First a word about tonight’s sponsors. AWARE are a much-needed charity helping young people battling with depression: still something of a taboo subject even in these supposedly enlightened times and an issue probably affecting more people around you than you know. So hats off to tonight’s headliners, Dublin trio Wallmark who have been literally getting on their bikes (well, scooters) and razzing around the country on this – ‘The W8 Charity Tour’ – with the proceeds going to the charity of the same name. For this alone, respect is surely due.
It’s the main support W&H are here to catch tonight, though. Since being suitably blown away by a recent hometown Kenmare show, we’ve been closely following the progress of County Kerry stars-in-waiting B-MOVIE MONSTER and we were hardly liable to pass up the opportunity of seeing them at relatively close quarters again tonight.
And it’s true to say that B-MM are becoming pretty damn adept at grabbing such opportunities by the scruff of the neck. By the time we arrive, they’re already getting to grips with a crunchy and hooky version of recent EP highlight “I Saw It” and creating a fair bit of interest down the front. It’s clear they’ve been working hard in the past two months as well, for their commitment is excellent and a further brace of new songs have been added to an already-swelling set.
Actually, it’s a measure of their confidence that they can knock out the sassy brilliance of their surefire hit “Red” so early on, but then there’s plenty more where that comes from, not least in the shape of the Duane Eddy-jams-with-The Pixies instrumental rubber-burner “Scaramanga”; the call’n’response excitement of “Simon Says” and “That Girl” with its’ immediate, La’s-style main riff and a gear change up to a dangerous fifth come the chorus. At this stage, B-Movie look set to draw upon an embarrassment of riches when it comes time for their debut album.
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And they make it all look so easy. The only real showmanship is lead guitarist Ruary McCaldin’s desire to wring shards of liquid genius from his Telecaster while jumping on and off the stage, though centre-stage singer/ guitarist Nathan Bartlett exudes quiet self-assurance and an impressive line in charismatic vocals and the rhythm section keep it supple and/ or taut’n’wired as required. Tonight they are mixed to near-perfection by enigmatic sound desk wizard Morgan McCarthy and together they are learning to walk that great pop-punk line with the best of them.
W&H must apologise to Wallmark as time constraints ensure we have to leave early tonight. We depart from The Granary after catching a fair portion of Philtre’s set and they mostly succeed in marrying loud guitars, angst and an occasional shoe-gazing tendency which sounds like it may do them proud in the future. Whatever the outcome of the rest, though, tonight was very much B-Movie Monster’s night, and if they can continue to deliver such heavy, melodic and exhilarating sets then great things will soon be lurking around the corner. (9)
(www.b-moviemonster.com )
(www.wallmark.ie )
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