Roadtrip #1 - The ShadowRooms, Carrickfergus
Heading to gigs outside of Belfast is always interesting and an experience we at ATL should enjoy more often. It's way too easy to get sick of the same venues, the same soundsystems, the same people... well, you get the idea. In the first of what will hopefully be a series of adventures across Northern Ireland, ATL made the trip to Carrick last Friday evening to check out a venue called the ShadowRooms. Friday means Four Live, a weekly showcase of decent local talant - in fact their billings for the month read like a wee chuck of an ATL playlist. Right up our street.
First of all, and lets be clear about this - the sound tonight is as good as, if not much better than anything we're used to at the average venue in Belfast. Or Derry, or Dublin. Those of you who know more about sound than we do may wish to note they use a Function One sound system. The sound guy is a few feet from the stage, sharing the booth with the DJ. It seems like a very small desk and a stripped down set up. But he's behaving himself and doing the bands a big favour, allowing them to flourish. Not only can you hear every detail of whats going on - the volume is loud enough that the band grab your attention but not so loud you can't pass comment to your mates about... how the band are currently grabbing your attention. Perfect.
Headlining tonight are an act who've been hammered on ATL in recent times, the mighty More Than Conquerors, a young band with bags of talent and already, a little history (we recognize these guys from at least two other bands ATL has had dealings with in the last few years). More Than Conquerors are great. Remarkably tight for such a young act and performing every single song as if it's the last chance they'll have to do so.
'Set Fire to the Night' stands out, but only because we've played it on the show so much and know it inside out. Truth is, it's one of about four tracks that's instantly catchy and worthy of everyone's attention.
And at the ShadowRooms, you get people's attention. It's something that really stood out about this gig - everyone here is listening intently. Maybe it's because they relish these events, not spoilt rotten by seemingly endless options like we are in Belfast. There's no snobbery either - this is a room full (well, it'd be a sold out Auntie Annies) of young people who are clearly up for taking a band onboard and giving them a chance.
Credit also to Pheonix Fire, formerly Kagura. We're really not impressed by that name change, but what we heard of your set... well, we want to hear more. We're also unsure what to make of DJ Sonicmouse's moniker, but hearing Temper Trap, Jamie T and Justice in succession helped that changeover fly by. Oh, and apologies to whoever was on first, we had a little trouble finding the venue - we won't make that mistake again.
Comply or Die play Four Live @ The ShadowRooms this Friday (22nd January).
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