Maybeshewill & Death of London @Whelan's - 8.10.09

They're loud. Oh yes, they're really loud. It's the first night of an extensive tour for post-rock instrumentalists Maybeshewill and they’re playing to smattering of statues. The Dubliners are observing the Sunday day of rest a bit too seriously. But our English friends take it in their stride, raging through their set with their agressive, sweeping epics – drawing comparisons with Northern Irish compatriots And So I Watch You From Afar. It's riff-heavy and noisy but their Mogwai-tinged melodic fury is more accessible than many of their peers.

And there is an element of fun carried on from the evening's support Death of London, a four piece composed of two Maybeshewill deflectors and featuring an incredibly tall man bent over a very low synth. It just looks uncomfortable and we hate to see anyone suffering for their art.

Still despite looking like they fathered most of our fresh faced headliners, DoL know how to rock just as hard, if not perhaps a little bit harder. There's something a little light-hearted in the midst of seething feedback and angry vocals. Spurred on by a cheerful heckler, it's perfectly disorganised chaos as songs end abruptly and our lead guitarist/screamer gives a private show to a group of curious tourists watching the spectacle from across the road. And who needs microphones as the DoL boys growl their dissatisfaction, shouting “I’m not even drunk yet” before taking to the floor to clink glasses with the unsuspecting public. A band that takes their music, if not themselves, seriously.

By the end our ears are ringing and our heads are spinning but we’d like to do it all over again, please.

Connected - connected.ie

Hop Farm Festival @ Hop Farm, Kent - 4/5.7.09

Now in its second year, Vince Power's 'no sponsorship, no branding' Hop Farm Festival is truly a chilled out music fan's delight. Small capacity and plenty of bars means less time queueing and more time rocking out to the likes of Ash who seem to be improving year after year. Tight as hell, they combine old classics 'Oh Yeah' and 'Kung Fu' with recently released dancy-electronic 'Return of White Rabbit' and the sweeping epic 'Twilight Of The Innocents'.

Stellar performances over the weekend come also from Editors who showcase new material including the 80s-tinged bizarrely-named 'Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool'. Its the old favourites that get the crowd going of course but previews show their next album to be a departure from their usual guitar driven sound into synthy dark pop which suits Tom's voice perfectly.

Disappointing however is Kiwi electro-poppet, Ladyhawke. Poor sound – one ridiculously loud keyboard and vocals so low that The Fly’s tuneless singing all but drowns her out for the rest of the crowd – and the possibility that she might not actually be a good singer makes for an utterly underwhelming show.

There’s plenty of straight-forward rock and roll from The Rifles and The Twang amongst others but they are completely outshone by the ethereal wonder of artists such as Florence And The Machine. She rises up on stage like Lady Lazarus, flame hair and dress catching in the wind – it would be easy to dismiss her as eye-candy if it isn’t for her equally beautiful other-worldly voice - ‘Dog Days’ and new track ‘Drumming’ stand out above all others.

Scorching sun and high temperatures mean that the cool refuge of the dance tent is often welcome. More often than not packed full of pre-teens and families, DJs such as Alex Gopher and Kissy Sell Out find themselves performing to Mum, Dad and the 3 kids going nuts with glowsticks. Electro-folk Dubliner Jape takes advantage of the early hour and small crowd to go experimental with some clever reworkings of his material. A passionate performer, Jape is always a joy to watch as he acts out the lines from his unique stories of love, sex and getting messed up. We love him.

It’s obvious Hop Farm has fallen far short of its capacity although headliner Paul Weller seems to encourage a bigger turn out on Sunday… but its true what they say: size doesn’t matter, it’s what you do with it that counts.

And yeah, we’ve come away fully satisfied.

4 and a half out of 5.

The Fly - the-fly.co.uk

Manic Street Preachers @Ulster Hall 6.6.09

Seventeen years after the release of their debut album, Generation Terrorists, and Manic Street Preachers are still peddling their political melancholy to a rapt audience. It's the concluding night of their tour to support latest album Journal for Plague Lovers – a Holy Bible-esque work that draws on the last writings of the band's troubled lyricist and occasional rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards who disappeared in 1995.

