Paul Mcilwaine - The Other Side

Paul Mcilwaine - The Other Side @320kbps

The Other Side is an album of blues influenced songs and instrumentals ranging from standards including 'Jesus Is On The Mainline' and 'Little Red Rooster' to original songs such as 'Mama Don't Wear No Drawers' and 'Don't Judge Me' Paul Mcilwaine is a blues guitarist from Ireland who is strongly influenced by gospel, rock and celtic music and artists such as Ry Cooder, Bo Ramsey and Seasick Steve.

To hear more check out www.myspace.com/paulmcilwaine

The Tearjerkers Sessions - Promo Version

In 1979 the Tearjerkers where enjoying good success with the single Murder Mystery doing well on both the radio and in the charts both in the UK and in Europe, thoughts turned towards recording follow up singles and an album. The TJ's booked time in Parkgate Studio in Sussex, England and recorded 3 new songs 'Comic Book Heroes', 'Fingers' and 'Can't You See' these track where not released at the time for various reason but did see a release in America on the Mercury label. Other recording sessions in London's Radio Luxembourg Studio's with Laurence Juber and in Belfast's Downtown Studio's yielded this collection of songs which where being considered for release in 1980 but plans were shelved due to the band splitting for the first time.

The Tearjerkers Sessions contains studio versions the Tearjerkers 1979 set with the exception of some of the early stage favourites which can be heard on the Good Vibes Years album. This album is also available with a slightly different track listing and album art on itunes.

Tearjerkers 1979 UCD Dublin

The Tearjerkers - Sessions available as a promo copy @320kbps with artwork included

Paul Mcilwaine -Nu

Paul Mcilwaine is a guitar player and producer from Northern Ireland, a former member of the punk/pop band the Tearjerkers he has been a player for many years. Since 2006 he has set up a small recording studio Wonderland in his home town of Belfast where he has produced artists such as Lexi Green (UK), Jolee (USA), Rockangel (USA) and Anna Lang (UK).

Nu is is debut solo album and is a guitar based chillout album with ambient guitar, Indian raga and bluesy tunes. The album was recorded in 2006-2007 and contains 12 exceptional tracks including 'Still 1964' which features samples of speeches from Malcolm X and 'J2' containing sexy spoken word with interweaving guitar lines and 'Come Together' is a instrumental collaboration with Mike Dean from California. This is a must download for all guitar lovers.

Click below to download - Album is uploaded with the express permission of the artist.

Paul Mcilwaine - Nu..... encoded at 320kbps, artwork included.

Check out his music at myspace or Soundclick

Paul Mcilwaine

The Tearjerkers - Peel Sessions

Belfast's Tearjerkers recorded two sessions for BBC Radio One's John Peel show back in 1979. The first session was actually recorded for a local radio station Downtown Radio and was recorded in their well equipped recording studio in Newtownards and the second session was recorded at the BBC's Maida Vale studios in London.

The tracks contained on both sessions were stage favourites such as Murder Mystery, Dressing Up and Comic Book Heroes. This collection features good audio quality and has John Peel introducing each song. This is a good collection for anyone new to the Tearjerkers music or interested in John Peel memorabilia.

The Tearjerkers - Peel Tapes includes tags and artwork (reposted 20.11.2009)

Etc Etc - Etc Cassette

Etc Etc where formed by Paul Maxwell lead singer of the Tearjerkers and Paul McIlwaine Guitar. While the Tearjerkers where a pure power pop outfit Etc's veered towards a more arty form of pop and featured the synthesizer of art student Stephen Mallaghan. Gregg Lindsey also from the later day line-up Tearjerkers played drums with Joe Sharpe on Bass guitar.

The band played live continually between 1980 and 1981 and recorded several sessions for Belfast's Downtown Radio station which where then released via the Blue Rhythm Label in Belfast and Portadown as Etc Cassette

Paul Maxwell Etc Etc lead singer

The Detonators - Now & Then 1978 - 2005

The Detonators where one of Belfast first 1970's punk bands with the origins of the band dating back to 1976. Now & Then records the bands only studio recordings for Rip Off label in April 1978 and their reunion in Sheffield in 2002.

The 2002 recordings marked the bands 25th anniversary of their most successful line-up. The Detonators are still recording in 2009.

The Detonators 1977 - 1978

The Detonators

Ulster Hall supporting the Buzzcocks 1978

While still at school in the mid '70’s. Howard Ingram played in a band called Essence alongside Barry Mcllhenny. Ingram wanted the band to play original material instead of the Status Quo and Deep Purple covers favoured by the rest of the group and when the others decid­ed to cover Al Martinos Spanish Eyes "because it would go down well in working men's clubs", he promptly quit to form his own band. Mcllhenny went on to front Shock Treatment before carving out a successful career in journalism with publica­tions such as Melody Maker, Q Magazine and Empire. Today he is Editor in Chief of Emap Metro.

In 1976 Ingram's new, and as yet unnamed, group consist­ed of himself (vocals, guitar) Alan Gourley (vocals, guitar), Ali McMordie (vocals, bass) and Rod Murray (drums). The band performed live several times under the name Roche 4 and then played at one of the earliest punk venues, the Glenmachan Stables, as Skull. Skull split up the day of the gig and, as Ingram's band called in as last minute replacements, they decided to use another band's name.

