Kicking things off tonight we have Belfast quartet Dutch Schultz and although playing to no more than about twenty people, including myself, it’s fair to say this band radiates an incredible amount of energy for such a small audience. A Northern Light are next to take to the stage and they prove themselves to be one of the strongest supports on the bill tonight as they power through tracks like ‘Pilgrim’, ‘A Touch Aggressive’ and latest single ‘Kill It’. The next two bands, Couth and Gascan Ruckus, provide two different sounds this evening with Couth offering a fusion of slick surf-rock and post-punk while Gascan Ruckus specialises more in alternative punk-rock.
Serving as the main support bill tonight to Mojo Fury, The Rupture Dogs are launching their debut album ‘Feral’ and as expected, the band deliver a surging and captivating set crammed with ferocious riffs and explosive vocals, flowing through the veins of all who pass through the doors of the Mandela Hall. The room is now almost full and turbulent tracks such as ‘Before The Flood’ and ‘Fist’ set the crowd in motion.
All the support acts have now finished and it is just after 11pm. The stage is currently being set up for our headliners and it isn’t long before Mojo Fury take to the stage dressed all in white and bellowing the words to the opening track of their newly released record, ‘Safe in the Arms of the Sound’. The quality of sound is immense; the guitars collaborate perfectly with the synthesisers and the completely unique vocals of frontman Mike Mormecha. The magnificent light show accompanying makes it very easy to watch this band in their element; there is so much to see. Every pair of eyes and ears are alive and drawn to the stage as Mojo Fury streamline through more tracks from the new album such as ‘Money Body Body Money’ and ‘Terraform’ which send the crowd into a trance. The band then proceed to play ‘All In Awe’ and ‘Iris Influential’ allowing the audience to wind down for a few moments before progressing to play the track that gives the album it’s name ‘The Difference Between’ which vigorously drives the crowd to get active one last time before the encore. With the words of the final song ‘We Should Just Run Away’ echoing passionately through every living body in the room, the evening draws to a close.
It has been a triumphant night in terms of Northern Irish music with the Mandela Hall having showcased six incredible bands in just five hours and I think it is safe to say that Mojo Fury have received the home coming they deserve.
Tiarna Armstrong
Picture : Colm Laverty / James Lyttle
