The year is 2019 AD and Earth’s population has been decimated to the point where there’s no one left to assume NE hosting duties bar Craig Fitzpatrick. We’d say may God have mercy on our souls if it wasn’t already clear he had completely forsaken us. But wait, who’s that in the distance? 

Yes, it’s Captain Fiddle himself ready to save the day! With Daithí back onboard, we’ve another two-man power trip through what was a jam-packed week in the world of music. 

But first: Daithí reminisces about how he could have been Ireland’s answer to Tony Hawk, Craig talks about stumbling into a very quiet, very serious gig at just the wrong time, and the boys can’t contain themselves: yes, there is Game Of Thrones chat, but it’s sequestered in its own section bookended by cats singing the theme tune so you can easily skip.

ACT ONE

CHVRCHES under threat from a loathsome bunch of fans, Kevin Abstract on a treadmill for 10 hours and Coachella blamed for a massive herpes outbreak, Oh, and Jaden Smith’s set to play an alternate reality version of Kanye West. It’s the news.

ACT TWO

Fear not, we have your Dave Hanratty fix. Our man sat down with The Murder Capital and drew on all his reserves of journalistic patience and nous to wring something interesting from it. Fascinating listening.

ACT THREE

In Songs Of The Week, Taylor Swift enlists Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon Urie as part of her reDisneyfication. And plunges us into a deep existential funk. Can the return of Stormzy and Japanese Breakfast lift our spirits?

ACT FOUR

The immensely talented Aldous Harding got us super hyped for her third LP with the release of lead single ‘The Barrel’ earlier this year. Does Designer live up to our expectations? 

EXIT MUSIC

Nealo ft God Knows & Innrspace – ‘Questions’

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NO ENCORE is back on a two-man vibe with another packed deep dive into the realm of all things music.

There's a chat with SOAK as she releases new album Grim Town, thoughts on Kanye's Sunday Service, Dave versus the national broadcaster, and the hotly-anticipated comeback from Vampire Weekend...

ACT ONE: Dave talks Avengers: Endgame, gets into a social media ruck, and generally defends the honour of critics. Again.

ACT TWO: The boys mull over the news happenings, from David Byrne's job offer to what bands should be avoided for security purposes.

ACT THREE: SOAK is back with Grim Town, her excellent sophomore effort. She sits down with Dave to discuss what went into the album's construction, mental health, problematic lyrics, and why her career is something of a happy accident.

ACT FOUR: Songs of the Week with FKA twigs, Better Oblivion Community Center, and an all-star team-up in honour of Game of Thrones.

ACT FIVE: There's a week to go before Vampire Weekend release Father of the Bride, their first album in six years. But dammit, Dave and Craig can wait no longer...

EXIT MUSIC: Le Boom x Æ MAK | 'Dancing Bug'

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Deep breaths.

NO ENCORE's movies-and-music spin-off continues apace as NO POPCORN hits up an intensely grim venue to catch a punk band as they do their utmost to survive the night against a ruthless, murderous pack of neo-Nazis.

Yep, it's Green Room, and it's really fucking intense...

Is this the best horror of the decade? Is the violence impactful or gratuitous?

Patrick Stewart; stunt casting or inspired genius? And which one of the lads has a terrifying on-the-road story of their very own?

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The only way to make a Good Friday even better - the latest episode of your beloved NO ENCORE podcast.

It's good on other days, too. This week, the boys welcome God Knows into the studio for a long-awaited, in-depth conversation.

Elsewhere, there's some Fontaines fallout, a Coachella blitz, the new Anderson .Paak album, and a strangely lethargic Daithí for some unknown reason.

ACT ONE: Dave is very bored by something that he wrote about. Don't ever say he's not self-aware.

ACT TWO: Rusangano Family man God Knows on growth, success, giving back, mental health, and why he's determined to fight for the best version of himself.

ACT THREE: In the news; Coachella, Frank Ocean, and Keanu Reeves. Also, Dave goes to bat for a band that needs more love, at least according to him.

ACT FOUR: New and Improved Songs of the Week ft. Mark Ronson, Lykke Li, BTS, and Madonna.

ACT FIVE: Anderson. Paak didn't take long to follow up the uneven Oxnard. Does Ventura bring him back to form?

EXIT MUSIC: Kobina | 'Does It'

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Dave indulges himself in all kinds of ways following the success of his Picture This expedition. Craig and Daithí look on, concerned.

Elsewhere on NO ENCORE this week - Sarah Corcoran of Pillow Queens stops by to chat their new single and upcoming tour with SOAK, bold fashion choices, cinema etiquette and whether or not the whole punk thing really is kicking off.

