The Rumble Strips at Whelan's, Dublin

The Distractors are a pretty good sounding rock band who (nonetheless) look quite depressed. They’ve good riffs and the bits at the end of songs where things break down are intense and rocking. But, hey, they do look sad! Turn those frowns upside down boys! You should be more like Oli ‘n’ Clive – now there’s a band who like being on stage. Musicians should look like they enjoy playing their instruments. Which is easier, I suppose, when your instruments include the musical saw, ukulele and autoharp. But their eight person English country music is lovely, which also helps.
Then on come the Rumble Strips and they’re something else entirely. Charlie Waller doesn’t smile so much either, but he has an intense stare which makes him seem very present. Definitely not depressed. The ingredients are straightforward – a dirty old acoustic guitar, riffing along to a tireless drummer and a brass section, who switch to bass and keys (sometimes mid-song) and an ancillary bass player who strips to his vest, flicks his fringe and belts a floor tom from time to time. But The Rumble Strips’ music is also a pleasantly bewildering potpourri of influences (or perhaps a smorgasbord... or a melange). There’s a rockabilly thing going on and Rocket from the Crypt are an obvious reference, but their sweaty entertainment values also make me think of Brendan Bowyer and the Royal Showband. Some songs veered from Calexico to Queen to the Flying Pickets. Then they finish on a cover of ‘The Boys are Back in Town’ causing more speculation. As we leave, my pedantic friend notes that the sign spelling out their name in cardboard is hanging from the lighting rig, and thus may constitute a fire-hazard. “I don’t know,” I say. “The fire hazard looks like it was on the stage to me!” My friend punches me in the jaw, understandably enough.