Disco-nnect

Free Download - Everyday I'm Hustling

2011-11-15T10:30:00.005Z

Hello!

1. Click on the blue image below for a free mp3 download of the song
"Everyday I'm Hustling" from The Fourth Quarter Mixtape Series.
(you may have to right click and "save link as" to download)

Check in again next week, and every week until Christmas for more goodies!

2. Next concert in Berlin: 26th November, in Scharni in Friedrichshain. Make Out Magazine Release Party.
We are so full of energetic rage these days, come to the party and make sparks fly.
R.S.V.P.

Love from H8rH8r Berlin,
You're Only Massive

Berlin -Dublin

2011-10-28T16:29:00.002Z

Start at the bottom.
Hello from Ireland!

Tip Magazine, Berlin

2011-10-23T10:36:00.000Z

Demons

2011-07-31T17:36:00.005Z

A brightly-lit West Berlin is half pretending to be New York. A cursed movie that has the strongest effect on the audience. It's so clean, the light is so strong and unnatural - the first photograph above will be the whole stage for the music video. Nature will be far away but never actually truly eliminated.

new drawing. "red breast"

2011-07-26T00:36:00.001Z

DM on Irish TV Show

2011-03-29T14:55:00.004Z

David Murphy on Irish television show:
Anyone who has seen us live in concert will know that David Murphy has star quality. But you may not have known that, even as a pup, he was a fully formed scene stealer. Here he is on Irish television show, Blackboard Jungle.

International Women's Day // New Song: The Caregiver

2011-03-08T07:36:00.003Z

"One line, one home, one artery,
it's work, it's work, for a salary"

The Caregiver by youreonlymassive

To celebrate the occasion of International Women's Day, we have made the song "The Caregiver" available for you to listen to. Enjoy.

Aus Anlass des internationalen Frauentags, machen wir das Lied "The Caregiver" für dich verfügbar. Viel Spaß beim Hören!

P.S. Here are the two facebook events for

our upcoming show in Rome:
Roma

and the show on March 26th at Monster Ronson's in Berlin:
Berlin

Spring // Visit // Etsy Labs // Online Store

2011-03-01T12:14:00.005Z

Last night I went to visit the Etsy Labs in Ritterstrasse. I was humming and hawing about going, as it had been a long day (next mixtape is in the works!). But spring has hit Berlin and the walk from H8rH8r Studio felt like a walk in the park.

I opened a store on Etsy a month ago and was surprised at having sold anything. Since then I've put up all You're Only Massive records and many of the drawings from the recent exhibition at Neurotitan in Mitte and am posting more items every week. However I'm still a total beginner and was eager to meet the team and get some tips.

I hovered in the yard for about five minutes. Before I do almost anything, whether get on stage or make a phone call, I am crippled by...something crippling. Fear or shyness, I'm not sure which. DM gave me a quick pep talk and we strolled in.

And we both spoke German the whole time!

H8rH8r Store on You're Only Massive dot com
H8rH8r Store on Etsy

P.S. H8rH8r is pronounced "hater hater".

Dear Soldiers: Thank you for 2010

2010-12-19T20:10:00.016Z

So many things happened in 2010, here are some pieces to the puzzle.

1. New Year's Day: Trip to Sligo to work on the Audiodetour, released in July.

2. Off Plan, a New Version of the Orestia, written by Simon Doyle and directed by Rachel West / RAW Theatre, Project Arts Centre Dublin, February. Role of Cassandra: music & performance.

3. Ladyfest Munich: <3 to Munich and to all Ladyfesten.

4. Buddy Buddy The Musical. Coming in 2011. All images pre-production / rights reserved.

5. Disco-nnect at Heimatfestival in Potsdam:

6. Papergirl: Introducing a new version of Here Is Home for the trailer of Papergirl Berlin We also played a concert at the vernissage / opening party.

Trailer Papergirl #5 from CUTZ. on Vimeo.

7. Gleisdreieck Concert:

8. Sugar Shake Fan Video:

9.The Fourth Quarter Mixtapes:

Vol I
The Fourth Quarter by youreonlymassive

Vol II
The Fourth Quarter Vol II - "I'll be right over" by youreonlymassive

10: Zum Schein Exhibition at Neurotitan im Haus Schwarzenberg, Mitte, Berlin.

11. The Open Door.
Footage: Concert in Berlin, 17.12.10 / Landing in Cork International Airport, 21.12.10

The Open Door from youreonlymassive.com on Vimeo.

Thank you so much to all of our soldiers who gave us so much love and support in 2010. We can't wait to sail into 2011 with you! If you haven't already, you can sign up to our mailing list here and keep in touch.

DM & MC

BONUS ** BONUS ** BONUS **
Extra Crowdsurfing Shots from 2010!

Record Release Party This Saturday in Berlin: Fourth Quarter Vol II

2010-12-06T13:55:00.002Z

Record Release Party:

- You get a free cassette tape as you walk in the door.

- Support from broca areal!
http://soundcloud.com/broca-areal/sets/broca-areal/

- A live concert from You're Only Massive.
http://www.youreonlymassive.com/experience/page9.html

Timetable:

Arrive at 21.00
There will be crowdsurfing.
Entrance: 4 euros

Listen to Vol I here:
http://www.youreonlymassive.com/mixtapes/page4.html

Questions? Contact maebh (at) youreonlymassive (dot) com

Zum Schein Vernissage - Thank You

2010-12-04T00:27:00.004Z

Thank you to everybody who came along to Neurotitan for the exhibition last night.

I don't have a camera to take pictures, so let me describe it to you in three points:

Link to Neurotitan Gallery

1. 6pm. All the drawings are hung, after a busy day of trudging through the snow and banging nails into the wall. I can't believe there are so many! I actually take some out of the frames and leave them out as the wall is so full. The whole gallery looks great and people start to arrive. Chrizzi's drawings are so funny and the overall quality is really high.

