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.
