GiggingNI.com
Cashier No. 9
With mojoFury; Dutch Schultz;
Tonight was advertised as The Big Gig, a showpiece of outstanding local talent. And after the sun shining all day, it seemed the perfect time to remind ourselves that Northern Ireland can produce great music when it wants to. The sun had made an appearance. Astonishing I know. So as we made our way to the venue that Friday night, we speculated whether people would be able to tear themselves away from the beer gardens long enough to even consider venturing inside. Yet given tickets where only four quid and for that you could see three bands, I reasoned that any punter could work out that here was a good night's entertainment. Cashier No.9 were to headline with support from Dutch Schultz and mojoFury, all of them acts that a quick MySpace search would confirm as top-notch. I knew that anyone who did go probably wouldn't be disappointed.
The place was empty when arrived but slowly began to fill up as the night wore on.
But it was Dutch Schultz' arrival on stage around ten that heralded the real start of proceedings. This tight three-piece with their thrashing guitars and stop-start rhythms immediately grabbed the crowd's attention and if it were needed hauled those lurking at the bar kicking and screaming towards the stage. In other words, precisely what was required to get the place jumping.
And jumping it was. Dutch Schultz combine the old skool licks of AC/DC and Thin Lizzy with choruses reminiscent of the Pixies, and with Therapy and The Stiff little Fingers being referenced on their MySpace page, here is one band that likes it hard and fast. Songs like "Hold me", "Slice", which the singer introduced with the words, "Here's A Song About Killing", and the nicely named "LA Cuntfucker", showed off the band's mastery of power chords and driving basslines. And if gyrating lap dancers are your thing, their song "It Bends In The Middle", has a video accompanying it on their web page which won't leave you disappointed. By the end of Schultz' set, the sweat was flying and the dance floor was wet with spilt beer. The night needed to begin with a bang and Schultz' musical blitzkrieg did just that. Job well done fellas!
After some time, during which brows were moped and more beer bought, mojoFury shuffled on to the stage. This four-piece from Lisburn walked on to the theme tune of Ghostbusters and if they were there to exorcise their demons, which the singer looked like he was, then the theme tune was spot on. A Faith No More/Nirvana/Nine Inch Nails hybrid of a band, their enjoyable racket quickly filled the venue and succeeded in the ultimate test of any band - keeping people away from the bar and on the dance floor. They have only one song on their MySpace page, the very good "What Colour Is The Bear" and when this was played, there was a happy roar from the crowd. However, other songs such as "The Mann", "Bones", "Kill Cock Robin" and "Lemon Marine" showed that mojoFury can write good hooks, some interesting lyrics and deliver it with the sort of gusto that shows that they are 110 percent genuine. Of all the bands that played that night, their performance stood out, not necessarily for the music, but because it was testament to the fact that here was a band that means what it plays and plays what it means. Their authentic and edgy stage antics suggest that it is the 'Fury' part of their name that drives this band and that can only be a good thing.
Cashier No.9 were the final band of the night. Their arrival on stage was delayed by what appeared to be technical difficulties and this delay meant that some of the momentum and energy mojoFury's performance had given the crowd was inevitably lost. Nonetheless, I knew that Cashier No.9 were a quality act with a string of fine tunes to their name. Their opening song, "When Jackie Shone", was a belter. Think the Stone Roses, the Happy Mondays and the Beta Band and somewhere in this madchester-esq mix, you'll find the Cashier No.9 sound. Yet it was almost surpassed by their second number, "To The Death of Fun", which with a great hook and a dark, cool laidback groove, is one tune that deserves to be massive. Other songs from their set, such as "42 West Avenue", "Lighthouse", "Goodbye friend" and "Boom Boom", marked Cashier No.9 out as band with real songwriting talent. My one criticism would be that Cashier No.9's laconic stage presence made them appear distant on stage and although this suited the music, it left a crowd still buzzing from the frontal assault of the previous two acts looking a bit bemused. Although the dance floor was busy enough and there was plenty of appreciative head-nodding, it never matched the energy it previously had. However, this is a small complaint when compared with the quality of the music that Cashier No.9 delivered.
Leaving the venue that night, I reasoned that The Big Gig had achieved it's aim. It showed how musically varied our local bands are and how they can pen the sort of songs that remind you why music matters. And for a measly four quid that is definitely value for money.
