Pop Gig Blow-Out: Kelly, J-Lo, Marina and Cheryl Live Reviews

Being a fan of pop music means that sometimes you probably don't go to lots and lots of live gigs, especially if your biggest faves are the kinds who play to fairly big audiences. Thanks to some good luck, good mates and fortunate timing I managed to see a clutch of shows in the last month and decided to give each of them a mention here. I started with Cheryl's O2 show, then Kelly Clarkson the week after in the same venue, followed by Marina and the Diamonds in the Olympia before finishing with the Jennifer Lopez show in the O2 (I was in the O2 alot basically which is actually the perfect venue for a big pop show). Below is your handy guide to each show, the highlights and lowlights.

CHERYL COLE - O2 Dublin - 4/10/12

From Girls Aloud to solo-popstar/massive celeb status in many ways it makes total sense that Cheryl Cole is now touring. But for all the glitzy, enjoyable fun of her arena show it also highlights just how she’s never quite hit her stride as a solo performer. There are plenty of slick, dance-driven moments during the A Million Lights tour but there are too many moments where the whole thing feels a bit rushed and a ballad too many threatens to derail things altogether. It’s still a fun show overall, Cole is charismatic and likeable especially when nailing those trademark moves but it's not quite the flawless romp you'd love for her to do. An encore of Fight For This Love ramps up the spectacle in a way lacking at other parts of the show and reminds you that with a few bigger hits and a bit more time she could really compete with Rihanna et al.

Cheryl is back on tour with Girls Aloud later next year, details here 

KELLY CLARKSON - O2 Dublin - 10/10/12

Between that near-perfect pop voice and her genuine air, it’s hard not to fall a little bit in love with Kelly Clarkson by the end of her Dublin show. A non-stop ride through all of her best tracks and the strongest album cuts from her recent gem Stronger mean that this is a concert that never really lets up. It’s not a big, dance-driven spectacle but Clarkson and a tight backing band whip up so much pop magic that you wouldn’t even notice. Highlights include a stunning cover of Nothing Compares 2 U that brings awed silence to the arena, a jaunt into the crowd for the underrated Already Gone and the debut live airing of new single Catch My Breath. Best is an exhilarating encore that lines up some of Clarkson’s best songs in quick succession in a final charm offensives that leaves more than a few hearts broken when she leaves.

Kelly's album Greatest Hits : Chapter One is out mid-November

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS - The Olympia Theatre, Dublin - 17/10/12

Marina and The Diamonds has turned her camp-quirky-art-pop stylings into a heady mix of chart-fodder and artistic expression on current album Electra Heart. So the Dublin stop of her Lonely Hearts Club Tour has a rabid audience swooning to songs from both releases. Despite the slight change in tone between her first and second album her knack for writing sharp, brassy songs layered with wit means that nothing falls flat and her wink-wink take on female archetypes breathes life into your standard pop show. A striking beauty with an un-earthly voice and a down-to-earth presence at odds with her beaming star-power Marina held The Olympia in her thrall with just a bat of an eyelid and rightly so. 

Marina returns to The Olympia November 20th.

JENNIFER LOPEZ - The O2 Dublin - 19/10/12

Whether she’s from the block or fresh off the American Idol judging panel Jennifer Lopez still commands plenty of attention and although this is her first ever world tour you can’t help but be impressed by just how good the J-Lo live experience is. Firstly, her voice is a real surprise. It’s not big and she’s not hitting those Mariah notes but the voice you know from all those hits sounds just as good when she’s clearly singing live and even when she does an acoustic number or two (I know. I know). Better is her dancing which is completely perfect, recreating her iconic music video moves with ease. She also has a charismatic, A-list glow that is easy to be dazzled by and has a rabid audience on their feet throughout (no mean feat at a pop gig with tiered seating). By the time J-Lo has run through basically every one of her hit songs (although why Play was omitted I’ll never know) you’re left with no doubt as to Lopez chops as a performer and to why she didn’t do this world tour sooner. Stunning stuff.

JLo's Greatest Hits album Dance Again: The Hits is out now

Marina and The Diamonds Unveils "How To Be A Heartbreaker" Video

This has been quite the banner year for Marina and the Diamonds with album number two, Electra Heart finding her critical and commerical success. It's a triumphant and intelligent pop album that does big choruses and big ideas with aplomb. There was little need to add a new song after it's release but How To Be A Heartbreaker (Added to the US releases of the album and a proposed reissue over here) is such a strong slice of contemporary pop that it's easy to make excuses.

