Accommodation near RDS

 

O2 Dublin concerts, RDS Concerts, Accommodation near o2, Accommodation near RDS, The WHO, Neil Young, Elton John, Rob Stewart, BILLY JOEL, BARRY GIBB, FLEETWOOD MAC, ROGER WATERS, LEONARD COHEN, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Music Festivals in Ireland in 2013 will be dominated by pop-icons who have long since arrived in the autumn of their adventurous and exciting lives. They have brought much joy and happy memories to millions of fans across the world with their acoustic gymnastics, lyrical poetry and vocal mastery. The WHO, Neil Young, Elton John, Rob Stewart, BILLY JOEL, BARRY GIBB, FLEETWOOD MAC, ROGER WATERS, LEONARD COHEN and BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN have collectively notched up over one-thousand Earth-years, yet their persona and music remain timeless. This same group of pop-icons have sold over one-billion records to their adoring fans and there is no sign that fans will ever tire of their ability to take to the stage and deliver performances that are the envy of many who have yet to depart the summer of their earth years.

Music festivals in Ireland in 2013 will be dominated by some of the greatest music icons of their day who continue to turn on the magic of their youth. Who will forget the Springsteen concert in Slane back in the day when the stage rocked in harmony with the white-water crashes of the historic River Boyne, and Red Red Wine was a heart stopping classic that echoed to pulsating chants and synchronised fist salutes.

It must be said that the male of the musical species appear to have greater longevity that their female counter-parts, that does not mean that we do not continue to yearn for a return to the wonder years that were brought to us by musical icons such as Tina Turner.

We constantly ask ourselves, why do this men who have already secured their place in the Hall of Fame and one assumes are in a comfortable financial position continue to be Globetrotters of the world and putting on stage performances that are as fabulous today as they were when these music icons first struck a chord with their public following. If you are lucky enough to get up close to the stage at any of these music festival treats, and you look into the eyes of these musical legends, you will be looking into youthful pools now encased in tiring vessels. These guys are still teenagers, each chord; each lyric is an echo for the love of music and all the joy that it can bring to individuals, couples, families, nations and generations.  These guys have music in their genetic code that intertwines with their music genre and producing a vocal tapestry that will hang upon the wall of time.

Do these music legends continue to take to the stage in order to seek adulation from their fans, do they need to be reminded that they are still loved, that they have not let anyone down by tending to some of the softer moments in life, such as family and home. No, these guys take to the stage, and will continue to do so until they can do so no more, because it is their lives worth. These music icons have lived and breathed music for the entirety of their lives; it is more than their life is worth, to stop, while they can still go.

When Bob Geldoff takes to the stage in Vickers Street he will turn out some unfamiliar tunes, because, during quiet time he likes to work on new stuff, and it’s great, yet at the end of his gig, Bob will turn it right on for his 70s fans with, ‘Tell me Why I Don’t Like Mondays’, and that is what all great music icons do for their fans, they keep trying to do it newer and better, and they want to share all that is good about what they love.

In 20 years I may be writing about Bono and U2 kicking off in the Aviva Stadium for their come-back tour, or Robbie Williams helping Madonna up onto the stage so that they can perform a much sought after duet in space suits and Bay City Roller platform boots, as they fans struggle with the latest version of IPhone which was much easier to handle back in the day. In 2033, fans may be able to order drinks in the Aviva by bumping their IPhone off the beer tenders serving tray, but little will have changed for those heroes of the musical family, who simply want to entertain you.

THE WHO

The Who? Formed in London in 1964, The Who, above all other rock bands of that era, influenced future musicians who wanted to use aggression as well as melody to make their mark. Classic proto-punk songs such as My Generation, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere and I’m a Boy set the tone for bands as diverse as U2, Flaming Lips and Pearl Jam.

How old? Remaining original members Daltrey, 69, and Townshend, 68.

Best moment back in the day? Keith Moon’s whirlwind drumming, Pete Townshend’s windmill guitar style, John Entwistle’s bass solo on My Generation and Roger Daltrey’s big swinging microphone.

Can they still cut it? In a live setting, yes, they still rock it hard and fast with a doozie of a back catalogue.

Playing when? Saturday June 8th, O2, Dublin.

NEIL YOUNG

Who he? One of rock music’s finest songwriters. His work is characterised by highly personal and political lyrics, an unparalleled stubbornness, filigree folk touches and a shredding guitar style that puts younger guitarists to shame.

How old? 67.

Best moment back in the day? Take your pick from his early folk albums, the Goldrush (1970) and Harvest (1972).

Glory (1990) and Weld (1991).

