Stiff Kitten, Belfast
Friday, 11 January 2013
Despite the widespread and well documented disruption in the city, Belfast's Stiff Kitten is one of many establishments soon set to be brimming with what makes many tick on a weekend-ly basis: coming together, letting loose and living for the moment. That said, despite a diverse and exciting six band bill on the cards tonight, will the turnout tonight be hit for what is set to be a memorable show of Northern Irish talent?”
Playing an electric set as part of a three-piece, the folk-tinged musings of Belfast singer-songwriter Joshua Burnside play out to a small, sparse but approving crowd just after 9pm. From the word go, it’s clear that there’s been a marked shift in Burnside’s approach since this time last year. Whilst there's a loose, vaguely interesting air to the band's more jam-like efforts, they materialise at the expense of what he undoubtedly does best: sprawling, maudlin acoustic odes underpinned by a subtle, vibrato-heavy vocal delivery. In all, some flashes of imaginative but largely unconvincing as a whole. It seems that Burnside was born to perform within the acoustic framework of yore.
Next up, playing to an ever-growing room of social unrest-shunning Belfastians, new-fangled quartetHurdles up the ante with their capo’d, carefree brand of upbeat indie pop. Starting on the aptly titled 'Where To Start', their shifting, guitar-led dynamics take lead from drummer Ross Hayme’s superb hi-hat work and frontman Niall Hanna’s earnest lyricism. While it's neither boldly innovative nor brashly experimental, Hurdles' strengths lie in their intuitive command of what they do best: impressively executed, confidently delivered, increasingly compelling guitar pop.
Placed somewhere between the ferocious hardcore punk of Refused and the more melodic rock of American bands Cursive and Coheed and Cambria, revitalised five-piece Stereo War Favouritesunleash an abrasive and urgent set that demands attention from the moment they start. A finely-honed unit thanks to the musicianship of the likes of drummer Grace Leacock and guitarist Ryan O’Neill, there is a compositionally unorthodox yet altogether accessible air to their pent-up stylings. While the crowd remain largely standoffish and characteristically coy of participation, Stereo War Favourites demonstrate what they are liable to command in no time.
Shortly afterwards, the intelligently-constructed, prog-inflected alt-rock of Belfast/Lisburn four-piece Like Statuesgreets an influx of giddy newcomers. Despite the laudable efforts of frontman Clark Phillips and the quartet’s ever-impressive, uniquely anthemic approach – think Vertigo of Bliss-era Biffy Clyro meets Incubus - it all feels a little timid and unassuming following the raucous efforts of Stereo War Favourites. That said, the music, vocals and lyrics are all there; the band’s forthcoming second EP is surely bound to reveal the breadth of their musical powers.
A new bassist better in Mark Finnegan, self-proclaimed hardcore fun power trio Abandcalledboy deliver material from their forthcoming Dead Academics EP with an unbridled sense of purpose. Equal parts fierce, intricate and hook-filled, the band’s brilliantly bastardised, supremely schizophrenic craft is let loose from opener ‘Friends’, right throughout their riff-heavy, half-an-hour set. With drummer/vocalist Ryan Burrowes’ topical banter and guitarist Adam Smith’s pleas for the crowd to abandon the traditional ‘holding-out-for-the-headliner’ standoff proving largely successful, at the end up it all but seems no Irish three-piece, established or otherwise, mean it more than Abandcalledboy (NB: they also played a new song called ‘Cliff Richard’!)
As was only to be expected though, headliners More Than Conquerors burst through a set that only serves to emphasise their recent exposure and continued ascent. Easily the most established and commercially promising act amongst the six bands this evening, as soon as they take to the stage the crowd become a doting, faithful mass, nearing ever closer to the front before metamorphosing into a harmonising clan. Despite failing to embody the urgency of Abandcalledboy or the sheer unbridled force of Stereo War Favourites, More Than Conquerors come more than good on a strong set that might turn out to be an cherished memory in months to come.
Brian Coney
