Blog

bye bye!

I've started a new livejournal over at rockyoreilly.livejournal.com

Won't be posting here anymore.

Please come and join me, I'll be keeping updates on the new band, recording other bands,
my reacquired love of Irish League Football and everything else that I get up to in Belfast.

Dec 12th 2009. 

On December 19th at 11pm, Rocky and Shaun plan to take to the stage together as Oppenheimer for the last time. 

There will be a farewell EP, a digital release at the start of 2010. A snapshot of where we had arrived at this point, as we have recently been working on new material. 

Further ideas that have been worked on will accompany Rocky on his journey to a new band, which in some ways has already started, as the songs and plot lines are already underway, as anyone who has witnessed Oppenheimer recently can no doubt testify. 

The reasons for this announcement are multiple yet highly intertwined. Ultimately, to be in any band you allow the band to consume you, becoming every particle of your existence, every aspect of your being, every thought that wakes you up early and every task that keeps you up late at night. 

The reward for such dedication and commitment, not to mention the hardship that goes hand in hand with making music for a living is the unrivalled joy and honour that fills your mind, body and soul by getting to do all the things that you can.  

The moment this joy falters, rocks or is jolted out of existence, the struggle is of no consequence or purpose. 

After five years together, recording and releasing two albums, playing hundreds of shows and touring with some of the greatest bands in the world, the level of commitment, passion and drive that one of us can give to the band has changed. 

It's an understandable occurrence and one that we're both delighted to address at this time. 

Shaun has realized that in order to fulfill his hopes and dreams he needs to take a new and different path in his life. 

Rocky's ideas, dreams and notions for writing, recording and touring are more alive and vibrant than ever.

Due to these changing circumstances, we have decided to part ways.

We have no idea if we will ever work together again, recording movie soundtracks, making ambient albums or even making indie pop songs. Who knows what tomorrow holds? 

For now, Oppenheimer have no plans to write, record or play together again after December 19th 2009. 

Our thanks and respect for every single person in the world who has done anything to help us is overwhelming, it always has been, it always will be. 

Rocky O'Reilly & Shaun Robinson

Dec 12th 2009. 

On December 19th at 11pm, Rocky and Shaun plan to take to the stage together as Oppenheimer for the last time. 

There will be a farewell EP, a digital release at the start of 2010. A snapshot of where we had arrived at this point, as we have recently been working on new material. 

Further ideas that have been worked on will accompany Rocky on his journey to a new band, which in some ways has already started, as the songs and plot lines are already underway, as anyone who has witnessed Oppenheimer recently can no doubt testify. 

The reasons for this announcement are multiple yet highly intertwined. Ultimately, to be in any band you allow the band to consume you, becoming every particle of your existence, every aspect of your being, every thought that wakes you up early and every task that keeps you up late at night. 

The reward for such dedication and commitment, not to mention the hardship that goes hand in hand with making music for a living is the unrivalled joy and honour that fills your mind, body and soul by getting to do all the things that you can.  

The moment this joy falters, rocks or is jolted out of existence, the struggle is of no consequence or purpose. 

After five years together, recording and releasing two albums, playing hundreds of shows and touring with some of the greatest bands in the world, the level of commitment, passion and drive that one of us can give to the band has changed. 

It's an understandable occurrence and one that we're both delighted to address at this time. 

Shaun has realized that in order to fulfill his hopes and dreams he needs to take a new and different path in his life. 

Rocky's ideas, dreams and notions for writing, recording and touring are more alive and vibrant than ever.

Due to these changing circumstances, we have decided to part ways.

We have no idea if we will ever work together again, recording movie soundtracks, making ambient albums or even making indie pop songs. Who knows what tomorrow holds? 

For now, Oppenheimer have no plans to write, record or play together again after December 19th 2009. 

Our thanks and respect for every single person in the world who has done anything to help us is overwhelming, it always has been, it always will be. 

Rocky O'Reilly & Shaun Robinson

Killarney = best town in Ireland?

We had a long drive down to Killarney,
listening to To Rococo Rot, Tristeza, Kira Kira, Jimmy Eat World and more on the way,
rainy weather, trouble finding the venue, we were expecting the worst!

We were so wrong! The venue was really huge, much like a lot of the venues we played with They Might Be Giants.
The crowd were also similar, really interactive and friendly. This made it by far my favourite gig this year!

We had a long drive back and got home at 7am. I've already been on a winning football team this morning,
I was one half of the "dream team" that had a 2-0 Victory, it should have been more, but the post was unkind.

This week we're doing some recording and three more gigs in Dundalk, Kilkenny and Waterford!

Can't wait!

Dublin!

We played the Academy last night for Phantom First Friday.

