Winds by Mumford & Sons, which was one of a series of videos that they shot in a bookshop, click below:

For more on Mumford & Sons, see:
http://www.mumfordandsons.com
http://www.myspace.com/mumfordandsons
http://www.youtube.com/user/MumfordandSons

I’ve always been pretty hardcore about holiday excellence. Sign me up for anything involving gingerbread or latkas (yum!). Despite not being the most religious person in the world (I make cafeteria Catholics looks like the Pope), I have to admit that some of my favorite tracks have come from seasonal fervor. So here are the songs rocking my holiday playlist this year:

1. “The Little Drummer Boy” performed by David Bowie and Bing Crosby – I know a lot of people come down on this song for being overplayed, but honestly I could just put this song on repeat for the next month and be perfectly content. Bowie’s silky voice along with Crosby’s bassy bliss is just holiday perfection for me.
2. “Frosty the Snowman” performed by Fiona Apple – I just love the simple jazz guitar and vocal arrangement on this song, somehow transforming one of the hokiest ditties known to the Western world into a song that is both playful and interesting.
3. “Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues - A folky indie rock classic that I can’t go a year without.
4. “O Come O Come Emmanuel” performed by Sufjan Stevens – This has always been a favorite Christmas song of mine, somehow transcending my aversion to the sometimes sickening hymns of my Catholic upbringing. One of the most gorgeous classical hymns ever written, this song is given a sweet intimacy in Stevens’ stripped-down rendition.
5. “Rock of Ages” performed by Ben Kweller – Another sweet rendition of a classic, this time a Hanukkah song. Also gets bonus points for its affiliations with a certain TV show that was a high school not-so-guilty pleasure.
6. “Nutmeg” by Stephen Colbert and John Legend – Aside from being hilarious, this is a pretty rad song. I would argue it was one of my favorite R&B tracks from last year.
7. “Another Christmas Song” by Stephen Colbert – Yep, another Colbert song. Mocking the velvety jazz Christmas standards every American grew up with, Colbert actually created a catchy and ridiculously funny tune.
8. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” performed by Mariah Carey – Remember when Mariah was awesome? Listen to this and you will.
9. “Come On Santa” by the Raveonettes – I have nothing insightful to say about this track. It just makes me feel cool enough to pull off Kanye glasses and not look like a jerk.
10. “Christmastime is Here” performed by Au Revoir Simone - See above item regarding cool factor.

Expect more obnoxiously holiday-themed  posts in the coming weeks!

This week’s song list are all tunes that remind me of my mom.  The only problem is that I’m trying to stick to five.  Oh, well.  I can always do another list some other time and I’m pretty sure the sky won’t fall!

1. “Walk the Line” – Johnny Cash -  My mom likes to sing the lyrics on this one as “I keep my pants up with a piece of twine… Because your mine, I pull the twine!”
2. “Lorelei” – The Pogues - My mom and I drove my sister to Grand Forks for college.  On the way back there was a lot of rain and only one cassette in the car.  This tape was The Pogues’ Essential.  My mom heard it so much that she could sing along to this song by the trip’s end.
3. “Take Five” – Dave Brubeck -  My dad owns a bunch of records but this was one that my mom brought into the marriage.  This song is my favorite on the album.  A friend commented on how good it was and when I told him that my mom introduced me to it he was flabbergasted.  Mom’s aren’t supposed to like music that is this cool, I guess.
4. “Moon River” – Henry Mancini -  I have a copy of the Breakfast at Tiffany’s record.  I’m surprised I don’t have more.  My dad knew that this was one of my mom’s favorites and I remember talking him out of buying several copies.  His argument was always “this one is in better condition!”  I remember my mom singing along to this one, too.
5. “Cotton Jenny” – Gordon Lightfoot -  I could have picked any Gordon song because my mom knows all the words.  My mom and sister broke out in song after the Lightfoot concert and this is the song they sang.

Christmas in the Heart, de Kerstplaat van onze favoriete neuzelaar roept uiteenlopende reacties op. Niet iedereen is overtuigd van de kwaliteiten van deze cd. Sommigen hebben het ronduit over een draak, terwijl anderen er wel de lol van inzien.

