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  • 2016 // 100 Days to Change

    2016 // 100 Days to Change

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    It’s New Year’s Eve, a good time to reflect and make plans for the upcoming year. 2015 was good, nay, great in some ways. Ireland made history and got equal marriage and my new niece Charlee was born. Good things, I’m sure you’ll agree.

    We're here for this?But 2015 has also made me think. It’s time we all took a step back and actually thought about us for a change. How we are, the mental stupid running around we do. We should be concentrating on enjoying life, doing things to better ourselves, doing things we enjoy rather than living a complete humdrum existence.

    We all have to pay our way in this world and yes, money helps – a lot. But many of us spend up at least an hour each way commuting to work, that’s 10 hours a week. That approx 480 hours a year. Is there anything we can do to benefit us in that time or change our lifestyles so we gain that time back?

    2016 is a year where we MUST treat the little rock that is our home better than we have been. Recycling, conserving energy, things people have been speaking about for years but still our planet is in a mess. We need to change and not be selfish. It’s the kids in 80 years time that we need to think about.

    I’ve heard productivity experts say that if you want to change and are serious about it, an accountability buddy is the way to go, someone who will ask what you’ve done to achieve your goal this week. To be honest, I really don’t want to lumber any friend with hassling me about my guitar practice or other goals. Of course, there are friends I chat to about goals and plans, different people for different things. What I want to do though in 2016, is to ensure that everyday I do something to benefit me in some way, whether it be losing a few pound, doing a software tutorial, do some volunteering, actually playing guitar, you get the idea. I have to do something everyday.

    You need to do something 21 times before it becomes a habit, so this will enable me to make the most of my evenings and out of work time for the better. There’s more to life than a boring 9 to 5 existence. It’s up to us to make a change, if we make a change in us, it hopefully will rub off on those around us.

    I’m going to try and tell you everyday in a short post, what I’ve done and by Day 100, hopefully will have changed my habits and myself, for the better.

    Happy New Year, here goes nothing!

    Image from Facebook

  • The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 102 with Gar Cox

    The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 102 with Gar Cox

    Londonear102

    The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 102 with Gar Cox // December 19 2015

    On this week’s show, I spoke to Gar Cox who has released a new seasonal track entitled ‘Too Late for Christmas’.

    Here’s what happened:

    1. The London Ear Intro
    2. Autamata: Liberty Bell
    3. Sample Answer: Textile Baby
    4. Grainne Hunt: Have yourself a merry little Christmas
    5. Gar Cox: Support Your Local Bookshop
    6. Chat with Gar Cox
    7. Gar Cox: Hospitals and Airports
    8. Chat with Gar Cox
    9. Gar Cox: Too Late For Christmas
    10. Mark Geary & Glen Hansard: Christmas Biscuits
    11. Motorcycle Display Team: Sladeohead (Recorded live for Arena on Radio 1)
    12. Butch Walker: Santa Self (F*ck Your Christmas Party)
    13. Embers: The Bitten Tongue
    14. Bear Worship: Our Friends
    15. Zena: We Can Shine

    Dotted through the show you’ll also have heard Croupier’s Carol of the Bells and George Michael’s Jingle – A musical interlewd.

    Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online.You can listen to the show again on the RTE player. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.

    Don’t forget to check out the RTE 2XM website. You can keep up with me here.

    The London Ear on RTE 2XM Show 102 with Gar Cox // Dec 19 2015 by Nessy on Mixcloud

    Check out the video for Gar Cox’s Too Late for Christmas…

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  • The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // Show 101 with Trick Mist

    The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // Show 101 with Trick Mist

    Londonear101
    Show 101: December 12 2015

    On today’s show I had the pleasure of catching up with Trick Mist, aka Gavin Murray. Gavin is based in Manchester, originally from Dundalk and actually appeared on Show 1 of The London Ear with his band Bold Things. Living in Manchester has given Gav the opportunity to make music as a solo artist away from the band but I think this is becoming more than just a musical act. Trick Mist seems to be incorporating other art forms under it’s umbrella, which is pretty cool!

