Imagine 90s chancers Bush, or someone similar, decided to incorporate elements of prog. Just fucking imagine that for a second. If that sounds like your thing, then keep an ear out for tonight’s support band, Ape Rising. Bands take note – don’t get up on the stage in the same ratty clobber you were wearing when you did the load in.
Which leads me on to the colourful main act of the evening. Cult Called Man, most of whom arrive out in full military regalia. Lead singer Razmo sports a fetching psychedelic suit (imagine Syd Barrett’s pyjamas from about 1967), while the bass player, who proves to be a proper groovy bastard for the duration, looks like a Cuban pimp, insistent on selling you something you probably shouldn’t buy. Apparently, he’s called Sebastian. Of course he is. They’re making an effort. Proper order.
‘Welcome To The Island’ kicks things off - all jittery new wave shapes, followed by ‘Bad Seeds’, the opener from last year’s very fine Cult Fiction. The nagging chorus over jagged guitars has the sold out crowd at Dublin’s finest Rock n’ Roll n’ Liquor emporium, The Thomas House, singing along, obviously already familiar with the material. ‘Wickyr Mice’, together with ‘Lonely as Hell’, which arrives later, deliver the kind of new wave reggae beloved of the post-punk generation. But things really start to get interesting around about the staccato clang and hiss of ‘The Martian’. Razmo takes a mile from the yard offered, giving us his bloke-trying-to-get-out-of-an-electric-chair dance. He’s got the right kind of voice for this stuff too, although he does go a bit Foghorn Leghorn the odd time.
‘For The Cadillac Kids’ begins with a background military tattoo on the drums before defecting to a full soviet work song. ‘Shut Up and Grow’ is a bit of a dirge though; imagine someone trying to convey the greatness of David Bowie using only the recorded works of Gary Numan as an instructional aid. We’re back on track as ‘Lightbulb Sam’, great title, goes into ‘Circus’, its meaty guitar riff descending into the soundtrack to that dream you have where the clown is chasing you with a knife. ‘New Religion’ cops a feel off the Peter Gunn theme before we get an extended version of the big single, ‘Make It Easy’, which combines the African end of Talking Heads with a slightly rockier version of Chic, to finish.
They are literally jumping up and down with ideas. Get in on it.
Canada's Chart Conqueror Gets His Hits Out For An Adoring Crowd. Pat Carty was front row centre.
Read More
Arses Kicked and Hangovers Cured. Pat Carty gives thanks and praises for the return of The Mighty Minutes, Upstairs in Whelan's.
Read More
Wrong Number. Not Irie. At all. But at least there are no lutes.
Read More
Horrendous Stones pub bore Pat Carty offers his considered and balanced opinion on the merits of the young Dartford hopefuls who are in town for a low-key gig this week, and "curates" a couple of playlists to get us in the mood before we get down in Drumcondra.
Read More
Spinal Tap On Final Lap: Pat Carty receives a late night phone call from The World’s Greatest Rock Journalist - Samuel J. Snort Esq. - concerning their mutual friend
Read More
At the top of the charts with their provocative new album Resistance Is Futile, the Manic Street Preachers’ Nicky Wire sounds off on the tumultuous state of international politics and the malign influence of social media on political debate.
Read More
On the opening night of the eXPERIENCE & iNNOCENCE 2018 tour, U2 sprang a number of surprises. Well, what did you expect from the biggest, and most ambitious, rock band in the world? Our man in Tulsa: Pat Carty
Read More
U2's eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE tour opens in Tulsa later tonight. The Edge spoke briefly to Hot Press about it.
Read More
Good Time Merchants Get It Right. Dream Brother: Pat Carty.
Read More
Joe and Steve Wall discuss The Stunning's Twice Around The World remake/remodel, and life back on the road, and back in the day. Interview: Pat Carty.
Read More
You Won't Feel The Love Tonight...
Read More
Pat Carty Reports From A Rousing Roots Revival
Read More
American rockers who've possibly heard of Led Zeppelin.
Read More
Soul searching.
Read More
Roots rock heroes deliver the goods.
Read More
Tonight We're Gonna Party Like It's 1959
Read More
In honour of that celebrated snake charmer of old, Pat "Pádraig Gluaisteán Tae" Carty, pictured above, left, "curates" an Irish playlist.
Read More
Ahead of Wilson's headline Whelan's show this Thursday night, Pat Carty ties a rope around his waist and wades in
Read More
One of the most highly, er, touted Irish bands of the moment, Northern punks TOUTS discuss their blistering live shows, supporting rock icons Paul Weller and Liam Gallagher, having vibrators thrown at them onstage, and their quest for world domination. Informant: Pat Carty
Read More
A Splendid Time Is Guaranteed For All: Notorious Beatles Barroom Bore Pat Carty Hotwires The Hot Press DeLorean Back To 1967
Read More
Long Awaited Debut From The Bray-Based Three-Piece Is R&B With A Loudly Beating Heart. Dragon Talk Deciphering: Pat Carty
Read More
Ahead of their return to Vicar St. this Thursday, Hot Press' resident caimiléir uafásach Pat Carty, pictured here standing in a hole beside Liam and Fiachna, looks back on Hothouse Flowers' last two Dublin shows
Read More
Young Hopefuls Prove Themselves Fully Qualified. RSA Examiner: Pat Carty
Read More
A Soulful, Emotional Close to TradFest 2018. Report: Pat Carty
Read More
Comedian Alison Spittle celebrates the debut of her acclaimed sitcom, Nowhere Fast, and the Worrier Princess stand-up show, which lands in Dublin's Vicar Street tonight. Interview: Pat Carty
Read More
A Celebratory Night Of Songs And Stories from David Keenan, Harry Hoban and the Brothers Kane, Junior Brother, and Stephen Murphy. Hiding In The Corner: Pat Carty
Read More
The Man Come On The Radio, He's Telling Me More And More...
