Tag: Dublin

Allgemein, Concerts

Freedom Child Tour Diary: Dublin Night 3

kekoaskorner

For years I wanted to see The Script in their home town and after 10 years I finally managed to fly over to witness one of the best gigs ever. Little did I know that Night 3 turned out to be the best of the 3. But as Mark said Night 3 was the first on sale so all the people who really wanted to go got their tix for Saturday Night.
Leaving Zurich on Wednesday meant that I had some time to wander around Dublin and obviously visit Grafton Street. Another thing that you have to do is a tour around the Guinness grounds. The history was fascinating and yes I did like that Guinness straight from the factory. Last year I interviewed Danny from The Coronas and asked him what to do in Dublin. Click here to read the full interview. He said to visit Temple Bar and Dun Laoghaire which I did and it was well worth it. Another beautiful area is Bray – a little town with a beautiful beach just outside Dublin and a little bit further than Dun Laoghaire.
Ella Eyre
Now back to reviewing the gig. I was not only excited to see The Script but also to finally see Ella Eyre live. Having a seat meant I had to dance sitting and I’m telling you it was the hardest. She started her set with “Good Times” one of my favourite songs of her. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be there and enjoy a little Ella Eyre gig. Another good one “Together” followed before she sang her new song “LOVE”. A beautiful ballade “We don’t have to take our clothes off” showed off the amazing voice of Ella Eyre.


With this next song it took me all my strength not to stand up and go crazy because this one is my go to on a night out. Believe me you have never seen me like this! 🙂 I enjoyed every second of “Waiting All Night”. Ella sang another new one “Answer Phone” before she sang Sigala’s feature song “Came here for Love”. Her support performance went by waaay too quickly but I was excited to see The Script too so I guess the 30 mins set made sense.

Finally at 8.45 the lights went off and the first chords of “Superheroes” started. Again I couldn’t believe I was here. My boys, 10 years, first time in Dublin, Night 3 it couldn’t get any better. Everyone jumped up and Danny, Mark and Glen rocked our world with “Rock the World”. They started the show on a square in the middle of the 3Arena. One of my favourite songs “Paint the town green” is a hymn and tonight the lads were supported by a local drum group who made this song even more special. Lots of green confetti was blasted into the air and the lads walked back onto the main stage. They finished the song and more green confetti came out.

Mark took a minute and spoke to us and said: “You know what!? Night 1 was great, Night 2 was brilliant and we didn’t think that this could happen but you guys topped the two nights already after 3 songs. Saturday was first to go on sale so thank you guys for supporting us”. I was stocked to be there and so glad they enjoyed Night 3 as much as everyone else in the building. We went “ohh ohh ohh, ohhh ohhh ohhh ohhh” which means that “It’s not right for you” was next.

 
Danny sat down and said let’s create something similar to last year’s Croke Park. So he started and we took over:

Going back to the corner where I first saw you
Gonna camp in my sleeping bag I’m not gonna move
Got some words on cardboard, got your picture in my hand
Saying, “If you see this girl can you tell her where I am?”
Some try to hand me money, they don’t understand
I’m not broke I’m just a broken hearted man
I know it makes no sense but what else can I do
How can I move on when I’m still in love with you
‘Cause if one day you wake up and find that you’re missing me
And your heart starts to wonder where on this earth I could be
Thinkin’ maybe you’ll come back here to the place that we’d meet
And you’ll see me waiting for you on our corner of the street
So I’m not moving, I’m not moving

It was magical. Let’s see the 8 world “Wonders” before we’re six feet under. Danny and Mark ran around the stage like crazy and I remembered singing it super loud in my car 😀 Being part of the Script Family means that you have family members all over the world who take you just the way you are. But most importantly we welcome everyone with “Arms open”. Such a beautiful important message.


One of the crowd’s favourites is “Nothing” and they put it back into their setlist for the Freedom Child tour. This followed by their first track on the record “No Man is an Island”. I was really looking forward to seeing this song long live and they turned it into a brilliant performance. The slow song section came next with “If you could see me now” and “For the first time”. The first one means so much to the band and us it was a very special moment we all shared.
2018-02-11 00.17.31
For the next two songs the lads stood in the midst of their fans on the balcony and sang “If you ever come back” and “Never Seen Anything quite like you”. Just the three of them like when they were busking the streets of Dublin. It was very intimate but also very funny since they were joking with the people around them. Mark and Glen were heading back to the stage but Danny to the long route through the rows of people singing “The Energy Never Dies”. Honestly I wish I sat right there and not over on the right side haha