    Here’s what happened:

    1. The London Ear Intro
    2. Embers: The Bitten Tongue
    3. Shields: Face to Face
    4. Clock Opera: Changeling
    5. Jack Garret: Worry
    6. Mura Masa: Love For That
    7. Trick Mist: A Brass Angel
    8. Chat with Trick Mist
    9. Trick Mist: Cracking Settlement
    10. Chat with Trick Mist Part 2
    11. Trick Mist: Tampering Happy
    12. Benjamin Clementine: London
    13. Boy From The Crowd: All I Need

    Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online.You can listen to the show again on the RTE player. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.

    Don’t forget to check out the RTE 2XM website. You can keep up with me here.

    The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // Show 101 with Trick Mist by Nessy on Mixcloud

    Photo of Trick Mist by Steve Bolter taken from Facebook

  • Diary // We Love Christmas with Kal Lavelle, Fiona Bevan and Bryde

    Diary // We Love Christmas with Kal Lavelle, Fiona Bevan and Bryde

    WLCKaland Fiona

    We Love Christmas, St Giles in the fields, London, December 11 2015

    Every three months in St Giles in the Fields Church, a We Love Shows show is held, to corresspond with the seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Christmas. Organised by Kal Lavelle, over the past nine months at these events, I’ve seen some great artists, Antonio Lulic, Playing House, Adrian Roye, Stephanie Fraser and Dawson.

    The event, it’s not just a gig, is located in a church which gives awesome acoustics and is perfect for an actual proper listening gig, such as this. Added bonus comes in the way of a bar, stocked full of Kopperberg, who sponsor the event, and cakes from the Bubble Bakers. Last night’s addition of mulled cider, was much welcomed and kept the nip away out of the chilly Winter air.

    Onto the acts, last night opened with Bryde, aka Sarah Howells who is also part of Paper Aeroplanes. It was a big week for Sarah as her single ‘Wait’ was played on BBC Radio 1 for the first time this week. As she got further into her set, the songs just got better and better. Well worth keeping an eye out for her own music away from Paper Aeroplanes.

    Fiona Bevan‘s name may not be familiar to everyone but most people will recognise at least one song she’s responsible for. Yup, you know One Direction’s ‘Little Things’? She’s responsible for that alongside everyone’s favourite loveable scamp, Ed Sheeran.

    Fiona is a seasoned performer and looks comfortable on stage, swapping guitar for ukulele before reverting to her original instrument before the end of her set. Fiona is funny charming, messes up the words of her inbetween song banter and seems just totally lovely. She comes across as someone who is extremely confident with their art and it shows. Last night she sang some terrific songs.

    The big thing I like about We Love Shows, nevermind the cakes and the mulled cider, is that it’s an opportunity to hear artists I’ve heard of but never have seen live. These are the musicians in their own natural setting, no huge big productions, just in a location which justifies reverence.

    Last act of the night is Kal Lavelle. The first time I heard about We Love Shows or Kal was when I interviewed Jamie Lawson a year ago. He was just about to go on tour with Ed Sheeran. I met Jamie in Covent Garden and he told me he was on his way to play a We Love Show gig. He told me it was organised by Kal.

    I’ve been to a few of these shows now and Kal would normally play a couple of tunes, this is the first time I’ve seen her do a full set. Kal is a talented songwriter and her songs are memorable. ‘Fell in love with my friend’ is a prime example, the hook will stay will with you for days.

    She’s no stranger to writing about sexy times. ‘Get out out of my head’ is another earworm. Kal tells a story about her Mum liking the song, just no one tell her what it’s really about.
    Ms Lavelle abandons amplification for ‘Shivers’ and wanders from the altar to the space at the front of the church at the top of rows of pews. The pure acoustics of the church take the song to a higher level. Simply superb.

    The night is finished off with Fiona joining Kal on stage for a rendition of a Christmas song. Now, here’s the thing, in my musical book George Michael is on a pedestal higher anyone else and anyone even attempting to emulate the great man seriously have to ask themselves questions as they will never out do his work.

    When the first notes of ‘Last Christmas’ are sung, I actually held my breath. I needn’t have worried though. Kal and Fiona do George proud and a section of the audience spontaneously add the harmonies. Bravo! All good in the hood! I shouldn’t have been too surprised with the choir in the pews as We Love Shows always seem have an audience participation section. Tonight with Fiona Bevan, earlier in Kal’s set and now.

    We Love Shows is a great night, relaxing, good music, a glass of good stuff and some cakes, you couldn’t ask for more. The next one, We Love Spring, is March 18th.. perhaps an Irish night?

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