2. Mary Ocher plays! At a vernissage, the band is often the background music and no-one really cares. But it is the nature of the Zum Schein exhibition that there are many musicians there and they all listen attentively to Mary. She is on top form and plays really well, with guitar coming through a tiny but very powerful amp and her voice clean. The life of every party, Ms. Hanin Elias has arrived. She suggests Mary call her act "Mary Had A Little Lamb" and dress her tiny amp up like a lamb, on rollers, something like this:

3. Coming home through the snow. There are not so many street lights in Berlin but every light was reflected a hundred times in the dark and it was bright enough to see everything. All day long the feeling has remained, that everyone is still in shock at the sudden onset of winter and the whiteness of the snow.

Link to Exhibition Blog

The best is that "Zum Schein" has just started. The exhibition is running until 8th January, and we plan to make a special sales day with Plätzchen before Christmas along with a finissage on January 8th.

Thank you to Chrizzi, Bob, Silky, Cherie, Vroni, DM, Markus, Gudrun, Jan, Jutta, Steffi, Juliane, Ludwig, Nora, Oska, Dennis, Jim, Mary, Friedrich, Gordon, Angie, Richard, Florian, Jens und Deacon!

Link to drawings

Everytime winter comes to Berlin I think that I must have forgotten the cold, I have never experienced it before. But I wrote this song in the middle of autumn in anticipation of the siege mentality of winter, so there must be some memory:

Thin Ice by youreonlymassive

On Monday 06.12.10 I announce all the details of our Record Release Party in Berlin on Saturday night (11.12.10).

Stay warm and well fed.

MC.

THE FOURTH QUARTER MIXTAPE

2010-10-17T18:31:00.003Z

You're Only Massive present:
The Fourth Quarter Mixtape
One whole side of new songs, remixes and collaborations and guest appearances from Rick Ross and Cindy Wonderful.This is a limited run on cassette tape.
It is available from the band.
There will be no free download.
Tape off the radio if you will.
Get the tape free at upcoming shows directly from the band.
To get more information on upcoming shows etc, click here to sign up to our mailinglist.
Welcome to the Fourth Quarter.
Released by: H8rH8r
Release/catalogue number: YM 002
Release date: Oct 10, 1916

You're Only Massive is committed to protecting our environment.

All materials used in this mixtape are recycled.

The Fourth Quarter by You're Only Massive

New Track "Thin Ice"

2010-09-14T21:03:00.002Z

Thin Ice by You're Only Massive
The single from the Fourth Quarter Mixtape, 2010
Recorded live at H8rH8r.

Concert this Saturday, 16th October, West-Germany, Berlin-Kreuzberg.
The Fourth Quarter Mixtape will be available on cassette tape exclusively at the concert.

Thin Ice by youreonlymassive

Concert ::: Kreuzberg, Freitag, 17. September

2010-09-07T16:10:00.001Z

$hort Video, 4th Quarter, 2010

2010-08-26T14:18:00.001Z

Here is a $hort video featuring two upcoming You're Only Massive events.

One of them is a concert, on Friday 17th September, in Berlin Kreuzberg.

Audiodetour Is Launched!

2010-07-21T12:17:00.005Z

You're Only Massive are very proud, excited and happy to launch "Audiodetour", a site-responsive audio walk for two people, commissioned by The Model, Sligo.

You can get full details and instructions on how to take the tour and download the audio files at the website of The Model, Sligo:

The Model

A huge thank you to Aoife Flynn for making this all happen. Thank you to everyone at The Model in Sligo, especially Anne and Richard. Thank you to everyone we interviewed and the staff of the Ulster Bank, Sligo. Thank you to the lady who caught me (DM) as I slipped on the ice in January. Thank you to Séamus Murphy and John Murphy for invaluable field recordings. Thank you to Alisa Tretau and Rachel Ní Chuinn for testing the tour for us and giving us valuable feedback. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

2010-07-04T03:31:00.002Z

Today =

///////Localize das Heimatfestival
////////Potsdam

5 crowdsurfs
4 Germany
3 shots of whiskey
2 You're Only Massive concerts
1 Disco-nnect Stadtführung
0 Argentina

Tomorrow (today) =

You're Only Massive Concert,
Papergirl Vernissage
Neurotitan Gallery,
Rosenthaler Straße 39
10178 Berlin-Mitte.
19Uhr

Cork City: Buddy Buddy Workshop & Presentation

2010-06-29T15:59:00.002Z

Cork City, June 2010
One Week -> Working on Buddy Buddy & Two Works-in-Progress Presentations.

THANK YOU /// Cork City /// Five Will Die /// Howard /// Alan /// Doireann Coady //// Willie White //// Aisling Kiely //// William Galinsky /// Cork Midsummer Festival ///

Cork City & Five Will Die Practice Room:

Thursday:

Cork City & Aisling Kiely:

Blondie:

Ballyvolane, Cork City:

Fred Zeppelins:

It's Not Even Tomorrow:

Papergirl Promo Video

2010-06-20T12:48:00.004Z

Papergirl ist ein Kunstprojekt aus Berlin, bestehend aus Ausstellung, Workshop und einer Verteilaktion, bei der im Stile amerikanischer Zeitungsjungs Kunstrollen vom Fahrrad aus an zufällige Passanten verschenkt werden.

Papergirl is an art project from Berlin, which, in the style of american paperboys, distributes rolled art pieces by bicycle to random passers-by in the streets.

Promo Video for Papergirl Number 5, 2010.
Song: Here is Home by You're Only Massive

Trailer Papergirl #5 from sae.studio on Vimeo.

Dot Dash version of Here is Home: <a href="http://music.h8rh8r.com/track/here-is-home">Here is Home by Queen Kong and You're Only Massive</a>

Concert :::

2010-06-04T14:26:00.002Z

Sligo: Looking Down Into the River

2010-06-03T19:54:00.004Z

A final winter walk around the Lough, on the Southside of Cork City.

