Live Report: Bricknasty take the 3Olympia to dizzying heights

It’s not a huge venue, but even then, it’s hard to make the 3Olympia Theatre feel this busy. Like giddy sardines, hundreds of Bricknasty fans escape the freezing rain and bump elbows to get a decent spot on the floor.

The chatter is suddenly cut short by a tinkling harp- the dedicated amongst us recognise it as the opening to ‘Eleanor Plunkett’, while the rest of the crowd know enough to read it as a signal of the band’s impending arrival.

As they leap onstage, the angelic sound of the harp, accompanied by the silhouettes that make up Bricknasty leads me half to expect a declaration of “Do not be afraid” from frontman Fatboy.

Instead, the music does the talking, as the harp is silenced by the bouncing guitar intro to ‘I hope You’re Ready’. If they’re posing this question to the fans, their answer is indisputably an affirmative, as the ground shakes with their response.

There’s no one standout instrument- as is the mark of any band filled with talented musicians, the attention of your ears is constantly demanded, and kept only for seconds until it’s dragged somewhere else.

That being said, the sounds belting from Fatboy’s guitar are astounding- the only consistency is that it’s all incredibly complex, something you’d never guess from how easily he seems to produce them.

Clad in his usual pink balaclava, as well as a matching hat and t-shirt, the responsibility of vocals and guitar don’t seem to phase him in the slightest. He makes his craft seem effortless, as though creating such a unique sound is as simple as cracking a knuckle.

The combination of three guitars, drums, sax, and some electronic contributions creates a funky sound that rumbles through a jubilant crowd. Bubbling basslines, swaying guitars- it creates a sound that leaves the audience panting between tunes.

These breaks don’t come often- the chemistry onstage is apparent as they literally don’t miss a beat- tempos are changed like a switch has been flicked, as the band members flag each other for the opportunity to experiment, crowbarring in miniature solos at every opportunity- as if to say, “try this on for size.”

As they careen into ‘Vinland’, one of their most popular songs, Fatboy’s slim silhouette asks for the lend of their voices. He’s polite to have asked, but it was just a formality- they’re already doing it.

The audience’s eagerness to be involved is infectious. The barrier between the stage and the crowd is blurred, as the band indulge this desire time and time again.

During ‘Who Asked Fatboy’, which is a mellower island in a show packed with high tempo jams, Fatboy declares that this, is Dublin’s own sound. “Straight from the blocks,” he decrees.

Naturally, when time is up the crowd don’t accept that the show is over, and their demands for an encore are indulged. As they reappear onstage, you couldn’t help but wonder how they’re going to top it all off.

Fatboy’s sudden switch to the lyrics of Azealia Banks’ ‘212’ are met with a cheer of approval, his strangled vocals almost drowned out by the crowds amused shock, a closer that perfectly encapsulates the wild atmosphere of the night.