GiggingNI.com
Cutaways
With Ended 31st; Key of Atlas;
Our FourLive event has seen its ups and downs in recent months - flourishing in January for the mighty Pocket Billiards, More than Conquerors, Comply or Die and Nietzsche's Last Days after a stale December when it got converted to a Friday-weekly event. But February being a month with a mix of exciting new talent and established bands in the scene at the moment, no-one really knew what would happen.
Tonight it was Key of Atlas who kicked off FourLive - to be honest, a band that came from no-where to play alongside Oppenheimer and steal headlines throughout the country - deservedly so. Striking me as a younger version of More than Conquerors with an elegant touch of General Fiasco, they performed an exciting set full of tunes that could become your next favourite song this time tomorrow, such as the brilliant 'Someone Help Me' and set-finisher 'Pure Black Spectrum'. Keep a very close eye on these guys. Radio sessions and big gigs to come soon - it's inevitable.
A band very familiar to the Shadow Rooms, Carrickfergus, Ended 31st made their mark early with the stunning 'Colourblind' before launching straight into a list of potential radio hits such as 'Words Unsaid' and 'Let Her Go'. Guitarist Karl Love made good use of his wireless equipment to jump around the stage to put further emphasis on this band's on-stage performance without denting their sound. Love them or hate them, it's without doubt that this band will soar given the right audience and I further maintain my stance believing that you will hear their songs on a radio station near you - if it doesn't happen, there's something seriously wrong.
Cutaways - if that doesn't ring any bells for you, you should be ashamed. What an act. Synths make for upbeat tuneage and if you're not up for that, it's disappointing. Without doubt 'Milo of Kronton' was the perfect opener for a set which soon paved way for some new songs (and great ones at that!) to wet everyone's appetite. A few folk in the disappointingly-sparse Shadow Rooms soon joined Paul, Grace and Paul onstage to rock out to the likes of 'Lovers are Lunatics' and 'We Were Closer in Wintertime' - a band obviously on the up so definitely make sure you go down and check them out in the Ulster Hall, Belfast on the 20th February around 4pm - you won't be disappointed.
