Sold Out London Show, Soul Brother Tour & National Radio Playlist

The 100 Club

Last week we played a sold out gig in The 100 Club on Oxford Street in London. We were there to support our good friends The Strypes. We got the ferry to Hollyhead and drove all the way to London without even Paul or Atray. Like grownups! So many amazing acts have played in this renowned venue and it was such an honour to be able to join the long list of kick ass musicians whove rocked those walls.  Also it was such a cool experience to see a huge crowd come out to see a full Irish lineup. The place was absolutely rammed! We played a nice neat set and the crowd we're really feeling it. None of us expected our music to be so well received by such a "cool" crowd. There were so many influential people there and it was an amazing opportunity to rock out for them. Laure Whitmore was in the crowd and she was really taken back by the gig she said. We had a great time buzzing around London with The Strypes after the gig and the next morning we made our way home. It was well worth the trip.

Soul Brother Tour

 

We've been on the road a lot over the last few weeks promoting our single Soul Brother. On Thurs 9th May we played  Dolans in Limerick with The Hip Neck Blues Collective for the LSAD end of year party. It was mad, as it always is. Great buzz and we got to spend time with our lovely friends Shane and Olivia. We love Limerick City. We're always so well looked after and the gigs are always packed! The next day we made our way to Coughlans Live in Cork for another headliner. This place is deadly. A pokey room with loads of character and the crowd were stoked. Cant wait to play there again for the Coughlans Festival later this year!


The day after we got back from London we played the Radio Nova Listeners Party in Cafe En Seine on Dawsons Street. It was a circus! There were loads of cool decorations on a Summer theme and free drinks. Everyone was on a sweet buzz and the gig was packed out even though we went on stage at 8 pm. Free drinks get people in early apparently. The next evening we hit the Metro 17 in Wexford. It was our first time playing in Wexford City and we had a great time rocking out. The place was like a ho down at times and there was a great energy off the crowd. On Sat 18th May we made our way up to Letterkenny to play in the Green & Live Venue. We were supported by a great band from Derry called The Wood Burning Savages and they toasted the room nicely for us. We had a beast of a gig and there was loads of people there to see us surprisingly. We played for hours and we didnt get home till about 7.30 am.

Its so cool to see how many people know us around the country, this is our first proper Irish tour and every gig has loads of people turning up. It quite moving actually. Cant wait to see how many turn up on our second round!

National Radio Playlist

 

We've been playlisted on RTE Radio 1 this week! That means our single is being played every day to the whole country. Its really surreal and we cant believe it. Every day we get texts from friends and family saying were being played on the radio! Phantom FM have had us on their playlist for the last month. We're also getting played on 98fm, fm104, Today FM, Dublin City fm and loads of regional stations. Its an amazing feeling to hear your song on the radio randomly. We're so grateful for it.

Next Blog: LIFE Festival, Forbidden Fruit, Two Video Shoots, Knockanstockan Launch Party, Happy Valley Festival

Record Store Day Release, Sold Out Whelans Gig and Phantom 105.2 FM Regular Playlist

Record Store Day

 

We released our new single "Soul Brother" there on Record Store Day, the 20th of April. To help launch the limited edition 7 inch Vinyl we played two instores and a headline gig in Whelans. The first gig was in Freebird Records. It was fully unplugged and intimate, really sweet vibe in there. We nearly didn't get to play at all because a guard on horseback all but seized our van outside the venue. The quivering lips and sad faces made him change his mind at the last second so we got away with a fine. It was both really lucky and unfortunate at the same time. You can check out pictures of the gig and the brush with the law here. 


After this we made the short stroll next door to do a Tower Records Instore in The Madison Venue.  This was a fully electric gig and way more rocking, but equally as much fun. Loads of people were buying the vinyl off of us and getting in the shops so the whole day was a beast success. On top of everything it was the nicest day of the year so far so everyone was in a really good mood.

We also have the song available for download which you can get here if you'd like to help us out.

Whelans Headliner

We made our way up to Whelans after Tower to set up, soundcheck and get ready for our headline slot. We decorated the place with the Jack of Diamonds crew and the place looked awesome. We had all props from the video around the place and vinyls hanging from the ceiling. Markas Carcass and Cry Monster Cry were amazing as always and they had the crowd toasted by the time we made our way to the stage. The place was absolutely jam packed and they were turning people away at the door! We had a deadly time playing and we did our best. We also had Sarah Red and Amy Kelly singing backing vocals for a few songs and Simon Wall (Wookie) playing the flute. We couldn't be happier with the way the whole gig went and big thanks to the Jack of Diamonds posse, A-tray and Peter Pureheart for kicking ass on the night. And of course Claire Miaow Catt Batt on the merch stand. Big love everyone. Thanks to all of you for coming along as well and for your much appreciated ongoing support. You are all rapid! xxx

Heres a little Soul Brother montage for you if you want to re-live the day, or if you weren't there and want a little slice of the buzz ...