2010-01-16T21:33:00.002Z

A final winter walk around the Lough, on the Southside of Cork City.

When I started at University College Cork, the southside of the City was as unfamiliar as any foreign street.

It often occurred to me on my journey to the college that , once I was across the South Channel of the river, I didn't know what lay in the alleys and avenues all around.
I had no clue what short cuts or scenic routes, hiding places or flat areas for playing football, could be found.
Yet, this wasn't a foreign City. It was the same Cork City.
The houses were the same and the people were the same, they were just built to a different map.

However, there is one thing they don't have on the Northside:

The Lough, a giant pond, a miniature lake in the middle of the city. A sanctuary and home to hundreds of rare birds since the time of Cromwell. Frozen over on New Years Day, when this recording was made, we came on to the Lough from the west, from the UCC side, then turned right and did our circuit.
Click here to download it (Once again let me know how the RTF embedding works out for you.)

Along the way you can hear:

Liam showing us where he fell in as a child,
Young kids getting too close to the water, being pulled back,
A few birds taking their chances with the few thawed patches of water,
Various scraps of conversation between birds and people,
The ice "is like a coffee table, it's that thick",
Some spontaneous words from Liam,
Around 7.00 someone can be heard smashing the ice with a stick, eventually breaking through,
Soon after we met some Indian people who seemed delighted by the novelty of it all,
Next, the sound of stones and other debris being thrown on the ice plate can be heard,
The sound waves vibrating the whole sheet like a tight drumskin,
After, we come to the roadside, where the Sunday Strollers meet the cars,
Finally, we leave the Lough and head back towards Barrack Street and some hot drinks.

Sligo Snow Tea Break

2010-01-04T11:03:00.003Z

Between the heads is the Ulster Bank. You can't see the hands of Ulster from here but you can see the colour of the sandstone.

Field Recordings no. 1

2009-12-29T00:51:00.002Z

More recordings from the field in Cork.

First is a great discussion between a couple in the Atlantic Homecare, Blackpool, Cork, about converting inches to feet and whether to check the B&Q sale or not.

The poor man can't handle the browbeating, but the poor woman can't seem to get him interested.
Similar scenes were repeated across the super store.
My dad says the anomie is caused by women encroaching into a traditionally male domain.
More power to them, says I.

Next we have great rock pub Fred Zeppelin's. One of the best pubs of it's type that I've ever been in.
Constantly in flux, yet always the same, almost a metaphor for metal itself.
Recorded, is a nice panoramic hubbub of chatter from just before the gig, you can make out details from a few different conversations happening simultaneously.

Soon the bombastic intro music for local metal heros, Flatline, strikes up.
As I had just seen the documentary "Metal" which heavily featured Megadeth, I found their good natured Mustaineisms not unagreeable.

Download the audio here.

Soupanova

2009-11-02T23:14:00.001Z

Give yourself willingly to You're Only Massive

2009-10-06T21:47:00.001Z

Download PDF for offline perusal :::

LIVE FROM H8R H8R: Under The Neon

2009-08-04T12:42:00.002Z

This video was recorded live at H8R H8R on Monday 3rd August 2009, using just synth drums, vocals and a distortion pedal. The performance is presented unedited and unaltered. It is as it was.

"Under The Neon" the single is available as an itunes download or a 7" vinyl.

Buy the single online: itunes

Buy the 7" vinyl in your local record store in Berlin or at Road Records in Dublin.

LIVE FROM H8R H8R, 3rd Quarter 2009

2009-08-01T17:42:00.002Z

Under The Neon Flyposting 2.

2009-05-28T17:03:00.002Z

Even tall boys have to go on tippie toes when fly posting

2009-05-27T23:26:00.000Z

Ooooooooh

2009-05-18T13:11:00.001Z

Under The Neon Red Carpet and Launch, Dublin, April 4th

2009-04-20T20:27:00.006Z

Under The Neon the single has arrived!

2009-03-30T11:36:00.008Z

After months of this:

THE RECORDS ARRIVED TODAY!!

Pavillion, Cork, Thursday 2nd April

Sligo Model Arts Offsite (Pharmacy), Friday 3rd April

Hideaway House, Dublin, Saturday 4th April

Can you hear me?

2009-03-25T11:10:00.002Z

Saturday 4th April

2009-03-24T17:14:00.002Z

Saturday Bikecore

2009-03-15T10:33:00.008Z

Saturday daytime:
A wander in the sun led to a chance encounter and hear tell of
this rock camp for girls in Cottbus in August.

Saturday afternoon studio:

Saturday night this new pal invited us to this Commodore 64 Lounge, where this lady was playing.

There were lots of computers:

some split screens:

At times I felt like Whoopi Goldberg in Jumping Jack Flash:

Games were played:

and then Bikecore herself took the stage. Before she started, I was a little overwhelmed by waves of commodore nostalgia, but she immediately grabbed attention with her bounce and her sounds and her singing. The set was all too short and left me in the mood for more and for mischief. If only she would sing me to sleep over a soothing wash of 8bit sounds...

Bikcore myspace

Under The Neon

2009-03-10T08:34:00.001Z

Icing Sugar & Bluegrass

2009-02-02T21:30:00.002Z

You're Only Massive make busy.

Watch this space...

x B.T.

Antlers

2008-12-21T13:51:00.000Z

this saturday in trickster, oberbaumstr 11:

2008-12-10T21:29:00.004Z

Step into my office, please

2008-12-10T21:27:00.003Z

Leipzig Continued

2008-12-10T21:17:00.004Z

If you've ever been to Leipzig, then you'll know it from this map:

If you don't know...

2008-12-10T21:02:00.000Z

You're Only Massive was founded in in the second quarter of 2007 by club magnate Maebh Cheasty. Fall 2008 saw the group welcome nightlife czar David Murphy.

You're Only Massive operates through three principal product types:
Performances, Releases and Ancilliary Projects.

