Wednesday 12 February 2014

The Strypes, Cambridge Junction, Tuesday, February 11 – review by Adam Luke


The first thing that struck me on walking into the packed out Junction to see Irish rock & rollers The Strypes was the complete mix of ages and backgrounds in the audience.

Despite the four-piece from Cavan being 16-18, they’ve managed to attract a loyal following of both youngsters in awe - like the gaggle of teenage girls behind me occasionally screaming their love for enigmatic front man Ross Farrelly - and more mature ‘old musos’, BBC6 Music listeners, old skool skins, northern soul types and 60s beat, mods and former rude girls.

So, while there were moshers getting stuck in at the front there were also dads and sons and head nodders at the back - which made for a very inclusive atmosphere.

And inclusive is what The Strypes offer in abundance.

Known for their rhythm and blues guitars and rock & roll sound infused with blues and skiffle, reminiscent of early Beatles, they really do hit the mark.

Opening with a cover of the Happy Mondays, sunglasses-wearing Ross immediately drew the crowd’s attention, reminding me of a combination of Bobby Gillespie, Paul Weller, Liam Gallagher and Alex Turner.

From there, songs moved quickly from one to another, drawing comparisons to early Jam records, and in turn, Ross moved around the stage with a tambourine and a presence like Jagger, with shades of The Who’s My Generation.

The first big wow moment came with the performance of She’s So Fine off their debut album Snapshot, with Ross’ faultless harmonica having an incredible impact on the room.

There were certainly signs of teenage attitude and confidence, but it didn’t detract from their talent musically.

Another crowd pleaser was I Don’t Wanna Know from the band’s new EP, which came with some Brit Pop laddy football references.

There was a vibe of 60s Brighton, but with a classic railroad rhythm from the southern states of America.

The tempo then dropped with Angel Eyes before a few shorter tracks rolled through including the gripping I’m Still Going To Drive You Home.

As the gig drew to its climax, the audience joined in clapping and we were introduced to the whole band, giving us the chance to show our appreciation for the stunning talents of guitarist Josh McClorey, drummer Evan Walsh and bassist Pete O’Hanlon.

And then came fan favourite Blue Collar Jane to make even the most reserved gent tap his feet uncontrollably to the punk-influenced finale.
 
Big, big things await The Strypes.

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