Small, but most certainly massive...

Just a shout out to Paddy, Stella & all those involved in the Glasgowbury music festival. A huge congratulations to you all for winning the following awards at the Irish Festival Awards;

Best Small Festival
Best Lineup
Best Family Festival
Best Service

I'm looking forward to the 10th anniversary of the now legendary noise in the heart of the Sperrin Mountains. Last year was nothing short of breathtaking, and if you missed it; then thats a damn shame.

So once again, I hold my glass up to all the people involved in Glasgowbury. If music be the food of love, then I fucking love you guys!

The festival will be taking place this year on Saturday 24th July. For all information, including lineup, ticket information etc, just click this!

See you on the mountain!



J

The 'Gifted' Empire Music Hall...

Gifted indeed. A venue that has been blessed with beautiful decor, an amazing intimate stage, gorgeous lights and a somewhat sacred reputation for comedy & music.
This isn't all just a coincidence, however... It was a church way back in the day, and has since become a mecca for music and comedy alike.
But enough of the history; I may wear a tweed coat, but I'm not quite there yet!

We got there right on time, and got straight to work; (on a personal note, I'd like to say thanks to Ronnie from The Vals for letting me use his amazing Vox 2x12 cab. It sounded amazing with my Kelly head, and I am currently now sifting through online music stores to try and pick one up!)
The sound was great, and we previewed one of our newest songs to a lucky few during soundcheck!

So, the stage was set, so we went backstage and got ourselves ready for a new radio show on Féile FM (103.2 - http://www.feilefm.com/) with our very own Junior Johnson alongside Eamon Loughlin with 'E & J's Showcase'! We sang the a cappella version of Leadbelly, and chatted to the lads online. Juniors voice? What a smooth guy!



Eamon & Junior hard at it!



So, back to the Empire.

The crowd, although small; were receptive, and seemed to enjoyed it as much as we did. The sound was great onstage and from what I've been told, sounded great out front!
We had a 30 minute set, which sadly; as all bands know, feels like 15 minutes so I didn't jump around as much (It takes me about 30 minutes to go a bit nuts!)

Well, tomorrow is the Cellar Bar in Draperstown (lovingly re-dubbed 'Whiskeytown' by ourselves), and its been a while since we've been down, so looking forward very much to it.

Cheers for reading,

J

Bakebook...!!!

Jesus... is there anything Facebook cannot link upto..? Beginning to get a bit worrying come to think of it.

I just found out how to link our external bogspot up to Facebook. This just means all you FB users can now keep up to date with HCTLG news and Johnny's post gig depictions. Nice!?!

over and out
M.

HCTLG live on Balcony TV

Live Album & DVD penciled in for April!!

This will be shot and recorded on Saturday 24th April 2010 in The Orchard Cinema Derry, a nice retro setting with an intimate feel in front of 100 lucky cool catz!!

In the current cold climate for good music we're swamped with terribly over produced, mindlessly boring money driven plastic bands that all sound the same! So after toying with a few ideas we decided to go for a no-holds barred live album because:

a) Live is what we're all about and this will capture the HCTLG beast in all its raw intensity

b) We like to make things extra difficult for ourselves and planning this and piecing it all together will be our biggest challenge to date

&c) Traditionally a debut album is recorded in a studio, not live in front of an audience and we would like to break that mould and be different

Details of the night and how to get tickets etc will be coming soon as so watch this space!

Keep er country

Wally
HCTLG

Gaza Gig...

We all didn't arrive until quite late, so missed a few of the acts on earlier; need that to stop! People came to watch us support other bands! Another resolution set for 2010.

The crowd were vext up, and ready for some rock. We decided to have a bit of a runabout in the old setlist, and started with a heavy hitting version of 'Bad Boat'; Wally beat the drums while the rest of us picked up our guitars and bass, and prepared for take off... a wall of sound and screeching guitars opening the gig.

We went on to play through the set (dedicated 'The Balled of the Landed Gentry' to Mr Eamon McCann (if you've not heard from him, there is this thing called google on the internet... interesting read!)

We ended our set with the, now infamous 'LeadReggae' which got folks moving.

So thats that gig done; whats next?

Johnny

Duly scolded...

Yes readers; Mr Doherty had a word in my ear, and reminded me that that there was a blog to write (also a tweet or two), so I'll fill everyone in on the happenings over the Christmas period...

First and foremost, I hope that everyone had a merry Christmas, and is so far enjoying 2010. Its going to be a great year for us (hopefully) and there are a few things in the pipeline; so keep an eye on www.herecomesthelandedgentry.com for updates, and now that I'm back writing blogs... keep an eye here too.

I couldn't write this without mentioning the weather we've been having over the last four weeks! According to that reliable source we call 'the news', its been the coldest weather for 30 years! The river in Derry was frozen, there have been over 400 (again, according to 'the news') admissions to the hospital for broken limbs due to falls... Rob and Wally had some difficulty getting to their homes (taking 25 minutes to walk up the hill, which normally takes 2).

The gigs we played over December were eventful, as well as complicated to get to...
One gig in Belfast; there was a wee attempted break into Alabaster (our temperamental little van; yes, she has a name).
Rob politely had a quiet word with one of the culprits, and explained the guy the error of his ways. The little thieving chap agreed that he was in the wrong, and kindly gave us two beers and a bottle of cider. We didn't want the cider, but felt it rude not to take it; so we accepted the kind offer, and threw it away. As the lad was leaving, the silly moose tripped on the footpath and his phone fell down the drain. Shame, it looked expensive. (A word out to Thumper, who drove us all the way to Belfast in treacherous weather and back again in worse! Good man yourself! Cheers!)
So needless to say, after the incident with the van, we had a few jars and played what was possibly THE gig I remember least, due to copious amounts of *insert drink here, because I have no idea*
On the Glenshane mountain, on the way back; we stopped in snow which was up to our knees, in which Rion seen fit to rugby tackle me into the snow. I'm certain there is video evidence of it; but again... I have no idea.

So guys & gals; short and sweet... Don't want to jump right in and start explaining everything thats happened; it'd be a bit boring. So I shall leave it there.
My new years resolution? I shall be updating the blog on a much more regular basis!
Cheers to everyone who supported us in 2009, there would be too many people to mention, so if your reading this... you are the supporters. Pat yourselves in the back, and a big Thank you to you all!

See you all soon!

Johnny