The Irish bar O’Ceallaigh’s was so packed the only way to tell who was playing was by finding out who was holding an instrument.
The Irish bar O’Ceallaigh’s was so packed the only way to tell who was playing was by finding out who was holding an instrument.
If your idea of a night out is going to a venue, seeing one band and going home again then you would have done well to stay away from Subroutine Connects. Ostensibly a label showcase evening, in the fringe programme of this year’s Eurosonic festival, and with 16 bands booked in 2 venues over 2 nights, this was going to be Subroutine Record’s most ambitious undertaking yet.
It seemed that word had got round too, as trying to get into both venues was almost impossible. The Irish bar O’Ceallaigh’s was so packed the only way to tell who was playing was by finding out who was holding an instrument. With 40 people inside, the place is full, so a strict code of standing still, (with no quick trips to the bar to get a pint) had to be adhered to…. But, the start of the evening was not a night for jumping around; with a line up including The Black Atlantic, Rue Royal and We Swim You Jump this was going to be a melancholic, quiet start. The rock past was reserved for the after party in Cafe Kult with Hospital Bombers, The Gluemen and Hallo Venray performing.
Hospital Bombers
With the freezing temperatures outside, The Black Atlantic could have been back in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York where they recorded there album Reverence for Fallen Trees. As for Rue Royal from the Midlands, they busied themselves in knocking out sweet pop songs that lulled the audience into a dreamy reverie. The local We Swim You Jump made some more noise, nothing of the sort we heard when all of the members played in Hardcore bands, but enough to move around a bit to get warm before heading down to Cafe Kult for the second part. Given how good this band’s songs are, it is about time they record a proper album.
Hallo Venray
The highlight of the evening might have been The Gluemen reunion, but hardly anybody knew any of their songs. The charming Hospital Bombers never worked very well on a big stage and same could be said about Hallo Venray but, here in a small smoky cafe it all came together. What should have ended half past one never did, even if we would have gone home.
http://www.myspace.com/subroutinerecords
http://www.myspace.com/weswimyoujump
http://www.myspace.com/rueroyale
http://www.myspace.com/hospitalbombersatmyspace
http://www.myspace.com/theblackatlantic
http://www.myspace.com/thegluemen
Pics: Richard Sottong