The Revs live at Whelan's, Dublin

They came, played some damn fine music, and conquered Whelan’s one Thursday night last month. From the sound of the first note, it was evident why The Revs were the leaders of tonight’s pack. As they arrived on stage (with the fanciest lighting set-up of the night), the main floor finally crammed. Sing-along melodies and hook-heavy lyrics pleased the largely sensible twentysomething contingent present. They were here for some nice entertainment and not some serious head- slamming! A summer of slumming it at festivals should provide us with an excuse.
There was also a jammed-to-bursting bill of up-and-coming talent supporting. Barry O’Brien kicked off proceedings earlier in the evening. Undeterred by the small number assembled, he played an acoustic four-song set, which held the full attention of the early revellers. Next up were the Castleknock five-piece, Soft Cuddly Toys. The shared vocals of the lead female singer (who sure can hold a note) and the guitarist complemented each other well. Their material expertly showcased their talent as instrumentalists, with the dramatic keyboards and drums creating an atmospheric and haunting sound. The guitarist also gave away a free copy of their EP which was speedily claimed by a girl down the front. The Soft Cuddly Toys are showing tremendous promise musically, and clearly, are generous spirits.
The Scottish rock outfit, The Fortellies followed and seemed eager to please. Their sound, not unlike that of their fellow countrymen Franz Ferdinand, was frantic, immediate and energetic. The lead singer’s lively banter with the audience was hardly comprehensible through a very strong Scottish accent. Luckily, it didn’t creep through to his shouty vocals, which were finely delivered. A highly entertaining and exuberant performance.
The arrival of Leya marked a departure later in the evening, with a more mature rock sound with grunge-like vocals. It was all going quite smoothly until the lead singer announced they had killed the keyboardist. The bass player also jumped down into the audience to stir up some commotion, but his efforts seemed to be in vain. There was to be no stage-diving on this occasion.
All in all, a Nice Rock Evening was had by all. Die-hard enthusiasts may have opted for something a little more intense, but hey, it was a weekday evening. These acts made their mark tonight in Dublin, and it is, unquestionably, a matter of time before they’re making waves on an international scale.