Things we liked:

Being on time!
Eddie Rockets.
Writing a new song before soundcheck.
Playing new songs.
Seeing General Fiasco, who really were great! they also sounded amazing.
Watching Darren, GF tour manager, struggle to get his printer working. No ink mate.
Barry Peak!
Hunky Dory crisps.
Loading out through an R'n'B club.
Briefly driving the wrong way down a one way road near the M50.

We're off to Killarney today, it'll be the furthest point in Ireland that three out of five of us have ever been from Belfast. That's me, Chris (sound) and Hornby, who plays guitar for some shows with us, like last night.

48 Gigs I've played or worked at:

1. Oppenheimer & Tilly & The Wall - Maxwell's Hoboken, NJ 2007?
2. Oppenheimer & The Bravery - Spring & Airbrake, Belfast, 2005?
3. Oppenheimer & The Flaming Lips, Belsonic, Belfast 2008
4. Oppenheimer & They Might Be Giants, Bowery Ballroom 8th August 2007.
5. Oppenheimer & Neon Neon, Viper Room, Hollywood, CA 17th March 2008.
5. Oppenheimer & Hot Chip, South Street Seaport, NYC, Ny, 4th August 2006.
6. Oppenheimer & Ash, London Koko, July 2007.
7. Oppenheimer & Ok Go, Toad's Place, New Haven CT 2009
8. Oppenheimer & President's of the USA, 9:30 Club, Washington DC, 2009
9. Oppenheimer & A Camp, Union Hall, Brooklyn, NY 2007
10. Oppenheimer & Architecture In Helsinki, QUBSU, Belfast 2006.
11. Oppenheimer, Duke Special & Get Cape Wear Cape Fly! - London Metro 2005.
12. Oppenheimer & Frank Turner - Dublin Academy 2009.
13. Oppenheimer & Bob Mould - Glasgow ABC, 2008
14. Oppenheimer & The Like Young, The Beat Kitchen, Chicago, IL 2006
15. Oppenheimer & Math The Band, Brandeis University, MA 2007.
16. Torgas Valley Reds & Bryan Adams, The Odyssey Arena, Belfast 2006
17. Torgas Valley Reds & Sleater Kinney, Spring & Airbrake Belfast 2006.
18. Torgas Valley Reds & Ash, Down Arts Centre (FOH)
19. Element & Muse, Ulster Hall, Belfast - (FOH)
20. Element & Jimmy Eat World, Ulster Hall, Belfast - (FOH)
21. Rocket From The Crypt, Conor Hall, Belfast - 2002 - Monitors
22. To Rococo Rot, Auntie Annie's Belfast 2001 - Tech
23. Lee "Scratch" Perry - Ulster Hall, Belfast - Monitors
24. Olympic Lifts & Lo Fi Allstars - Liverpool Lomax- 2002 - FOH
25. Ugly Duckling - Germany/Aus/Switzerland 2002 - FOH
26. In Case Of Fire & Fightstar - FOH - 2006
27. Olympic Lifts, Notwist & Royksopp, Paradiso, Amsterdam - 2001 - FOH
28. Olympic Lifts & Ladytron - La Scala - London 2001?
29. The Tigerlillies - Kilkenny Arts Festival 2003? FOH
30. JJ72/Feeder/Element/I Am Kloot - Conor Hall 2002? Monitors
31. The Handsome Family - Auntie Annie's Belfast 2000, FOH
32. Joan Of Arc, Owen - Auntie Annie's Belfast 2002, FOH
33. Fridge, Auntie Annie's Belfast 2002? FOH
34. Man Or Astroman?, Auntie Annie's Belfast - helping out
35. Acid Mothers Temple - Auntie Annie's Belfast - FOH - a living hell...
36. Do Make Say Think/ The Dudley Corporation, Auntie Annie's - FOH
37. Rodrigo & Gabriella, Woodstock, Ireland 2004? Monitors
38. The Jamaican Jazz Allstars - Whitla Hall 2001, Monitors
39. Glenn Hansard - Morrison's Belfast 2001? FOH
40. Life Without Buildings, Morrison's Belfast 2000? FOH
41. Papa M - Morrison's Belfast ??? Helping out.
42. Kik 606 - Morrison's Belfast, FOH / Running away
43. Go Commando/Part Chimp/And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Edinburgh - Aug 5th 2001.
44. Oppenheimer & The Chalets, Whelan's - Dublin 2006
45. Oppenheimer & Fujiya & Miyagi, Cyprus Avenue, Cork 2007
46. Jurassic 5, The Empire Belfast - FOH
47. Lambchop, The Empire, Monitors
48. Les Savy Fav, Auntie Annie's Belfast - FOH/Helping Out