Mr. Deeds

roggernaut | Culture and politics | November 30, 2010

In the 1936 film Mr Deeds Goes to Town the eponymous character, Longfellow Deeds, is a small town poet who inherits 20 million dollars from his distant uncle. The solicitors responsible for the money arrive in Mandrake Falls to inform Mr Deeds of his new fortune. Immediately we understand that Mr Deeds does not share the same values as the city solicitors who are surprised, and a little exasperated, at his apparent disinterest in the news. ‘Why do I need 20 million dollars?’ says Deeds, satisfied with his life in the small town community. The solicitors don’t understand, setting the pattern for a comedy of misunderstanding.

We, the audience, know that Mr. Deeds is not stupid, while those around him presume that he is. Having moved to the city to take up his new responsibilities we see that his ways of responding to situations are often at odds with the normal functioning of that milieu. One of his responsibilities is to meet with people asking for money. The opera committee, for example, expect that a country poet will be a pushover in their efforts to secure funding for the year ahead. He tells them he likes music. He plays the tuba. They all smirk at one another, hardly suppressing their luck at finding such a sap. A ‘patron of the arts like your uncle’, they tease him. But when Deeds hears that they don’t make any money he makes it clear that he will not invest anything of his own fortune in the opera, even if it is ‘for higher reasons’. The overweight men are frustrated, not so much by his refusal, it seems, but by his insight.

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Charity singles from; Damien Dempsey, Glen Hansard, Eleanor McEvoy, Funzo, Saw Doctors

roggernaut | Everything about music | November 29, 2010

For the season that’s in it, we have compiled a list of Charity Singles:

GLEN HANSARD + DAMIEN DEMPSEY: ‘The Auld Triangle – In aid of St. Vincent De Paul
Glen and Damien said they recorded this song to highlight and raise funds for the work of Society of St. Vincent de Paul which includes offering help to the many households each day in Ireland who are having difficulty keeping the lights on.

The single will be available to buy in stores and to download from iTunes. The single features three tracks:
1. The Auld Triangle
2. Raglan Road
3. Not on Your Own Tonight (Part 2).
‘The Auld Triangle’ and ‘Raglan Road’ were recorded by Karl Odlum and mixed by John Reynolds in November 2010. ‘Not On Your Own Tonight’ is taken from Dempsey’s album ‘To Hell Or Barbados’, (Expanded Edition). The single features an illustration by Eyebrowy. Everyone involved in the production of this single has donated their time and services. The single is a good enough rendition of the classic ballad, that can only be given real justice by the late Luke Kelly.

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Into The Outside

Mark Kelleher | Short fiction and poetry | November 29, 2010

Georgina, since the age of just thirteen, smoked upwards of 20 cigarettes a day. The brand didn’t matter as much as the girth: they had to be thin, much like the beheaded sticks of sweet-shop lollipops. The rich velvet taste was essential, of course, but what she adored more than anything else was the feel and how it looked, clamped in her similarly thin fingers, plumes jutting from its flared top. She was a practised smoker. That is to say, she held a confident poise when engaging in the act. Unlike her cigarettes and the digits which enclosed them, her lips bulged – were bee-stung, as the papers termed the movie-queens.

It was a Benson she was fingering now. The moment, it should be noted, was the advent of the beginning. Or, perhaps even, the end. Galloway Park was alive in dancing shadows; spurges of black were cascading in swift motions along the sloped grassy knolls, the abandoned monkey-bars, and hedged labyrinth with its clipped clown faces at its mouth. The morning birds watched on from low-stooping branches, befuddled by the changing landscape and the wind carrying the leaves in exhaustive throws. Some screeched in confusion, others twiddled their wings, waiting for the passing of time.

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Performance art; A Matter Of Perception

hilary williams | Art and design | November 29, 2010

How one looks to oneself, how one is perceived by others, how one looks at a viewpoint either physical or metaphysical can all be a myriad of differences, like a crystal bouncing colours off a reflection in a puddle.
I like to seek out the abnormal. The crystal might show a prettier reflection but what’s seen in the muddy puddle maybe a vastly different experience.

Having vowed I was done with Performance Art workshops I found myself attending two more recently, so in this column I will be sort of reflecting on those experiences while in the present moment but, at times, might swing back to moments in my personal past which came to me whilst in those moments that are hidden from the viewers. But both belong together in a hotchpotch manner.