The bubbly Dr. Luke/Benny Blanco/Cirkut cut (co-written with Marina of course) plays like the twin sister to Primadonna, a clever take on that polished American pop sound that will make a perfect radio hit while still allowing some personality to shine through.

After a delay over releasing the video because she looked "ugly" (According to her tweets anyway) the video is finally here and it's a slideshow of painfully hot male models in swimsuits and barely there outfits who look on as Marina flirts knowingly. It's a slick and engaging visual mashing up 50s/60s teen culture references with some late 90s bubblegum pop references too (there's also quite the feel of Bruce Weber and Herb Ritts to the way the models are photographed, that glossy fashion mag goes pop feel is laced throughout). Indulge in plenty of male flesh and nudge-nudge-wink-wink Marina moves below:

It's funny how this contrasts with Christina Aguilera's Your Body video which arrived today also. Both songs and videos paint the female popstar as in control and seducing men with their knowing feminine wiles. Marina, in contrast to the colorful splatter movie take of Xtina's effort, is a tad more subtle however neatly turning the notion of a female character left wanting by a no-good male of a million teen movies on it's head while appreciating male beauty and sending up the objectification of both male and female bodies in pop videos. Both videos are laced with a camp wit, although Marina also scores points on the "just look how many boys in speedos I have" front.

How To Be A Heartbreaker is available on the US edition of Electra Heart and will be released here in mid October.

Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda Vol. 02 : Lindsay Lohan - Stuck

I did a post in this vein AGES ago and when I co-hosted the Boombox radio show on RTE Pulse we made Coulda Woulda Shoulda a weekly feature, picking tracks we thought should have been massive, never got to be singles etc! It's now back with a feature from one of my favourite Hollywood trainwrecks/occasional popstar Lindsay Lohan

(cover art from Coverlandia) 

Lindsay has released two albums, Speak in 2004 and the follow up A Little More Personal (Raw) in 2005. Although she never scored a huge hit there were some enjoyable moments scattered between both albums and Lohan has a decent voice with a husky, emotional side you mightn't expect. A third release, a R&B pop effort called Spirit In The Dark was mooted for 2007. But despite the single Bossy being officially released in 2008, written and produced by Ne-Yo and Stargate no less, there hasn't been anything else released by La Lohan.

There have been plenty of leaks however and the standout track is a gem called Stuck. A moody, synth pop number with waves of guitar splashed all over it, the track only exists as a slightly unpolished demo but it feels like a bonafide hit. It's not clear who wrote or produced the track, which appeared online in 2010 but it would still work as a radio-ready pop track today. The big-chorus has lashings of drama ("Sticky fingers, sticky hands, sticky everything!" Lindsay wails) while the verses see Lohan giving it plenty of growling sass. 

Even Marina and the Diamonds is a fan it seems. In an interview with Elle US for their 2011 music she sung the track's praises:

ELLE: What song are you listening to on repeat?

Marina: Remember that Lindsay Lohan demo from last year "Stuck"?

Elle: No...?

Marina: Oh, you have to Youtube it! It's the perfect pop song. It's such a shame it wasn't released I wish they would give it to me!

To be honest, if it's good enough for Marina then it's good enough for me. Stuck is something of a hidden gem and a perfect contender for Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda. With Lindsay finally back on the movie thing (she's filming a Liz Taylor TV movie now and then slated to film with Brett Easton Ellis next month) maybe a pop comeback is in Lindsay's future? 

Give Stuck a listen below:

Dear Blog: An Open Letter

Dear Blog,

It's been awhile hasn't it? A week almost. I know it's been a bit patchy between us but I do care. I do. I've just been doing other things that have meant we've been missing out on our quality time.

Don't believe me? Well there is the small matter of Venntertainment, the other blog I write for. Yeah I know. I'm not betraying you, just keeping my options open. Because they've been kind enough to ask me to host a radio show I've been following up some of the show pieces on the blog.  So if you want to know how to brave Chat Roulette, make money as a musician, what should happen at awards shows (but doesn't), ways the internet could ruin your life or what celebs would be amazing to have tweet

Maybe you haven't heard the show but that's OK, if you click here you can catch up on all the podcasts so far. I mention you alot, isn't that one way of showing I care?

