Recording will take place this Monday, January 30th, at 4.15pm. You need to be in The Helix, DCU, Dublin at 3.45. And there’s sure to be a few laughs. If you would like to be in the audience please email pro2(at)dcumpsDOTcom (replace the (at) and DOT) with confirmation of how many tickets you would like and your contact details.

The sickenly talented foursome from Derry have adapted a pop indie sound that is destined to win fans over. Uptempo with a driving synth bass line, this song will surely get the crowd going at many festivals this Summer. It’s catchy, quirky electro indie pop, glorious and delightful.. This is out on February 17th, I want to know when the album’s due.

I love how their website has the tagline ‘Nothing You Haven’t Seen Before’, that maybe true but these guys seem to have take the post punk esque sound of bands like The Vaccines and given it a good injection of energy. Catch Spector on tour in the UK in February, where they will be joined by David’s Lyre. This week’s Tune of The Week is Spector and Chevvy Thunder.

We also chat about how Calling All Astronauts are a totally DIY band on the UK scene.

1. DJ Flip & Freezemaster Slick: Crossroads
2. Senekah: Human Relations
3. Chat with Ronan from Tarantella Fall
4. Tarantella Fall: Wasteland
5. Youth Mass: Wide Eyes
6. Chat with Fiach
7. Fiach: You Dear
8. Our Krypton Son: Catalonian Love Song
9. The Animators: Marvelous
10. Rob Kelly: Game Over
11. Chat with David from Calling All Astronauts
12. Calling All Astronauts: Someone Like You
13. Come On Live Long: White Horses (Reid Remix)
14. Frankie Rose: Know Me
15. Delorentos: Little Sparks

Thanks to all my guests, Culture Cafe is broadcast on Wednesdays at 1000, repeated Sundays at 2100 online, on digital and on UPC Channel 944

Entering the Tivoli, the auditorium is a definite reminder of the sixties era, spacious tiered red cinema seats facing a stage with a drumkit and some guitar amps set up. Strawberry Fields roadsigns and images of the Fab Four hang in the venue. From the offset, everything is Beatle-esque, even the mandatory fire announcement are voiced by the quartet in a Scouse accent. Funny as hell and of course informative.

The show starts in Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club and immediately its aurally hard to tell the difference between our performers ‘The Classic Beatles‘ and the real thing. But after a couple of tracks, I questioned if this would be interesting enough to last the full length of a show. Two minutes later, my question was answered as a large screen at the back of the stage transformed into what looked like a 1960s television broadcast. Really clever and this worked a treat.

This screen was used to show news reels re-enacted with The Classic Beatles in place of John, Paul, George and Ringo. Famous press conferences and events from the era were used in the telling in the nine years of The Beatles. Everything from the legendary appearances at Shea Stadium in New York to actually being a part of the audience at The Ed Sullivan show. The four musician/actors on stage were dressed in what we would know of The Beatles from each part of their career. The moptop haircuts, the suits, the long hair on the way to hippydom and of course the suits from Sgt Pepper.

I lost count of how many songs were played on the night and it was lovely to see people of all ages there from young kids in Beatles t-shirts to a few who probably could have seen The Beatles play The Adelphi in Dublin in 1963. All songs on the night were generously applauded by the crowd by the first one that seemed to really get them going was the ‘George’ solo ‘Here Comes The Sun’. The audience even attempted the high notes. The show ended with a singalong and a dance, what more could you ask for?

Get Back runs at The Tivoli until February 14 2012, tickets are priced from €20.

I think I discovered something on the night, I prefer everything from Sgt. Pepper onwards and I think my favourite Beatles song is ‘A Day In The Life’.

Pearse is planning to release his second album ‘In Movement’ this year and today put a call out for visual collaborators.. Here’s what Pearse is after:

‘I’m looking for visual reactions to the songs from the album — little short films. These could be captured on iPhones, mobile phones, HD cameras, camcorders or whatever you use for rolling footage. I hope to release these via my website in the run up to the album’s release. If you are interested or even mildly curious please reply

I will then give you one of the songs from the album, hoping that in turn you’ll create a 40-60 second visual piece, a mini music video if you will, for the song. This will be loosely related to the song or if you have an idea of your own, that’s cool too. It could be a complex stop motion, abstract and arty or just simple studies of light…whatever you see fit.’