Back on stage Danny asked us take out our umbrellas for “Rain”. This took me by surprise because in Switzerland we are not allowed to bring umbrellas into the venue but apparently here in Dublin it’s ok. Those two hours were over way too quick when they headed backstage for the encore. The crowd was super loud and wanted them back on stage. Just a little later the first chords of “No Good in Goodbye” filled the 3 Arena. I knew this meant we are close to the end and I really really didn’t want it to end.
2018-02-11 00.34.23
I think for this song literally everyone stood up and sang along to “Breakeven”. Another magical moment of an amazing concert. The Script finished their set with their most famous hit “Hall Of Fame”. Danny gave us a speech and told us to take out our cell phones and film this magic moment. We should be able to whatever we wanted. Dye our hair the colour we want (Like he did), love the people we want to love and do the things in live we love. The 3 Arena was lit up with lights and a really special moment was created to end this beautiful Night 3 of the Script’s Freedom Child tour in Dublin.
Calling all Family Members have you been to one of the 3 Night’s in Dublin? Want to share your memories? Leave a reply below. 🙂

Check out my latest gigs: Dermot Kennedy, Galantis, Liam Gallagher
Allgemein, Artist2watch

Artist2watch: Dermot Kennedy

kekoaskorner

Kekoas Korner has been on a winter break for a while but now I’ve got a real treat for you guys. Dermot Kennedy is an Irish singer songwriter who is coming to Papiersaal in Zurich on Jan, 31st. The show is already sold out so congrats to the lucky ones who scored some tix. If you didn’t Just Because are giving 2×2 tix on their website.
Dermot Kennedy has been busking on the streets of Dublin for years. Glen Hansard another Irish singer songwriter organises the annual Christmas Eve Busking Event. Musicians can take their guitar and play along big names such as Bono from U2, The Coronas or The Script. It’s gotten bigger and bigger over the years but this is how Dermot Kennedy met Glen Hansard – his idol and inspiration – for the first time. Years later Glen invited Dermot to join him on stage and in this video you can see the result:

 
Last year he went on tour in America and Europe where the shows were mostly sold out. He also supported Glen Hansard and Lana del Rey on their tours but not only that Taylor Swift recommended him on her Spotify playlist available to her fans. So he’s already gotten big names to support him. All of this sounds really promising, doesn’t it?
Kekoas Korner agrees with them. Dermot Kennedy has a beautiful unique voice with just a little rasp. If you hear him on the radio you gonna know it’s him. In addition to his voice he has beautiful songs with meaningful lyrics. His newest single is called “Moments Passed” and premiered on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show which has to be a huge honour. But have a listen for yourself:

I personally love it. It reminds me a bit of Jacob Banks and Tom Grennan. I cannot wait to see him live and get to know a little of his personality. Since Dermot Kennedy is Irish I bet he is quite funny and good craic. That little green island has so much talent! As you know I am a huge fan of Irish musicians so stay tuned to Kekoas Korner to read about the gig on Jan, 31st!
Check out Dermot Kennedy’s website: http://www.dermotkennedymusic.com

