secret fireworks

(Alan Maguire www.livemusicpics.com all rights reserved)

And So I Watch You From Afar have taken their rightful place on the rock and roll throne in Norhern Ireland. Last night's concert was simply a sonic adventure (without the hedgehogs) that dropped the jaws of many and thrilled every single person within Mandela Hall. The lads are getting a fair bit of press but if we look at last night's performance they're probably the most underrated band in the UK. I put my neck on the line a couple of weeks ago and predicted that their debut album would be the best of 2009- on the release of the album I'm quite happy to say that I'm standing by that statement. It's been a long road to this point but for the hardest working band within NI they were always going to reach it.



It was a star studded cast from the first act to the last song in the encore. I've seen Pocket Billards a fair few times over the past two years and it's safe to say that their performance was the best I've seen- it's amazing what can happen with a decent venue and a bigger crowd. Ska is sometimes seen by the music press as a pejorative term- playing the same rhythm over and over again and little innovation. However, it's not the case with PB: Chris Savage and the guys seem to combine a wealth of different influences into a wonderful sound that's reminscent of The Toasters, Franz Ferdinand and even (God forbid) The Ordinary Boys. The songwriting is pretty good too: the lyrics are pretty relevant to modern living. Neil Hannon may be one of the best songwriters of the modern era, but's he's never written a song about spides. Indeed, the line "You're only 13, but you're already a da" would be perfect for a Divine Comedy song. The classics like Dirty Money and Big Mistake are wheeled out, sounding better than ever.

Adebisi Shank were, different, to say the least. You expect good things when a man in a red mask takes to the stage- you hope the band live up to the mystique. Their first two tracks weren't great but after that it seemed like a switch was flipped and the lads really shone. The light show was quality and Shank just seemed to be enjoying themselves on stage. If I could say one thing it would be that maybe the band relied a little bit too much on effects- I like the sound effects as much as the next man but it was a wee bit over the top at times. Having said that, there were some wonderful tunes played, including one with a quality solo that sounds like Baba O'Riley by the Who if Queens of the Stone Age covered it. (It's a weird concept to grasp that only makes sense after a few drinks, but hey.) I'd like to see these guys again in a smaller venue perhaps- they're really energetic on stage and the songwriting is tight but you just feel that they need a bit of polish to really do themselves justice.

The Lowly Knights took to the stage looking even hotter than ever. The music wasn't half bad either- it's maybe a little dodgy to start the set with your most well known song ("Devotion" in this case) but it was a top quality start to a professional set. The drums were a wee bit loud for my liking, slightly drowning out the vocals at times but overall it was just gorgeous. "You Can Tell A Man By How He Lifts His Hands" is one of the best songs I've heard in a long time- it's romantic, it's emotional, the lyrics are cute with the lovely vocals we know and love from the Knights. There's a lot of handclaps going on and the ladies sing the sweet harmonies from start to finish, it's just a joy to listen to. Considering the vast majority of the audience bought the ticket to see the main act it's nice to see a warm reception for a very different genre of music: talent is clear whatever your taste.

The lights dim for the final time tonight. We wonder how the hell they're going to kick things off- I don't think anyone was expecting "Start A War" by the National to bring the guys to the stage. Then, the band we all know and love. "Set Guitars To Kill" begins with that distinctive marching beat and one of the most wonderful lights shows I've seen in a while. Snow Patrol at the Odyssey went overboard but it's amazing what you can do with a few lights. It really is a sonic adventure with guitars soaring and some excellent drumming- the finale to the track is just hell for leather. The break halfway through the song is very cute, as well- everything just stops, and the crowd shout out.

There's a massive cheer as Rory announces the next track, by far the most well known ASIWYFA song A Little Solidarity Goes A Long Way. It sounds much better live- the lead guitar is just so much louder and sticks out a hell of a lot more. At 3 and a half minutes it's also one of the shorter tracks played tonight- every track just overwhelms the senses and in a perfect world a small break would be nice between songs. A human being cannot handle just that much awesomeness in one go.

It's evident that the lads are loving every minute of it- there's clear chemistry on stage between the guys as they rattle off each track, aurally fitting together like a jigsaw puzzle. Apparently some guy called Michael quit his job just to be at the gig- the audience/mob mentality is clear as the entire Hall chants his name for a bit. It's not just about the music: it's a celebration, a party and a chance for a success story to be given their rightful plaudits.

ASIWFYA appeal to everybody, from the middle aged music lover to the hardened rocker. I see moshing at the front during These Riots Are Just The Beginning: I see one guy in the back literally standing slack jawed staring at the stage, I see a couple of thirtysomethings in the back tapping their feet and nodding to the music, and there's myself, dancing like an idiot. Tracks like Don't Waste Time Doing Things You Hate unite everyone: it's not simply a song but a true symphony with various distinct movements that stun everyone. It's a lovely thing that the support acts sing the vocal parts to the track, aided only by the more than willing audience. We're not exactly the Belfast Halian Battalion, but we do the job.

The standout track for me had to be The Voiceless. It's a masterpiece with a superb bassline, building up and building up before going a bit mental on it, calming down then going for the all important finale. The final song in the encore, Mount Kailash, feels like it goes on forever- we're nearly too tired from the wonderous music beforehand to carry on. However, it's a superb end to a wonderful night's music. I don't think I've ever seen a band that good live.