Album Review: The LenneBrothers Band, Rocking Live Around The Fire Station

Since Imelda May uncurled her rockabilly hairstyle, something's been missing from the Irish rockabilly/rock'n'roll scene - but there's still a sizeable appetite for the genre. Thankfully, along come the LenneBrothers from Hohenlimburg in Germany to add their pieces to the party.

They're four mean-looking dudes who bring energy, authenticity and exhausting fun to the generous 20 tracks on this, their first live album. Founding brothers Michael "Ele" Koch on Piano and lead vocals and Stefan "Teddy" Koch on guitar and vocals generally lead the way, but Claus Coxx on stand-up bass and vocals, and Andreas "Andy" Kässens on drums are seldom far behind.

From the opening track 'Oakie Boogie' you can tell this is a band steeped in the rock'n'roll ethos, and 'Been There Done That' would not sound out of place in the Karl Perkins canon. Perkins gets another nod later in the set, when they tear into his 'Matchbox'. They get the audience involved on 'Old Black Joe', and 'High-Class Lady', a line-dance favourite as far away as Australia and North America, must be worth a few twirls around the dance-floor in Ireland too. Their take on the Johnny Cash classic 'Folsom Prison Blues' also deserves a few laps as well.

'Boogie-Woogie Queen', a close relative of Jerry Lee's 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On', has already won the LenneBrothers converts back home, and originals like 'Rocking and Trucking' and 'Pickin' Berrys' both fit seamlessly into the set. The former - an original - takes a gutsier electric guitar approach and the second is a rousing tribute to Chuck with a guitar style to match.

If you're looking for the answer to climate change and the insanity of Trump and Boris, then you've come to the wrong place, but if you want a dose of rock'n'roll played with lots of original spirit, come right on in. Bring your dancing shoes.

7,5/10