But don't worry I've done other stuff too, not least upload videos of me interviewing popstar types at the Meteors:

While also Live tweeting for IMTV at the Choice Music Prize, and also rehearsing for two (TWO plays) among other things. Not only that but I was on Spin 103.8 at the weekend talking about Marina and the Diamonds and Sugababes and filmed the lovely Sinead Ni Bhurda interviewing Ocean Colour Scene and Two Door Cinema Club for IMTV. Did I mention I finally finished the first season of 90210? It's been a crazy week.

So you see dear blog, I'm super busy but I'm going to give you a bit more time, I promise. So while I try and hunt down some dirt for you this week I'll also be doing the DJ thing (for both C U Next Tuesday and Come As Soon As You Hear) and attempting to soak up as much pop culture as possible.

Love ya blog,

Conor

Marina and the Diamonds: Album Launch and Brief Encounter

At this stage I'm sure many of you have heard of Marina and the Diamonds, one of the 2010's most exciting musical prospects. Brainy, quirky pop with a powerful mix of mainstream appeal and individual charm it wouldn't surprise me if her album The Family Jewels became something of a chart behemoth this year.





A sure sign of the impact of Marina on her already wide group of fans, Dublin club night Listen | Love are holding an album launch tomorrow night (Thursday the 18th) at the Chocolate Bar in Tripod. Organised by fans for fans (old and new) it's a chance to hear a genuinely great new pop album in the rather lovely settings of the Chocolate Bar. There'll be two plays of the album, tunes selected by Marina herself (I've had a sneak peek and she's picked a typically interesting but rather good mix!) and plenty of guest DJs including the wonderful Joey Kavanagh and Eimear Fitzmaurice of Come As Soon As You Hear taking over duties in the Chocolate Bar post Marina album (expect more than a fair share of great remixes and hidden gems). 


Not only that but I'll kicking off things in Crawdaddy from 11pm with a bit of a DJ set, followed by other fab DJs including Rich JC of Supersuperdisco (who I'm playing with this Saturday, do come along!), Aine Macken of Áit Ait and Peter Fingleton of C U Next Tuesday. There is also a bucket load of cheap booze, lots of Marina goodies and a general air of all around mischief.

If all that weren't enough (you greedy sod) there is also this rather lovely promo that myself and Helen O'Reilly of IMTV shot with the lady herself last week in Dublin (with thanks to both Listen | Love and Warner Music Ireland for having us in). We only had Marina for a brief few minutes in a rather hectic press day. She was very polite, professional and seemed very focused. I caught her talking to her PR about her other interviews that day. She was gracious and friendly but also wary of interviewers trying to portray as something she wasn't. It was nice to see that the intelligence of Marina's music was more than evident in person. And all that and she is awful pretty too. You can't quite see it in the video but her outfit was pretty fierce also.


Anyway enough droning on, check out the video below and do say hello if you make it to Listen | Love tomorrow!

How I Learned To Love Festivals: Electric Picnic 2009

I had the pleasure of experiencing both my first ever festival and my first ever Electric Picnic last weekend and after years of rolling my eyes at people harping on about festivals, groaning at the mention of “festival chic” and plugging my ears at blanket radio coverage I finally get it. What a weird, wonderful and utterly surreal way to spend a few days. Tramping around a field, finding yourself at outdoor raves in the middle of the night, throwing shapes to Chic in a crowded tent, accepting the fact that you haven’t showered in days, using face wipes every five seconds… the festival experience really has it all.

Music wise I didn’t experience much but what I did was very good. Marina and The Diamonds really impressed me. Gorgeous pop songs and a charismatic lady fronting them who oozed charm and down to earth presence, she was a real surprise and I can’t wait to hear more from her.

Chic were mindblowing. I’ve never seen so many people so upbeat and enthralled in music. It might sound hippie tastic but it was a genuinely uplifting experience. 2 Many DJs did a set of truly epic proportions and Imelda May was every inch the polished star in the best possible way, bashing out an effortless and totally enjoyable set. What I remember (ahem) of Passion Pit was also great and The Big Bang at Poptopia proved that there is stardom due for Veda Beaux Reeves, Bitches With Wolves and Neosupervital and not a moment too soon.Just a quick mention as well to LoveAction the charity that had me down there. Raising awareness for equality in Ireland, they did a stellar job and got a great response. Find out more here.

All in all I had a blast. Lets do it all again next year.