Ardiff Studio Bound...

On a cold and wet weekend in November we, the Ardiff clan, hit for the recording studio to let our creative minds come together and produce some warming music for these cold days... the results were quite pleasing. Here's a little video i put together (quickly.)

Cymbals Eat Guitars

Wind Phoenix Live

Fresh from their Tripod gig last Saturday this is Cymbals Eat Guitars from Staten Island NYC playing Wind Phoenix live on Seattle Radio. Its taken from their album Why There Are Mountains EP.

New Blog

New Blog for Radio Show on RTE 2XM available here...
Keep up to date with show playlists and track info;
http://2xmsabotage.blogspot.com/

The Spikes

"Firstly Mark is such a gentleman. This is a man with no ego, is so humble and hears exactly what you want to hear. He has become a solid mate so that allows the sound to be created unconditionally and totally organically." Tom Dunne - The Spikes


Rock n'roll has always had a healthy output from this little island of ours. Throughout the decades we’ve been responsible for supplying some of the biggest movers and shakers on the scene from Lizzy to Gallagher, My Bloody Valentine to Therapy? We should be proud to say that we’ve harvested some fine crops and how the
y’ve grown. The Spikes are no exception to this bloodline and could be said to incorporate elements of each of the bands mentioned above… with a nice blend of The Stones, Stooges and Doors thrown in for good measure.


Front man Tom Dunne (besides sharing his name with one of this countries most celebrated broadcasters!) has the stage presence of a young Robert Plant and the vocal range spanning from the graveling lows of Nick Cave to the resonating highs of Axl Rose. After meeting guitarist Gareth Lewis in New Zealand and subsequently playing a few gigs together on the local pub and club scene, the lads returned to their respected homesteads – Lewis to Wales and Dunne back to the Emerald Isle. But obviously the story doesn’t end here, a couple of relationship break-ups later rock n'roll came a-calling and the two were joined by Pete Rocksteady on bass and Dave Lawless on drums. Newest member Paul Hogan joined on lead guitar earlier this year.

Since their inception in 2005, The Spikes have been touring the length and breadth of the country on the backs of their debut album 'Urges & Purges' and this summers 'We Are…' EP. Connected caught up with vocalist Tom Dunne as The Spikes take a break from recording to ready themselves for headlining the nationwide Dublin Rocks Winter Tour…

Things have been moving pretty fast for the Spikes over the last nine months, you’ve had two releases, a new member join, some memorable gigs under the proverbial belt… how have you guys been holding up?
It’s been such great craic we haven’t really thought about it. We are riding the wave now and as the swell keeps rising so do we.

After the summer success of the ‘We Are…’ EP and the publicity that came with it did you feel added pressure entering the studio this time around to record album number two?
There is always an underlying pressure recording any album, that’s human nature. But no we won’t feel added pressure because it’s the second album. We are much better as a band now and love this kind of challenge. Already we are getting exciting with the new songs!

You have chosen Mark Reddy to oversee proceedings once again, how has working with him enhanced your sound?
Firstly Mark is such a gentleman. This is a man with no ego, is so humble and hears exactly what you want to hear. He has become a solid mate so that allows the sound to be created unconditionally and totally organically.


Have you chosen a different approach to recording with Mark at the helm?

Absolutely. Way more time is spent in pre-production. Mark is a genius at discovering sounds and the abstract approach he utilizes can be quite bizarre. He gets 150% out of you without pissing you off. You have a series of headline Irish dates next month as part of the Dublin Rocks Winter Tour – looking forward to it?
Yeah, of course.

Should there be more tours like this organised?
This country has so much talent and any and every opportunity to showcase that should be welcomed. Gigging is essential for every band, even if it’s to 1,000 or 10 people. It’s the source of our addiction to The Spikes.

Do you lead the true rock n'roll lifestyle while on the road or are you more mellowed out?*
A bit of both. Everything in moderation for a lasting career!

Will you be treating fans to some new songs?
Yeah definitely. Two new songs, which we will be adding to the set list!

How do you view the Irish music scene at the moment?
I think it’s strong and healthy, as it historically should be during a downturn. But there are too many usual suspects out there. As Ireland is a small country and it’s so hard to make it internationally, the lead-time between the changing of the guard can lag a bit.

Mid-90’s Irish rock (which produced some amazing bands) seemed to find itself in the cliche of ‘right music wrong time’. Is now the right time?
I think rock has been steadily getting more popular again. Jesus, there has been so much crap pushed down our throats in the last 15 years. People now choose for themselves again which serves to offer balance in the battle of popular music genres.

As we approach the 2010s, what is your hope for the new decade in terms of music?
I hope we continue to use technology to evolve music. I hope we don’t act all sheepish when the 'next best thing' comes along. There’s room for us all. I hope live music becomes the epicenter of the music world again.

The Spikes headline the Dublin Rocks Festival in Whelan's on the 13th of November

Words: Steve Battle
myspace./thespikesmusic