The Undertones @ The Oh Yeah Centre – 17/09/10

September 20, 2010 No Comments

Why do sound checks always take longer than expected? I always assume it is a combination of a pedantic desire to get things right and taking more smoke breaks than are entirely necessary, but I could be wrong.

Luckily, the Oh Yeah Centre, which appears to be a gig staging, music workshop, office and museum space, serves as a good time killer. I’m assured there is a café about somewhere, though I completely failed to investigate this. I’m sorry on this occasion your reviewer failed you, it won’t happen again… besides we’re more interested in the music, right?

Once Mike Edgar got on the stage he set about guiding us through the night they had planned for us, before inviting Colenso Parade to entertain the waiting audience.

The four lads Fergal, Micky, Phily and Melly assembled themselves on the stage dressed in what appeared to be a hipster/ indie uniform of white shirts and black ties above really way-too-tight trousers. My internal anti hipster instincts began heading into overdrive, until that is they played the first song – a catchy beat driven and rapidly played, yet polished guitar ride through the concept of heartbreak and moving on.

The lyrics were pleasing to the ears, matching the song and the singer’s clear voice meant that if the mood took you, it was quite easy to sing along to the chorus. The next series of songs kept up the formulae the band had found as their signature: slight Ska and Punk influences with a huge dollop of nostalgia for the classic rock set up; all centred around an up beat tempo that gets the feet tapping.

If I had any criticism it was levelled at the amp that gave up the ghost half way through their set robbing me of a song. That and some quite dire band banter, you guys can play but lay off the jokes, please.

After Colenso Parade finished their set to a very happy and satiated audience, Mike Edgar returned to the stage and introduced the crowd to Bronagh Gallagher who would present the ‘Oh Yeah Legends’ award to the Undertones. This was executed by Bronagh reading out a beautifully written and emotive speech, of following the band as a child and growing up with favourite gig t-shirts. At the end of the speech Bronagh brought the band up to the stage to receive the awards: classy glassy obelisk type things with what I’m assuming are the details of the award engraved on them.

Now it was into the meat of the night, the fleshy raw joy of why we were here. To witness Northern Ireland’s very own ‘legendary’ band in action. I have never seen them before, so was quite anxious to hear them play live. However as The Undertones immediately set off into a powerhouse rendition of Jump boys, all nervousness was lost. The band knocked up a storm immediately from the audience, with people all over the hall breaking into dance.

The raw garage punk style and loud fast guitar work flowed around the crowd as the songs progressed. There was a stand out performance from front man, Paul McLoone, who sung like a much younger man, with a peacock style of movement reminiscent of the 1970’s evident in his style – where he found the energy is anyone’s guess.

Meanwhile, the band surrounded him with a noise that drove members of the audience into instant movement: shuffles in different directions, spinning tops, head shakers and Billy boy ska dancers. All were moving in full force by the time the Undertones reached their most recognised track – Teenage Kicks, which had everyone jumping ecstatically.

When the band wound up its final song to huge audience applause, Mike Edgar was on the stage fast as a whip, to goad The Undertones into playing an encore, with some seriously loud audience participation. So the band played a three-song encore, in a reverie of emotion and power that kept the audience satiated for a short while more. With a final thanks to The Oh Yeah Centre, us the audience, friends and family, the band left the room glowing with warmth.

Terri Hooley then played the rest of the evening out in a DJ set that kept the mood in a high point until we were finally ushered out the door and into the much stiller night.

By Dale Mawhinney

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