[Edit: Pearse got in touch with me, saying thanks for all your emails, the deadline has now passed]

Anyway, you want some free music, here’s Pearse McGloughlin’s Bright Star available from bandcamp

I really like this track, it brings the band’s Britpop vibe together with an awesome soul vibe. Catchy as hell. This Week’s Tune of The Week is The Aftermath and ‘In Loneliness Lives Love’.

Nessy: You’re on tour in support of your album “Behold”, how do you think that you have progressed as a solo artist?

Jon Cohen: I definitely have come a long way. There are new ways I’m doing things now, new approaches to music, new philosophies on how to play it how to record it and write it. I have a lot more care in my approach now because this album is my project. My baby, so we’ll see what happens when this baby grows up!

This tour is a solo tour but you still manage to play a number of instruments to reflect each song you play. Do you play them all at the same time or how does that work out?

I use looper pedals, I use triggers, drum pads, mini korgs, theremins, basses and voice amongst many percusive interuments and pan flutes. It’s quite a feat. Each instrument represents more of a modd than a song, it’s quite fiun to play this way cause you have to be really concentrated and yet let go at some point and let the thing drive itself.

People still refer to you as Jon Cohen from The Dears, does that annoy you? Or is it just another part of your life?

It doesn’t bother me too much, people need a kind of reference, so does the media. To be honest at first I was selling myself like that (ex-dears) member to the industry and the media but that was more to put my foot in the door and get people to notice what I’m all about. It’s a tool I use sometimes to get people to listen but its not the only too, also being an ex-member of thr dears doesn’t define me as an artist, its only one page in the great big book of Jon!

You seem to blog a lot when you’re on tour. Does that help with writing music or are they two completely separate ways of expressing yourself?

I think the both feed into each other. Touring is a great outpour of my artistic side, whether its writing and playing music or writing my blog or even the business side of it, I feel very creative in that time span, I feel like it’s a god time to tap all ressources and outlets for artistic endeavours, writing is one of those outlets. Also the blog is aa great promotional tool and a great way to stay connected.

Your tour is quite extensive and you’re making your way as far as Finland! What’s the one thing you miss about home when you leave and what’s the one thing you can’t left without?

The one thing I miss the most is my home, the idea of having my own personal space and all my comforts. But at the same time, I don’t really miss it, Im in the mode of “everything is new and exciting”. They make these amazing chocolate babkas near my place, I think I will miss those the most! I’ll tell you one thing I won’t miss, the -25 degree and snowy weather!

I heard you’re filming a documentary about the tour? How much everyday stuff will you film?

It all depends on the guy ewhose filming it, we met up last night and discussed a few ideas but Its gonna take place in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin, so it will involve everyday travels, music of course and all the stuff in between. Until we start the process, your guess is as good as mine.

It’s not as cold here as it is in Montreal this time of year, is this like a summer holiday to you?

Yes!!! It was -1 in London when we landed. The pilot on the speaker tells us “it’s a bit chilly in London -1C, hope you bundle up!” I don’t understand, does he not remember WHERE we arrived from? Only the cold frozen tundra that is Canada!!

Finally, if you found a Genie’s lamp and had three wishes, what would you wish for?

Silly goose! Everybody knows when you find a Genie’s lamp you use your wish to wish for more wishes!!!

All the dates for the ‘Passenger’ Tour can be found here. The album, ‘Behold’ is out now.

What’s so special about this? This thriller has the honour of winning more awards than any other play in history, which is mental and tells the story of Inspector Goole dropping in on a dinner party at the Birling’s home, where he is investigating the death of a young lady. The story is told through ‘epic and wildly imaginative staging, raw emotion, evocative score, lashing rain and chilling suspense’. Tickets are from €17.50 and available from Ticketmaster or from the Gaiety.

To win two tickets for February 13th, leave a comment below and make sure you also like my Facebook Page. Competition closes January 30th at 5pm.