May has been a monster month for gigs and June looks to be similar. So here are my choice cuts for the next 2 weeks (26th May – 9th June). It’s a Bank Holiday music extravanganza!

Radiohead at Malahide Castle. Sat & Sun 6-7 June. Do I need to say anymore? Thom Yorke and Co. deliver a great show and this should be no different. Unfortunately, tickets to both shows are sold out now but if you can snag a last minute ticket it’ll be well worth it.
Taster song: Electioneering

Hercules and Love Affair, Academy €30. Sunday 1st June. H&LA’s self titled album has been drawing praise from all corners this year. They combine catchy electro-pop hooks with some groovy soul vibes. It’s addictive stuff that will you make forget you can’t dance and hit the floor.
Taster song: Blind (feat Antony Hegarty)

Bon Iver. Crawdaddy €15. Mon 2nd June. Bon Iver (pronounced like the French for “good winter”) created a fantastic album this year by locking himself in a cabin in the wilderness and dividing his time between chopping wood and writing music. The result was a raw and lonely crop of songs delivered with a similar edginess to Ray LaMontagne. At €15 euro this would be my pick of the lot but I have a sneaky suspicion tickets might be sold out. Bring a date and you can hold hands and sway.
Taster song: Skinny Love

Local Band Picks

Large Mound. Whelans. €8. Fri 6th June. These Dublin rockers have been around for a while and are growing into one of the best rockers in town. One of the few bands in Ireland which still have guitar solos, be prepared for big distorted guitars but mixed in with a indie sound. The Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr. comparisons are accurate and this could be a band that is best savoured live.
Taster Song: Cursed with the Knowledge

Jinx Lennon. Sugarclub. Fri 6th June. The Dundalk punk rapper poet is in town with support from Miss Paula Flynn (remember she did the David Bowie cover for Tipperary Water). Ticket prices not announced yet but expect them to be very reasonable <€18. Jinx’s music and social commentary can stretch from hilarious to vicious but go with an open mind and you will leave with no doubt that the man is a genius.
Taster Video from Balcony TV: Forgive the Cunts

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYUe8VxPDMY[/youtube]

Have I missed anything?