THE AMAZING SNAKEHEADS + NEW VALLEY WOLVES
MCD.ie presents
THE AMAZING SNAKEHEADS
plus guests
NEW VALLEY WOLVESHailing from Glasgow, the Amazing Snakeheads – Dale Barclay, William Coombe & Jordan Hutchison – look like they sound. The poise is part bike gang, part all-seasons barfly; all pomade, shades, denim, leather and signet rings. On stage, they are uncompromised, truly a force of nature. Dale appears possessed by music, rock’n’roll channelled through every sinew in his body.
“I genuinely don’t know where the music comes from,” says Dale. “How I play music – live or in the studio – it is what it is and I struggle to know where it comes from. There’s been a lot of things written about the band, people say we’re angry and things like that – but to me it’s just us. There’s a hell of a lot of joy in the music. It might not be apparent but on a good night, I’m experiencing absolute joy when I play music.”
The Amazing Snakeheads never really formed as such – their conception seemingly more preordained than planned. Dale and William had been mates since childhood; Jordan was Dale’s neighbour who became a close friend. While they each played music, they never really harboured ambitions to play in bands – the prospect of aiming high and missing was almost enough to put the trio off even trying. Dale explains.
In fact, the band’s live shows were such jaw dropping displays of the redemptive powers of rock’n’roll, one may well have walked away wondering how they’d ever get that energy across in the studio.
Incredibly, they somehow have. Amphetamine Ballads – the Amazing Snakeheads debut album – is the soundtrack to the dark corners of nightclubs and those dimly lit alleyways off the main drag. The smell of smoke and liquor pervades everything, from opener I’m A Vampire – a narcotic kickstart from that nocturnal world – through first proper single Flatlining, all cyclonic guitar solo and skronking saxophone; past the nape of the neck intimacy of Where Is My Knife (“Forget the rest now I’m your daddy”) and Here It Comes Again’s howling motorik punk rock; and onto Heading for Heartbreak’s 3am soulsearch and the lock in blues of Tiger By The Tail. This is a subterranean record, a record that can show you round the parts of a city that come alive after dark. In fact, the only sun this album has seen is the unforgiving light of the dawn walk home.
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NEW VALLEY WOLVES
Jonny Lucey has a barbaric love of blues guitar, an obsession with distortion and sound-wave corruption. Vocally he ranges from brutality to tranquility. His interests include leather jackets, not-thinking things through, serious cups of tea and growing deadly beardz.
Baz Joyce was/is and always will be a drummer, a rythme-maker and bassdrum breaker. If it makes a sound Baz WILL bang it!! Once in a blue moon a drummer comes along that can shake the bones of your body and lay a voodoo curse across your feet, turning them into mindless,dancing zombies.
The music is rythme-driven, complex in its simplicity and quick to the kill. Think unrelenting beats and frenzied guitar playing.
TICKETS
€15 available online from WAV Tickets [Lo-Call 1890 200 078] (50c per ticket service charge applies on phone, internet or credit card bookings from WaV).
Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required.
AFTER THE GIG
Whelan’s Silent Disco from 10:30pm – 2 DJs, just pick the one you like best [Free before 11:30pm, €5 after] plus Late Bar.