Cluas Gigs of the Fortnight

The best gigs across Ireland during the period 23 April - 6 May 2007

Gig of the fortnight is........ Pajo

Where and When? Whelan's, Dublin - 26th April Why? It's not often that a true groundbreaker comes to town but in David Pajo you've got just that. As part of Slint (who he's going to spend much of the coming months performing with, so much for that ?last ever shows? tour a few years back huh?) he helped to lay the foundations for what would become post-rock. Not to mentions stints playing with Stereolab, Palace, Tortoise and Zwan as well as solo projects under the Papa M and Pajo monikers. And it's the latter which he visits Ireland as, far from the aggression of his youth Pajo solo bears a striking resemblance to Elliot Smith circa either/or.

Best of the Rest

Who? Delorentos Where and When? TBMC, Dublin - 26th April The Underground, Limerick - 27th April Mcgarrigle, Sligo - 28th April Auntie Annie's, Belfast - 1st May Cyprus Avenue, Cork - 3rd May Spirit Store, Dundalk - 4th May The Forum, Waterford - 5th May We here at Cluas have been long time supporters of Delorentos and it's both a joy and a relief to see that with the release of their debut album In Love With Detail they've realised the promise that their live shows have teased. The album is full of impeccably crafted pop-songs and see the band find their own voice and sound which sets them apart from any number of angular wannabe?s. These dates are just the first half a month long tour around the country in support of the album.

Who? Cold War Kids Where and When? Ambassador, Dublin - 24th April Empire Music Hall, Belfast - 25th April Well that was a surprise. The Dublin gig was originally scheduled for Whelan's, then moved to The Village and finally it wound up in the Ambassador. Some people musta been really upset when they couldn't get Arcade Fire tickets. Truth be told Cold War Kids? debut full length Robbers And Cowards starts brightly with a fantastic opening brace of songs before petering out. But all the same, what a fantastic opening salvo.

Who? Camera Obscura Where and When? McGarrigles, Sligo - 4th May Roisin Dubh, Galway - 5th May The Village, Dublin - 6th May Cypress Avenue, Cork - 7th May Cathedral Arts Centre, Cork - 8th May Formed 11 years ago in Glasgow it took Camera Obscura a while to get their act together and actually put out an album but 2002's Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi was worth the wait. Since then they've graced us with 2 more albums of shimmering, jangly indie-pop, the latest of which being last year's Let's get out of this country.

Also this fortnight:

David Kitt Empire Music Hall, Belfast - 26th April Whelan's, Dublin - 27th & 28th April Dolan's, Limerick - 3rd May The Mall, Tuam - 4th May

Jesse Malin TBMC, Dublin - 3rd May Dolan's, Limerick - 4th MAy Spring And Airbrake, Belfast - 5th May

The Lemonheads savoy, Cork - 3rd May The Warick, Galway - 4th May Ambassador, Dublin - 5th May

Loudon Wainwright III Olympia, Dublin - 6th May Waterfront, Belfast - 4th May UL, Limerick - 5th May Olympia, Dublin - 6th May

Neosupervital Rader, Belfast - 26th April Roisin Dubh, Galway - 1st May Trinity Rooms, Limerick - 4th May Whelan's, Dublin - 5th May Cyprus Avenue, Cork - 6th May

The Handsome Family Limelight, Belfast - 25th April Spirit Store, Dundalk - 26th April Crane Lane, Cork - 27th April Connolly's Of Leap, Cork - 28th April Roisin Dubh, Galway - 29th April Whelan's, Dublin - 30th April

CLUAS 'Gigs of the Fortnight' is compiled and edited by the CLUAS listings editor, Ian Wright.
Check out previous CLUAS 'gigs of the fortnight' chosen since this section was started back in 2004.