NiallOK’s Blog

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It’s that time of year when you look back on the past 12 months and make “best” and “worst” lists. That time of year when you look at your life and try to convince yourself you’re in a better place than you were this time last year. I, however, do not need much convincing on that count as my life is far and away much better than it was when 2004 ended. My debts are under control and I’ve money in the bank. I’ve a great home with a lovely girlfriend, a pet dog, a decent car and all the modern conveniences and material possessions I need. I can’t complain, really… … well, the job could be better and I could be earning more but I’m sure that’s a complaint 90% of us have. It’s been a wild year in many ways, and one that, for many reasons, I will always associate with the Kaiser Chiefs’ song “I Predict A Riot”.

Here I am now though, thinking about things, and thinking for once - hey! That’s a pile of shite… and hey! THAT’s a pile of shite… and screw popular culture, I’m going to speak out - I didn’t like these stupid things. They’re … well… shite!

Take that “song” from Nizlopi for example. Yes, the one about the JCB. Yes, the one that got to number one in the charts. Do you (yes, you, dear reader) really think anyone is going to remember it in a few months time? Well I don’t. Why? Because (as I said, in not so many words, here), it’s a complete and total pile of festering talent-free shite with absolutely no redeeming qualities! The fact that the masses went out and paid their (often hard-earned) money to buy this CD single is frankly occassionally mind boggling, until, of course, you remember that there really IS no accounting for taste at the moment. Hitting numero uno in the singles chart doesn’t mean as much as it used to, frankly.

Oh and then theres what generally passes for “entertainment” on RTÉ these days - it’s really a piss-poor waste of decent TV license payers money. Fair City? Tubridy Tonight? Stew? The new format of The Den? Christ on a bike…

I suppose, at least, they’re trying - with a few decent quality home-grown shows like The Panel, Podge and Rodge (come on, they’re great!) and Anonymous gracing our cathode ray tubes, along with imported gems such as Lost and (yes, I like it) Desperate Housewives -but the scales are still well unbalanced in the wrong direction and they’re still looking for more and more money from the TV license. Feckers.

While I’m at it… who in their right mind reads Azezil’s Saucey [sic] Adventures (his blog) and doesn’t have the words “Jesus, what a total pile of self-indulgent ego-centric bollocks” thundering relentlessly to the foremost of their mind? I tried to post such a comment on one of his “entries” only to have it never appear. What a surprise.

Anyway, I’ll stop this Meldrew-like complaining for the moment as I’m not going to turn into another Maddox (his site is shite too, by the way)… .. .We had a great New Years’ Eve, heading out as we did to a Euro-accepting smoking-tolerant pub, just north of the border in Crossmaglen, where the drink was cheap and my girlfriend’s brother’s band “The Stormers” were playing. The Guinness was grand (well, all the pints were after the first one - which tasted like it was mixed with Fairy Liquid, or Azezil Liquid as I shall now rename it), the company was great, and the craic? well.. it was, as they, mighty indeed. We proceeded to get soundly hammered and I couldn’t even sit up straight until 3.30pm yesterday, nevermind actually drag my sorry ass out of bed. A good night, indeed. I should have brought my camera.

Now I’ve to decide when to bring back my local radio show, “The Wall of Sound“. Some time in mid to late January, I’m thinking. I’m working on getting a few bands lined up to appear live on it - including new local band the End again (or “tEa” to those who know them) - who will be officially launching themselves and their web site in two weeks time in The Spirit Store. I also hope to have a live interview (by phone from NYC) with American singer/songwriter and previous guest on the show, Rebecca Hart as well as tracks from her new album. It’s going to be squished down into two hours (7 to 9pm) though, I reckon as 3 hours are a bit of a chore to fill out - especially considering that I don’t exactly get paid for it and also keeping in mind that I now no longer have a sponsor for it and it will be devoid of phone-in competitions with superfantastico prizes. Blasht.

Oh well. Sin a bhfuil na cúrsaí spóirt, as they say.