Off The Record

Clouded vision - suspicions of a psychic

My wife just left for the day to meet John Edward, the chipmunk-faced psychic and author of Crossing Over.

Hey, I’m psychic too and can tell what the future holds! I can predict that I will raise holy hell in the next two weeks when the credit card statement shows me how much I got robbed for this bill of goods yer man is selling!

I am suspicious of John Edward. He targets poor women like my mother-in-law, who dragged my wife to this “Saturday private viewing” event at great expense in a frantic attempt to connect with the great man that cancer ripped from our grasp so prematurely.

Glen Hansard returns with 'For the Birds'

Glen Hansard has been a busy boy lately. The Frames frontman strummed alongside Bono as he sang “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” at the Sargent Shriver funeral Mass over the weekend.

Now comes word that his band will reunite to play their classic 2001 album For the Birds in its entirety on March 30 at the Vicar Street venue in Dublin.

Mainly recorded in Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio studio in Chicago, its numerous highlights include “In the Deep Shade,” “Lay Me Down” and – swoon – ‘”What Happens When the Heart Just Stops.”

Pierce Turner returns to New York

Our old pal Pierce Turner spends his time between New York and Ireland nowadays, and since the weather in Ireland (along with everything else) has gone to the dogs lately, he is spending time on our shores.

This coming March he will join an impressively large number of Irish musical entities who will take part in the prestigious annual music event South by South West in Austin Texas. Over 21 acts will be flown over from Ireland this year, the largest number ever.

For New York fans, you will be able to catch him as he opens a new Irish music venue called Percy’s Tavern (210 Avenue A, cross street 13th; website: percysnyc.com) on Friday, February 4 before heading south.

Thin Lizzy rides again! - SEE VIDEO

I just got word from a friend of mine that Thin Lizzy is raising the roof again across Europe and are planning some homecoming shows in Belfast on February 16 and Dublin on the 17th.

The 2011 Thin Lizzy features ex-Almighty frontman Ricky Warwick on vocals, original members Scott Gorham, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton, plus Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell on guitar and bass supremo Marco Mendoza.

You may look at this as blasphemy, the very notion of Thin Lizzy carrying along without Phil Lynott. I know I did. I thought I’d check out this Ricky Warwick joker who dared slip on the shoes of our coolest Irish rock legend.

Have faith in The Script

“We are doing in the past two years what some other bands spent a lifetime to do. The first album went to number one in the U.K. and the U.S., and now the second one hit number one in the U.K.

“Having number one albums is certainly a highlight. Supporting Paul McCartney in New York and U2 in our home turf was a highlight as well. Those gigs were unreal.”

That’s how lead singer Danny O’Donoghue from the Script described the year of mind-boggling success the band had when he sat down for an interview with us before the Christmas break.

When a girl blurts out 'I'm pregnant' in a crowded restaurant

Here's one definition of insanity -- going back to school in your middle age for a master’s degree.

Here’s a definition of stupidity -- putting your married butt in a restaurant with a girl half your age that you are not married to and have her blurt out, “Omigod, I think I’m pregnant” so that every diner in the place turns around.

I had met Tina (not her real name) for dinner to study for a class we were both taking, and I had noticed that she couldn’t concentrate on anything. When I asked her to focus, she burst into tears.

Rock for a good cause: Andrew Grene Foundation in aid of Haiti

One year after the devastation of the earthquake, the men, women and children of Haiti are only starting to rebuild and recover.

One organization making a difference is the Andrew Grene Foundation, named for a senior UN official who died in the disaster. The Prodigals’ Gregory Grene is the twin brother of Andrew, and he has spearheaded a star-studded Celtic benefit in his memory and honor.

On Thursday January 13 at Sullivan Hall (214 Sullivan Street in New York), four standouts from the Celtic scene will join forces in a concert to benefit the foundation. They are Eileen Ivers, Cherish the Ladies, the Mickey Finns and, of course, The Prodigals.

The angry, brilliant Mighty Stef

With all the desperate news about Irish government mismanagement, it is shocking to me that the song “We Want Blood” by the Mighty Stef hasn’t supplanted the national anthem. It’s one of those infinitely hummable, clear-eyed songs of uprising like Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up” that comes along once in a blue moon.

“Well, I’m drunk as a parish priest at the lies that you told us/sick to the f***ing teeth at the excuses that you sold us/we want blood/wondering how low in your thoughts you might hold us/we want blood,” Stef croaks above a strummed acoustic guitar before a shuffling drum and bass arrangement brings the song to a boil.

It’s just one of the many highlights on TMS and the Baptists, the new album from one of the most original characters working the Irish music scene today.