Dave Fanning is back on telly to host two live music specials for Virgin Media in which a range of Irish acts perform on the stage of Whelan’s in Dublin and provide a fix for a gig-starved nation.
Soda Blonde, Sorcha Richardson, Mick Flannery, Alex Gough, Somebody’s Child, Andrea Corr, Isaac Butler, The Academic and Villagers are among the acts in action for Fanning at Whelans, which airs on Virgin Media Two on Thursday, December 17th at 10:00pm and Saturday, December 26th at 11:05pm.
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Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, the 64-year-old broadcaster and concert veteran describes the shows as a half-way house between the rise in popularity of streaming gigs and actual real live acts playing in a room as the Irish music industry continues to be crippled by the pandemic.
"I go to gigs a lot. I always have. I just go and a of times I go to music I'm not even that pushed about. I just want to see how it’s staged," he says.
"People like David Lee Roth, which was the funniest things I’ve ever seen. I love going to gigs but have I missed them? I have three things in life since I was two - movies, music and football.
"I can still see the football; I can still listen to music and I can still watch movies so I’m not going to start complaining too much. Would I have been to 20 or 30 gigs in the past eight months? Of course, I would and I do miss them.
"I’ll be honest with you - I got into trouble for something I said, which was I’m sick and tired of watching gigs in people’s bedrooms and kitchens and I am - to me that was a gimmick that lasted until about June and then it was right, enough of that!
He adds, "The main way to see a gig is in a venue standing with a pint in your hand or in a field and these TV shows are a halfway house. I’d still rather go to a tribute band than no band and a half a loaf is better than no bread but I’m not going to kid myself that this is the real deal.
"The gigs from home are great and good luck to everyone doing them. Niall Horan from One Direction did a gig and sold tickets and BTS did one and sold 24 million quid worth of tickets so whatever turns you on. A live gig rather than one on television is ten times better."
Asked if he had a wish list of acts for the shows, Fanning said, "I did and there are on or two who are not there. Fontaines D.C. wanted to do it but they’re in London. Inhaler’s crew were worried about coming over and then going back to England.
"This show is just what’s out there at the moment and I happen to like some of the acts very much and that’s good enough for me so thanks to Guinness and Whelan’s and the acts."
The two hour-long specials will also include features and archive interviews with Irish legends such as Phil Lynott, U2 and Shane MacGowan, while Domhnall Gleeson will talk about his taste in music.
Whelan’s, which has kept Wexford Street in Dublin safe for rock `n’ roll since 1992, has hosted some stand-out shows over the years and Fanning has seen more than his fair share.
"I saw Jonathan Richman there and it was half full and I thought it was shite and one of my top 10 albums of all time is his Rock and Roll with the Modern Lovers. But I’ve seen thousands of gigs there."
At 64, Fanning still has the enthusiasm and excitement of a 16-year-old gig-going novice and when it comes to picking his own favourite gig of all time, he doesn’t hesitate.
"Everything coming together at one point, I’d seen them live before but then I saw them at a venue which became a children’s play place and now it’s a block of flats and it was The Clash at the Top Hat in Dun Laoghaire on the London Calling tour.
"I’ll just never forget. This was a band in their moment, firing on all cylinders. They’re not just punk. They really have something else here and the energy off Mick Jones! F*** me! It was just brilliant!"
As the live music industry worldwide continues to struggle under the impact of the pandemic, musicians and organisations like EPIC have stepped up their campaigning for government aid to help the beleaguered arts sector.
"I don’t know if the government have or haven’t given enough to the arts, but I can see why the arts might be a little down the list a little bit. Your average unmarried mother of three kids under the age of five living on the fourth floor of an apartment without a balcony is more important.
"In the great scheme of things I certainly can’t give out about the last nine months. Everyone in my house has lost their jobs, the wife and two kids have lost their jobs. Health-wise we’re fine and relatively speaking it could be a million times worse.
"I presume the government could be doing more but everybody has their hand out with the high street dying, nobody in town, law firms and architects spending millions on building that they now don’t need.
"The whole thing is in chaos so I’m just glad to be able to do something to boost it all a bit and I couldn’t have done it without Guinness, if we didn’t have their money it wouldn’t be happening."
Fanning at Whelans airs on Virgin Media Two on Thursday, December 17th at 10:00pm and Saturday, December 26th at 11:05pm. There will also be re-runs on Virgin Media One.
Alan Corr @CorrAlan2