In iedere geval heeft hij zich niet beperkt tot de meest voor de hand liggende kerstliedjes. Een handvol ervan had ik zelfs nog nooit gehoord. Al moet ik wel bij vermelden dat ik niet zo’n grote kenner ben van het genre.

Maar eentje dat zeker niet had mistaan op deze collectie is ‘Fairytale of New York’, het onsterfelijke duet van Kirsty MacColl met opper-Pogue Shane MacGowan. 

Zou het niet prachtig zijn om Dylan dit nummer te horen brengen met… ja, met wie eigenlijk? Emmylou Harris? Te braaf.  
Mary Gauthier misschien?

Of nee: Alicia Keys! De ouwe snoeper zou er beslist van genieten.

En wij ook.

Zo te horen zit ze zelfs op een telefoontje van hem te wachten.

October 30, 2009
2009 Voodoo Experience
New Orleans, LA

It's not just a music festival

The Voodoo Experience in New Orleans is in its eleventh year. Yet somehow, year after year, it’s one music festival I had yet to enjoy until yesterday. Voodoo has been on my to-do list for several years, not only because I hadn’t done it yet, but because it’s in New Orleans (one of my favorite cities), during Halloween weekend.

This year’s line-up includes Eminem, Justice, Silversun Pickups, The Black Keys, Fischerspooner, The Vettes, Janelle Monae, Kiss, Jane’s Addiction, Gogol Bordello, Wolfmother, The Black Lips, The Flaming Lips, Mutemath, Brand New, the Pogues, and many more.

There will be an in-depth review to follow including my interview with The Vettes and their adopted brother (who’s also in the band).  While I leave you with that cliffhanger, here are some pictures and quick highlights from Day 1.

The Vettes

The Cool Kids

Silversun Pickups meeting fans

Janelle Monae: all will be revealed with the full Day 1 recap (hint: she’s awesome)

Janelle Monae

Hotshot Robot interviewing the band Glasgow:

Hotshot Robot

This isn’t your grandma’s bingo:

The New Orleans Bingo Show

Fischerspooner

It wasn’t St. Patrick’s Day but Thursday night sure felt like it – or something like a wild, drunken Irish party – as the legendary Pogues rolled into town to play at the House of Blues.  This punk-Irish-rock unit hasn’t visited Texas in 20 years but here they were in all their glory and best of all, they were led by dissipated frontman Shane MacGowan, singing and smoking and drinking and slurring right where he belongs.

To see MacGowan in the flesh is to wonder how this man is alive at all. Obviously damaged by decades of boozing and whatever, MacGowan is a serious mess.  But he is also the brilliant songwriter who created the great songs that the Pogues are famous for.  And they rolled out one after another Thursday night: “The Broad Majestic Shannon,” “Sunny Side of the Street,” “A Pair of Brown Eyes,” “A Rainy Night in Soho” and so on.  As I said, brilliant – and MacGowan, magically, sang with growing strength as the nearly two-hour set wore on.  Was it the frenzy of the (obviously) alcohol-fueled crowd, or was it the glass of liquid he kept sipping (gin? vodka? water?) during the set?

The band, led by the fiery theatrics of accordionist James Fearnley and singer/tin whistle player Spider Stacy, roared through the songs with fire and passion.  “The Body of An American,” which starts slowly and reels into a joyous Irish romp, was a highlight, as was Stacy’s lead vocal turn on the Pogues’ biggest hit, “Tuesday Morning.”  Philip Chevron also shone, on his “Thousands Are Sailing,” and former Steeleye Span member Terry Woods played a variety of instruments to add authentic atmosphere.

The attention was mainly focused on MacGowan.  When he shambled onstage, he was in constant motion – drinking, smoking – and when he talked between songs it was impossible to understand what he was saying.  But when he sang, it was with authority.  In the homestretch, MacGowan simply announced the title of the song the band was going to play next, and each earned a roar:  “Dirty Old Town,” “Sick Bed of Cuchulainn,” “The Irish Rover.”  In the first of two encores, the Pogues tore it up with the stomper “Sally MacLennane.”  They came out for a second encore with “Fiesta,” with Stacy smashing a cookie pan on his head for percussion and MacGowan pouring something into his mouth (and face and shirt) straight from a bottle.