Performances create a club environment, suffused with a sense of urgency, engaging the mind and body of the audience. You're Only Massive have experienced significant growth since it's inception with a set up of two turntables and a microphone and diversified its sonic palette to include techno, RnB and pop.

The debut You're Only Massive release is a collaborative album with Queen Kong, entitled Dot-Dash. The album was released as a 12" silver vinyl in August 2008 and was an immediate critical success, hailed by The Sunday Tribune as "a truly modern creation and one of the best Irish releases this year" and by The Irish Times as "light years ahead of their peers."

Projected releases include a single during the first quarter of 2009, entitled Under The Neon. You're Only Massive are currently recording a full album, provisionally scheduled for release in the final quarter of 2009.

A number of Ancillary Projects have been developed to broaden product capabilities:
Disco-nnect is a walking tour of Dublin that took place in July 2008.
A fragrance is currently in development.

You're Only Massive have offices in Waterford, Dublin, Berlin and Leipzig.

neon

2008-12-03T18:10:00.005Z

Right now I have a little thought bubble over my head in neon writing.
It´s kind of hard to do in a blog, but it goes like this
"Where is the neon to guide me home?"
I´m also wondering, how one would make a sign out of neon?
Three words.
Any ideas?
Here are some soothing pictures of neon for your eyes, courtesy of Bruce Naumann:

ruhetag

2008-11-28T11:47:00.003Z

In Leipzig we started in the shiny nothing innenstadt, then found a whole part of the city with anti-fa marks and vereins and UT Connewitz:

Monday = Ruhetag = Day of quietness.
Everything is closed.
We leave all the goodness of Leipzig and go on to Dresden.
Find places to play and crash, but a shocking lack of bombed buildings.
I thought...well...you know...

Piranha

2008-11-21T17:56:00.002Z

Dear Blog,

Hi. I am sorry I havent written in a while.
You know, sometimes, when you have a friend that you dont call because you have too much to say to them, and you know youĺl be on the blower for hours.
I on a communal computer in a punk place in Leipzig, the z and y letters are umgekehrt, and there is a queue for the computer, but
let me tell you everything...

X X X maebh

P.S. Would it be weird if Rihanna asked her boyfriend to call her Piranha?

Room with a View

2008-10-05T14:11:00.001Z

Recording in Schlesische Strasse:

This Sunday:

2008-09-03T17:28:00.001Z

I'll be in far off Amerikay, getting ready for this:

Electric Picnic:

2008-09-02T11:45:00.003Z

Saturday:

Barack the Vote:

We are the champions:

You said that yesterday

2008-09-01T15:23:00.003Z

Mega Void:

The Fink:

It's not even tomorrow

2008-09-01T12:59:00.004Z

Friday - Arise at 6.30 a.m. after waiting for Santa Clause all night. Arrive in Dublin, arrive in Laois. Pop Electric Picnic cherry. Set up tent like boy scouts. Tent the size of a barn freezes at night. Feel too efficient for the singular first person.

Saturday - Arise in the a.m. Feel so nervous / excited could puke. Do a lot of stretching. Lead pre-show prayer. Palatable excitement courses through veins like blood. Lots of bodies in the tent, but aunties and uncles in the front are reluctant to leave the cosy tables and give the floor. Bodies move to front upon request of DM. Things explode. The sight of the tent moving hands from side to side ballad style during Epidemic would bring a smile to a glass eye. During SugarShake the Cool Away, run from the back of the stage, fly into air and onto outstretched hands. Surf. Fight happens. Not properly hurt. Make it back to stage. Bodies are dancing, mouths are open. Tent has turned into a zoo. HuRray!

After the gig, I get worried about my voice. It sounds like it might just quietly slip off. I take up the first person singular again, I make a sign to pin onto my dress and try to speak in a low voice. We loll on the grass. Megan's boyfriend tells us we might be in the on-site Ticket on Sunday. A man asks if he can film us for television show. Yes, I say, yes yes, we'll be on the telly! We play Here is Home.

There is a recognisable pattern in the arc of emotions. Before a gig, everything is compressed. My face is empty. After a gig, I feel so happy, like little buzzes binging in my blood. Two times on stage in one day makes for a smorgasbord of emotions.

After nicking some beers, we all go to see Dan Deacon. He opens with a face-melter of a warm-up. Acres of sweaty shiny barebacked young fellas soon go crazy. It is all he can do to control the crowd, but he is such a pro. I crowdsurf all the way to the back of the tent. Then I crowdsurf all the way back to the front. Crowdsurfing to the front is harder, because people are focused on the stage, and do not have eyes in the back of their head. I want to scream to let them know I am coming, but my throat is already killing me. I reach as far back as my arms can and tap shoulders. I make it all the way back. I feel a little guilty for making everyone carry me, but mostly proud that I made it back. Perhaps I could give crowdsurfing workshops as a nixer?

By the time Santogold comes on stage, we have been waiting ages and the tent is packed. I would have given my left arm to have written that song L.E.S. Artistes. When she comes on stage, it is perfect and polished and boring. Our pal Paddy runs off. Fink and DM and I look at each other. DM says something like "If I wanted to watch someone work for their paycheque I would have gone to Centra and hung around the deli counter." Fink says "Boooooring." I am so happy, at this moment, that we are all on the same wavelength.

Skipping away, Fink's facepainting is branded onto faces. Faces that were at the gig earlier. I look and point, they look and point, maybe we hug, maybe we wrestle, all in all it feels like the gig keeps on giving.

Sunday: Lose voice. Where did it go? What happened? Was it the cold in the tent? Where is it? Please come back, all is forgiven. I'm sorry I told you you have no range and need some training. Pleeeeease.

We go wander early in the a.m, looking for the Ticket. We are on the front page, hurrah! It says we are Ireland's answer to the Go Team! We are not Ireland's answer to anything because that question disappeared in the ether.

