C U LT ÚR
October 20 2020
7
SIAMSAÍO CHT
15
It is time to let the music play safely again By Conor Brummell I miss live music. I miss the anticipation of waiting to buy concert tickets the morning they go on sale, to the forgetting you have those tickets until the month or week before the gig and remembering with sheer delight the present past you had for you in the present. I miss the friends who would text you the morning a concert was announced, and say, “You up for it?”
I miss the buses you would get to concerts, and the excitement mounting for hearing the first drum beat of the night, or the first guitar string plucked, and the crowds screaming upon hearing the opening line of the first song. I miss the pre-concert dinner and drinks, and the panicked rush to get to the venue in time for the warm-up act when you have miscalculated the amount of time you had beforehand. I miss the busyness of a city, and the people around you
who have other plans. I miss standing for the support acts, the hidden gems you have never heard of but fall in love with because they are so good. I miss live music. The coronavirus pandemic has decimated Ireland’s entertainment calendar for this year, and for the foreseeable. No longer can hundreds of people gather in a room in collective awe of an artist on stage, or the lighting crew that make the experience so spec-
Artist such have Sam Fender have tried novel approaches to playing in front of crowds once again. Photo: journal.ie
tacular. Venues are hurting because of this, the same with staff, lighting and rigging crews, managers and of course artists themselves. There is very little support for creative talents who lost work because of Lockdown, and it begs the question, is it time to let the music play again? Irish band Two Door Cinema Club, known for hit-songs such as What You Know and Sleep Alone, have been vocal about the issue, stating on Twitter that governments and fans need to take risks to ensure the Arts survive past this pandemic. The wording of their tweets caused some controversy, with fans seeming to think the band meant for fans to literally risk their health to attend a concert. Instead, the message Two Door Cinema Club wanted to convey was that there are solutions to these problems faced by the arts and artists in both Ireland and further abroad, but that we’ve just not taken the chance to see if they work. Gavin James had a similar sentiment-he wanted to put on live, drive - in concerts that fans could attend from the safety of their own car after lockdown, with proceeds going to crew members so that their livelihoods were not completely destroyed. Initiatives like this have been taken in Germany and seemed to work well. The Irish Government, however, decided to cancel these concerts after they had sold out, not clarifying the reasoning for the decision, but presumably that they felt it would not
work, or that people would get out of their cars and not adhere to social distancing guidelines. Newcastle’s Sam Fender, known for songs such as Hypersonic Missiles and Will We Talk? had the opportunity to put on a socially distanced outdoor gig over the summer, where people came to stand on platforms with no more than six other people who were part of their bubble. The concert went viral because of its innovative attitude to letting music play safely - giving fans the entertainment they needed after such a long lockdown period, and because it raised vital funds for both the band and crew. The bottom line of the matter is that without artists and musicians we would have no television, music, or paintings. The things that help us through our darkest moments or lift us when we are at our highest would simply not exist. The longer we leave the decision to stop live concerts from happening, the longer we risk not having any live gigs to attend in the future. It is well and good asking an artist to live-stream a concert on YouTube or Instagram, but when there is no money being made from such a production, then literal livelihoods are at stake. Not just the artist’s -but the hundreds upon thousand of crew members, lighting technicians and venue owners around the world as well. It is time we take the risk and let the music play safely again or give the arts the supports they need to weather the silence.
(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? — SIN pays tribute to the best album of the 90’s Paddy Henry A beautiful cacophony of sounds that defined a generation. An album, the likes of which we will never hear again, in a world where any genre is available at one’s fingertips. Oasis’ second studio album ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ celebrated its silver jubilee this month, and a tribute must be paid to the mastery of the Manchester band , displayed so perfectly through the gravel, grit and optimism in its songs. The UK’s bestselling album of the 1990’s is packed with memorable numbers, not mentioning the eponymous title track which unleashes an onslaught of urban grunge on the listener from the outset, the sound of inner-city obscurity, tied in harmoniously with the whirring drone of a helicopter in both the intro and outro. The wonderful rawness of frontman Liam Gallagher’s vocals throughout the track, battling the words as they leave his mouth are iconic and leave listeners longing for the mid- 90’s. Deviating for the grungy rebelliousness of ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’; the soulful beauty of Noel Gallagher’s guitar playing prowess comes to the fore in what is without doubt the seminal song of the decade,
‘Wonderwall’ finds itself third up in the album’s track listing. In the 25 years that have followed on from its original release the opening chords of the song have been heard at every large social gathering with a guitarist in attendance. The band’s signature Northern English humility shines through, a no holes barred classic, stripped back, Mancunian brogue front and centre. In an album strewn with belters it is without doubt the most memorable track on the album. 25 years on, it is still held in the highest of regard among fans of the genre. It will continue to be for at least another 25. Any tribune the Britpop band’s magnum-opus could not be paid without mention of the beautifully sentimental and soothing ‘Champagne Supernova’. The listener is eased into seemingly quaint surrounds in the song’s introduction which slowly builds, culminating in a choral release of pent up sound. The track is a poetic epic of sorts, where the catchy, somewhat psychedelic lyrics continue to baffle listeners 25 years on, however, such is the artistry of Noel Gallagher’s song writing a lack of lyrical coherence matters little to the song itself, and if anything adds to the track’s magnificence. The equally epochal ‘Don’t look Back in Anger” is the final track on the album.
The song itself, like most on (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is instantly recognisable from the opening notes. The track has become a rallying cry over the years, and perfectly depicts the strength of human character and a never say die attitude. This was summed up in the days that followed the tragic events of the Manchester Arena bombing of May 22nd, 2017. A devasted community latched onto its melody, bringing a degree of comfort to a grief-stricken city. Its message of hope and defiance echoed throughout a packed Old Trafford Cricket Ground in the days that followed, as Liam Gallagher led the crowd, most of which not older than the song itself, in a heart-breaking rendition of the classic. In summation, as (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? reaches a quarter of a century, it is simply undeniable that the album ranks in the higher echelons of musical masterpieces over the last 25 years. The genius of Noel Gallagher shines through in the versatility of the album’s hallmark tracks, none of which would sound out of place at either the most raucous of football grounds on a Saturday afternoon, or the most solemn of church choirs on a Sunday morning. With over 22 million copies sold since its release, and the continuing
popularity of the album among those born after its original release in October 1995. it is hard to find a collection of music that has had an impact like
it. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? Will continue to be revered long into the future as the poster boy of Britpop brilliance.
Oasis’ second studio album recently celebrated its 25thbirthday Image: Rollingstone.com