The evening that had a wild end had a great beginning – with opening act Justin Townes Earle (son of Steve) delivering a charming set of old chestnuts and heartfelt originals, all highlighted by his lightning fingerpicking on guitar.  This kid is great, maybe better than his old man, and I think one day he’s going to write the songs to prove it.  Catch him live, if you can.  And if you get a chance to see the Pogues, do that too.  I am glad I did, that’s for sure.

In The Wake Of The Medusa: The Pogues official website

Justin Townes Earle MySpace page

YouTube: The Pogues at Stubb’s in Austin, 10/28

YouTube: The Pogues at House of Blues Houston, 10/29

Partyin' with the Pogues!

"Fiesta": MacGowan, left, and Stacy

Jackson Free Press

October 21, 2009

In 1999, the Voodoo Music Festival began in New Orleans and promptly became the fall counterpart to spring’s Jazzfest. The lineup is always diverse enough to deliver a few can’t-miss high points that are worth the drive to the city for any fan. Here are just a few for this year.

Hip-hop Central (Friday, Oct. 30)—While spring’s Jazzfest generally shies away from hip-hop, Voodoo has embraced it from the festival’s inception. Eminem, a headliner in 2000, returns (with D12 in tow, regrettably) to highlight the opening night in what is expected to be his only show in America this year. However, two acts that promise to be equally fun and considerably less crowded are The Cool Kids and The Knux.

The Cool Kids are a Chicago-based throwback rap group whose 2007 debut “The Bake Sale” caused quite a stir in the hip-hop underground. Their sound is decidedly old school, but they come at it with a fresh-enough approach to be considered one of the potential saviors of underground hip-hop.

The Knux are a transplanted New Orleans rap duo whose record “Remind Me in 3 Days …” was one of the best hip-hop albums last year. Heavily inspired by Outkast, they feature a motley sound, with lyrics bouncing seamlessly between tough and highbrow.

The Legends Come Out (Saturday, Oct. 31)—Kiss is the headliner, and their face paint should play well to the debaucherous Halloween crowd. However, they are not the only rock ‘n’ roll heavyweights playing this date. Also performing are legends George Clinton with Parliament Funkadelic and Jello Biafra (of Dead Kennedys fame) with his newest band, The Guantanamo School of Medicine.

The main highlight of Saturday night, though, will be Jane’s Addiction’s return. Jane’s Addiction began touring with their original lineup again last year for the first time since 1991. The set lists at recent shows have been leaning heavily toward material from their first two classic albums. In other words, “Entourage” fans hoping to hear “Superhero” should brace yourself for disappointment.

1980s Revival (Sunday, Nov. 1)—Two of the most fascinating acts on the lineup close out the festival: The Meat Puppets and The Pogues. Neither has done anything particularly memorable in about 15 years, but the curiosity level is sky high as to how time has served these two ground-breaking artists, particularly The Pogues.

The Pogues are the one group that you should not miss at this festival for several reasons. It is one of the most influential bands of the past 30 years, nearly single-handedly injecting Celtic influence into popular music. On top of this, lead singer Shane MacGowan has been teetering on the brinks of insanity and death for the last 20 years and is well into the “every day is a gift” stage of his life. Combine that with the fact that The Pogues rarely venture to the American south, and this figures to be one of the last opportunities to see this trend-setting band within 700 miles of home.

Take advantage of it.

http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/index.php/site/comments/rob_in_stereo_voodoo_and_insanity_102109/

No intro this week, just music. Enjoy.

Monday

Why?- January Twenty Something

Ever notice how much these guys sound like They Might Be Giants?

Tuesday

Sea Wolf- The Violet Hour

Ladies and Gentlemen, yet another song from the New Moon soundtrack.