At one of the punk gigs in Glenmachan, a band called Highway Star spotted Ali offered him a job following the departure of their own bass guitarist, Gordy Blair, to Belfast punk band Rudi. McMordie accepted the offer and shortly after, Highway Star changed their name to Stiff Little Fingers! McMordie's replacement was Paul McIlwaine (vocals and lead guitar), and Ingram switched to bass. Prior to this, Gourley and Ingram competed to play the dumbest one-note lead solos they could, which they thought was acceptable in the era of the Ramones. Actually, before he had been allowed to join the band McMordie had to make Ingram a tape of the Ramones LP, which he’d, bought on import before its UK release so that the band could learn it in its entirety!
The band took the name The Detonators shortly after McIlwaine’s arrival. Their first rehearsal was on Jubilee Day '77, and they played whenever and wherever they could after that. A little known Detonators' fact is that the band were 'sign to the Good Vibes label and Terri Hooley booked them into Wizard Studios for a six hour session, the session was a disaster for the band, as the bloke who ran the studio was unavailable and his pal who normally looked after the Wizard clothes shop was left in charge; he didn't seem to have a clue what he was doing, so The Detonators left without recording anything and Good Vibes Records with nothing to release.
A week later they' travelled to Belfast’s Hydepark Studios and recorded the tracks Crusin and Light at Your Window for George Doherty’s Rip-Off label, and these were included compilation album Belfast Rock Detonators took part in a big 'Battle of the Bands Concert at Belfast’s McMordie Hall QUB along with the Undertones, Rudi and the Outcasts.

When the Buzzcocks played Belfast’s Ulster Hall in 1978, the Detonators where the preferred support act having attracted quite a following during the period 1976-1978.
Rod Murray quit the band to go to University in Sheffield; he was replaced by Steve Mulree who made his debut at the Buzzcocks gig. Prior to the Buzzcocks gig Belfast Rocks was released – The George Doherty production was less than the band expected and he had added a synth part to the song Light At Your Window without asking the band.

1978 Belfast Rocks rare first punk compilation of Ulsters early punk bands

Alan Gourley (Spike) left the band in September 1978 to pursue a University place in Cardiff. Paul McIlwaine and Howard Ingram split around the same time to join one of the most successful punk/new wave band of the era The Tearjerkers.

The Tearjerkers had a successful period between 1978 and 1980 they played and toured with Thin Lizzy, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, U2 and toured London recording sessions for the John Peel Show and Radio Luxenbourg.

Howard and Paul continue to record under the Detonators name in 2009. This year they have released an EP called The Detonators Extended Play which is available here as a free download.

Paul & Howard - Detonators 2009

Tearjerkers - Good Vibes Years 1978-79

This is a rare treat for anyone who saw the Tearjerkers live especially in the first couple of years. This collection features songs recorded for Belfast's Good Vibes Label. We recorded 4 songs in Keystone Studio's in Dublin's Harcourt Street. two of these songs ended up as our first single for Good Vibes i.e. Love Affair and Bus Stop. This single was remarkable because of its stand-out cartoon gate-fold sleeve. The song Bus Stop was written by Paul & Howard and was played as part of the Detonators set back in 1977. The other songs from this session that where considered for a second release and are 'Don't Blame Me' and 'Chit Chat'.

The TJ's in Terry's Good Vibrations record shop circa 1978

The rest of this collection are studio recordings made in Belfast around this time. These tracks where featured on local radio station both in Northern and Southern Ireland and even BBC's John Peel picked up on several of these raw recordings prior to the release of the Murder Mystery single on Phonogram.

The Tearjerkers - Good Vibes Years - mp3 album at 320kbps (reposted 20.11.2009)

Tearjerkers Live in London 1980

This free soundboard mini album from Northern Ireland's Tearjerkers was recorded in the famous Dingwall's music pub as part of the TJ tour of England in 1980. This line up was unusual as regular drummer Nigel Hamilton was replaced for this tour by Johnny Lee and this recording features a good stereo mix of Johnny's drums. Johnny passed away a few years ago and this is our only recording with him in the band.

The Tearjerkers - Live In London 1980 - This free mp3 album is made available at 320kbps mp3 quality.

Reverbnation Music

its worth mentioning that my music is available to listed to and download from the excellent music site Reverbnation - Here you will find some of my best tracks both collaborations and solo work from the past couple of years.

If you take a listen drop me a comment as I always like constructive feedback. This is a worthwhile site to sign up to for artists as it host music free and has a range of free services that help artists reach a much wider audience. You can also check out local artists so that you can support the talent in your area.

New internet collaboration project

I am currently working on a new album of gospel songs with Belfast worship leader Liz Clarke - This collection of songs will be released via itunes in April 2010, however some of the demo songs are available to preview at www.soundclick.com/paulmcilwaine

I met Liz through the Revernation music site and after swapping comments we decided to collaborate on the song Holy Rain and after a few months we have half an albums worth of new inspirational songs. Liz is also using these songs live on her regular church work as well as on tour. To listen to Liz's music you can hear her on myspace