Despite being sold out the Ulster Hall seems unexpectedly roomy with an unusual crowd. Unusual in their usualness. Throughout their history MSP have been known to attract a colourful audience but the venue is mostly devoid of feathers, glitter and leopard print except for Nicky Wire's microphone stand which is unsurprisingly dressed with a fluffy feather boa.

There is a palpable air of excited tension in the room – it is announced that ...Plague Lovers will be played in its entirety followed by a greatest hits set. The anticipation of nine albums worth of greatest hits is intoxicating. As lights dim and the band come onstage however, it feels anti-climatic. Bursting straight into 'Peeled Apples', it seems as if something is missing; James Dean Bradfield's vocals are watery and lost.

Perhaps it's the fact that it's the last date of the tour and our Welsh friends are feeling the effects or perhaps it's a sense of regret at having made the decision to play the whole album first, but it feels like they are dying to get it all out of the way. Polite attention is paid to the performance by the crowd but there are some stellar moments including the fantastic 'This Joke Sport Severed' – as touching and emotionally raw a song as the Manics have ever had.

The beauty of the album in all its intense, abrasive glory doesn't transfer so smoothly to the live set just yet but strange sound and unfamiliarity on the part of this reviewer may have had something to do with it.

Referencing a different era and remembering their first ever performance in Belfast, playing in the Limelight, whoops of joy come from members of the audience who obviously have it ingrained in their memories.

As the last notes of 'William's Last Words' echo through the Ulster Hall, the band depart the stage. The mood changes immediately. Again those fizzes of nervous excitement. Anticipation. Expectation. As the crowd stands in the darkness the few minutes starts to feel like a few hours until bang, they're back.

Straight into 'Motorcycle Emptiness' and the room erupts. This is what we've all been waiting for. Onstage the atmosphere has changed. No longer showing their age, the trio have returned to their imbued political roots – their hard rock, revolutionary spirit is present once again.

Cascading through a set of hits it's an emotional and powerful trip through the past for many fans, screaming along to the nihilistic, charged 'Faster' or to the sweeter sounding but equally intense 'You Stole The Sun From My Heart' – Nicky Wire's ode to the horrors of touring. Every single song is perfect and hardcore fans are treated to 'Sorrow 16' – a b-side from 'Motown Junk'. The only song that perhaps misses the mark a little is 'Ocean Spray' complete with cheesy sax solo.

It's a set filled with force and feeling – everyone joins in with the appropriately named 'You Love Us' before the aching 'A Design For Life'. Both songs are as relevant now as they have ever been. Just as MSP's history has been a whirlwind experience of soaring highs and painfully open lows, their performance has been a tidal wave of raw nostalgia. Yes, we love you.

Insideireland.ie

Bellx1 @Vicar Street - 31.3.09

Seems like simple little country boys have stumbled onstage to play at being rockstars. That’s if frontman Paul Noonan's cringeworthy but rather fetching dancing and air guitaring is anything to go by.

The first half hour of the show consists of songs which wouldn’t sound out of place at an old-time dance. Perfectly pleasant but we’re thankful to be seated cos the music isn’t even appropriate for swaying. The conclusion of the slow-set arrives with ‘Eve, The Apple of My Eye’ – acknowledged as being first kiss music for secondary school sweethearts.

Surprising though is the heavier nature of the following songs where the band are in their element. Unfortunately the new material, except perhaps Talking Heads-esque ‘The Great Defector', doesn’t have quite the same punch as older tracks. The anthemic ‘Flame’ gets an understandable cheer of excitement while finishing with ‘Rocky Took A Lover’ is an obvious choice.

Our cowbell-clashing Mr Noonan’s distinctive voice and questionable grooving is fantastic but there’s an uneasy feeling of something missing.

