Live Report: BASHT. bring unbelievable energy to free show at Blackbird, Rathmines

Hotshot young Dublin rockers BASHT. upped the ante with a free gig at Blackbird in Rathmines on Sunday. With support from Neolithic, it turned out to be a brilliant double-bill.

Despite only having one single to their name, BASHT. managed to pack the house. The energy was great – as was the heat, with the crowd spilling out the back and into the other rooms.

Neolithic got the night going with an acoustic set that managed to rock pretty heavily. Previously a member of Nobodies Heroes, Neolithic launched his career as a solo artist last year. Tonight, he played a cover of 'Teenage Dirtbag' by Wheatus, as well as his own new single 'Mine (Boujee Products)'. Neolithic's mix of hip-hop and laid-back acoustic guitar music was the perfect overture to a warm summer's evening.

BASHT., it turned out, were men of few words, allowing their music to speak for itself. And it did just that. The group is comprised of Jack Leavey, Sam Duffy, Louis Christle, Luke O'Neill and Rossa Healy, all aged between 19 and 23. Known for combining vulnerable and emotional lyrics with hip-hop beats and raunchy guitar riffs, their emotionally committed approach made for a show that was both lively and intimate.

The rocking five-piece played a number of yet-to-be-released originals, as well as their iconic debut single 'Never Love.' For a relatively new band, formed during Covid-19 lockdown, they have cultivated a hugely impressive fan-base. What's more, almost everyone there could be heard singing along to every word of the single – a song which deals with toxic relationships.

Influences from The Strokes, The Killers, and The Velvet Underground are discernible in their music. But the sound is distinctively BASHT. The band also know how important it is to perform, demonstrating their passion and aptitude for rock and roll throughout, with lead singer Jack Leavey bolting spiritedly around the stage, while guitarist Sam Duffy shredded the guitar above his head.

The band's final song of the night was a cover of 'Hey Ho, Let's Go' by The Ramones. Met with chants for "one more song," the group quickly obliged and played another unreleased original tune. The crowd lapped it up.

Hot Press editor, Niall Stokes, dubbed the band's debut single "the start of something big" – and the portents in that regard remain enormously positive. BASHT. are successfully living up to their initial hype.

Having watched this brilliant live show, I can safely say that they have cemented their status as ones to watch for 2022.

See photos from the show here.