Nov 17 2008
Blog Catchup – Dirty Pretty Things
I was in two minds about going to the gig. I was still feeling unwell and my couch looked very inviting. But it was Dirty Pretty Things second last gig in Ireland ever (as they are disbanding at the end of their current tour), so I wanted to make an effort to see them.
Once again, proving to be a great drawing power, on Thursday November 6th, Greystones Theatre played host to Dirty Pretty Things and three support acts.
Local boys, More Tiny Giants kicked things off with an excellent heavy rock set, but it was Apollo Sunshine who really got the night started. Their last couple of tracks, where they practiced group percussion, were particularly exciting to watch and the crowd returned the energy tenfold.
A short while later, Dirty Pretty Things took to the stage and a crowd of mostly younger people (younger than me, at least) went berserk. The band attracts a strong fan base and there was definitely a few fanatics in the crowd.
The first four tracks had me gripped. Frenetic, fun and bigger than the stage itself, these tracks showed the band at their best, better than The Libertines, better than Babyshambles. Following up with a couple of tracks that sounded like they could have been covers of songs by the Sex Pistols and The Clash respectively (I say this as a compliment), the band seemed to have great flow.
Then it seemed to die off somewhat. With the exception of the scary drummer, the energy dissipated and it started to feel like they were just going through the motions. When the lead singer of a supposedly bad-ass punk band asks, “Can you please move back a few steps”, you know they’ve lost their mojo.
For the last few songs I retired to the bar and for all the good the band were doing, I may as well be have been listening to the album on my iPod. The music was decent, but there was no energy or charisma in the live performance at this stage. Catching the last couple of tracks as I sipped a Lemsip in the bar, I wondered if the now tired band would have liked to join me.
Their music is good and they play well together. When their energy is high, they sound fantastic live, but if they can’t sustain that energy for one full set, then maybe it’s best they go their separate ways.
There is a lot of great gigs and events coming up in Greystones over the next couple of months including Cathy Davey, Director, Jack L, Brian Kennedy, The Dublin Comedy Improv and a lot more. I’ll follow this up with a full listing and give you some idea of the shows I plan on seeing. If anyone wants to join me, let me know.
woah holdonasec.
The Libertines made an extremely solid and, most importantly, good debut album… followed by a ridiculously inconsistent follow up.
Dirty Pretty Things have made two solid albums to the point of complete banality(which seems to be what you didn’t like in the live show). At least BabyShambles managed F*ck Forever, Albion and some other decent messy songs.
Hmm, I must give you that cd…
Actually, B, you hit on it there. There was no spontaneity about the gig. It was all by rote. I watched them and just wanted them to tell the fans to ‘fuck off’, to throw a guitar at the drum kit, to jump up and down a bit more, to do anything other than just play the songs. There was nothing particularly bad about the gig, but there wasn’t anything great there either.
@Jo Yes, you must! 😉
I always hit the nail on the head when when it’s to do with complaining about music.
See, Daz, no offence or nuffin’, but when a band are reduced to playing in fecking Greystones then they know better than anyone that they’re on their way out.
And B, I’d go further and just say that The Libertines and Babyshambles were a load of absolute cock too.
When are Mansun reforming? greystones theatre might be just the right size for a comeback tour gig. Then they could go for tea in Daz’s place. And end up spooning with Darragh, like everyone else does.
Well they weren’t, in the context of the huge fanbase they gained and all they were though.
Up The Bracket is one of very very few pop/rock albums from England this decade to be ANY good.
…of course I think The Decline of British Sea Power is one of the best albums ever.
Spooning with Darragh? Doyle?