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Delicious Indian condiments: Apricot, Apple and Peach Chutney and Raita

Joseph x | Recipes from a mutant kitchen | November 29, 2010

This month our skills exchange foodie gives us some delicious recipes for Apple, peach and apricot chutney and Raita

Since I last spoke to you, I have been to India on the trip of a life time. I had been there before. I visited Kashmir in 1977, when I spent a memorable week on a houseboat on Dal Lake. This time, I travelled extensively in north-west India calling into tourist spots such as Delhi, Shimla, Agra, Udaipur and Jaipur. This is not a travel column and so I am precluded from dwelling on many of my experiences in this wonderful country. However, I can urge you to go there, if the opportunity comes your way. India is a bewitching place, full of colour and smells and the most charming, smiling, courteous people. It is very different than Europe and yes, signs of extreme poverty confront you there and can be upsetting and yes, hygiene standards are not ours. However, these negative factors should not deter you from following in my footsteps.

I am no longer young and was, I can assure you, no back-packer in India. Indeed, I stayed in upmarket hotels and travelled first class on the wonderful railway system. (Indian Railways, the largest employer in the world, offers travellers the choice of no fewer than seven different classes!) I felt such precautions were necessary if I was to avoid gastro-enteritis, which I did. While I did not often leave the purlieus of my various hotels to eat, I rarely consumed European food. No, it was Indian all the way and usually vegetarian food. Here is a country that has a vegetarian tradition going back thousands of years and is their food good? What culinary delights the Indian cook can conjure up with aubergines, okra, cauliflowers, lentils, potatoes and spinach!

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5 Things Sive Bresnihan always goes back to

roggernaut | All about mutantspace | November 29, 2010

Hello Magazine
I know, I know. But it’s true. I have been a fan since the age of 7 or 8. If memory serves me well, the first cover featured Fergie on the day of her wedding to Frog Prince Andrew. In Hong Kong, where I grew up, you couldn’t get Hello magazine and so it was a thing of ‘Summers in Ireland’. I remember afternoons spent curled up on the sofa with my equally deranged cousin ogling over glossy photos of ladies in high heels. Today the magazine pretty much does what it did back then – photo shoots and exclusive interviews with the rich and famous. I swear I am not interested in seeing photos of a harassed celebrity buying coffee in Starbucks or toilet paper in TESCO. You are probably laughing at my attempt to differentiate hello crap from other kinds of crap. On more than one occasion I have come home from the newsagent with a copy of the magazine and a family member has torn it out of my hands and raced off to the loo. I count myself as a straight up fan. As for the rest of them? Hypocrites

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Delicious Brussels Sprouts Recipes

Giles Clark | Recipes from a mutant kitchen | November 29, 2010

This month Brussels Sprouts are given a make over by our wonderful skills exchange chef who comes up with interesting and delicious ways to serve them

Little sulphuric orbs that stand for anything and all that may be anti-climatic about Christmas with the family. Brussels sprouts, having only made their way to Britain and Ireland in the early nineteenth century, promptly forced their way on to the Christmas table – as a ‘traditional’ accompaniment to roast turkey and ham. With the multiple commitments in and outside a Christmas Day kitchen word of mouth suggests that they are often not given the love what they may deserve. Boiled to mush instead and served with a hunk of butter and a “wouldn’t be Christmas with out ‘em”. Quite. Sometimes bad is beautiful. Most of the time though, and sprouts have a long season (from first frost through to spring) as the intensely sweet, nutty staple of these lands that they are, they deserve at least more attention than does pizza, pasta or any of the many bastardised imports.

Sprouts, almonds and rosemary
Some sort of equivalent to the Italian antipasti this – best eaten before a meal proper, with a cold drink and some fingers.

Smaller sprouts near the top of the stem are ideal here. Blanch them in salted boiling water for a couple of minutes, and shock them under a cold tap, then let them dry. Bake some skinless almonds in a medium oven for ten to 15 minutes – until they begin to tan and start to release their milk and honey aromas.

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Threat to the Euro and the Irish bailout

mire man | Life in a cultural petri dish | November 29, 2010

A few excerpts from our favourite online satirical ezine run by mutantspace.com member Donal Conaty

Trichet confirms threat to euro by dismissing threat to euro

European Central Bank (ECB) chief Jean-Claude Trichet has confirmed a threat to the stability of the euro by saying he knows of nothing that would threaten the stability of the euro.
Mr Trichet, who is clearly a member of Fianna Fáil, told shocked MEPs there was a “positive underlying momentum” in the economic recovery of the euro zone.