Read More
U2 have always been hugely aware of the potential of live films to spread the gospel. As a result, they've made some of the finest ever concert movies. Square eyes: Pat Carty
Read More
Pat Carty rouses himself to attend the Sugar Club Holiday Bash
Read More
Good Jaysus
Read More
Pat Carty, pictured here with a close personal friend at the legendary Hot Press Christmas ding-dong, speculates on an alternate hypothesis vis-à-vis the eternal question.
Read More
Hard as it is to believe, today marks the 15th anniversary of The Clash Frontman's death. Clash Jam Wallop, The Dubtones, and Trouble Pilgrims pay tribute in the Grand Social
Read More
The sound of the ground beneath the barrel being scraped? Jimmy Page offers more New Old.
Read More
A Seasonal Arse Kicking, Care of Cavan's Own Boyz II Men. Holiday Cheerer: Pat Carty
Read More
Presenting the Glen Hansard Soul Orchestra. Converted: Pat Carty
Read More
Pugwash's Thomas Walsh is back with another gorgeous collection of sparkling guitar pop, Silverlake. He talks about the album’s creation and where he's going next.
Read More
Sex, drugs and rock and roll are all unsurprisingly on the agenda as Justin Hawkins, frontman of pomp-rock gods The Darkness, reflects on past excesses. “I miss being able to drive my boob chariot into arenas,” he tells Pat Carty, who also recalls the great rock prop disasters we have known.
Read More
Paul Cleary's Mod Mob Deliver The Christmas Goods. Dad Dancing: Pat Carty
Read More
80's Rock Saviours Are Sweeney's Men In Brilliant New Radio Documentary
Read More
In aid of her own My Lovely Horse Rescue Charity, Cathy Davey and a host of heads perform this Friday in Whelan's
Read More
Plod Free Platter From Gallagher, Snr.
Read More
Forty years covered in fifty plus minutes - From Fighting on stage in front of Talking Heads to Songs Of Experience
Read More
The Redoubtable Mr. Robert Plant Brings His Magical Musical Caravan To Town. Stowaway: Pat Carty
Read More
'World Music' In The Truest Sense of the Words. Pat Carty Reports.
Read More
“A Monumental Racket”: Pat Carty is granted an audience with rock royalty
Read More
10 Hot Press writers share their favourite U2 moments as we get set for the release of Songs of Experience on December 1. Up first: Pat Carty takes us back to a beautiful day in Slane, 2001.
Read More
SONGWRITING GODDESS REVISITS AND RE-RECORDS EARLIER TRIUMPH
Read More
Liam Gallagher gets the finger out, as The Strypes and TOUTS snap at his heels. Hangar-on: Pat Carty
Read More
Last man standing Donald Fagen brings the 'Dan to Dublin. Pat Carty reports.
Read More
Great and good Dublin musical talent come together to pay tribute to the late Heartbreaker
Read More
Music recently lost another iconic rock and roll figure with the sad passing of Tom Petty. As well as being one of the great American songwriters, Petty’s extraordinary life and times also encompassed record company wrangles, divorce, drug problems, a mid-career slump and an eventual triumphant resurgence. Tribute: Pat Carty
Read More
Pat Carty attains rock nirvana in twenty seconds, and wakes up with his head in a sling
Read More
Pat Carty returns to his natural habitat, the early seventies, with Whole Lotta Zepp
Read More
The Carpet man, who isn't called Des Kelly, comes to town.
Read More
Pat Carty has a good time with the mighty Neil Diamond at the 3Arena
Read More
As one half of Steely Dan, Walter Becker helped to create what is among the most potent musical legacies of the past fifty years. Walter’s dime dancing may be through, leaving a gap where once rode a titan. But for Donald Fagen, the show must go on. With the help of ace Steely Dan stylist Greg Boland, we pay tribute.
Read More
Our man Pat Carty was in the heart of the action as The Rolling Stones took their European tour to Germany's capital of rock 'n' roll...
Read More
Pat Carty takes in the second day at Stradbally.
Read More
There are two ends to the Psychedelic Furs. You have, on one hand, the edgy new wave band that gave the world some fine singles, and their excellent first two albums, The Psychedelic Furs and Talk Talk Talk.
Read More
Our man Pat Carty was blown away by the legendary US boogie merchants last night!
Read More
For information including benefits, key facts, figures and rates for advertising with Hot Press, click below
Advertise 
