John Meagher on My Bloody Valentine at 3Arena: A reminder that this band sound quite unlike anybody else

The lasting impact of My Bloody Valentine on contemporary music is widely disproportionate to their popularity. Album sales have been modest, but they pioneered shoegaze and had a massive influence on countless alternative rock bands.

A 2023 Irish Independent poll of 50 music industry professionals saw their second LP, 1991’s Loveless, named as the best Irish album of all time. It’s certainly the best Anglo-Irish album ever — visionary leader and guitarist Kevin Shields is from Dublin, as is percussionist Colm Ó Cíosóig, while guitarist/vocalist Bilinda Butcher and bassist Debbie Googe are daughters of Albion.