“This is terrible news,” an MEP told The Mire. “We didn’t realise how bad things were until he said they weren’t bad at all.”

Everything is going to be just fine, the Russians are coming

After some of the most turbulent weeks in the history of the State, the economic crisis that saw the IMF called in has been resolved by the Russians.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday that Russia wanted to open new naval bases abroad to increase the global reach of it military.

Apparently, Mr Medvedev immediately got a call from the Department of Foreign Affairs suggesting a “cash for Cobh” exchange.

“We’ve actually offered them all our ports and harbours. Sure we only use them for emigrating,” a Government source said.

“The Russians are delighted. It’s a win-win situation,” he added. “In exchange they’re going to pay the ECB off for us and make any difficult decisions for us going forward. They’ve even said we can keep our sovereignty.”

For more go to themire.net

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Bernie Gunther and Berlin Noir: The best thrillers you’ll ever read

roggernaut | Book reviews and writers | November 29, 2010

For any of you that love thrillers, especially those set in an historical context then the Berlin Noir novels written by Scottish author Philip Kerr must go to the top of your Christmas holiday reading list. Kerrs anti – hero, Bernie Gunther comes in the mould of all hard boiled detectives but being German and living in Berlin during the war years he has a very particular history.

So to a quick background sketch;
Bernie Gunther is a former soldier (he fought with the Wehrmacht on the Turkish Front in WW I) and an ex-cop (an inspector for the Kriminalpolizei). We first meet him in ‘March Violets’ working as a private eye in the pre-World War II years of Berlin specializing in missing persons. Due to the rise of National Socialism, business is brisk although Bernie has a habit of making enemies with the powers that be, namely the Nazi State.
March Violets is followed by two more books set in Berlin; ‘A Pale Criminal’ and ‘A German Requiem’. All three are stylishly written, powerfully evocative and offer a convincing picture of life in Germany before, during and immediately after the war. As a character, Bernie follows in the great private eye tradition of Hammett and Chandler and the books, with their in-your-face history lesson, make them one of best and most intriguing historical detective series.

After the trilogy was published many of us diehard fans thought that Bernie Gunther had disappeared himself thus marking the quick end of one of the truly great detective characters of 20th century fiction. However, after 15 years of critical acclaim for what became known as ‘The Berlin Trilogy’ it seems Philip Kerr did too and in 2006 he decided to bring Bernie back from the dead. In ‘One From the Other’ we caught up with Bernie managing a failing hotel in the shadow of the Dachau concentration camp, contemplating re-opening his private detective agency in the brave new world of American-occupied Germany. In 2008 we were treated once again to ‘A Quiet Flame’. This time around we found Bernie in 1950s Argentina, falsely accused of being a war criminal.

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About Opsound.org: Free Love, Free Music

roggernaut | Everything about music | November 29, 2010

Opsound is a gift economy in action, an experiment in applying the model of free software to music. Musicians and sound artists are invited to add their work to the Opsound pool using a copyleft license developed by Creative Commons. Listeners are invited to download, share, remix, and reimagine.

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Laughing at the state of our affairs

roggernaut | Life in a cultural petri dish | November 26, 2010

Well, after an incredible week in Irish politics I was wondering what I might write about in my last post of the week. I don’t particularly want to write another piece about the state of the country but my head is fixated on the collapse of the Irish economy and I can’t think of anything else. Like many people in this country I am absolutely flummoxed, aghast and angry over the shit this Government has left us in. The incompetence and downright lies we have been fed are quite incredible and I am still trying to come to terms with the Governments logic. Did they have any? Did they think we’d buy their lies? Did they think we were that stupid? That blind? Obviously. But they were wrong like they were with everything else.

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Circa 1979: A Signal to Noise with John Cale

roggernaut | Culture and politics | November 25, 2010

Thought you all might enjoy this video. A talk by the legend that is John Cale. To watch full programme with John Cale click ‘Watch Full Program’ in the bottom righthand corner of the screen – It’s one hour long.

John Cale has been directly involved in some of the most seminal moments in late 20th-century music. As a foundation member of the legendary New York band The Velvet Underground, the producer of The Stooges’ first album, composer of avant garde and experimental music, pioneer of drone and important solo artist, he has created some of the most influential sounds and techniques in modern music. He has worked with artists such as Brian Eno, Patti Smith, Nick Drake, Siouxie Sioux and the Happy Mondays.

