Here Comes The Summer: A BBC Four Undertones documentary

Photograph: Fin Costello/Redferns

I finally got round to watching the recent BBC4 documentary ‘Here Comes The Summer: The Undertones Story‘ and a very enjoyable experience it was. Narrated by actor James Nesbitt it features interviews with all band members bar Feargal Sharkey. Of particular interest were the interviews with friends and family members including the Kevin of ‘My Perfect Cousin’ fame. I found it enlightening and poignant and a worthy addition to the Undertones canon. Music agent Paul Charles makes an appearance, testifying to the power of the band’s live show. The complete doc is on YouTube albeit unfortunately with an incorrect aspect ratio..

The Fireflys

This band came up recently on the Tom Dunne show where The Strypes performed on the Christmas special. Tom mentioned that there was a parental link to The Fireflys so some research was in order, Cavan is decidedly underrepresented on this site so this was as opportunity to rectify that.

According to the Irish Rock Discography, The Fireflys were John Walsh, Barry Walsh, Niall Walsh and Paul Cox (drums). Niall Walsh is indeed manager of The Strypes and father of drummer Evan.

The first clip is a track which is very familiar but which I havent yet placed is a performance of ‘Love Train’ on RTE’s Action Station Saturday.

The second is an RTE Late Late Show performance.

Further details and clarifications are as usual most welcome.

Off The Record

I recently stumbled across this short film by Niall Farrell which features three personalities who are no strangers to this blog. Gibb Cassidy worked in Dublin’s Road records and recently opened his own independent record outlet Elastic Witch. Darren McCreesh is the man behind the upcoming ‘Strange Passion‘ compilation with radio show of the same name on PowerFM. Last but not least Brian O’Kelly was a member of The Gorehounds and founder of the Comet Records shop and label (their Comet compilations have featured regularly in these pages). Comet Records closed in 2011 and Brian is currently active with Irish Record Fairs touring the land with his hoards of vintage Irish vinyl.

Engine Alley – Full Steam Ahead (Hot Press, 17th Oct 1991)

Barely two months after the release of their debut EP, Kilkenny’s finest Engine Alley achieved another milestone when Ireland’s premier music magazine Hot Press dedicated a full page to the band. As part of RTE’s TV50 celebrations the band’s entire TV career can now be viewed on YouTube.

Your Head (RTE Late Late Show 1991)