There are so many great bands with real balls playing around the Irish circuit at the moment. The difficult thing for people that are not familiar with the scene is finding out what are the best bands around that really deliver a great night out.

Don’t believe the hype in the Irish music press. The bands contained and promoted within the pages of these useless publications are only there because the press has been paid to give them exposure. Use your own judgement and not the false words of some alcho-cokehead journalist whore.

We strongly advise you to check out the local listings in the free event guides that can be found around various music and video shops (also bars) in Dublin. Then pop along to one of the many Internet shops and check out the band you are interested in on myspace.com.

If the band is any way serious they will be together enough to have info and tunes there.

We highly recommend Dublin based band Controlfreak if you like your music Loud, Alternative and Indie. This modern Post-Punk outfit kick serious ass and know how to ROCK!

Check them out at: 

www.myspace.com/controlfreakband

Or at:

http://www.controlfreaksex.com

What’s that funny smell?

Those visitors to Ireland that are easily shocked and squeamish are here warned in advance about the lack of hygiene in these establishments. It is this writers’ unhappy task to point out the alarmingly germ-ridden smell-holes in Dublin (and it’s no better elsewhere in Ireland), that the owners of these establishments expect punters to put up with.

Tourist’s note that you are not allowed smoke tobacco in the pubs and clubs in Ireland. As for herbal cigarettes, we’re not too sure. Technically you might be able to get away with it.

The state of the men’s toilets in particular look and smell like something out of the Hellraiser films. The smell of raw sewage in some of these restrooms can make even a person with the toughest of stomachs barf (get sick) to the excess. Indeed some of these drinking holes are filled with the stink of sewage fumes all over the premises, the fumes are so strong. This problem has been worsened by the smoking ban, which at least used to mask the sewage. If you own a gas mask, bring it and use it. You’ll need it. It’s a disgrace!

And it is virtually impossible to take a shit without a lock on the cubicle door. Is a cheap lock on all the toilet doors too much to ask?  It seems so…

Also, the pipes and taps for draught drinks do not seem to be cleaned out as regularly as they should be, resulting in food poisoning, stomach pains, and diarrhoea. Also watch out for dirty glasses. This writer recommends buying bottled alcohol instead of draught from the taps.

This writer would love to see all of the publicans of Ireland completely renovate the toilets in their premises and instruct their staff to keep them stink and germ free. And the same thing goes for poison-free drinks.

The following is a list of Rock and Indie Pubs and Clubs in Dublin :

Music Pubs (Bars):

The Mezz:  Top of the list because the admission is free  to watch the bands. Band(s) start at between 20.00 and 21.00. Punters tend to be young student tourists from non-English speaking countries. (Eustace Street, Temple Bar)

Bruxelles: Three bar pub. Metal rock bar downstairs. Jukebox. DJ’s at weekends. Punters tend to be black clad, fat rockers with moustaches and beards (and that’s just the women). Metal bar toilets stink of raw sewage. You have been warned
Indie bar beside metal bar. Jukebox. Punters tend to snigger at the metal bar inhabitants because they think they’re not ‘sad’ like them, but they’re wrong…  (Harry Street)

Fibber McGee’s: Much like the Bruxelles’ shower with some emo kids in the mix. Bands play from 20.00 – 01,00.  Downstairs toilets stink of raw sewage. You have been warned. Also see clubs section. (Parnell Street)

Eamon Dorans:  Indie punk, and metal gigs all week. 20.00 – 23.00. Smelly toilets that need to be enlarged. Also see clubs section.  (Crown Alley, Temple Bar).

Radio City:  Indie punk, and metal gigs all week. 20.00 – 23.00. (Store Street).      

International Bar:  Hosts indie “ballroom of romance’ nights every so often. See press for details. Organisers and punters tend to be so far up their own arse, they can’t smell the pretentiousness and pointlessness of their own opinions (nobody really cares about your sad opinions, OK! It’s only music). Listen to the music and ignore the twats… (Wicklow Street).

JJ Smyths:  Mainly retro music and punters that look like they belong in a museum. Blues, rockabilly, old school rock’n’roll. (Aungier Street)

Whelans:  Indie, punk and metal gigs all week. 20.00 – 23.00. Tends also to let those ‘whingers and whiners’ also known as ‘singer/songwriters’ and ‘annoying buskers’ play gigs here. Hopefully this will end soon (fingers crossed). Also see clubs section.  (Wexford Street)

Lower deck:  Hosts indie bands various nights of the week downstairs. See press for details. (Portobello Bridge)

Music Clubs:

Thomas Reads:   Top of the list because the admission is free. On the Verge night with Live acts on Wednesday nights – 20.00 – 01.00. Hosts an indie night with DJ (downstairs) on Saturdays 21.00 – 01.00. Sometimes also on Friday.  Toilets are dismal.  (Parliament Street)

The Hub:   Sister venue under the Mezz. Indie nights most days. Reggae on weds. Bands 20.00 – 23.00 followed by DJ til 02.00. (Eustace Street, Temple Bar)

Button Factory:   +800 capacity venue for rising bands on the rise or once big bands on the slide. Also has DJs’ after 23.00. Tends to have mis-matched DJs following bands, which can’t be good for business. Also tend to throw out punters after gigs/before late DJ. Suffers from heavy handed, rude bouncers. (Curved Street, Temple Bar)

Fibber McGee’s:   Metal and indie DJ’s downstairs from 20.00 – 02.00. Don’t leave your bags, clothing and drinks lying around unattended – THEY WILL BE STOLEN. Punters tend to be black clad, fat rockers with moustaches and beards (and that’s just the women). Also emo kids (also known as ‘jailbait’). Downstairs toilets stink of raw sewage. You have been warned. Also see pubs section. (Parnell Street)

Eamon Dorons:   Indie DJs from 23.00 – 02.00. Toilets stink of raw sewage. Also see pubs section. (Crown Alley, Temple Bar)

Whelans:   Indie DJs from 23.00 – 02.00. Also see pubs section. (Wexford Street)

Crawdaddy:   Indie DJs from 23.00 – 02.00. Toilets are a disgrace. Also see pubs section. (Harcourt Street)

Gay and Lesbian Pubs:

The George:  (George’s Street)
The Dragon:  (George’s Street)
PANTIBAR  (Capel Street)