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| !!!!!!!!!!! MINNOWS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE !!!!!!!! | |
Phew!!!! It's been a busy and crazy few weeks as The Minnows returned to the live arena with sold out shows in London and Belfast.
After the band's 'secret' gig in Donegal, it was time to head off for the bright lights of London to play at the legendary Half Moon Club in Putney. What a great live venue!!! The walls were filled with posters of artists who've performed there, including U2, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Kate Bush, etc. The list goes on.
Anyway, The Minnows played an amazing set from start to finish in front of a packed house and certainly made a lot of new fans in London. The band played no fewer than 19 songs in a set that lasted one hour and 45 minutes - including a rip roaring encore.
If London was brilliant, then the homecoming gig in Belfast was something special. Terri Hooley from Good Vibrations introduced the band to a packed house of Minnow fans and the show was spell binding and emotional.
I'm honestly still buzzing from both gigs and can't wait for the boys to play live again.
On that front, no more gigs have been confirmed but guitarist Paul told me that they definitely plan to play more shows in the new year, in various cities across Ireland and the UK.
If you get a chance to go and see the band, please do. Trust me, you won't regret it.
Welcome back lads!
Jackie x | | | posted by, jackie | Wed 03rd, Dec 2008 11:07 |
| !!!! MINNOWS WOW THE CROWD AT SECRET DONEGAL GIG !!!! | | The Minnows warmed up for their forthcoming London and Belfast gigs at the weekend with a ‘secret’ show in the intimate surroundings of The Harbour Bar in Downings - a small pub in Donegal, where a packed house were treated to live versions of tracks featured on the new album, as well as a selection of past hits and more new material.
The surprise show was a real treat for regular customers in the bar, as well as a number of lucky fans who found out about the gig in advance.
The atmosphere was electric as the band entertained the crowd for almost two hours.
Next up for The Minnows is a live show on Friday November 14 at the Half Moon Club in London, a live music venue with a rock and roll great tradition, having played host in the past to legendary bands like The Who, The Rolling Stones and early U2.
Then it’s the eagerly anticipated return home to the Black Box at the end of the month, a gig that the band has been looking forward to for months, and one that front man Michael is sure will be sold out.
“This is our first official live performance in Northern Ireland for many years but we’ve been working really hard to make sure that it will be worth the wait for those who can get a ticket,” said Michael.
“Our album Leonard Cohen’s Happy Compared To Me has been so well received in the first few weeks since its release, that it’s really important for us to back this up with live shows that are equally good, if not better.
“Now, the rehearsing is almost finished and it’s time to deliver the goods on stage. Our secret gig in Donegal was an overwhelming success and now we can’t wait to take the show to a larger audience. If the atmosphere in Belfast and London is anything like it was in Downings, then it will really be a night to remember.
“We only announced the Belfast gig on our website last week and the Black Box has reported that tickets are selling really quickly so it looks like we’ll be playing our first home show to a packed house which is really exciting,” he added.
Tickets for the exclusive Belfast and London shows are available on www.blackboxbelfast.com and www.halfmoon.co.uk. | | | posted by, jackie | Mon 03rd, Nov 2008 16:51 |
| !!!!!!!! BELFAST GIG CONFIRMED !!!!!!!!! | | Following the announcement of The Minnows' live performance in London on November 14, the band has now confirmed a second live show - this time in their home city of Belfast.
The gig will take place at the prestigious live venue The Black Box in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter on Saturday November 29.
Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 in advance or £12.50 on the door and are available to buy on
http://www.blackboxbelfast.com/event.aspx?e=154.
Booking early is advised as the show is sure to be a sell-out.
I don't know about you but here at theminnows.com, we can't wait to see the lads in action!! | | | posted by, jackie | Thu 23rd, Oct 2008 15:48 |
| LONDON GIG CONFIRMED | | At long last the band have announced their first 'live' date to promote the new album - Leonard Cohen's Happy Compared To Me. Legendary rock venue the Half Moon in Putney hosts The Minnows' first fully fledged live gig in a number of years on Friday 14th November. Tickets are available on www.halfmoon.co.uk - book early to avoid disappointment. Further gigs to be added. Watch this space. | | | posted by, jackie | Wed 08th, Oct 2008 15:06 |
| !!!!!! SIGNED ALBUM WINNERS REVEALED !!!!!! | |
As you know, all fans registered on theminnows.com were entered into a draw to win one of five signed copies of the new Minnows' album Leonard Cohen's Happy Compared To Me. Frontman Michael R kindly stopped by Minnows HQ today to make the draw and our five winners are as follows: SINEAD McGRATH............ SATOKI MIYAZAKI........... GAIL MEADOW........... PETER KLAPPROTH........... and finally MASANOBU SUGA. Congratulations to our five winners. If they could email their full addresses to info@theminnows.com, we will post your signed copy to you as soon as possible. | | | posted by, jackie | Fri 12th, Sep 2008 15:59 |
| !!!!!!! LISTEN TO NEW ALBUM TRACKS ON MYSPACE !!!!!!!!!! | |
You can check out some more new tracks from The Minnows' new album Leonard Cohen's Happy Compared To Me on www.myspace.com/minnowsmusic.
