- Music
- 12 May 04
Dundalk upstarts Walter kick off proceedings with their upbeat piano-based tunes akin to that of current 'it' bands Keane and Hal - an impressive performance which hints that this band are bound for higher plains...
Dundalk upstarts Walter kick off proceedings with their upbeat piano-based tunes akin to that of current 'it' bands Keane and Hal - an impressive performance which hints that this band are bound for higher plains. Next on the bill are Pixies-influenced Dublin quartet Life After Modelling, proving popular with their quirky guitar pop and boy-girl harmonies. With a refreshed line-up (and change of name from former moniker Deputy Fuzz), there the band seem stronger than ever and deliver a great performance which was much loved by the crowd.
It's just after 11 bells that the New Yorkers Joy Zipper take to the stage. And it isn't just the crowd that are happy to be there – the band themselves were just as excited – cracking jokes between songs and generally engaging the crowd. Included in the line-up is a familiar face on. The band (which happily incorporates ex-Watercress bassist Dan Donnelly) play tracks from their current album American Whip, including the beautifully dreamy Velvet Underground-sounding ‘Christmas Song’ which is introduced by a beaming Tabintha Tindale: "This is something that Vinny wrote about me - he doesn’t like to admit it, but, he did."
Other tracks from their Jesus & Mary Chain/Mazzy Star style second album include the addictive summery pop song ‘Out Of The Sun’, and one of my personsal faves, the My Bloody Valentine-influenced, ‘33X’, which proves their ability to harmonise perfectly live.
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To be honest, they didn’t grab me by the balls but just before the end of their set they surprise with a rocked-up Raveonettes-style number ‘In Your Eyes’ that had me yearning for more. The New Yorkers have won over the hearts in the crammed Doran’s venue and leave with promises of returning again soon.