Wednesday

Islands- Switch On

Be Your Own Pet- Becky

Fun Jemima Pearl story, back in the summer of ‘07 I was living in Houston, and working as a cook in a restaurant, when one of the older guys there (I was 22, he was 23) decided he would pop my strip club cherry by taking me to happy hour. Well after a few hours of feeling like a slimeball, my friend and I talked my coworker into blowing out of the club, and scoring some blow. Realizing that we were less then three blocks from a local club we walked over to discover Be Your Own Pet was headlining, in between key bumps we managed to pay our 5 bucks. make our way upstairs, find a booth, and get a tab open. My co-worker being completely out of his element, and high out of his mind decide to flow with the night, which lead to him dancing around to “Becky” with a Corona and asking girls “Hey are you into Zep?” Needless to say I haven’t done coke since.

Drive By Truckers- The Day John Henry Died

Telegraph Canyon- Welcome to the Night

Thursday

Leon Russell- I’m so lonesome, I could cry

Wolfmother- Cosmic Egg

R Kelly- Ignition (Remix)

What is there left to say about R Kelly?

Friday

Peaches- Fuck The Pain Away

Fun story #2 I attended a party back in the spring where I watched two affliction clad bro dudes exchange verses of “Fuck The Pain  Away” while doing keg stands. I blame Mean Girls for this.

Butthole Surfers- Alcohol

The Pogues- The Sick Bed of Cuchuliann

Saturday

White Denim- Sex Prayer

Au Reviour Simone- Another Likely Story ( Neon Indian Remix)

I believe this excellent remix was the sole work of Alan Polamo, not sure why the Neon Indian moniker was attached, but it’s a hell of a remix.

Following the slightly spooky Halloween mix posted on Monday, this one comprises songs mostly of less serious tone, setting what I hope is a bit of a party atmosphere, with a bit of rock, rock & roll and downright silly novelty numbers, including one by Soupy Sales, who died last week. The sense of levity this mix aims at is not of the literal variety.

* * *

TRACKLISTING
1. Tim Curry – Anything Can Happen On Halloween (1986)
2. Golden Earring – The Devil Made Me Do It (1982)
3. Morgus & the Ghouls – Morgus The Magnificent (1958)
4. The Tarantulas – Black Widow (1961)
5. Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs – Haunted House (1964)
6. Big Bopper – Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor (1958)
7. The Kingsmen – Haunted Castle (1963)
8. The Five Blobs – The Blob (1958)
9. The Fifth Estate – The Witch Is Dead (1967)
10. Bobby Bare – Vampira (1958)
11. Johnny Cash – Ghost Riders In The Sky (1978)
12. R Dean Taylor – There’s A Ghost In My House (1967)
13. Alice Cooper – Feed My Frankenstein (1992)
14. Rob Zombie feat. The Ghastly Ones – Halloween (1998)
15. Medeski, Martin & Wood – End Of The World Party (2004)
16. The Pogues – Turkish Song Of The Damned (1988)
17. The Specials – Ghost Town (1981)
18. Jimmy Buffett – Halloween In Tijuana (1985)
19. Soupy Sales – My Baby’s Got A Crush On Frankenstein (1962)
20. France Gall – Frankenstein (1972)
21. Danny Elfman – This Is Halloween (1993)
22. David Seville – Witch Doctor (1958)
23. Bobby Rydell – That Old Black Magic (1961)
24. The Moontrekkers – Night Of The Vampire (1961)
25. Allan Sherman – I See Bones (1963)
26. Lord Melody – The Creature From The Black Lagoon (1957)
27. Lambert, Hendricks & Ross – Halloween Spooks (1960)

DOWNLOAD

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And to bring the mood down a bit again, here is a track sent to me by a friend, whose knowledge in music in encyclopedic. He points out that the artist, folk singer Jackson C Frank, is “ the single unluckiest man in music history”. Read this to find that this is most probably so.

Jackson C. Frank – Halloween Is Black As Night.mp3 (reuploaded)

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More Mixes

Today: up early to read Cometbus and Noah Van Sciver comics. Riding around in a car with Amanda when she gets off work. Zombie crawl at 6. Will I be a victim or a zombie? Or both? Then dollar tacos at Mezcal and EAOD’s last show. Pretty good, Saturday. Pretty good.