Stretches and movement gets blood flowing before the gig. Megan sings and I lip sync. I am croaking. We crouch behind the stage and watch the crowd gather; there are at least as many people there as the day before. DM tells the crowd we are having a diva moment and will not come out until the aunties and uncles in the front stand up and the people at the back come forth. The crowd are happy to do this - in fact I think they like it. I think they are happy to have permission to occupy the space to move. We walk out - there are lots of handsome young men. During the second song, my voice blows like an amp. A moment of power failure and my throat became no more than a blown light bulb. For the rest of the song I lip synced and Megan sang; she carried the entire show. Megan was truly awesome, in the biblical sense. I enjoyed lip syncing way more than I should have. During SugarShake, I ran from the back of the stage and crowdsurfed. In future, I think I will always run to crowd surf. It is imagine a flying machine to be, but better.

On the bus home I sit with pen and paper and dream of a new song - a song about time.
A song to play statues to, the game where you freeze and time stands still.

Brogues or Wellies?

2008-08-28T14:43:00.004Z

The last time I went to a music festival I left with nothing but the clothes on my back and the tears in my eyes, and a vow never to return to a music festival...here I am, five years later...I'm sure it'll be fiiiiiine.

Right guys?

Guys?

Guys?

Dot-Dash in Waterford

2008-08-28T11:30:00.003Z

Pre-show nerves? What pre-show nerves?

Take me to the compound baby...

Dot-Dash:

Waterford

2008-08-27T07:52:00.003Z

Tipperary, the valley of tears.

2008-08-22T11:24:00.002Z

Bus from Waterford to Limerick for this

which is part of this project which my pals Fink and Paddie are doing at Conflux.

DOT DASH is here

2008-08-14T13:10:00.004Z

8 am this morning:

Bringing Dot Dash to the Project for tomorrow's gig:

Take a Picture It'll Last Longer

2008-08-12T14:07:00.002Z

You're Only Massive are for the seeds:

2008-08-10T15:34:00.001Z

how did this pass me by 6 years ago?

2008-08-02T02:11:00.005Z

This book is sprawling and occasionally a touch overdone, but completely compulsive. Nearly. Fin. Yes.
I am craving new books these days. A pal recommended this down below; I would love to hear suggestions of good books for summer brain months. Something elegant and funny like Nabakov. Nothing too taxing like.

Let's fly:

2008-07-27T18:24:00.003Z

Gig last night went SO well.
This really is the life.

Disco-nnect Documentation:

2008-07-26T00:19:00.004Z

Valuable brain space:

2008-07-26T00:14:00.005Z

Samstag:

2008-07-25T23:43:00.001Z

Refuse thy name

2008-07-22T23:45:00.002Z

Just went to see Romeo + Juliet in Garter Lane in Waterford.
Good cast, but every time Nick Kavanagh, who played the priest came on stage my eyes were all on him.
Want. To. See. Him. In. More. Stuff.

Hyperactive Puppy Goat Love

2008-07-21T18:18:00.007Z

Roscommon: pre-show puppy love

2008-07-21T17:28:00.003Z

Leitrim:

2008-07-21T17:14:00.004Z

Post gig slumber party, Galway

2008-07-17T17:34:00.005Z

Waterford to Galway

2008-07-17T17:16:00.010Z

This is what (some of) the trip from Waterford to Galway looks like:

Weren't you always the one watching the world through the windscreen?
(Forced Entertainment)

Here is Home + The Rules

2008-07-13T13:41:00.000Z

(a photo from disco-nnect)

2008-07-11T13:53:00.005Z

Drawings

2008-07-11T13:13:00.005Z

These are CD covers (for Here is Home and The Rules) Fink drew while on stage with us last night.

Oh Galway you came and you bought me a Segway

2008-07-10T10:30:00.006Z

Yes yes it is a 14 hour round trip from Waterford to Galway...
but tonight at the Roisin Dubh is a gig I am so excited about...
my flatmate called in sick to the call centre and is coming with,
two of our Waterford pals have just moved to Galway,
we will stay in an *apartment*
we will be trying our the album tracks,
we will have a real live guitar,
goodship Fink is coming to draw on CDs as we play,
the sun is just about peeking out,
markers and togs have been packed,
diving board in Salthill is on the brain,
*this is like a regular trip to the beach*

The Spare Room

2008-07-09T13:59:00.003Z

Am really craving new books and just ordered this one from The Book Centre in Waterford:

Manhatta

2008-07-09T13:41:00.002Z

Manhatta

3

2008-07-08T19:45:00.003Z

At the childhood home, you can eat EVERYTHING.
There are trillions of cartons of yoghurts and acres of chicken fillets.
In between eating all around me, I am thinking about 3 things.

1) Playing the Roisin Dubh on Thursday
- I'm going to get to meet a man called Toby Goodshanks.
- David Murphy from Queen Kong is coming along to play guitar.
- Fink, who did the artwork for the album, is coming to draw / dig / dance. I have talked to her about pressing Here Is Home on these CDs with blank white paper pressed onto the actual CD, and then she to sit on stage and draw on each CD, for the duration of our onstage time. Then to sell the unique CDs afterwards.
- Standing on terra firma in Galway, you can see the rain coming from far away, and you know you only have a finite amount of minutes of sunshine left. I hope it rains like this, the people scuttle indoors and watch us play.

2) American words.
When I go to far off Meriky in September, I would like to speak American.
In America I will
take a rain check

talk turkey

pain the town red

More phrases on a postcard with a schmuck on the front please.

3) Will I ever beat my Dad at Scrabble?

Britain Quay

2008-07-08T19:25:00.003Z

Documentation:

Ag cur báistí, etc.

2008-07-08T15:21:00.003Z

On Saturday evening, I said "Welcome to Disco-nnect" and right on cue, it started raining.
Not just raining but hard buckets onto wincing faces.
Still it was one of the most fun nights; I like to think the rain inspired cameraderie and that's why the gig went well, but I know in my heart that everyone was just so grateful to be finally inside out of the rain.

