We Are Burkes Lounge, Dirty Kansas, Kami Kids - Belfast
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Auntie Annies, Belfast
Thursday 12th January
Kicking of the night’s proceedings are 4-piece , whose luscious boy/girl harmonies and glacial synths make for a perfect match on this chilly January night. From the opening arpeggiated opening chords of ‘Candide’, through to the charming ‘North Star’, there is a great warmth that surrounds their performance.Ìý
However, it is on the final two tracks that the band truly shines. Being performed live for the first time, ‘Alchemy’ and ‘Lessons’ feature a cavalcade of synths and soaring guitar lines, coupled with uplifting harmonies from the band’s co-lead vocalists. Kami Kids are a band to be treasured, and after a solid performance this evening, ATL is sure that it’s not the only person who feels that way.
Taking to the stage next are grungy trio , who seem determined to get the crowd rocking. Kicking off with their latest single ‘Dogs’, the group blast through their own unique brand of infectious heavy rock, which appears to be a hit with the crowd. Throughout their set, all three members of the band take a turn to provide the lead vocals, and provide backup harmonies in the songs that they don’t. It’s hard enough to for some groups to find one good singer, but Dirty Kansas are lucky enough to be blessed with three.
After taking the time to wish a happy birthday to one of their supporters, the band end their set with the stomping ‘Sinful No.8’, a Foo Fighters-esque number that reminds us of what is so great about the band – tight musicianship, driving guitar riffs, and a knack for getting the crowd on their side. They might not have the highest profile at present, but if they can continue to put in such engaging performances like this evening, there is no reason why they cannot become of the most promising bands on the local scene.
This evening is a momentous occasion for – not only are they launching their new single, but tonight’s gig is the first one that the Derry quartet are playing in Belfast. The band have been compared to the Arctic Monkeys, and listening to their set it is not hard to see why - ‘Remember the Nostalgia’ sounds like it could be the sister piece to ‘Fake Tales of San Francisco.’ There are a few other reference points, with their spiky guitars calling to mind early Offspring material, and Thin Lizzy-esque riffs thrown into the mix for good measure. The group reach the finale with their sterling new single, ‘That 70s Girl’, and leave to a warm applause from the crowd. Hopefully, their second Belfast gig will not be too far around the corner.
Christopher McBride
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