Blast

Kicking off this afternoon’s proceedings are two very young, talented bands playing their first and second gigs respectively. No Compliance from Bray, Co. Wicklow play an energetic twenty minutes to an enthused crowd. They’re followed by Cody who are another pleasant surprise. Both are travelling confidently down the punk/grunge road and have bright futures hovering on the horizon.

Due to Rory’s excessive vomiting (a stomach virus, he swears) The Revs set is slightly delayed. Boldly stepping in to keep the troops entertained is thirteen year old Dean. Armed with an acoustic guitar and a voice as soothing and sweet as maple syrup he is quietly self-assured. After a rather speedy recovery The Revs bound onto the stage with Rory (semi) intact. If Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day had fronted the Bay City Rollers and together they abducted a guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd it might have gone a little something like this. The Revs do what most other bands have either forgotten to do or never understood in the first place. They have FUN.

A tough act to follow but Newry band Superskin are well up to the challenge. Donning what is fast becoming his trademark pink swimming hat and star shaped plastic sun specs Johnny Windrim touches down onstage accompanied by the rest of the ‘skin posse. Their music is driven by that real heavy bassy sound (Underworld meets Faith No More) that shoots right through you. Superskin are a band that should (and I have no doubt very soon will) be playing baseball stadiums in the States.

Next up are Lazybug who play a very short but sweet set (if that’s possible for a metal band). They are tight and very musically accomplished but the lead singer could do with a boot in the pants in the charisma direction.

Addressing the crowd as if they are old friends (and I have a feeling that they are) Mixtwitch descend upon the stage and muck about as if they are in their own living room. Their laid back approach (yet don’t be disillusioned because they will rock your fuckin’ ass off) works like a charm. That tried and tested old phrase “never judge a book by its cover” could never ring truer.

Taking the afternoons fun and frolics to the final hurdle are Pin. The overall image and sound is screaming “Rage Against The Machine” but that is only scratching the surface. As the lead singer paces back and forth across the stage the musical vehicle begins to gain momentum. They may be young but they have tapped into a sombre intellect. Sharp!