Timmy Ryan: If Louis Walsh thinks rock is dead, he's wrong

It’s safe to come out from behind the couch, the Eurovision is over for another year. 

No, this isn’t going to be a rant about it, I watched what I could but beat a strategic exit to look at something else on the night. 

It was an Abba documentary I’d not seen before and following that an Eagles concert that was also on the box that night. I’ve neither the interest nor the inclination to slag off artists, styles, whatever, but let’s just say I’ve little time to give to something I’m just not bothered with. Life is too short.

There’s a ton of good music out there and the sad part is a lot of artists will largely be ignored if they don’t get the breaks. Good management and promotion have to be involved too but many fine performers often fly under the radar. 

For years, the great and the good of the music business have tended to tour endlessly and get out on the road. 

How long has Bruce Springsteen been doing it? The Boss is still packing venues wherever he goes. Talent is just not enough. The work must be relentless.

Currently, I’m keeping tabs on a handful of acts that I’d love to see do well. By that I mean have a bigger platform for their output and get a wider audience for their music. Whatever the genre, there are some excellent bands and artists on the scene right now, but will they still be here in five years’ time?

Local talent

We have a lot going on locally to shout about. Moncrieff, Sara Lou, Forge Hounds, Carrie Baxter, Sonic Saints and others out there, swimming in a very big ocean, but hopefully they will all survive, and we’ll still be enjoying them five years from now.

Louis Walsh was the subject of a brilliant song by Irish band the Revs a few years back called “Louis Walsh said Rock N Roll’s Dead”. Contrary to what Louis might have claimed, it’s far from finished. Covid might have damaged the industry but then again it affected everything. 

Fans have been back in their droves to see the aforementioned Springsteen and other big names and there’s clearly an appetite for live music.

I’m sure acts are more appreciative than they were back in the day after practically seeing their world turned upside down. The underlying desire to get back playing before fans again fuelled so many artists who possibly may have taken touring for granted. We all have our favourites, but now and again, new names pop up that grab our interest and surely it’s important to give them a hearing. I’m pretty old school in my taste, but I’m always delighted to broaden my horizons.

Here’s a few suggestions that you might find worth a listen, depending of course on your musical leanings. Robert Jon and The Wreck are a US outfit from California who’ve got some decent albums under their belts. They’ve been on the go since 2011 and their sound is more or less a mix of blues and southern style rock. It’s good stuff.

Carving out a bit of a reputation for herself at the moment is Joanne Shaw Taylor. Hailing from the West Midlands in England, she’s recently been signed to Sony Music. Along with a gravel tinged voice, she plays a mean guitar. Her Blues sound is compelling and her most recent records are worth checking out.

A relatively new name from Ireland is Co. Louth band Vendetta Love. They’re certainly influenced by the whole grunge movement, and they really do pack a hard rock punch. I reckon they’ll do well if they can get on some decent festival bills.

A rocking three-piece is the Pat McManus Band. Pat of course is no newcomer and was part of the Fermanagh legends’ Mamas Boys. However, the current group of his fairly kicks ass and the guys are constantly gigging home and abroad. Get a listen to the live album they recorded a while ago in France, appropriately named Live in France. Proper rock music from an Irish guitar great.

The Answer also hail from Northern Ireland and for a period they had basically packed in playing as a band until finally deciding to reunite. Top rock sounds here and a fine lead vocalist in Cormac Neeson. I caught them a few years ago live in Dublin when they supported the mighty AC/DC. They were excellent on the night and it’s good to see them back touring again.

I’d also recommend Brave Rival, Larkin Poe, Dirty Honey and if you hanker for the days of the great Led Zeppelin, you will be pleasantly surprised at American band Greta Van Fleet. In fact, their front man and singer bear an uncanny resemblance vocally to the one and only Robert Plant. Some might accuse them of just ripping off Zep, but they are not around anymore and with a modern twist, at least you might say they are keeping that big Zeppelin sound alive.

There are tons of other acts crying out for your attention and then perhaps your support if you fancy buying their output. I know it’s altogether convenient and readily available to download music free online, but hey, do the decent thing and make a purchase if you really consider an artist worthy of your interest. It’s only fair. They may not survive otherwise.