Given certain external factors (killer football game on the box, torrential rain), the Village boasts quite a respectable crowd on this midweek night. Granted, the room is populated largely by a chattering mass of posturing students, but they make an appreciative crowd for Tipperary four-piece The Ens nonetheless.
The Ens appear to be fresh-faced youngsters who have a lot to learn – and that is meant in the best possible way. Bringing a nicely roughshod quality to their shambolic bubblegum punk, the Tipperary outfit’s set is uncompromising and unpolished - which is just as it should be. Keeping a snappy pace throughout, The Ens seem to prefer three-minute bolts of mayhem, occasionally punctuated by the odd quirk and loop. ‘Lazy Daze’, with its neat, poppy guitar hook is an energetic, crowd-rousing number, while ‘Take It Away’ is a well-textured, menacing track that would not sound out of place on the likes of Troublegum. Hell, they even see fit to throw in a fairly game version of The Frames’ ‘Revelate’ for good measure. Talk about versatility.
The stadium shows, one guesses, are some way off, but even at this early juncture of their career, The Ens demonstrate the enthusiasm and upbeat energy that could well result in some genuinely feel-good music. More importantly, it sounds as though they will have some great fun making it.