Also, last night was The Pogues at The Ogden. Highlights: Spider smashing a baking sheet against his head repeatedly and rhythmically—with surprisingly good results—during “Fiesta,” the last song in their double encore.

No band practice tomorrow because Stuart’s in Nebraska for a week. I have no idea what to do on a Sunday without two band practices.

The Art of the Con

The Bull racked up a half-million euro tab over his few years as mandarin for d’Arts and had an extravagant lifestyle, at the expense of the Plain People of Ireland. A martyr for top-shelf brandy, best of wine, fatted lamb, caviar, horses, plane hops, limos, banquets, nothing was too good or too sacred for The Bull. He consumed all before him like a Pac man, while Irish artists waited for the crumbs that fell from his department. How many stories might that half-million euro have helped write? How many tunes could it have composed? How many songs could have it sung? The Bull’s expense account could have kept an artist in clover for 50 years and raised spirits in the process. Instead, it fattened himself and his herd. It’s a triumph for Irish journalism that he was exposed and forced to resign. Take a bow, Sunday Tribune but don’t rest on your laurels.

A long white stretch limo was pulled at the curb outside the Pogues gig and it reminded us of The Bull and how he loved long shiny cars. We suddenly felt charitable and wondered if he should be rehabilitated rather than despised as a parasite. Then we had a brainwave: what if the Bull could drive the Pogues limo!! Maybe Shane would lend his Mexican Air Force cap to him…just while he’s behind the wheel. He could be cured. Cruising a half million miles up highways and down autobahns and boreens, the Kerryman would get plenty therapy from the lads. Plus, he’d still have a touch of the high life, he’d still be rubbing shoulders with stars and starlets…still be supping good grog, but not at the taxpayers expense. He could get really into it…maybe get promoted to roadie status.

Pogues, SF

As the Pogues ploughed through their greatest songs in San Francisco, and Mac weaved this way and that, the idea of The Bull being part of the scene became more clear. The band might even give him a cameo part — take a bit of weight from Spider by having the Bull bang the tin beer tray against his head. And I know this is pushing it a bit, but maybe The Bull could play a bit of bodhran? On say, ‘The Irish Rover’? Would the lads let him join in the chorus? What about ‘Dirty Old Town’? Can’t you just see him on stage, belting out the refrain, sweet Cahersiveen etched on his face? Would he ever get to lash out ‘The Boys of Barr na Sráide’? His very own party piece…

On second thoughts, it may be better to keep him from the limelight for a while. It might be wiser to have him set up the backstage for the band, make sure everyone’s tastes and mores are catered for, and that there’s plenty of everything. He’d be good at that, he’s been freeloading for years and knows every rope in the book. He wouldn’t have an assistant, just an iPhone which he’d have to learn to use…there’s probably a Fás course for that. He’d have to know at any time, where drink, smoke and get-well cards could be got. And he’d have to learn to mix Tequila Dropkicks, Whiskey Windfalls and Brandy Bomb-Bombs…maybe learn how to hand-roll cigarettes. He’d get a much better education with the lads than he’d get hanging around the crowd in the Dáil bar.

We know it’s a privilege to work with the Pogues, and some might say that The Bull doesn’t deserve the chance. We understand all that, but feel it would be for the Greater Good, if he were rehabbed rather than punished or left to waste away on the backbenches of government. As some perverted form of entertainment, the Kerry voters will continue to return his whale carcass to the Dáil, forever more amen. It would take a few Pogues gigs to persuade them to release The Bull for the sake of art and culture. The band could play The Puck Fair, The Rose of Tralee, Listowel Races, Cahersiveen Winkle Festival. The Bull could play support for them at the ’Sive gig — it would be a perfect homecoming for the Prodigal Son.

It’s a win-win situation. The job would be good for The Bull: he’d still be flying around the place, ride limos and drink until maidin geal. He would be indentured to the Pogues. And here it should be said, the band would be better for his rehabilitation than U2. Like, Bono and The Bull could talk shite to each other all night and next morning…but there would be no shite talk with the Pogues. Everything would be straight up and politically incorrect.