As well as full versions of singles The Wedding and Freeman, you can check out Dreams and Why Don't You Phone Me Anymore.
Don't forget that the album goes on sale here on theminnows.com on Friday!!!
| | | posted by, jackie | Wed 10th, Sep 2008 16:50 |
| !!!!! MINNOWS REVEAL ALBUM TRACKS !!!! | | I'm sure you're as excited as we are at the imminent launch of The Minnows' new album Leonard Cohen's Happy Compared To Me - which you can buy here on FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12.
As we get closer to the release date, we're picking up more information about the album.
Leonard Cohen's Happy Compared To Me will feature 10 epic tracks which include:
1) Dreams, 2) The Wedding, 3) Roonkin, 4) Something New, 5) Why Don't You Phone Me Any More?, 6) Father Can You Help Me, 7) Baby Blue, 8) Jackanory, 9) Familiarity Breeds Contempt, 10) Free Man Freeman
The album will be available in HMV stores throughout Ireland (north and south), as well as the new Good Vibes record store in Belfast.
Of course, fans from all over the world can buy the album here on theminnows.com - indeed many of you have already pre-ordered the CD as part of our limited edition bundle offer. Those who have will be pleased to know that you will receive your albums in the post next week.
It's been a long time coming but having heard the album, it's going to be worth the wait.
In the meantime, have a read at the following from the Culture Northern Ireland website.
http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article.aspx?art_id=1497
Watch this space for more details over the next few days.
| | | posted by, jackie | Thu 04th, Sep 2008 16:35 |
| MINNOWS CONFIRM ALBUM LAUNCH DETAILS | | AT LAST, The Minnows have confirmed that their long awaited new album will go on sale on Friday September 12 2008.
The album 'Leonard Cohen’s Happy Compared To Me' is the first album to be released on the legendary Good Vibrations record label in 17 years and will be available at HMV stores across Ireland, as well as the new Good Vibes record store in Belfast and, of course, right here on www.theminnows.com.
The album will feature 10 tracks (we hope to confirm the track listing soon) and the band claims that it's the best work they've done to date.
I'll let you in on a secret. I've heard the album and they're right... it is! It's an absolutely fantastic piece of work (although I have to say that I'm a bit biased!).
Watch this space for more details. You should be able to preorder the album on this site soon to guarantee that you're amongst the first to receive a copy.
Alternatively, if you haven't bought any of the singles, the bundle offer of three singles and album for just £17.99 is still available.
| | | posted by, jackie | Fri 29th, Aug 2008 15:53 |
| THE VIBE IS BACK IN BELFAST | | THE most famous record store in Northern Ireland is back in business after an absence of more than 15 years.
Good Vibrations, which made its name as both a record store and an independent recording label in the late 70s, was officially opened on by guitarist Billy Harrison, who played with Van Morrison in the legendary Belfast band Them.
Now operating out of a three-story building in Belfast’s Winetavern Street, ‘Good Vibes’ started life in 1977 from a derelict building in Great Victoria Street which quickly became a hub for musicians and artists looking for an escape from the troubles.
The arrival of the punk rock era saw Hooley release his first singles on the Good Vibrations label, which famously included ‘Teenage Kicks’ by The Undertones, a song that propelled the young band from the streets of Derry to stardom, and the record label to global recognition. Other bands on the label at that time included Rudi, The Outcasts and Protex.
The record label is also undergoing a resurgence, having released the first two singles from The Minnows forthcoming new album.
The album itself will be released in September and is the first album on the Good Vibrations label in 17 years. More details on the release of the album to follow later this week.
Terri’s excitement is impossible to hide.
“I’m not often lost for something to say but words cannot describe how thrilled I am to be going back to my roots and relaunching Good Vibes,” said Terri, who in the past has notoriously had ‘run-ins’ with John Lennon and Bob Dylan.
“The past year has been brilliant and I’m delighted to be making records again on he Good Vibes label but to have the store open again is an amazing feeling.
“For a number of reasons, Good Vibrations has been away for too long and its return has been long overdue. However, the time is now right and we’re entering a really exciting new era for the store and the label,” said Terri.
“The Minnows and Good Vibrations go back a long way and the launch of the band’s new album is another important milestone in the company’s revival, particularly as it’s one of the best albums from these parts in many years. It’s music for today’s generation and I think it will open a few eyes and ears.
“It certainly opened mine,” laughed Terri, who lost an eye in an accident when he was just six years old.
| | | posted by, jackie | Tue 26th, Aug 2008 18:07 |
| 'SWEETLY MELANCHOLIC MEDITATION! FIRST REVIEW NOW IN | | Second single from the forthcoming album - 'The Wedding' is starting to get reviews from DJ's and the music press. One of Ireland's music magazines, Alternative Ulster, has just posted a review on their website of all 3 tracks. See what they had to say by visiting the web address below. We will upload others as we get them.
http://iheartau.com/reviews-single/the-minnows-the-wedding | | | posted by, jackie | Thu 05th, Jun 2008 23:06 |
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