SOURCE is in a packed Prince Albert following a stunning show by The New Eves. Two of the high tables near the bar are occupied but there’s space for another couple. We make a quick decision about who seems more fun and find ourselves sitting with two young lads, bonding over a packet of crisps. As the conversation develops we discover they are in a band – that we actually saw and enjoyed them opening up the festival on the beach at the last Great Escape. As they leave we find ourselves added to the guest list for their next show at Komedia.
Fast forward to Sunday and SOURCE receives a very warm welcome from Joseph and drummer Noah as we enter to the punky reggae party of Arcadia. A young band of BIMM kids making a fine stab of playing a classic sound. Dirty and fuzzy with tribal drumming and lots of Big Muff. What is not to like? Suddenly there is a switch up and it gets even better when the drummer takes to the front and they get all Babes In Toyland. That girl can scream in a deeply primal rock’n’roll way!
Dirtsharks take to the stage amid a squall of feedback. They are a much more serious proposition after the fun of Arcadia. While ultimately they don’t quite move us, plenty of people are loving every moment and the sound is epic enough that we can well imagine them filling bigger venues. The best bits of it take elements of shoegaze; and the bits where our mind wanders are more Foo Fighters. The surprise use of violin does even get us dancing. When they do let go it definitely does go!
The sound of ‘Alternative Ulster’ fills the room before the warmed up crowd starts a football-style chant of “Noah And The Loaners” as Noah sets up his breakables on the drums.
‘Teenage Tragedy’ explodes with the confidence of a band that is very very ready. They pause quickly for breath before ‘Losing My Head’ continues the classic punk onslaught.
“Rishi Sunak is a c@nt,” states the band’s frontman and second Noah (following the PM’s recent comments on the LGBTQ community), before they launch into ‘Real Boys’. A jovially up-for-it crowd is happy to respond with some chants of “F*ck the Tories” that bring a smile to Noah’s face.
‘Vessel’ shows the band can work in some dynamics with slowed down noise and excellent drumming from the drummer Noah. ‘Pressure’ starts with the crowd shouting “go on” to Joseph as he cracks out his guitars in a confident and assured manner. It’s a pop punk anthem in the making and everyone – everyone except us – knows all the words.
They have upped their game considerably since The Great Escape show. What felt fun then, but hardly original, now feels urgent and dynamic. This is a band ready for their moment.
‘Gravity’ adds a welcome Pixies edge. Keeping in the nineties, ‘You Make Me’ is a particularly fine song that could easily have been written by Mr Cobain, with great backing vocals from bassist Amber.
The Tories get another bashing for ‘Crash Landing’. Good, they certainly deserve it. How refreshing it is to hear a young band that cares.
To close the set Noah is then shirt off and scars out. Singing Noah is a young trans man that is proud and with good reason. “This is our last song and f*ck the Tories!” Single ‘Protest Anger’ has the best bassline of the night and the moshpit is now wild and furious.
Komedia Studio, Sunday 11th February 2024
Words by Nick McAllister
Photos by Brynn Dommett