Speaking of, there's hype-aplenty about Dublin noiseniks Fontaines D.C. and their debut album - but is it any good?

ACT ONE: Dave upsets everyone.

ACT TWO: The Beatles ride again, 25 years of Kurt Cobain not being a murder victim, and MySpace is back! Kind of.

ACT THREE: Sarah Pillow Queens in conversation.

ACT FOUR: The new and improved Songs of the Week.

ACT FIVE: Fontaines D.C. are your new punk rock indie kings. Let's talk about it.

EXIT MUSIC: God Knows | 'Crown'

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NO ENCORE at the movies returns with a double bill.

First up, Dave Hanratty and David Higgins ingest about as much of yawn-some Motley Crüe tribute The Dirt as they can stomach.

The main event, however, looks at the life and times of the explosive N.W.A. as F. Gary Gray's 2015 effort Straight Outta Compton comes into focus.

Does the movie do a good job of highlighting the cultural impact of N.W.A.?

Was the casting on point?

Did we need the parade of cameos?

Is Paul Giamatti wearing a wig?

And how does that F. Gary Gray filmography hold up?

All that and much more discussed...

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A very special guest hits up NO ENCORE HQ this week with an important purpose.

Dave reports on an epic, life-changing journey. Daithí played his part. Craig did not. Elsewhere, the boys look at Billie Eilish's debut album and engage in questionable shopping etiquette.

ACT ONE: Yes, Dave actually did that. Five nights of it, no less. Hear the whole gory story and do bail over to JOE to read more about it.

ACT TWO: News as Leo V Taoiseach indulges in pop perks, Green Day embrace their feminine side, Skrillex fends off pests and KFC annoy everyone while boosting their brand.

ACT THREE: Songs of the Week with Modest Mouse, Khalid, Ariana Grande and Victoria Monét, The Drums, and Rosalía.

ACT FOUR: Much hype about Billie Eilish these past few months, some of it emanating from this very show. Can her debut possibly live up to expectations?

EXIT MUSIC: Damsel | 'Head Hums'

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Craig flees to Spain like an exiled lord as Dave and Daithí hold down the NO ENCORE fort.

There's an in-depth look at Drake's 3Arena takeover, a chat with Rushes as he releases his debut EP, and Dave's grand return to school amongst plenty more.

ACT ONE: Daithí does Drake as Dave buries himself in The Dirt.

ACT TWO: Scott Walker RIP, Bo-Raps gets the scissors, Dr. Dre has social media remorse and the holograms are back to haunt us - it's the news.

ACT THREE: Cork producer Rushes has just dropped his debut Glimpse EP. He joins the boys to discuss his process, working with Diffusion Lab, choosing a different path and retaining a sense of mystery.

ACT FOUR: Songs of the Week with Flume, Tame Impala, Sky Ferreira, Marina, and Logic.

ACT FIVE: Avant-garde outfit and critical darlings These New Puritans are back with their first album in six years. Dave didn't like the last one, so that bodes well, right?

EXIT MUSIC: Bouts x Kobina | 'Love's Lost Landings, Pt. 2'

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The best damn music podcast in town returns with reports of great live music and violently theatrical happenings, a lively chat with Soulé and some good old-fashioned emo wanderings.

ACT ONE: Live correspondence from Anderson .Paak's Dublin visit, as well as a recap of Daithí's exciting birthday.

ACT TWO: Little Green Cars switch off their respective engines, MySpace somehow makes headlines in 2019, George Ezra goes through the legal mill, and Bohemian Rhapsody keeps on upsetting people - it's the NEWS.

ACT THREE: Soulé is making waves with her new Love Cycle EP but it turns out that she's just as adept at the culinary arts. A quite wild conversation ensues.

ACT FOUR: Deeply influential emo proves too much for Daithí to deal with, leaving Dave and Craig to play some American Football.

ACT FIVE: Songs of the Week unites Two Door Cinema Club, Weyes Blood, Saudade, The Head and the Heart and Iggy Azalea.

EXIT MUSIC: The Claque | 'Stray'

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NO ENCORE's deep dive into the world of music-related cinema continues with the epic, the bizarre, the hilarious, the tragic, the essential Metallica: Some Kind of Monster.

Dave Hanratty and David Higgins sit down to try and make sense of one of the most compelling music documentaries in the game. Why did Metallica agree to make this? Who are the heroes and villains of the piece? And how are we feeling about St. Anger 16 years later?

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