Later that night, it rained on us like I have NEVER experienced before.

On Monday we went to clean the apartment and do our get out, and, as Meg and I walked from Drumcondra to the Docklands, the sun shone so hard it was like I imagine Latin America to be. Then it started pouring, really lashing. Walking along in summer dresses, huddling under an umbrella, crying like babies, getting the ferry across. I thought we were miserable but we seemed to have been quite cheerful.

Disco-nnect (Re-cap)

2008-07-05T12:54:00.013Z

Monday: Shambolic messy fun, swopped a ticket for a lovely cardigan with buttons like these:

Tuesday brought Gerardo Naumann workshop on Text And The City. Walked around Dublin all morning, not too far from the sea.

Then to photocopy more headlines for the walls of the gig.
Favourite recession headlines:

and, despite a weary body, a feeling in the belly of success.

Wednesday brought angry dock people and a horrible knot in the stomach like a cannonball. Floor scrubbing and exhaustion pure like butter.
Doctors recommend that, when stressed worried or depressed, exercise alters the serotonin chemicals in the brain. Neurotransmission is improved.
Disco-nnect has, I think, this affect on me. We were sold out and the crowd were such good people and they danced with such vim and vigour I could not but be happy. The sun came out, I remembered everything, the people smiled and these are contagious:

On Thursday a group of American students came along and owned the gaff. Normally, a mixture of bullying, cajoling, gentle encouragement, showing and enthusing is needed for people to participate, but this crowd were *crunked* and by the end of the gig, the windows were steamed. On this day, for the first time, David Murphy of Queen Kong played guitar on Here is Home and Epidemic and it sounded great.
In the daytime, we got the artwork down for Dot-Dash and put up Here is Home on myspace.

Yesterday was Friday.
In the morning, Fink and I went to the Irish Musuem Assocation to talk about the audiedetour. Afterwards, we ran down the street in the sunshine, with Fink talking about her new project - and digging and fish gutting. Then fish (a whole trout each for us three!) on a Friday.

I got a little shock when I saw the report and that numbers were low, when every other night has been full. I quite like the difference in audience when you play to 1 or 100 or 300 people and would love to play around with that more. However Disco-nnect is a performance everyone carries, like pallbearers at a funeral carry a coffin and it needs a certain number to take off (you can't carry a coffin by yourself!) Also it has to be capped at a certain number (over the 30 mark and it loses a sense of intimacy or communion). Thankfully, just at 7pm two merry groups came marching down the quays and we were just two short of full and we were off.

After the tour/gig we hot-footed it to Navan for a later night gig. After playing with the album tracks all week, it was interesting to go back to using the vinyl. Navan is such a funny place, the people there are so friendly and the gig organiser, Sean, insisted that a barman walk us to our bus. Oh gentleman! On the very very late bus back to Dublin I fell asleep and dreamt of being in a St. Patrick's day float in Navan, holding my passport aloft over my head with both arms, but it was as big as one of those novely cheques that models pose with. Actually, it was bigger!

Today is Saturday and tonight is the last night.
It is really great having a run like this, all the emotion of first night, last night etc.
Hubba hubba big bazookas!

Hubba Hubba

2008-07-05T11:54:00.003Z

The past week has been a busy one.
Every day I have been singing to myself "I'm a blog" to the tune of the R. Kelly song "I'm a flirt" but I haven't quite made it to sweet internet land yet.
So instead, here are some ever-so-flattering words a lady who came from Sligo wrote about Disco-nnect:

The Diving Bell and the Umbrellas

2008-06-30T12:54:00.002Z

Last week I got a soaking and sat in the theatre in my damp clothes and contracted a cold.
I will not let it stop me!
But I will not let the audience of Disco-nnect get wet either.
Umbrellas and all that.
Because the spectre of Charles Stewart Parnell is abroad:

Charles Stewart Parnell: (this from Wikipedia)

On 27 September rather than disappoint his followers in the west he addressed a crowd in pouring rain at Creggs on the Galway–Roscommon border and contracted pneumonia.

He returned to Dublin, departing by mail boat on 30 September ("I shall be all right. I shall be back next Saturday week."). He died in his home in Brighton of a heart attack in his wife’s arms on 6 October. He was only 45 years of age.

Adorably human

2008-06-30T12:34:00.003Z

hell! I am Megan. my belly is full with rosemary chicken and Asian pasta salad and a hazelnut tea cake and coffee.
The Docklands are a foreign country to me.
I arrived yesterday at five o clock but wandered around for an hour before that, knocking on doors of alternative universe door number 403s, being shouted at by men. When you are alone and lost, the Docklands are scarily anonymous and new and vast.But under the firm but playful wing of Maebh ni Shiosta they become smaller and more human and seem paved with opportunity. For instance, after my weary traipsing, Maebh made me a cup of Earl Grey Tea, and we ventured out to a square where we saw a cluster of our friends by the Mr. Whippy. Only a few minutes before, the scale of the area was oppressive and frightening, but now, it is filled with adorably human humans.

Is it for a special occasion?

2008-06-27T12:12:00.003Z

When I was children, there was an endless vista of time until new clothes were allowed to be worn: aeons until Christmas and a new dress, massive vistas of time until birthday suit costume is finally permissible.

In the endless meantime, articles of clothing sit still somewhere in the home, perfect and still *new*. Still clean and sparkling, not yet bent out of shape or blemished by body.

Now that grown up is the situation, the only limitations are of your own purse.
Still now there can be something pleasurable about waiting for the special occasion to wear the special outfit.

I have been acquiring articles of clothing with Disco-nnect in mind.
July sales must have started early.
I don't think I will be able to wait until Monday to wear them but I try.

The recession is starting on June 30th

2008-06-26T11:56:00.002Z

The recession is starting on June 30th, at 7pm at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin.

See you there!

