Three of the best!

Last Thursday was the 13th One Take Sessions, and we were starting to get a little superstitious about the number when slowly but surely acts started dropping of the bill. One of my favourite bands to play with KilkennyMusic so far, mullingar rockers Waiting to Explode were removed from the lineup once again after a bit of a mix up. Then Bright Light Fiasco were gone and as we set up the gear for the sound checks we got word that Darren Byrne was also not going to be performing.

Normally this would leave us pretty high and dry, but it worked out quite the opposite. What could have been a disastrous night turned out to be my favourite One Take Sessions and in my opinion one of the best lineups we’ve ever had. So as the weekend draws to a close and the rain drizzles down there’s brand new photos in the KilkennyMusic Galleries and a couple of new acts on the ‘Oss237 Recommends’ list for you to check out.

First up, after driving home to grab his guitar, was KilkennyMusic.com Chief Ken McGuire. No stranger to the One Take Sessions at this stage, I think the Chief now holds the record for most appearances. I’ve heard him play countless times and I’d have to say this was one of my favourites. A great setlist of his own material and a couple of Happy Medium songs thrown in to get the sessions in full swing as the crowd began to fill the candle-lit room.

When I heard that Jack O’Leary had been added to the lineup I was more than delighted. He first appeared at the 7th One Take Sessions and left everybody wanting more, as he took to the stage the backroom filled to one of the biggest crowds we’ve had in a long time. It takes a talented person to simply sit on the stage, drink a glass of water and have everybody laughing. Jack’s personality shines throw in his music, his clever lyrics and sense of humour make sure his choice of song topics never seem cheap, tacky or like he’s trying for a easy joke, when anybody else I’ve seen sing songs about “that time of the month” come off quite the opposite.

He had only finished writing one of his songs that afternoon, he couldn’t remember exactly how it went so he had to listen to it on his mobile phone to remind himself. He told stories of busking and hitching lifts into town, even when he wasn’t talking and simply stared blankly into the crowd he had everyone entertained with his perfect comic timing, all the while backed up by his catchy and clever music. And when he once again left the One Take stage he left everybody wanting more, hopefully he’ll be back with us again very soon.

Wexford man Jimi Cullen first appeared at the 8th One Take Sessions and instantly became one of my favourite acts. I grabbed a copy of his album, ‘When the last leaf falls’, that night and have listened to it pretty regularly ever since. He’s been touring the album extensively since it’s release, well before his first appearance at the sesssions and has gigs lined up nearly ever second night until the end of August, he then hopes to return to us at the Sessions in September, and he’s more than welcome back. That would be a great opportunity for you to grab a copy of the album on the night or you can buy it online here.

His lyrics and songs are simple, self styled “political folk grunge”, his guitar has a sticker on the front that says; “This Machine Kills Facists”. His subjects range from humourous songs like “Hangover Blues” and “Small minded people living in small towns” to more political and socially aware songs like “the Poverty song”. His message is always upfront and simple; the world is a fucked up place full of horrible things, you can ignore it or you can do something about it, in Jimi’s case; travel around the country playing good music and spreading the word. Which he did quite well, bringing another successful One Take Sessions to a close.

You’ll be able to catch some of the tracks from the night on the upcoming Sound System Podcast but for now you can check out the 13th One Take Sessions gallery and the new additions to my ‘Oss237 Recommends list’.