Here, in a relaxed keynote address to the Sydney Festival, he opens his photo album and shares the intimate stories of “someone who spent his time trying to f**k up sounds”.

John Davies Cale is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground.

Though best known for his work in rock music, Cale has worked in various genres including drone, noise and classical. Since departing from The Velvet Underground in 1968 he has released approximately 30 albums. Of his solo work, Cale is perhaps best known for his album “Paris 1919,” plus his mid-1970s Island Records trilogy of albums: “Fear,” “Slow Dazzle,” and “Helen of Troy.”

Cale has produced or collaborated with Lou Reed, Nico, La Monte Young, John Cage, Terry Riley, Cranes, Nick Drake, Kevin Ayers, Brian Eno, Patti Smith, The Stooges, The Modern Lovers, Marc Almond, Squeeze, James Dean Bradfield, Happy Mondays and Siouxsie & the Banshees

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The ‘No News Diet’ Works Wonders

maveyb | Life in a cultural petri dish | November 25, 2010

I am on a diet. I would highly recommend it. It’s called the ‘no news’ diet. Because news is toxic, it is dirt. And, it is a major scaremongering tool. It does no woman, man, or child any favours. One can get very existential these days: where am I going? What the hell am I doing with my life? Will I ever truly own my own house? Will I be paying for the governments fuck-ups for decades to come? How much is that doggy in the window?

The other day, I thought back to a simpler time, a time when I had fewer priorities, and ultimately, fewer worries. When I was a child I loved playing in the sandbox (which undoubtedly had tons of cat pee in it), eating blades of grass, cutting up Barbie’s dresses to make curtains for my dolls house and making my own living-room productions of Broadway musicals. I grew up, and like most of us, got serious. Getting serious is not what it seems. Life does not have to be so serious. Ed. recently wrote about his daughter and her recent ‘Peppa Pig’ addiction, and like many parents I suppose, he reclaims his inner-child.

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Bankrupt Ireland: the avant garde vs the arts establishment

roggernaut | Life in a cultural petri dish | November 24, 2010

Seems my pig blog hit common ground. Always good to know my daughter isn’t the only one with an unhealthy relationship with a pink pig. Perhaps we should all revert to imaginary lands of muddy puddles where everybody rolls around laughing no matter what the outcome. I’m writing this as I listen to commentators and politicians dissect Irelands’ new 4 year plan. It most certainly is the strangest and most worrying of times, something you can never be prepared for. I wish we could all just roll about laughing and get on with a new story.

So how many of you are really hit by the circumstances we now live in?

Have you mortgages you can’t pay?

Have you been made redundant?

Are you facing large pay cuts?

Are bills and loan repayments mounting up?

Are you just about surviving on welfare?

Have you kids or expecting kids and are worried about the future?

Are you self employed?

Are you worried about next years’ arts funding decisions?

What are you going to do?

Have you decided to stick your head in the sand or are you looking to actively change things?

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Lucy Foley, the magic realist

roggernaut | Everything about music | November 24, 2010

Lucy Foley’s debut album, Copenhagen conjures uncanny worlds from which spring poetry, magic realism and dreams that won’t leave the room with “a purity and heartfelt clarity”
Chicago Sun-Times

The songs on Copenhagen have a dark fairy tale mood. I wrote these songs while living in Copenhagen a few years ago, they were born in the cold. Cycling past the grave of Hans Christian Andersen every day inspired me to write an album in which people sit on dungheaps and gaze, yearn and fall apart. It’s also really poppy.

I recorded the album in Brooklyn over the last couple of years, travelling over and back from Ireland, working intensely with Ross Bonadonna at Wombat Recording Company. I’ll be playing my first gig with my new band in New York in January, and I’m really looking forward to that.

My music is electro-acoustic pop with a gypsy flavour: hints of bossa nova, klezmer, electronica, with elaborate, layered vocals in some songs, soaring howls in others. The instrumentation on this record includes classical and electric guitars, piano, Rhodes, synths, bass, saxophones, clarinets, glockenspiel, drums, percussion, bells, pots and pans.

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Trash Gigs 17 – 19 May

Friday 17th May
Mutant Cabaret @ 9pm The Roundy, Cork
Hans Dens @ 8pm Gulp'd, Cork

Saturday 18th May
The Urchin Collective @ 8pm Gulp'd, Cork

Sunday 19th May
Cormac O’Caoimh and Stuart Wilde @ 7.30pm Gateway Bar, Cork

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