Time To Be Proud: End Of Year Party @ Auntie Annies, Belfast, 30/12/2011 -
featuring The Sabrejets + Stop, Stop, Start Again
Hadn't been to a gig for a few months so thought I'd better make an effort before the year was out and I was glad that I did. (Might not have made it only for Robbo giving me a lift though - so cheers mate.)
Although the venue wasn't packed there was a decent sized crowd and a good atmosphere. Those in attendance were there solely to enjoy two of the best bands in Belfast at present and partake in a little festive craic. Time To Be Proud always offer good value for money and this gig was no exception - 2 excellent bands and a TTBP sampler CD for a fiver!
Kicking off the nights entertainment were Stop, Stop, Start Again, a relatively new band but whose members have been involved in the Belfast music scene for several decades now. Hadn't seen them live since the early part of 2011 and by all accounts they had been practising hard over the ensuing months. The hard work has certainly paid off as SSSA have evolved into a real tight unit (even the stand in drummer didn't let the side down). Fusing elements of punk, post-punk, goth and glam rock, SSSA have created a fairly unique sound and are a lot more confident on stage. Having said that, frontman Paul Rowan has never lacked confidence and he posed and pouted throughout the excellent but brief set. They only played seven songs - highlights being the bands theme song Stop, Stop, Start Again, their cover of Magazine's Shot By Both Sides (great choice), the reworking of the Stage B classic Recall (to life), and their own composition Serge Gainsbourg. The set was all too short, the crowd left wanting more (that's no bad thing), but hey, a great start to the night, and the best performance by SSSA to date. Look forward to seeing / hearing more of them this year.
Headliners The Sabrejets really need no introduction, and what can I say about them that I haven't already said? Again its been a while since I last saw them but I knew they were gonna be good, 'cause they always are. Nay, not good but brilliant, because the Sabrejets are a brilliant live band, oh and fun too! Red hot rockabilly with a punk sensibility, the band ripped it up with ease like a switchblade through butter. Most of the set consisting of choice cuts from the recent Sin-Sational CD - Cindy Ray, Lone Wolf Blues, Long Black Stockings, Devil Drives A Cadillac et al plus some smart covers like Dr Feelgoods Lights Out, The Ramones Blitzkrieg Bop (a real killer), and Bobby Fuller's I Fought The Law (the latter 2 really getting the crowd jumping). It was party time all the way and a great way to end the year. If you only go and see one band this year make sure its The Sabrejets because this is the best band in town (or any town for that matter)!
GT