Uncle Social, NI Soul Troop
Aether & Echo, Belfast
Friday, 17th January 2014
NI Soul Troop truly are suited and booted as they pile onto the stage to begin their monthly residency in style. With everyone so dressed up, it may feel a bit like a wedding reception at first, but then the brass kicks in, and it certainly doesn’t sound like one. Trying to fit nine people on stage has the potential for being a logistical nightmare, but the Troop are tight, they appear to be more of a family than a band and musically they fit like a jigsaw.
After a few belters to get the crowd going, front man Donal Scullion hands the vocal reigns over to Suzy Coyle who slows things down a bit and transports the audience back to 1950s America with the sort of doo-wop number that wouldn’t sound out of place on the soundtrack to Grease. With fresh and distinctive songs like the aptly named ‘In-Strum-Mental’ the Troop flawlessly cruise through their first set with a captivating fusion of laid-back languidness and high-octane performance.
The highlight is undoubtedly ‘Cabin Fever’ which at first sounds a lot like the Austin Powers theme tune, then a little like something out of The Blues Brothers – either way it’s highly infectious and the audience sings along with gusto. The beauty of NI Soul Troop is that Donal Scullion’s song writing crosses so many genres that their audience is as diverse as their music, and everyone is here for a good time. Whether it’s funk, soul, jazz or ska, the Troop get the crowd going and it’s clear that no one wants them to stop.
After a short break, Donal Scullion and bassist John McCourt are back on stage with their other band Uncle Social, who rattle through a powerful set of edgy rock. Scullion’s voice has a rough quality to it that gives each song a unique, slightly dark twist – a trait that is harnessed perfectly in ‘Sickly Stomach’, a descent into madness featuring crashing symbols, trumpets and the kind of shrieking, staccato vocals that make you wonder just how they’ll make it through the whole song.
Before you know it, NI Soul Troop are back with a change of pace; the slow, soulful groove of songs like ‘Boogie’ and ‘Glass Houses’ really get the crowd up front and on their feet - not the sort of dancing elicited by alcohol either, but the sort of grooving that comes from simply not being able to stand still.
As the final set of the night draws to a close, it’s clear that the Troop have got the audience in the palms of their many hands and they aren’t going anywhere. Luckily they have saved the best for last and as the first few bars of ‘Somebody Everybody’ ring out across the room, the crowd join in and the band turn to each other and smile – it’s obvious that this family have found a home.
Laura Caldwell