Phantom Playlist

We have been on the regular Phantom FM Playlist now for two weeks in a row and its so amazing to hear our music being played on the radio on a regular basis. Big love to all of you who have been requesting it by texting 51052. Its really helping us get it played more regularly. They've also been helping us out on their website by featuring us, which you can see here.  Fair play to the team at Phantom for helping us out! Thanks dudes and dude-ettes xx

 

RTE's Two Tube and TG4

Tomorrow evening (Friday 12th April) we will be on RTE's Two Tube. We are doing a little interview and theyre showing the Soul Brother Video. Its on at about 6pm so check it out if you can. It will be so strange to see our video on TV! Sweet buzz though. Also this week we played a few songs for a TG4 special that will be out later in the year. We wont say too much in case were not allowed but we were jamming with Fiachna Ó Braonáin from Hothouse Flowers. It was a great experience and it was really good musically. Cant wait for you all to see it.

 

Billboards and Competition

We have some billboards up for our Single Launch in Whelans on the 20th of April. They look beast and theyre totally big time! Mad buzz seeing them up there where you always look and think how cool it would be to be on one some day. We have a competition too that if you take a photo of yourself in the nip in front of one and share the photo on our facebook we'll give you a free ticket to the gig. No takers just yet but give it a go if your man or woman enough. Check our facebook for details. Really looking forward to the gig now. Only a bit over a week away!

We have loads of stuff we cant say just yet but things are really looking good for us and we are content and happy. More radio and media stuff happening next week so we'll keep you posted. Please keep spreading the good word and hopefully see you all next Saturday. Peace and love y'all!! xxx


P.S. Take this music industry! xx

Soul Brother Video and Single Launch

Soul Brother Video

Hopefully by now you've seen our new video for the first single off our second album. The track is called Soul Brother and we made the video live online this week. The vid was directed by the powerhouse videomaker Finn Keenan and was shot in January all round Cavan. The whole video was made on a shoe string and it is a labour of passion and love. We all worked together for weeks coming up to the shoot and the whole thing took two days to film. We are all really happy with it and hope you are too. Hopefully the irony isn't lost on everyone. Thanks so much Finn Keenan for all your hard work and dedication. You are a true chiller and you and yours will be forever in our hearts. You can check the video out below if you havent seen it yet. If you could find it in your heart to like and share it too we will send you cyber props, promise xx

Soul Brother Vinyl Single Launch

 

We are launching Soul Brother on Vinyl and Download only. There will be no CD release of the single. The launch is in Whelans on the 20th of April and we are supported on the night by Cry Monster Cry and Markas Carcas. We have a very special set lined up with some collaborators and surprises in store so please don't miss this gig. Tickets are only 10 Euros and can be bought from any of us, the Dimestore Recordings crew, the Saucy Sundays crew, the Jack Of Diamonds crew or by emailing thehotsprocketstickets@gmail.com. We've really been working so hard for the last year and its so good to finally be showing the fruits of our labour. Really genuinely hope you can join us on the night.

Peace and Love, The Hot Sprockets xxxxx

This is our brand new blog

 

 

 

What have we been up to?

We've just finished our second studio album. It took us a full year, our life savings, our blood and our tears but the album is finished at last. It was recorded in Windmill Lane, Grouse Lodge and Orphan Recording Studio, and it was produced and engineered by the D. O. Double G a.k.a. Gavin Glass. Its taken its toll on us but we're all so proud of it and cant wait to hear what everyone thinks. The First single is called "Soul Brother" and its up for streaming right now, right here >> The Hot Sprockets, "Soul Brother". We have a video shot and finished for the song which was produced, shot and directed by Cavans own Finn Keenan. Wait till you see this shit! The Single Launch party is goin' down in Whelans on the 20th of April and tickets can be bought at hotsprocketstickets@gmail.com, if you drop us a line we'll post it to you for only 10 Euro. Do That!

Other than that we've had some sweet experiences too. We played at the Henry McCollough tribute night in Vicar Street with BP Fallon and John Sheehan from the Dubliners. It was surreal and amazing. The place was jammed and we got a great reception, plus it was all for a great cause. We also graced the (back) cover of Hotpress magazine and played some whopper gigs over the last year. Too much to bore you with and I'm sure you were at most of them.

Whats next?

We're playing a few songs with Fiachna Ó Braonáin from The Hothouse Flowers for a TG4 special in honour of Patsy Cline,  Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. We have an interview on RTE's Two Tube and they are showing our new video. We have two more singles and our album coming out. We are also hitting up as many festivals as we can, like Indiependance, Life and loads more we cant announce just yet. On the 14th of May we are supporting The Strypes in The 100 Club in London. So theres loads of sweet buzz to come. Stay tuned xx