The Last Tycoons
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The Last Tycoons

Dublin, Leinster, Ireland

Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Review of Live Show"

Whelan's celebrates a typhoon of Tycoons, now shorn of their porn and without any aura of trauma…

Back in the day (well, last year), a bunch of moody young bucks took to stages all over Ireland and the UK under the name Porn Trauma. On first viewing, I admittedly thought they seemed like a waste of perfectly good and eye-catching moniker. Their old-world blend of blues, country and rock 'n' roll wasn't necessarily what I was expecting to spring from the city's hotbed given the upsurge in new, contemporary talent at the beginning of 2006. There was no denying the quality of their reception however; so, with the passing of time and the name 'Porn Trauma', it was high time to see them again under their new, improved title.

On second impressions, The Last Tycoons are way better – but then, their ability is obvious and their hard work in improving every area of their performance is a credit to them. It's a sound that is redolent of frightening, isolated American bars, where strangers are viewed with suspicion until they prove they've a stomach for the local beer. Music like this doesn't always work entirely successfully here – at its worst, it belongs in the Knightsbridge on a Sunday night. But not only can this young band pull it off with panache and authenticity, they also make it entirely their own with the addition of indie sensibility and straightforward Dublin attitude.

Eminently watchable frontman Steve Fanning is tall and imposing, like a good-looking Richard Ashcroft, with a distinctive twang to his voice that lifts even the darkest corners of their songs to the light. Frantic old Porn Trauma single Sunrise sounds tighter and more raucous than ever but it's the Tycoons' brand new single, Loving Arms – the reason so many souls have gathered in Whelan's tonight – that steals the show. Its deceptively simple, catchy and suggestively twisting rhythm is designed to keep amorous couples going well beyond the 'loving arms' stage. Cracking stuff; watch this space. - 'In Dublin Magazine' 02/05/2007


"Gill Mills (NME Radio) on The Dry Law"

'Great narrative country tinged pop, you’d expect to hear this song sung at the end of an evening into a lone mic on an empty stage whilst all around folk cry into their beers.' - Best of Myspace podcast


"Hotpress on 'The Dry Law'"

'A rootsy, mournful-but-rousing, Band-style lamentation about prohibition, and hooch-stills exploding'
- Patrick Freyne - Hotpress Magazine


"Hotpress review of Debut Album"

Authenticity is a tricky subject in music. This is particularly the case if you’re a young Dublin band dipping your toe into the muddy waters of country rock. Then again, let us remember: Gram Parsons had a trust-fund. Mick Jagger is not from the deep south. Young Bob Dylan was not a share-cropper turned drifter. Lily Allen speaks like the queen. Johnny Cash never killed a man in Reno. The Band were Canadians. John Lennon was not a working class hero (in class war terms he was petty bourgeoisie). Nick Cave is Australian. And lives in a nice house in Brighton.
So beyond the notion of authenticity what have we got? Well we have stuff that’s either good or not so good – for htat is all that really matters in the end. On The Last Tycoon’s debut album they sing about brewing moonshine, hobo-living and jaded drunken infidelities and betrayals in a way that belies their years and presumably their personal experience as children of boom-time Ireland (hopefully their depression-era outlook has prepared them for the bust). But at its best the record rings strong and true, largely because they seem so unambiguously committed to the twanging, harmony-laden genre they’ve adopted. Drawing from the same well as The Band, Neil Young and the Gram Parson-era Byrds, they croon in deep baritone voices, pummel piano keys in a honky tonk fashion, harmonise beautifully, deliver conversational call and response hooks, and twang out well composed guitar and banjo lines.
They do so with often quite thrilling effect, especially on the quartet of songs that begin the album (particularly on ‘Not at All’ and ‘The Dry Law’). Towards the second half, the quality of song-writing dips a bit, but it’s a pretty cool debut record nonetheless. And finally, the raucous banjo-laden hidden track is really worth waiting for...
- Hotpress


"The Star review of Debut Album"

If Jack L and Led Zeppelin moved to the deep south and had a love child, they might sound a little like this.
This Dublin five-piece has a peerless mix of rocking guitar rifts with a bluegrass twang.
The real attraction though is the subterranean vocals of lead singer Steve Fanning.
Like all rockers they really strive in a live atmosphere but The Last Tycoons is an excellent debut effort from this truly unique band.
Check them out on MySpace or Facebook.
- The Daily Star newspaper


"The Last Tycoons - 'Loving Arms'"

With a sound located in the early 70's, this laid back, slice of bluesy rock from the Dun Laoghaire outfit (formerly trading as Porn Trauma) falls somewhere between Derek & The Dominos Layla and the Stones' 'Exile On Main Street'. Replete with vintage sounding guitars, liberal use of harmonica and soulful backing vocals, it certainly offers a refreshing alternative to the raft of copycat, post-punk pretenders doing the rounds. - HotPress Magazine - 03-05-2007


"Sunrise EP"

SINGLE OF THE FORTNIGHT.