The Pogues are The Bull’s only hope. And I know this is stretching it a bit far…but, what about Mrs. Bull doing a bit now and again? Remember, she was also part of his act and liked to jet away too. She’s a lovely singer and maybe she could do the female vox on Fairytale? And when Shane waltzes off stage with her, would The Bull know it’s only rock and roll? Or would he lose the head, like he did in the Dáil, and end up on YouTube again?

Eddie Stack’s books for Kindle + iPhone

This song is about whiskey, personified as Nancy Whiskey, who beguiles the men who kiss her. I have listened to numerous versions of this song at least 100 times and probably approaching 200 by now, in the past week or so, for reasons unknown to me. (I don’t drink whiskey.)

Here is a hearty version by the Orthodox Celts, a Serbian band that plays Irish folk music; they are one of the top acts in the Serbian rock scene.

Here is an easier-to-hear-the-words version by Luke Kelly of the Dubliners:

Here is a a studio version by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem:

Here is a fun live version by Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy at the National Stadium in Dublin, February 1977:

Here is a fine version by Ryan’s Fancy, an Irish band that moved to Newfoundland in the late 1960s:

Here is a version by Shane MacGowan (of the Pogues) & the Popes

Here is a version by Hamish Imlach, who I’m going to guess is the only Scot among this bunch:

Here are the lyrics, although there are variations:

I am a weaver a Carleton weaver, I am a rash and a roving blade
I’ve got money in my pocket and I’m going to follow the roving trade
Chorus:
Whisky, whisky, Nancy Whiskey, whisky, whisky Nancy-o
As I went in to Glasgow City, Nancy Whisky I chanced to smell
I went in and sat down beside her, seven long years I looked her well
chorus
The more I kissed her, the more I loved her
The more I kissed her, the more she smiled
Soon I forgot my mother’s teaching, Nancy had me soon beguiled.
chorus
Now I arose early in the morning to wet my thirst it was my need
I tried to rise but I was not able, Nancy had me by the knees
chorus
Well I’m going back to the Carleton weaving, I’ll surely make those shuttles fly
For I made more at the Carleton weaving than ever I did at the roving trade
chorus
So come all you weavers, you Carleton weavers
Come all you weavers where ever you be.
Beware of whisky Nancy Whisky, she’ll ruin you like she ruined me.
chorus

This week’s episode of the current series of Later…with Jools Holland features a more interesting and diverse roster of artists than last week’s one. Echo & the Bunnymen’s distinctive guitar and vocal sound brought them lots of critical and some commercial success in the eighties. They’ll be playing songs from their latest album, The Fountain. Calvin Harris will be appearing and he’s best known for his hit, Acceptable in the 80s. I’ve included a version from last week’s guests, Editors. The Spaghetti Western Orchestra will be playing their versions of one of cinema’s most successful and distinctive composers, Ennio Morricone. The Pogues also do a fine job of one of Morricone’s most famous themes. Better Times Will Come is the title track of American country singer Diana Jones’s current album. Biffy Clyro are from Scotland, but they sound like an American rock band to me. Finally, the easy-listening crooner Andy Williams will be playing music to watch the girls go by

Seven Seas – Echo & the Bunnymen

Don’t You Believe It – Andy Williams

The result of the 2008 Irish Lisbon Treaty referendum

On the first Friday in October, about half of the Irish electorate will go to the polls in an attempt to pass the Lisbon Treaty into Irish law, having already failed to do so in June 2008. On that previous occasion, a turnout of 53% of the electorate rejected the 28th Amendment to the Constitution by a margin of nearly seven per cent (53.4% against the Treaty as opposed to 46.6% in favour). The Lisbon Treaty is a replacement for the failed European Constitution that was rejected by voters from France and Holland in 2005. Its main purpose is to tidy up all previous treaties such as the Treaty of Rome and the Treaty of Maastricht. So far, Ireland is the only country that hasn’t passed the Treaty and Ireland is also the only country to hold a referendum on the Treaty. The reason that Ireland requires a referendum arises from the Irish Supreme Court decision of 1987 that major changes to any Treaty of Europe would require a mandate from the Irish people. So, the result of Friday’s referendum will not only affect the 4.5 million inhabitants of Ireland, but also the other 490 million citizens that make up the remainder of the European Union

