The Underground of Happiness

Chapter 20 August closes with Pretty Happy . One of Cork’s current finest. In Triskel Christchurch of all places. And showing a film they made also of all things. About Cork’s Arcadia legacy. For that alone huge credit. Acknowledging their post punk ancestry. After the film the band played. Arann begins with a sermon from the actual 18th century pulpit (this dedicated later to the recently deceased Cathal Coughlan). Then Abbey enters from the back of the room. Up the aisle spraying holy water. Yes the ghost of Cathal Coughlan is alive and well. The gig is a riot of fuzz in celebration of the everyday. Vignettes of hangovers and pseudocream and nights in A&E. Absurdist maybe but full of profound insights. And while Cathal Coughlan is there alright, it’s the spirit of Finbarr Donnelly which is particularly thick in the air – after all Finbarr was a huge influence on Cathal – challenging, provoking, disturbing. Also Arann on bass seems to be mining a Kev Hopper (Stump) str...

Chapter 11 Later that night Leagues had HTRK in Cyprus Avenue . That’s Hate Rock. An Australian duo who come on like a half asleep Cocteau Twins. In case you’re wondering that’s a beautiful thing. Fuzzy. Narcotic. Full of soul and heart. Wonderful show. Beforehand Elaine Malone played as Mantua . I liked her EP from a few years ago. Jazz inflected indie guitar songs. Tonight she performed a volte face that would make Dylan going electric seem like a minor tweak. She emerged onto a dark stage. Sat down cross legged. Played harmonium. Chanted ancient melodies. I say chanted but don’t get the wrong idea. Elaine’s a fine singer. Just she wasn’t so much singing here as channelling. To fantastic effect. With neverending drones. It was very impressive, the music and the new (to me at least) direction. Rhinestones by HTRK MANTUA by MANTUA

Chapter 10 Leagues hooked up with Pretty Happy to stage a lovely day out in the park behind Shandon part of Cork Midsummer Festival . Food stalls. Coffee. Kids games. Cork Queer History. More on those talented Pretty Happy people later. On this day bands played in a cross sectioned caravan. It was midsummer. The wind blew. I took my 11 year old. We saw I Dreamed I Dream play. Four young women looking shit cool and spitting fire and melody. The outstanding I played the bass was the highlight. My 11 year old is not easily impressed and she did not once ask if we could leave. We agreed they had something alright. Even cooler, we passed the bass player on our way to school the following week. https://www.foggynotions.ie/festivals/festival/quare-cork-midsummer-2022