Allgemein, Interviews

The Coronas – one of Ireland's finest

kekoaskorner

I’ve met the Coronas a few times after the show but never officially for an interview. So I kinda knew what to expect and I was super excited for them to answer my questions. When I arrived they were still sound-checking. To me it sounded great already and they proved it later. Read more about the gig here.
Right after I met Danny backstage for the interview. Dave seemed famished so I let him off the hook and talked with Danny who promised to know Dave’s answers too! 🙂 So let’s see about that:
You’ve been around for quite some time and played a lot of venues. So what would be your favourite or most special venue you’ve played in or want to play in?
Danny: If I could pick anywhere I would love to play in Madison Square Garden in New York because that’s like an historic and huge venue. I went to a Basketball game there when I was really young and it’s just amazing. It’s in the centre of New York but I don’t know why it always stood out to me. That would be cool to get to that stage.
But we’ve been very lucky to play in some amazing venues. In London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire which is a great venue. At home the 3E Arena which is unreal. Just this summer we had this big outdoor gig in Kilmainham which was amazing as well. Our favourite place is a small theatre in Dublin and the Marquee in Cork. West Cork is lovely we always have great shows down there there. We’re lucky that we always have great gigs. But we love travelling and playing small venues like these too. Sometimes a big venue doesn’t necessarily mean a good gig. We’ve had some shows on this tour that we’ve all been buzzin’ after even though they were only 100/200 people at the gig and we have to say to each other that was amazing. The night we played in Hamburg and Freiburg the night after and we’ve never played there before and it was a big venue and we didn’t know if people would be there. It was a really good crowd, they were brilliant! It’s also refreshing to see on this tour so far in Germany it was all locals coming to see us and hopefully tonight in Switzerland too as opposed to Irish. It always is a bit of both but in Germany there were a lot more locals so I think that’s cool for a change. It’s nice to see us making some ground with the locals. So hopefully it’ll be the same here. 
I hope so too. You are really good. I’ve been to a few shows and I don’t know why you haven’t gotten much bigger yet. 
We’re lucky that we are big in Ireland. There are so many bands who don’t make it. We’re still trying and making baby steps forward. As long as we get to travel and play our music. That’s all we want. 
As a fan I noticed quite a few differences in the fan culture depending on which country you’re in. Do you notice it as well and what are the differences?
In Ireland the crowds are much louder and they are up for a party and they are noisy, dancing and sing along. They go crazy. Whereas here in Europe in general but also in Switzerland they listen. They know their music and they are a bit more laid back. It’s cool I love the different crowds. Every country is different. In Australia they go a bit crazy. The UK is sort of in-between. We played in some crazy places in Asia for example in Japan it was so quiet. You could literally hear a pin drop no matter how many people are there. It’s amazing. They have that respect. So it’s different in every country but we love it all. 
You just released a new album called “Trust The Wire”. Who were/are your musical influences?
We are influenced by everything, by music or people influence us: relationships, friendships. Everything influences us. Surroundings too. We wrote this album in Dingle, County Kerry, which is in the Southwest corner of Ireland and it’s beautiful. We locked ourselves away and it was beautiful scenery and very quiet and atmospheric. That made a difference to the album as well.
Musical influences I would say the National are big that we love. Bon Iver, James Vincent McMorrow, Bell X1, Glen Hansard loads of different musical influences personally and I’m sure the guys are different as well. 
What would Dave say?
What does Dave like? Ohh I don’t know you’ll have to ask him. No he likes James Vincent McMorrow and those bands as well. That answer works for both of us.
What is your way to connect to fans?
We always make an effort to say hello to people who come see us in these venues. It’s nice to be able to do that because at the big shows back home it’s too big to go out and meet people and get that reaction off people. It’s nice to know what they liked about the show or if they’ve seen us before. We like that. We’re quite active but we are trying to be even more active on social media. It’s a great way to stay in contact with people in Twitter and Instagram etc. It’s so important these days and makes a difference. Especially now that we are on tour. It’s nice to put up shots of the tour so people at home can see what we are doing and when we are at home people here can see. It’s a way to keep in contact. 
Yes, the Marquee gig I saw.
Exactly!
I have to ask since I am a huge The Script Fan too. How did the cooperation between you two start?
We’ve met them on a TV show long long time ago in Ireland. They were about to release “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” and we just released “Heroes or Ghosts”. We sang both our songs and we met and got along really well. So the guys just said “Do you want to come on tour with us?” And we were like yeah that would be amazing. So we went on tour in Ireland and all around Europe and it was so much fun! I’m saying to Glen you have to get us back again.
Oh yes, I support that!
And he keeps saying yeah we’ll do it sometime. Great guys, great band and so much fun. We learned a lot from them. 
You are visiting Switzerland quite often – lucky for me – what do you like most about Switzerland?
Yes, we’ve been here a few times. It’s beautiful but unfortunately we haven’t had that much time off. Every time we’re here we are doing promo and the gig – just in and out. So lots of stuff going on. The lake and the scenery is beautiful. There’s some green and some water. It reminds me of Ireland in many ways. The people as well. Friendly people. We love it here. Every time we come we’ve gotten a great response. It’s cool to see different cities. The people here are maybe a bit warmer, friendlier or outgoing than in Germany but I suppose every city is different. 
Now last question is actually about your country. I will be visiting Ireland next year for The Script gig in Dublin. What’s your favourite place or what would you recommend to do?
If you’re going to Dublin for the show I’d say if you go down to Dun Laoghaire, which is on the south side coast of Dublin and maybe 20 minutes from the city centre by bus, with a lovely pier and beach area. It’s really nice with little ice cream places and cool coffee shops and nice vibe. I love Dublin city maybe just walk around there if it’s nice weather – fingers crossed. When are you going?
February.
It’ll probably be terrible and freezing! The Storehouse is good, some good pubs in Temple Bar. Do the touristy things, they’re fun! Hope you enjoy it! I might go to that show myself if I’m around.
See you there then!
Nina, thank you very much, is that okay?
Yes, sure! Thank you very much!! 🙂