As in 2008, the Irish government parties as well as the two main opposition parties are urging the population to vote in favour of the amendment. It is no major surprise that the country’s main political parties are in agreement as there is not a whole lot to choose between them in ideological terms. As in 2008, minority parties and groups with vested interests are calling for the rejection of the amendment. Last time out, the strong anti-Treaty campaign run by the likes of Libertas and Sinn Féin coupled with a weak campaign by the main political parties were major factors that led to the rejection of the Treaty. These mixed messages as well as the typical lack of direction from the Irish government led to confusion amongst the electorate and this also played a part in its ultimate rejection. This time around the main parties have been more focused and have even managed to receive a number of concessions from Europe relating to the Treaty. For example, one of the proposals in the original document was that the number of EU commisioners was to be reduced by a third from 27 (one commisioner per state) down to 18, beginning in 2014. This membership of 18 would rotate every five years, meaning that only two thirds of member states would have a commisioner during each changeover. However, the Irish rejection of the Treaty has led to the removal of this proposal and the full quota of commisioners has been restored. Ireland has also received guarantees that areas such as abortion, taxation and military neutrality cannot be touched by the EU. The No Campaign used public fear in relation to these issues to help help get the referendum rejected the last time. And they are still making half-hearted attempts to make these issues part of their 2009 campaign, even though they do not pose a threat

Opponents of the Treaty also claim that a Yes vote will lead to a higher rate of corporate tax. This will discourage multinational companies from setting up in Ireland and will lead to ones that are here to up sticks and move out, taking thousand of jobs with them. They claim that a Yes vote will lead to the introduction of lower wages throughout the EU because it will allow for the introduction of cheap European labour, which will take jobs from Irish people. This has led to a rather spurious poster campaign suggesting that the minimum wage in this country will fall to under two euros per hour! They also claim that a Yes vote will lead to less control over immigration. They believe that the influx of immigrant workers into Ireland over the preceding decade was a result of EU immigration policy. Proponents of the No Campaign claim that the introduction of the Treaty will lead to even more immigrants coming to Ireland. Surely, the main reason that immigrants came to Ireland during the height of the Celtic Tiger was to take up service jobs that the Irish were unwilling to do. Recent statistics show that immigration has slowed down over the last year. Why would anybody want to a country that doesn’t even have jobs for its own people?

One of the few arguments coming out of the No side that makes sense relates to the possible shift in power that will occur if the Treaty is passed. Their argument goes that a Yes vote will centralise the EU and give more power to the larger nations within the union and, therefore, make the EU less democratic. It is correct to say that smaller countries will have less power when it comes to voting. From 2014, a 55% majority instead of 72% is all that will be needed to pass a law among the member states. Instead of unanimous approval, as it is currently, a number of policy areas will be determined by majority voting. These areas include immigration and border control, which Ireland can opt out of on a case-by-case basis, if they wish. Also, two areas that will still require majority voting are justice and Home Affairs. However, any proposed law may be blocked if at least four countries veto a particular proposal. In addition, the Treaty will introduce the Citizens’ Inititiave whereby any proposal signed by at least one million citizens from any number of states must be considered by the commision

Ireland has benefitted economically and culturally since joining the then EEC in 1973. We would not have become the country that we are today without our membership of the European Union. At the end of the day, it’s not going to make a huge difference either way for this country whether we decide to accept or reject the Treaty next Friday. But, that decision will have significant reprecussions for the 490 million or so citizens that make up the rest of the European Union. The vote I cast next Friday will be the same vote I cast on June 12th, 2008. And, just in case I forget, I’m going to be listening to these songs between now and polling day. Hopefully this time I’ll be on the winning side

