Funny what can happen to a band in the space of just two years. As a heap of nervous but surprisingly polite new acts schlep their gear into the squashed backstage area at The Village (the toilet is crammed full of guitar cases), a few minutes away Delorentos are preparing for their headline show at the Temple Bar Music Centre.
They won this prize in 2005, and now they’re being rightly feted as one of Ireland’s brightest prospects. But that was then, this is now – and six new Irish bands want their title. Their brief is simple: three songs to impress the audience, and more importantly, the judges.
Vamos kick the night off with the charmingly brash ‘What’s The Craic?’, the kind of punky anthem this country once specialised in. The crowd are still meandering in, but it doesn’t take long for most of them to take notice of the hooky tunes and energetic performances these boys trade in. Vamos wear their influences as proudly as their lanky bassist Vinny Vamos wears his sleeveless t-shirt, but when those influences include early Green Day and Feeder, that’s no bad thing.
Despite accepting the poisoned chalice of going on first, these boys make a real impression and possess a stage presence that is bound to win people over. But backstage Scouse vocalist Tom Vamos wasn’t overly impressed with their performance.
“We fucked up a bit, it wasn’t as good as it could have been,” he rues as yet another band lugs their equipment past us and into the tiny band room.
That band would be the Kinetiks, who have amassed a pretty impressive amount of groupies for a bunch so young and fresh-faced. It’s not hard to see why – these four Dubliners offer hints of XTC and Franz Ferdinand, as well as some other less clichéd influences. Frontman Gaz Harding doesn’t just possess a fine voice and a nice line in buttoned-up shirts, but also an onstage intensity that belies the poppy treats the band’s music offers. Set closer ‘A Smile’d Crack Your Face’ deserves to soundtrack a million lazy summer afternoons. The competition’s already heating up.
Changing tack totally are Cork’s Monitor, whose earnest and powerful performance is completely lacking in pretension. Though they’ve built up a cult following in the Rebel County, this is one of their all too rare trips to Dublin, and the capital could do with more bands so dedicated to getting the crowd involved. There’s a maturity to Monitor’s grungy sound that promises much, and with more recordings due soon, it’ll be interesting to see if these boys can deliver on their live promise.
As Hot Press’s very own (and suitably calm in the face of much rushing around backstage) John Walshe introduces the fourth band onstage, a quick scan reveals the venue has filled. As well as attendant scenesters and drunk cousins (naming no names), there’s a couple of parents turned out to see their youngfellas give it their all.
The Arrangements certainly do that. Despite only being together a year almost to the day, they’ve already supported the likes of The Flaws and Marks & Spencers’ favourites The Feeling. The Waterford boys offer a mix of indie rock with subtly employed pop touches to create a sound that’s sharply focused and led tonight by a really tight set of performances.
“We enjoyed that,” singer Michael Dreeling enthuses backstage. “Shows like this can be a bit weird, it’s kind of a luck-of-the-draw thing. It was tough to pick only three songs, so we went for the ones that would make an instant impression. It was a really energetic show, just can’t wait to see who wins.”
By this stage the crowd are really getting into it – and why wouldn’t they? The standard of performance tonight has been impressively high, with the sheer difference in each band’s sound an indication of just how healthy the native grass roots scene is. There’s not a mopey singer-songwriter to be seen for miles.
The fifth band onstage are greeted by a massive cheer, and within a few songs it’s not hard to see why. Waterford’s Saviours Of Space boast a confidence and an ability to deftly switch genres that’s backed up by a real ear for winning harmonies and big choruses. In the space of a three-song set, they veer from energetic scally rock to hungover ballads with soaring climaxes. From the way the audience react, you’d swear this was one big incestuous family reunion – but it turns out that’s the kind of response Saviours Of Space have been eliciting wherever they go. Bloody impressive stuff.
“That was great,” says a slightly breathless frontman Paul Savage as the Blizzards arrive for their later slot as headliners. Sorry Bresie, I think we’ve already seen tonight’s real winners.
But mounting a late challenge are the darkly attired but brightly energetic Albyno Rhino, whose name allegedly comes from some sort of concoction of drugs. Not that these boys would know anything about that – two of them haven’t sat their Leaving Cert yet. They prompt the kind of frenzied crowd reaction that hasn’t been seen since, well, the last band, but that’s just a testament to how much of a quality performance it is. If this is their one chance at the limelight, these boys do their best to grab it with a mix of infectious tunes and chantalong choruses. Oh, and they’re really nice blokes too.
With all six bands done, the judges gather to make their deliberations upstairs. Down on the floor new fans are met, girlfriends are kissed, and kind words exchanged between all the bands. When the big announcement comes, it’s Saviours Of Space who pip the others with a unanimous win. Unfailingly gracious in defeat, the loudest cheers comes from the five defeated groups. Nice one lads, shouldn’t be too long til it’s your turn.
Pics: Naomi McArdle