Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Music News
Arab Strap have a new single out from their forthcoming album I’m totally fine with it – don’t give a f**k anymore – . There should be two thumbs-up emojis after ‘it’ and “anymore” but they didn’t come out. The old digital-versus-print connundum in microcosm. Anyway, Strawberry Moon, the single, is great – and it has a sinister but fun video about a priest being chased through Glasgow by a werewolf. Singer Aidan Moffat said: “Lyrically, it’s maybe the most personal song on the album. About a period when I wasn’t doing very well, both mentally and physically. I was walking with a cane and in pain most of the time and drowning my sorrows too, trapped at home and watching the phases of the moon through a window. The moon always seems to pop up in my lyrics, and the song’s a sort of secular hymn in praise of her constant change. She’s always a comfort, always hopeful, and always makes me smile.” Arab Strap play the Empire Music Hall on September 11.
As world tours go they don’t get more worldy than 21 Pilots’ latest adventure. They’re all over the States, in Canada, New Zealand and Australia before hitting Europe – and ending up in Belfast, Dublin, Manchester and London. They’ll be wrecked. Luckily the hip-hop-rock crossover duo from Columbus, Ohio, still have youth on their side so they won’t be too knackered when they visit the SSE on May 8... in 2025. That’s right you have a whole year and a month to prepare for hits such as Stressed Out and latest belter New Semester. Tickets go on sale from 10am on April 5 and it may be a long way off but it’ll sell out super-quick...
He has a name that suggests rock and roll and poetry but it doesn’t give any hint of the rich baritone timbre of his voice. It’s only when you learn that young Glasgow singer songwriter Dylan John Thomas was inspired to learn the guitar after hearing Johnny Cash in his foster house that it all becomes clear. Recent single What I Need nods more to another legendary rock John though – this time Lennon – as he bangs out a delightfully Beatlesy melody on a piano in a cavernous white room. It’s pretty epic and his other work is fab too – more guitar based and folky, so all boxes ticked. What’s in a name, eh? Dylan John Thomas plays the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast on December 5...
If ever a country song was destined for Beyonce to cover it’s Jolene – the 1973 classic by Dolly Parton. The guitar flicks would work so well sampled and, well, her voice is well equipped to do it justice. The country legend reckons it’s a done deal. She said: “I think she’s recorded Jolene and I think it’s gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about.” Dolly also encouraged everyone to stream the original before the new track is out. Smart move...