Can he still cut it? Oh, yes. This Canadian is still kicking against the pricks, his latest album (with old chums Crazy Horse),

Psychedelic Pill, is a guitar-heavy gem.

Playing when? Saturday June 15th, RDS, Dublin.

ELTON JOHN

Who he? UK songwriter Elton John has sold more than 250 million records throughout a four-decade career, making him one of the most successful recording artists ever.

How old? 66.

Best moment back in the day? The first half of the 1970s saw John release eight albums that quickly established him (with co-songwriter Bernie Taupin) as one of the finest pop tunesmiths of that decade.

Can he still cut it? Yes with such albums as 2006’s The Captain and the Kid, and 2010’s The Union (with Leon Russell), prove there’s cred in the salty old dog yet. Forthcoming album The Diving Board promises to be a collection of stripped-back, piano-led songs.

Playing when? June 23rd, The Marquee, Cork.

ROD STEWART

Sailing into history? Rod the Mod. Rod the Lad. Rodders. One of the best-selling artists of all time – he has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, you know.

How old? 68.

Best moment back in the day? As well as being pivotal in the formation of good-time lads band, The Faces, Stewart produced a string of solo albums in the late 1960s and early 1970s that have effortlessly stood the test of time: An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down (1969), Gasoline Alley (1970), Every Picture Tells a Story (1971) and Never a Dull Moment (1972).

Playing when? Saturday June 29th, RDS, Dublin.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

The Boss? The Boss, is still the Boss and will always be the

How old? 63.

Best moment back in the day? Take your pick from his 1975 breakthrough album, Born to Run, 1978’s Darkness on the Edge of Town, 1980’s The River, 1982’s Nebraska, and 1987’s Tunnel of Love.

Can he still cut it? Yes. 2002’s The Rising, 2005’s Devil and Dust, 2007’s Magic, and 2012’s Wrecking Ball reveal an artist who still marries a keen social and political conscience with songs that rock, roll and remain on the right side of sincere.

Playing when? Saturday July 20th, Kings Hall, Belfast; Saturday July 27th/Sunday July 28th, Nolan Park, Kilkenny.

LEONARD COHEN

Hallelujah? Canadian poet, novelist and singer-songwriter, highly adept at exploring interpersonal relationships, sexuality, religion, depression and – quite microscopically – the meaning of life.

How old? 78.

Best moment back in the day? The austere, but often startlingly beautiful 1967 debut, Songs of Leonard Cohen, and its 1969 follow-up, Songs from a Room.

Can he still cut it? Yes. Following a self-imposed exile, Cohen returned in 2001 with the album Ten New Songs. His latest album, 2012’s Old Ideas, contains songs as good as any he has written.

Playing when? Wednesday September 11th/ Thursday, September 12th, O2, Dublin.

ROGER WATERS

Pinky? Founding member of Pink Floyd, one of the cornerstones of psychedelic rock music. Waters has toured extensively as a solo act for over 13 years.

How old? 69.

Best moment back in the day? As a member of Pink Floyd, he was involved in the creation of era-defining albums such as 1967’s The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and 1973’s The Dark Side of the Moon.

Playing when? Wednesday September 18th, Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

FLEETWOOD MAC

Who they? The band behind the classic 1970s album Rumours.

How old? The current members are Mick Fleetwood (65), John McVie (67), Lindsey Buckingham (63) and Stevie Nicks (65).

Best moment back in the day? As a British blues band, 1968’s Need your Love so Bad.

As a reconfigured UK/US pop band, 1977’s Rumours.

Can they still cut it? In a live setting, yes – they’re all highly proficient musicians and vocalists who perform the old hits very well.

Playing when? Friday September 20th/Saturday September 21st, O2, Dublin.

BARRY GIBB

Who he? The eldest and last surviving member of the Bee Gees. The Guinness Book of Records claims Gibb as the second most successful songwriter in history (behind Paul McCartney).

How old? 66.

Best moment back in the day? There are several: the Bee Gees had a high success rate. Choose from 1960s hit To Love Somebody, 1970s hits How Deep is your Love and Stayin’ Alive, and 1980s hit You Win Again.

Playing when? Wednesday September 25th, O2, Dublin.

BILLY JOEL

Who he? A true-blue American hit maker across from the 1970s through the 1980s and into the 1990s.

How old? 64.

Best moment back in the day? The 1977 album, The Stranger, and the 1978 album, 52nd Street, contain the best examples of Joel’s adult-confessional style.

Can he still cut it? He hasn’t released a pop-orientated album since 1993’s River of Dreams, but the hits will carry him through the shows on his forthcoming winter tour.

Playing when? Friday November 1st, O2, Dublin.

This entry was posted in Accommodation near RDS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.