GALWAY SINGER-SONGWRITER Julie Hough, leader of the London band HAWK, and Captain A's last gig for the foreseeable future, are just two of the highlights from next month's series of Citóg gigs at the Róisín Dubh.
Shrug Life, a trio who bonded over the melodrama of The Smiths and the bombast of Queen, headline on June 1. The band - Danny Carroll (vocals/guitar ), Keith Broni (bass ), and Josh Donnelly (drums ) - released the EP The Grand Stretch on Popical Island, and saw it make The Last Mixed Tape's Top 20 EPs of 2015, while earlier this year saw the 'Making Progress' single.
The Thin Air said of the band: "Danny Carroll’s lyrics are some of the smartest, wittiest that the country has to offer"; BBC Introducing called the band "totally bonkers yet 100 per cent mainstream"; while State.ie said: "more than slightly breakneck and wildly infectious".
Support is from Ghost Rats and Alis (one half of the excellent Galway electro act VOIDS ).
June 8 sees Captain A & The Commercial Monsters - led by Eoghan Holland - bring their mix of psychedelia, seventies rock, folk, big band, and brazen jamming to the stage. Their brilliant and eccentric mix of influences, including prog-rock, Leonard Cohen, Bill Withers, and Big Tom can be heard on their 2015 album Dreams, which featured contributions from indie band Groom and folk-singers The Henry Girls. The Irish News called it, "a fine collection of off-the-wall experimental songs...take that, musical conformity".
Support is from Gay Dads On Acid, a new project from Rural Savage's Farren McDonald; and Stephen Molloy.
June 15 will see HAWK, led by Galwaywoman Julie Hough. The London based band, who combine post-rock, indie-rock, and singer-songwriter, have been enjoying great critical acclaim. The Line of Best Fit said: "HAWK combine post-punk and folk in a spine-tingling brew that'll take potshots at your emotional wellbeing"; The Vinyl District said they are "the lucid dream between post rock and indie".
Support is from singer-songwriter Maria Kelly and 'alternative baroque-pop' band Elm.
The final gig for the month is on June 22 with Glimmermen, featuring former members of Boxes, Jackbeast, and Holy Ghost Fathers. Le Cool magazine said of them: "Glimmermen are a different sort of band. In a sea of Spector-like indie landfill fodder they wear their honesty and integrity on their black sleeves with a sound that goes straight to the heart. Glimmermen know exactly the sound they want to make and that’s something we want to hear”.
Support is from Slyrydes and The Shindigs.
Citóg takes place once a month on Wednesdays and seeks to promote emerging, independent, musicians and bands in across a variety of genres. Admission is free.