3 and a half/5

The Fly - the-fly.co.uk

Not Squares & Kicks Blue@Twisted Pepper - 12.3.09

First time in Twisted Pepper on Thursday night and what a night to choose to indoctrinate myself.  Noisy Northerners Not Squares had commandeered the club for the early part of the evening.  The venue itself is great with a bar/stage area which allows drinkers to sit and have a chat without having to shout over the band's music.  In saying that though the completely unnecessary dj in the bar area pre-gig seemed to think it appropriate to play ridiculously squeaks for about 20 minutes before someone told him that the few punters actually there might want to be able to hear their friends. I hope so anyway.

First on the bill were Kicks Blue, an interesting combo of guy with laptop and Korg and his Kickettes, two girls who seemed to provide harmonies and swaying. Despite having a really excellent backing track of lovely swooping sounds and the occasional wee glitchy bit of electronic, it was somewhat marred by the school choir vocals of the Kickettes. Don't get me wrong, the girls can sing and harmonise just fine but it was overbearing and completely killed the effect of everything else.  Unusual idea but after two and a half songs it became painful.  Pity cos the recorded material sounds sweet and ethereal (see In Your Sleep).

I lasted longer than my companions however - their comments varied from "missing a bit of talent", "now I know anyone can sing" and "hey, I liked it" - so well, different strokes for different folks. I'd like a little less Kickette, a little more Kick.

Not to worry though, Not Squares were as brilliant as I'd hoped they'd be.  Benefitting slightly from a crowd of mostly Nordies, they did manage to get everyone going.  Nothing like a stage invasion of excitable dancers to get a party started. How to describe the band? Thrash dance has been waved about so I'll nab that one. Northern Ireland's top thrash dance punk band for sure - not that there is much competition, but if there was, these guys would blow them out of the water. Two bassists, no guitarist (or maybe my eyesight really is bad), keyboards, crazy beats and a lot of shouting from pretty much every single one of them - and one of the stage invaders. Excellently organised chaos.  Finishing with You're Still Drunk, the main reason I was there, was the best decision of the night. I've called it bouncy, crashing perfection elsewhere. It is.

Cashier No 9&Escape Act @Whelans - 28.2.09

Soon to be touring with Snow Patrol, Cashier No 9 showcase their modern country with a swaggering, confident beat and a shovelful of funky pizazz. And at the risk of sounding cheesy, it's a bit of a toe-tapping affair withevery song grabbing hold of you and demanding dance.
Recent single 'When Jackie Shone' is an excellent case in point.

Fresh from their studio session in Glasgow, support comes from the delightfully energetic Escape Act. Retro indie with tinges of Jesus & Mary Chain and Pixies, these guys combine sweetened vocals with blasts of spiky guitar riffs.

4/5

The Fly - the-fly.co.uk

Heritage centre&Empire of Lights @Whelans - 20.2.09

It's a sold-out show for the release of Heritage Centre's debut EP The City, The Tree And The Fox in Whelan's. The crowd loves these guys and they in turn love the attention. It's a completely professional performance - there's no self-conscious shuffling on and off stage for this lot. Lights dim for the intro song and at the end, we're even treated to an encore before they disappear into the backstage.

Standout tracks include the excellent 'Death By Silence' - vicious, rocky, perfectly loud - and the single 'Losing Touch' - a soft, not particularly original but very sweet track. They're in their element with the heavier numbers – reminiscent of an early Idlewild or even Snow Patrol before they forgot how to write great songs.

Despite their rock-star posturing they're polite young boys who give a shout-out and thanks to their parents without whom they say there would be no EP. Ah, how sweet.

Support comes from London/Dundalk mates Empire Of Lights with their lovely jingle-jangle indie pop. Sugary and upbeat, comparisons can be drawn with Stars and the now-defunct Belfast band Torgas Valley Reds. It's all beautiful harmonies and warm synths, there is even a melodica! 'Inaction Man' is one of the best songs of the night.

An excellent line up with Heritage Centre tight as hell, exuding a confidence that will hopefully ensure their heritage lives on both in Ireland and across the water. An Irish tour is to follow - if you have any interest in professionally executed indie-rock then go see this band. We insist.

4/5

The Fly - the-fly.co.uk