For real real and not for play play

2008-06-25T10:24:00.003Z

Last night I went to see Love Is A Sniper, by Lola Arias/Compañía Postnuclear.
The piece was very touching and funny and was good to see a piece about love that maintains its sense of humour.

Another touch was made by a post-show comment in the post-show discussion -
about doing something real on stage, like kissing or crying or slapping someone in the face
Ms. Arias mentioned actors who say
"When I kiss on stage, it is not real at all"
But a kiss is a kiss, it is a physical thing,
it is real,
even if the motivation for it is not love or desire.

And if you manage to cry, then you are really crying,
even if the motivation is not the death of your dog but just that you are trying to cry, like it is a skill.

Do you prefer to see something real?
Or do you mind that a performer might not be letting the truth get in the way of a good story?
When you hear a singer sing a song and you know is it biographical - is that cool?
When you see someone crying or sweating or doing something real on stage - is that cool?
Is this cool?
Is that cool?
This guy - cool is he?
Am I cool?

Newspaper Article

2008-06-25T10:17:00.004Z

Here an article Edel Coffey wrote about us in the Irish Independent:

Massive Attack
Part musicians, part performance artists, part... well... party, the unusual duo You're Only Massive are taking Dubliners by storm and are coming soon to a town near you. Get your dancing shoes on says, Edel Coffey

Gigs by Waterford band You're Only Massive tend to be a little unusual. So unusual, in fact, that its creators don't even call them gigs, or refer to themselves as a band for that matter. "The first time we saw ourselves being called a band, we were laughing for, like, half an hour, because we're not a band, we don't really play instruments," says Maebh Cheasty, one half of the female duo. Megan Nolan, the other half of the band, is back home in Waterford doing her Leaving Cert.

Seventeen-year-old Nolan and 23-year-old Cheasty first came to most people's attention when You're Only Massive played the Hard Working Class Heroes festival last year. Part band, part performance art, part DJ and part MC, this precocious, shambolic and always goodtime duo did away with the usual requirements of musical skill and posturing and instead offered a window into their bedroom-style party, as they sang along with their favourite records, skewed so-called post-feminist lyrics, all while hula-hooping and dancing their way through their sets.

The speed of band's progress from germinal idea to live performance is illustrative of their approach in general. "The first time we had a gig we literally practiced for that day. It was all very slapdash at the start." This is one of the areas where You're Only Massive diverge from their contemporaries. For them, it's not about achieving perfection. "Trying is good, I think," says Cheasty. "What I like is just to see a performer at risk; really invested at that moment and trying hard. Some people want to see something different. You can't please everyone."

Indeed, they have their detractors and the word 'amateur' has been thrown around. "I'm proud and happy to be an amateur," says Cheasty. "The second something is perfect, that's when it's dead, that's the moment it loses interest for you. Ideally, you'd never perfect it. The second you have something finished, then you're just Beyonce. I just really enjoy the feeling of going beyond that and saying, 'Look, this is what we are. We're not pretending to be virtuoso -- if you want something polished and to see someone do an amazing skill, that's not what we are'."

And that is where their unique appeal lies. It's liberating for both performers and audience to experience something a little less uptight than studied performances in cool. "There is a kind of liberation in that. I love it, it's so much fun."

You're Only Massive's main ambition, says Cheasty, is a simple one; to get the party started. But their lyrics have a socio-political dimension and the band has strong echoes of New York's Le Tigre and Berlin's Chicks On Speed. "There's so many great songs out there already, why would you add to that unless you have something to say?" asks Cheasty. One popular live song called Booty deals with the current taste in music for the female posterior.

"Fergie and Beyonce, their lyrics are just like, 'I've got an ass. You wanna look at my ass'. There's something really kind of weird and fetishised about it, and it's all about money. And Kelly Rowland's song, Like This, it's like, 'what are you saying?' I'm so emancipated because I've got a boob job? And really it's, like, 'no you're not, you fool'. Booty is a song that just came out of that."

This outspokenness comes across in their performances too, although Cheasty's seniority and background in youth theatre make her the more forthright performer of the two. Their latest project is called Disco-nnect and is part of the Dublin Docklands festival We Are Here 3.0. It combines elements of their current stage performance with a guided walking tour around the Docklands, culminating with a gig and a party.

"The idea of the audience as kind of an active member of the whole thing is my ideal. Obviously, it doesn't always happen at gigs, because you turn up at your normal indie gig and it's, like, 'okay everyone, do this,' and they're, like 'It's Friday night! Don't make us do that!'

"With the walking tour, the idea is to prepare people for the gig, so when they arrive they know the dances, they're psyched up and ready to go. I think there is a tendency to go to something with your arms folded, to be engaged with something mentally but not physically. It is a stereotype about the Dublin indie crowd just standing there, but it is kind of true too."

Setting their show in different spaces to the norm (where norms of behaviour are also observed) is important to them. "I think people do create their own cultural spaces at house parties. One thing I missed when I moved to Dublin was the sessions that take place in Waterford, because people just have fun and dance."

Their plans for the short-term future include releasing a 12" with Dublin-based Cork band Queen Kong, and Cheasty has another show in development, too. "It is a lot more domestic and involves cooking," she says coyly. The 12" release will be all original, considering the kind of licensing headache that would come with releasing songs that feature the samples they use live. (The Go! Team, for example, had to re-release a remixed version of their debut album Thunder, Lightning, Strike because of sample clearance issues.) "We used two of Ed Chamberlain's beats, he's written some really nice emails giving us his support, but obviously releasing is a whole other thing."

In the meantime, they're planning to take Disco-nnect to New York Conflux festival in September and to do a 32 county tour of Ireland, although some counties are not so sure about them yet. "At the moment it's an 18 county tour," says Cheasty. "Mullingar are not feeling You're Only Massive. I was quite disappointed; the town that gave us Joe Dolan doesn't have time for You're Only Massive."

One thing is sure: this maverick duo certainly has a few surprises in store for those attending Disco-nnect, although they claim no one will be made do anything they don't want to...