Songs For 2009 Lisbon Treaty Vote

01 Yeah Yeah Yeah Song – The Flaming Lips

21 Yes We Can – John Martyn

250 years ago, Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease at £45 a year to rent St James’s Gate brewery in Dublin. Tomorrow, September 24th, has been designated as Arthur’s Day and will feature celebrations all around the world. Unsurprisingly, the biggest party will take place in Dublin as dozens of bands will converge on Ireland’s capital city to raise a toast to Arthur. The day begins at 17:59 with an invite-only concert at St James’s Gate itself featuring Tom Jones, Kasabian and Estelle. Four Dublin venues (Vicar St, the Academy, Tripod and Whelan’s) will put on gigs that will include Richard Hawley, Lisa Hannigan, Davis Gray and the Undertones. And Live at the Local sees Noah & the Whale, Mick Flannery and dozens of other acts perform at 28 Dublin pubs throughout the night. Sounds like it’s going to be a busy day. For those of you who’d like to celebrate Arthur’s Day early or in the confines of your own home, here are a few drinking songs to accompany the creamy pints of stout

Song’s For Arthur’s Day

01 Alcoholiday – Teenage Fanclub

And here’s an appropriately entitled instrumental from a man who’s fond of a pint of two of the black stuff:

Last Orders – Richard Hawley

Contigo

Cea mai melancolica melodie pe care am ascultat-o

When its summer in siam
And the moon is full of rainbows
When its summer in siam
And we go through many changes
When its summer in siam
Then all I really know
Is that I truly am
In the summer in siam

Dang. The Pogues and DeVotchKa together is one killllllller concert. Too bad it’s US$45.00-US$67.00, before adding the other extraneous fees they always charge you. Also too bad it’s the day before I leave for Nepal. Daaaaaaaaang.

Review : The Guardian

West Coast Tour Kicks off October 10

“Beer, brawls and potcheen-doused brilliance” – Paste Magazine

Hailed as “one of the 50 bands to see before you die” by Q Magazine, the Pogues embark on a U.S. west coast tour this fall.  One of music’s most raucous and entertaining live acts, the Pogues, with frontman Shane MacGowan, kick off the dates on October 10th in Seattle, WA and tour the west coast and the south, culminating in a Halloween Weekend appearance at New Orleans’ Voodoo Experience on November 1st.  The dates include a number of cities–Austin, Dallas, Houston, Portland, Denver, Tempe and Kansas City–the band will perform in for the first time ever.

The band Rolling Stone calls “the musical equivalent of a pub crawl,” the Pogues have staggered through a career that has secured their position as an enduring and beloved band. The Pogues are known for drawing crowds, loyalists, notables and fellow musicians to their sold-out shows.

Formed in London in 1982, the Pogues blended traditional Irish music with a punk ethic.  The Pogues’ classic “Fairytale of New York” was named to the Pitchfork 500, as one of the greatest songs from punk to the present.  The Pogues’ music featured prominently in the storyline and soundtrack of the hit HBO series The Wire.  The Pogues are Shane MacGowan (vocals), Spider Stacy (tin whistle), Phil Chevron (guitar), James Fearnley (accordion), Terry Woods (mandolin/cittern), Jem Finer (banjo), Darryl Hunt (bass), and Andrew Ranken (drums).

Pogues Fall 2009 Tour Dates:
October 10/ Seattle, WA/ Showbox SoDo
October 11/ Portland, OR/ Roseland Theatre
October 13/ San Francisco, CA/ Warfield Theatre
October 14/ San Francisco, CA/ Regency Center @ The Grand
October 17/ Los Angeles, CA/ Nokia Live
October 19/ San Diego, CA/ House of Blues
October 21/ Tempe, AZ/ The Marquee Theatre
October 23/ Denver, CO/ Ogden Theatre
October 25/ Kansas City, MO/ Midland Theatre
October 28/ Austin, TX/ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre
October 29/ Houston, TX/ House of Blues
October 30/ Dallas, TX/ House of Blues
November 1/ New Orleans, LA/ Voodoo Experience

Submitted by Maureen Coakley