the week that was

staggering out of whelans in dubin at 8 o'clock on a monday morning into the unforgiving sunlight, feeling like an extra from an old vampire movie, the parable of cinderella really hit home - im just never going to find my prince (or even a footman) if i don't leave when the moon is still up and the clocks havent yet struck midnight... BUT... it's very difficult to leave when the buzz is just so high. it was an absolutely fantastic weekend all round. we had albums finally in the shops (and more importantly flying out of the shops), all 3 evening gigs were sold out and all very special and different in their own way - the merchandise which we bought sold out on the first night, and everyone in the band was on top form with big smiley faces and warm feelings in their bellies. all the hard work building up to that weekend seemed like it was paying off - and then to top it all the album charts at no. 6... i mean what more could you ask for really? (apart from a handsome prince on a white charger and to win the lottery of course...)

i know glens said it a million times this past 10 days (and im sure will continue to say it) and i know all the rest of the band say it when they meet people and i know ive said it meself here and on the board - but - sorry - im going to say it again... THANK YOU ALL... it's just so great to be able to make and chart an album on your own without any record company bods breathing down your neck telling you it aint good enough, where's the hit single, wear these hot pants and make-up glen, shave your head, push joe to the front of photo shoots etc etc. it really has all been made possible by you for coming out and supporting the lads at their gigs in the last couple of years wherever you may be in the world, so thank you thank you thank you.

they are now on the road and enjoying every single minute of it. the lobby show was a beautiful thing apparently, good to get down to wexford too, and i hear that the savoy gig last night was a special one as well with the full on 7 hour set... cork we salute you! im sure glens voice is feeling last nights shinanegins today... but, thanks for making them feel so welcome. due to horribly popular demand i'm putting them back down in the savoy, this time standing - on the 30th may. seated was lovely, but it just wasn't apparently big enough to meet the demand which is always a heart warming thing to hear.

they will be imminently going into virgin megastore in cork to do a PA before heading on down to leap (the only place where you can get tix on the door btw) for 2 nights of fun and frollix. while im on the subject of instores - this is the list if you didnt catch my post last week on the board. they will be playing a few tunes, signing records, generally meeting and greeting...

20th april theyll be in empire music in limerick at 3.30pm
23rd april is zchivagos in galway 4pm
27th april is virgin megastore in belfast 1pm
30th april is cd world in dundalk, carrol village time tbc on this one. i will post on the board or ask the shop nearer the time cause i cant get him today...
8th may tower records, dublin 6pm

some of the gigs are selling out rather sharpish now - roisin dubhs has gone as has mcgarrigles in sligo. the rest are selling fast so if you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO GO i suggest you buy your ticket sooner rather than later. full gig list below...

theres some great reviews on certain sites like claus.com, wheresthecraic.com, independentsounds.net that i can think of. if you check out our messageboard regularly then you'll be kept fully abreast of the situation on reviews and stuff as they happen (www.plateaurecords.com)

now.com are planning to come to the gig on the 23rd april in roisin dubhs and film it to webcast it at a slightly later date. will keep you posted on that one.

we have been filming a good bit recently with a good friend and video maker called donal who is putting together a live-come-actual-videos-come-documentry-style thing which should be available later on in the year.

now - the free gig for those who are in possession of x 3 ticket stubs that went to all three gigs in dublin and galway - on the night of the whelans show i asked glen to ask people to put their hands up if they had a ticket to all three shows so that i would get an idea of numbers so as i'd know what size of venue i needed to blag... he never did... so could you please do me a favour. would you drop me a mail if you in fact do hold x 3 stubs and i can start a proper head count. some of you have mailled me already thanks, but id appreciate it if you could all do so again marking it freebie gig or something and names... then i can get a REAL idea of how many bodies im talking about.

oh - and i must say a warm welcome to any of yous who have joined our family gathering recently - i tell you in the past 2 weeks i have just found a whole bunch of cousins that we never knew we had - hello to all of you and glad you could join us!

also - if any of you are trawling through mags and happen to come across cuttings/articles about the frames - do me a favour - would you keep them for me and send em over? its just i think i miss a hell of a lot of stuff living in england (especially outside of dublin) and it would be very handy to have a completely up to date press file here... email me direct and ill point you in the right direction address-wise. ta and ill owe you a beer.

right - cant think of anything else right now. must go and pick up the daughter unit. gig list below (note the back by popular demand vicar street shows in june which should be on sale soon enough). we'll be in england too at the 3rd week of june, so will let you know for def when that comes together... bye bye for now and be good... cxx

oh - ps. the album midweek today is no 7 - which is great news to be still holding our own in the top ten of the hit parade!!

11th leap, connollys
12th leap, connollys
14th cleeres, killkenny
15th cleeres, killkenny
20th dolans, limerick
21st an taibhdhearc theatre galway
22th an taibhdhearc theatre galway
23rd roisin dubhs, galway sold out
26th morrisons, belfast
27th mcgarriggles, sligo sold out
28th the nerve centre, derry
29th the spirit store, dundalk
30th the spriit store, dundalk

May 3rd mullingar the stables
5th green energy festival with divine comedy
30th the savoy, cork

June
2nd vicar street (standing)
3rd vicar street (seated)