Disco-nnect June 30-July 5, Sir John Rogerson's Quay. €10/8. www.wearehere.ie

www.myspace.com/youreonlymassive

- Edel Coffey

Happy Bloomsday!

2008-06-16T12:42:00.001Z

Yes yes yes

The Sea Sees Me

2008-06-07T11:49:00.003Z

The Sea Sees Me is a project by Fiona *Fink* Hallinan and Patrick Bresnihan, with live sounds by Rachel Ni Chuinn. Stories are told through words and real taste, touch and smell to a blindfolded audience. It was invented for LightsOFF! a festival of acoustic and non-electric art held in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny in May 2008 and organised by Kate Strain and Luci Van Delden.

The Sea Sees Me will be performed inside of Disco-nnect (Remix).
Here are some images from a try-out:

What if it rains?

2008-06-04T12:19:00.002Z

The change in weather has been extreme - yesterday the sun was splitting rocks and today I awoke to an early morning pregnant sky. By the time I went out the rain was pouring down, then it started belting, hard rain drops on my head.

I do like the rain, I like the way it starts conversations:
Buying the newspaper in Porters in City Square shopping centre the lady behind the counter looks at my ratty, dripping hair and clucks in sympathy.

Buying some stamps in the post office the man behind the counter says, with grim satisfaction:
"That's it now, that's the summer"

Buying meat at the butchers the butcher says:
"Sunny south east, wha?"

I like all of this.

But I am a little worried about Disco-nnect.
What if it rains?

WHAT IF IT RAINS?

I called Met Eireann to ask them if it would rain from June 30th to July 5th and the woman on the phone said provision of forecasts are subject to a fee, and anyway, it's too far away to tell.

Maybe I will source 22 umbrellas for this eventuality.
I have worked the route so as walls shelter us for some of the way if necessary.
Maybe it will be a triumph over adversity - a gung ho, wartime spirit taking us over.
"Rain! Ha! That won't stop us!" Audience members will say as they march down Sir John Rogerson's Quay.

I really hope it doesn't rain.

Five things I learned about Dublin Docklands

2008-05-28T11:52:00.007Z

1. The water of Dublin Bay used to lap on the shores of Merrion Square. Really!

2. The docklands used to be very noisy, according to James Joyce:
By lorries along Sir John Rogerson's Quay Mr Bloom walked soberly, past Windmill's Lane, Leask's the linseed crusher's, the postal telegraph office. Could have given that address too. And past the sailor's home. He turned from the morning noises of the quayside and walked through Lime Street. By Brady's cottages a boy for the skins lolled, his bucket of offal linked, smoking a chewed fagbutt. A smaller girl with scars of eczema on her forehead eyes him, listlessly holding her battered caskhoop. Tell him if he smokes he won't grow. O let him! His life isn't such a bed of roses! Waiting outside pubs to bring home. Come home to ma, da.

3. U2 video, circa 1980

4. This is how the promotional literature of the CHDDA saw the future of the Dublin Docklands in 1987:
It is a warm, calm September evenin. The highly paid executives in the Financial Services Centre are still at work - the VDUs giving out the latest on Wall Street. At the Liffey's edge the tanned and fit members of the Custom House yacht club are tying up their craft and strolling leisurely to the dockside pub for a pint or G&T. The kids are not yet back at school. The culture vultures are on their third museum - in the Dublin section they are still not over the shock of what the city was like when it had vacant sites. At the heliport a Ryan Air courtesy helicopter arrives with some more tourists. A limousine whisks them to their luxury hotle. In the apartments a successful young barrister has just arrived home via a vaporetto from the law courts up the quays. She sits on her penthouse balcony admiring the spectacular view of the mountains. As she sips her Campari soda she wonders if the Bunuel movie is playing at the Screen on the dock.

5. Now we know where low tide debris comes from:

Record Players

2008-05-06T11:15:00.003Z

are beautiful to look at and hear.

This Telefunken only cost me a fiver and even came with a needle.
I'm going back to Ireland tomorrow to work on Disco-nnect (Remix) and an upcoming release and will miss this record player.
You just can't beat the physicality of vinyl.

Tickets

2008-05-05T17:36:00.008Z

As of Tuesday May 13th 2008, you will be able to purchase tickets from Disco-nnect.

When this day comes round there are a variety of methods of purchase.

You can either pick up a telephone like the one below and call
(+353 1) 881 9613/14.
This is the number of the Project Arts Centre.

Photo by Fiona Hallinan

Or, seeing as you are online *right now* you can book online via the
Project website

Or you can go physically into the Project Arts Centre,
39 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland.
It is the blue building.

Audience numbers are limited to 22 people.
Book now to avoid feelings of frustration or disappointment.

Photos from Dublin Fringe Festival 2007

2008-04-14T14:58:00.006Z

Photo credits: Annika Johansson.
Please do not reproduce without permission.

These photos are from Dublin Fringe Festival 2007 and can give you an idea of what to expect in July.

flyer

2008-03-20T15:58:00.001Z

words at the start

2008-03-20T15:57:00.001Z

Words at the start:
Mistakes are made.
Accidents happen.
Incorrect methodology is used.
Catastrophes are not always narrowly avoided.
Drivers never saw her standing there.
Icarus flies too close to the sun.
Shop assistants eat pick and mix while the shop is robbed blind.
(True story. Then they are made to watch themselves on CCTV, fixing their hair.)
Ballet dancers stumble.
Actors forget their lines.
Walkers take the wrong turn.
Song lyrics are misheard and sung with gusto.
I am not your mother.
You are responsible for yourself.
We are walking through an everyday city, with everyday people driving everyday cars.
If you think you might die as a result of doing something I ask you to do,
then don't do it.
Let's go.

photographs

2008-03-20T15:56:00.002Z

Here are some of the things you might do along the way.
Close your eyes:

Chase boys:

Get a crowdsurf:

Photo Credits: Annika Johansson