After the brilliant Hallowe’en Fancy Dress Party with Grand Pocket Orchestra, the alternative music continues next Saturday night with the return of the hugely successful Finbar Hoban Presents… series, Castlebar’s only alternative boutique music event at Bar Ritz (Mulroys Bar ).
This time it’s the turn of popular Tuam musician So Cow, (Brian Kelly ). 2008 has been a busy year for this man, in April of this year So Cow released the not–particulary-difficult second album I’m Siding with my Captors on Covert Bear Records. A new seven-inch single “Commuting” was released in September on California’s Going Underground Records Label.
Up until December 2007 So Cow was entirely based in Seoul, South Korea, recording alone between the midnights and the 6am in cobbled-together studios and bedrooms. The resulting album These Truly are End Times was subject to very nice comments and excellent reviews. Hot Press labelled it “the sort of natural-unaffected pop record that Irish acts don’t make often enough”. The Irish Times upped the ante when they said So Cow “deals in delicious vocal harmonies, clever percussion ideas, sweet stereo tricks and scorching sounds that skim the skyline of great music”.
So Cow has supported Ted Leo, Dan Deacon, and Maximo Park, a seven-inch single from the album Moon Geun Young was described as borderline awe-inspiring.
The most recent album, I’m Siding with my Captors was recorded pretty much exclusively in office 1414, Building One, Korea Tourism College, again at the dead of night, when all the middle-aged Korean academics had gone home.
It’s pop music, with occasional terrifying bursts of noise.
Live, So Cow continues to take control freakery to stunning new levels with elaborate backing tape configurations, joyous choral moments and occasional self-injury!
So Cow will be supported by another Galway electronic boy/girl two-piece band called Mirakil Whip. In the past they have supported the Ghostwood Project, Redneck Manifesto, Automata and Wagon Christ. They have appeared many times in Roisin Dubh In Galway and especially on An Taobh Tuaithail TG4’s alternative music show. For more information on Mirakil Whip please contact www.myspace.com/mirakilwhip Finbar would like to thank the following people for continuing to support this excellent alternative event: photograper Kate McKeon, Westcoast Audio for providing sound, Karen Conway, Chris Rippingale, Garret Waldron, and of course the staff of Bar Ritz, and the good people of Castlebar for supporting their live music scene. So the entertainment keeps on coming next Saturday night November 22 with these two excellent Galway bands. Doors open at 9pm and Admission is €5. For more information on upcoming events please contact Finbar at www.myspace.com/finbarhobanpresents or on 086 816 2198.
Coming soon: the Massive New Year’s Eve alternative rock party at Bar Ritz with Cork girl band OH MY GOD…(it might be him ). Plus more acts to be anounced very shortly. Watch this space!
