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Gigs and Concerts 2004

One of my favourite venues hosted one of the most memorable gigs back in 2004 when American band The Polyphonic Spree holy-rolled into town. Ask anyone who was there and their face will erupt into a cheesy grin. The band, which numbered well over TWENTY people wore robes and appeared more than a cult than a band. Rumour had it they recruited new band members while touring! Filling out the pretty sizeable stage the band put on a remarkable show in that their feel-good happy clappy take on indie rock swept you up in a wave of euphoria. When the band disappeared off the stage momentarily, we wondered where they had gone. I felt a hand on my shoulder and when I turned there they were filtering through the crowd in a single file line from the rear of the venue. A brilliantly uplifting show! Bloc Party were just starting to make waves when they played the Mandela Hall in celebration of their successful debut. I only remember enjoying the show, they’re one of those indie bands who struck go...
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Gigs and Concerts 2003

Typically I went to gigs on my own, it was always my thing to turn up to gigs early, queue outside and get the best vantage point. This was the routine for the Limelight as back in the day, you could smoke indoors, and I was a fool/smoker back then. I usually drove to gigs too, so in order to not look a complete pleb I would sit and puff away to blend in. The best seat in the Limelight (old version) was at the front of the wee island that jutted out onto the dancefloor. There was a load of leg room there and you had distance so that nobody could stand in front of you. Perfect view of the stage. It was also right below the PA and might explain why my hearing is wrecked! The night US Joy Division copyists Interpol played their first gig in the city, in support of their brilliant debut album, I was queued up outside. The support band on the night was an unknown Scottish band called Franz Ferdinand. As I waited outside a dandy young man with a brilliant mop of blond hair swaggered pass. He...
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Gigs and Concerts 2001-2002

I only attended 5 gigs in 2001, but what quality shows they were! The return of The Beta Band to the Limelight was one not to miss, given their previous show and the fact they were getting better at this gigging malarky. The charming and wonderfully kooky Isabel Monteiro seduced the Empire crowd with her honey-purr when Drugstore came to visit. Next up three of the biggest names in indie rock. First, Super Furry Animals playing the Mandela Hall at the height of their powers. They had a screen rigged up on the stage for one of the best entries I have ever seen. As the band left their dressing room on the long dander down the twisting corridors and staircases of the Students Union a camera showed them strut and throw shapes building up the excitement. Then they appeared on the stage just as the screen changed. Anyone who has ever witnessed a SFA show will bear testament to their goodness. So many great songs and a lovely way about them endearing them to audiences. I’ve somehow managed ...
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1999/2000-gigs and concerts

  1999 was a relatively quiet year on the gig front for me. The recently released from prison former frontman of The Stone Roses, Ian Brown, had released his first solo album. It was a bit different from The Stone Roses, with a lot of funky demo sounding tunes. He was due to play the Limelight so I was pretty excited to see indie godlike genius up so close. I wasn’t an especially big fan of the Roses but did like them none the less. This gig happened to coincide with Manchester United playing in the Champions League Final, the year of the famous treble, if I’m not mistaken. I popped into Katy Daly’s (the adjacent bar) to watch some of the match and lo and behold, Brown was there too with his entourage. As gig time approached, they all trekked out of the venue. Then Brown did his famous monkey shuffle onto the stage and asked “Worrabout United den?” to loud cheers (Man U fans) and jeers (Liverpool fans-Citeh were still shit back then and had no fans). After that initial disgust, I r...
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  After the relative calm of 1997, '98 was a hectic year for gig going for me. In particular the Limelight was my home from home, with a plethora of cracking shows. This would be the first time I’d get to see one of my favourite bands, Glasgow’s finest, Mogwai. With 'Young Team' garnering critical acclaim, this was my first foray into the magical realms of instrumental guitar music. I’ve recently read Stuart Braithwaite’s book and I’d no idea they were such fiends when it came to the old drink and drugs. You wouldn’t really of known from their performances as they always concentrated so hard. Actually maybe that’s an indicator as to why they needed to be so studious! My lasting memories of this show are of Stuart’s big head of hair and a blistering set end of ‘Mogwai Fear Satan’ with Stuart hammering the shite out of the cymbals from the front of the kit. Another Scottish band were creating a name for themselves with their ramshackle approach to making music, The Beta Ban...
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Gigs/Concerts I've been to Part 6

1996 was a relatively quiet year for me for gigs. Yet somehow, I managed to see The Prodigy three times in the one year. They were support to Oasis at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. I’d ventured down myself on the coach, as was my wont back in those days. Oasis were touring ‘What’s the Story Morning Glory?’ and I suppose at the peak of their powers before the bloat kicked in. The Prodigy were also at the peak of their powers with the full squad of Liam, Maxim, Keith and Leeroy also in the band. Leeroy’s gangly stomping dance style was amazing to see in the flesh as he effortlessly bounded sideways across the stage. Maxim had some red lenses on his eyes which made him look demonic, they played as the sun started to go down and it scared the living shit out of me as he cussed and hissed into the camera onto the big screens. I’d go see The Prodigy again at their King’s Hall headline show. Al was hanging about with some Lurgan lads at that time, and they liked to partake of the ol’ Ebeneezer ...
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Gigs/Concerts I've been to, Part 5

1994 was a quiet one for gig attendances, possibly because I had just finished University and spent that summer on the dole, the only time I’ve ever been unemployed in my life. There was only one gig in the Limelight, indie-hip-hop chancers Collapsed Lung, who were I either supporting or the main act on a bill that also featured Credit To The Nation. We didn’t get many rap bands venturing over to these parts, so I was keen to try them out. Both bands disappeared without trace not long after, but it seemed a good idea to go catch them at the time. The other concert I took in was the fallout from Reading festival, Sunstroke, which took place in Dublin’s Dalymount Park. For those not in the know, Dalymount is a football stadium, home of Bohemians. I was going to this one on my lonesome and had procured a bus service, from Skelton Travel in Lurgan to get there. The line-up for Sunstroke was Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Therapy?, Ice Cube, Helmet, Frank Black, Terrorvision, My Litt...
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