You may be overfed and overpartied but that's no reason to miss a kicking line-up of music events around the country, writes TONY CLAYTON-LEA
All I want for Christmas
PUGWASH (THOMAS WALSH)
What's the best Christmas present you've ever received?I got the entire box-set of Seinfeld once, which still gives me pleasure, but I also got the ELO book by Bev Bevan back in 1981 off me Dad, who'd had a really bad Christmas that year, but he still got me what I wanted. It's those memories that make you realise how lucky we are to have great parents first and foremost. The material element should always be secondary.
What's the present you're most looking forward to receiving on Christmas Day?A letter from the "Real" Santa Claus – Roy Wood – to go with my letter from God, Jeff Lynne. They'd make a lovely matching pair at the end of my bed. If that doesn't happen, well, then a white chocolate Santy (can I say "Santy"?). I'm easily pleased.
If you could choose your Xmas dinner guests who would they be and why?My dad, Larry David, Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien, David Letterman, Bill Bailey, Matt Berry, my band and 50 homeless people. The level of inventive, idiotic, surreal and downright filthy conversation around that table would make for a great DVD. I'd buy it. Along with, of course,
The Olympus Soundby Pugwash – out now. A great square-shaped stocking filler if ever there was one.
Pugwash are performing at INEC, Killarney, Co Kerry on December 28
TIERANNIESAUR (ANNIE TIERNEY)
What's the best Christmas present you've ever received?I got a red 1950s duffle coat from my mother a couple of years ago that I love.
What's the present you're most looking forward to receiving on Christmas Day?Tieranniesaur are doing kris kindle. Our budget is 6.50, so I'm looking forward to seeing how we manage that!
If you could choose your Christmas dinner guests who would they be and why?Any and all who will compliment my cooking are welcome.
Tieranniesaur are performing at The Workman's Club, Dublin, on December 31
How was 2011 for you?
HAM SANDWICH (Niamh Podge)
How was 2011 for you? Amazing. I think it was the best year for us so far! White Fox was a bit of a slow burner, I think, and when we released Ants in February of this year – along with the video – things just kinda started taking off.
What do you have lined up for the first half of 2012? We have a big gig in Dublin's Academy on the 18th February. It's our first Academy headliner so we are very excited. And then really it's just writing, writing and more writing! Getting some new songs on the go to road test at gigs early next year would be nice.
And your new year resolution is? I have two: to not give in to my developing taste for Buckfast. Aim to make 2012 an even better year for the Sambos!
Ham Sandwich are performing at The Village, Dublin, on December 31
JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW
How was 2011 for you? It's been a really amazing year, pretty surreal at times. I've been fairly wide-eyed through so much of it, yet I have appreciated every second of it, and it's given everything a really compelling level of excitement that I've never felt before. Christmas is a really lovely time to be able to take a break, but I'm itching to get back out in January.
What do you have lined up for the first half of 2012?I will be on the road up until the summer. I've started work on the second album, as well, it's still early, but I'm pushing myself as hard as possible with new sounds and ideas. There's a lot of work to do on it, but I'm hoping to have it finished by April or so.
And your new year resolution is?I've never been so big on resolutions, mainly because I either forget what I resolved to do, or I set ridiculously ambitious and unattainable ones! On a simple level, I just want to keep learning as much as I can about what I do, and keep working hard, for myself and for the people around me.
James Vincent McMorrow is performing at Vicar St, Dublin, on December 31
You got noise if want it
If you're looking for a raucous and rhythmic night out over the Christmas period you probably won't get any better than Primal Scream's December 29th gig at Dublin's O2, where they'll be kicking out the jams and other preserves as they run through their classic Screamadelica album from glorious start to finish.
If you live outside Dublin and Kerry is closer than Kimmage, your best bet is to head to Killarney's INEC, where, on Wednesday December 28th, you'll get the best bargain of the season when the triple bill of The Coronas, Royseven and Pugwash plug in their guitar leads and sing in tune.
At the same venue on New Year's Eve prepare yourselves for the craic-attack triple bill of Saw Doctors, Sharon Shannon and Jack L. And if you're out west on New Year's Eve, try to catch And So I Watch You From Afar in Galway's Róisín Dubh.
Looking ahead to 2012? Thin Lizzy fans should make a beeline to Dublin's Button Factory on January 4th when the annual Vibe for Philo gig – devised to pay tribute to Thin Lizzy's deceased lead singer, Phil Lynott – takes place.
And singer-songwriters if you don't
Singer-songwriters are all over the gaff this season. First off the block tonight (Friday December 23rd) is a mix of the rough (that'd be Damien Dempsey at Dublin's Workman's Club) with the smooth (hello, Lisa Hannigan, taking the intimate route at Dublin's Whelan's). A combination of each is Mundy, who performs tracks from his substantial back catalogue in Whelan's on Tuesday, December 27th.
On the same night in Killarney's Irish National Event Centre Acoustic Club, Mick Flannery dusts off his best-known songs as well as previewing material from his forthcoming album. Andy White, meanwhile, makes a rare appearance in Dublin on Thursday December 29th as he visits The Workman's Club for a masterclass in persuasion and charm.
On New Year's Eve, meanwhile, the sweet-voiced James Vincent McMorrow joins a gang of mates (including Lisa Hannigan, Foy Vance, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Gavin Glass and John Smith) at Vicar St, and on the same celebratory day, you'll be able to see Paul Brady ring out the old/ring in the new on College Green, Dublin.
Outside Dublin
– AND FOR FREE!
Santa hats off to Louth band, Huey Hobgoblins, who play a special Christmas Eve gig at the Black Bull pub, Drogheda, Co Louth and a special New Year's Eve show at another fine Drogheda establishment, the Eastern Seaboard Grill.
What makes these gigs extra special, of course, is that there's no cover charge for either.
Ho, ho, ho . . .
For the youngters
Choice Music Prize nominees O Emperor bring their very special brand of pastoral rock music to Waterford’s The Forum, which is pretty much a home from home for the lads. New material will be previewed from their imminent new album, so don’t be too surprised if you hear a few songs you’re not overly familiar with. You’ll be plenty used to the songs of Jape (aka Richie Egan) who will be taking over Whelan’s on New Year’s Eve for fun, games and, well, japes aplenty. On the same night in The Workman’s Club is a double bill from Le Galaxie and Tieranniesaur. Our opinion? The best fun you’ll have on very cold night.
For the adults
They've been around the block, for sure, but Cork's Frank and Walters still know how to give their audiences a good time. For proof, check 'em out at Cork's Pavilion tonight (Friday December 23rd). Aslan know the game by this stage too, and when they play Dublin's Vicar St on Tuesday, December 27th, you can guarantee that there'll be arms waved in the air. There's a treat in store for Four of Us fans when they pay a visit to Dublin's Whelan's on Thursday December 29th. On the same night, Hot House Flowers, will be doling out their hits at Killarney's Irish National Event Centre Acoustic Club. In the same town, in the adjoining Irish National Event Centre, the grand dame of Irish contemporary folk, Mary Black, will be performing songs from her extensive back catalogue. In their annual regrouping, Something Happens will undoubtedly be rip-roaring their way through songs revered by many of a certain age. Get yourself to Whelan's, Dublin, on Friday December 30th.
Jerry Fish the Mudbug Club bring their take on soul/rock/pop to Whelan's on Monday December 26th – prepare ye for foot-stomping Yuletide tomfoolery. The Saw Doctors bring the year to an unruly but good time end in the Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule, Longford, on Wednesday December 28th.