Specialising in bluesy rock n' roll, there's a touch of the Kings Of Leon about the young Dubliners. Their often raucous debut EP offers an interesting sample of what the band are about. A live track, an alt-country ballad and a classic rock number are all included and, though marred by slight production, there's plenty to get excited about. The title track in particular is a revelation. 'Sunrise' is as infectious a rock song as you'll hear all year. Over three minutes, some fine guitar riffs glide over a furious beat. In particular there's a dart of a riff preceding the chorus which makes the jaw drop. "I guess I'll get what I deserve" sings vocalist Stephen Fanning on the chorus. With more experience in the studio and another ten of these, it can only be a matter of time. - Hot Press Magazine 29/06/2005


Discography

Sunrise EP (2005)
Casanova Blues [7-inch single] (2006)
Loving Arms [single] (2007)
The Dry Law [single] (2009)
The Last Tycoons [Album] (April 2010)
Album release Germany, Austria, Switzerland on June 25th 2010

Photos

Bio

Formed in 2007 after a change of personnel, attitude, and clothes, The Last Tycoons evolved from highly acclaimed Dublin band Porn Trauma. Hailed as �one of Ireland�s hottest new bands�, (CONNECTED MAG) there is plenty to get excited about. �Replete with vintage sounding guitars, liberal use of harmonica and soulful backing vocals, they certainly offer a refreshing alternative to the raft of copycat, post-punk pretenders doing the rounds. They are a revelation� (Hotpress). �Their ability is obvious and their hard work in improving every area of their performance is a credit to them. Cracking stuff; watch this space� (InDUBLIN).�
The music of The Last Tycoons has a definite southern American roots undertone, yet is proudly Irish in its origin. Tracks from their debut album certainly grab the listener�s attention, such as debut single 'The Dry Law', a drinking man�s anthem set in prohibition/depression-era America, written by front-man Steve Fanning while experimenting with sobriety for a month. It is a fitting first single for an album which is released on Good Friday - a day when alcohol is prohibited but widely consumed in Ireland.�
The �eminently watchable front man Steve Fanning is tall and imposing, like a good looking Richard Ashcroft, with a distinctive twang to his voice that lifts even the darkest corners of their songs to the light� -(InDUBLIN). He also sounds at times, like the love child of Mick Jagger and Nick Cave. However, this is a band that is not led by any one or two people but is a collaboration of ideas with diverse instrumentation, lush vocal harmonies and well thought-out arrangements lending to the band's overall sound.�
Having dented the Top 30 official Irish Charts and earning the affection of various radio stations around the country and farther afield, the band is now ready to release their self-titled debut album �The Last Tycoons� on Good Friday (April 2nd). Excited? Perhaps you should be. Known widely for their explosive and raucous live shows, the band will set out on a national and international tour in Ireland, The UK, Germany and the US from March onwards. 'The Dry Law' was the first glimpse of the material recorded for the album and is available now from iTunes.� �Speed� is the follow up track from the radio EP including 'The Dry Law', which will be out on Good Friday with the album on all the usual online stores and record shops.
Further to this the band will also release the album on June 25th in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on the Tonetoaster label.

Further reading & band Bio:�
Born 13 days apart, band members Steve and Dan grew up on the same street and began making music together at the age of 10. A couple of years later they played their first gig, performing 50�s rock n� roll songs to a somewhat bemused audience in a Sligo bar, being several years too young to get a gig in any licensed premises in Dublin. At 17 they united with schoolmates Matt and The Hog, formed the band Porn Trauma and released 'Sunrise' EP in 2005 which entered the Irish charts at No. 21 and spent several weeks in the Top 30 OFFICIAL IRISH CHARTS. �Over the years, The Last Tycoons have developed a reputation for their live performances, and have opened for and supported various luminaries such as: Babyshambles, Ian Brown, The Coral, The Felice Brothers and Alex Chilton.
Porn Trauma released a limited edition 7" single 'Casanova Blues' before taking a break from the road. In 2007, they then changed their stage name to The Last Tycoons (inspired by F Scott Fitzgerald's book) and added an extra member (Aoife) on piano/organ and backing vocals. This completed the current line-up and their sound, now defined by their 2 lead instrumentalists (Dan and Aoife), lead vocalist Steve, and rock-solid rhythm section of Matt and The Hog. The band�s sound is also complemented by four vocals which at times play off each other intricately and at other times harmonize effortlessly. �
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The band�s first collective release was their single 'Loving Arms', which was supported by an Irish tour. In 2008, three members of the Tycoons (Dan, Steve & Hog) were enlisted in The Mighty Stef's backing band, and since then have been involved in the recording of his 2nd album �100 Midnights' as well as three tours of the US and have played festivals all over Ireland and Europe including Oxegen, Electric Picnic and Benicassim festival in Spain. �
The Last Tycoons began recording their debut album in 2008, sporadically going into a studio deep in the Wicklow mountains, and often paying for studio time by completing chores for the owner, like moving pianos and unplugging his drains when the studio flooded. The album was completed in 2009 and the band released 'The Dry Law' as a taste of the material recorded for their first LP.
�� �The Last Tycoons music is rock n� roll in a style embraced by few other bands around today. From old