LIVE REVIEW: The Strypes in The Academy

Returning to their spiritual home in the capital for their very first show since the release of their second album, Little Victories, Cavan’s fab four offered yet another triumphant and thrilling live celebration before a sell-out, all-ages crowd.
“I’ve feeling tonight’s going to be fucking mental,” mused Ross Farrelly, to howls of agreement from the hordes, including a sizeable Cavan contingent. He wasn’t wrong of course; and they certainly were in spectacular form, the super-charged energy emanating from the stage, spread around the venue in quick-fire time. Long time live favourites such as the manic, ‘Mystery Man’ and ‘Hometown Girls’ still sound fresh and full of youthful exuberance. Of the newer material, the jerky, choppy rhythms of, ‘Cruel Brunette’ and the hard-rocking swagger of ‘Scum Bag City’ went down a storm – the latter in particular eliciting mass pogo-ing out on the dance floor. Meanwhile, the fuzz-toned, swirling psyche rock textures of ‘Queen Of The Half Crown’ and the Feelgoods-like recent single ‘Get Into It’ made for more sing-along moments in a night where there were many.
Image-wise the lads have evolved and updated subtly from their ‘Ready Steady Go - circa 1964’ look, to something located in or about 1994 (the haircuts are tighter, the tailored mod suits less in evidence and there’s even a backwards baseball cap in the camp!) Earlier, the mighty Mighty Stef entertained and impressed the younger-than-usual crowds, chiming perfectly with the spirit of the evening.