The Bonnevilles - The Retro, Portrush
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The Bonnevilles, The Wood Burning Savages, Troublesome Bucks
The Retro, Portrush
Friday 16th November 2012
This evening is the first of a run of album launches for The Bonnevilles. Having just released their second studio album, 鈥淔olk Art & The Death of Electric Jesus鈥, the duo are travelling across the province to introduce new ears to their retro inspired fusion of blues and punk.听
But first, they don鈥檛 come more classic rock鈥檔鈥檙oll than the Troublesome Bucks. The songs are pretty much standard fare with no frills attached, but this allows the skill of the musicians to stand out. These guys like a good guitar solo and aren鈥檛 afraid of a middle eight either. Fans of Rory Gallager won鈥檛 be disappointed by their sound, which is clearly influenced by his music. 鈥淢idnight Train鈥 is the highlight of a tight set, showcasing a band of accomplished performers.
open with the dark, slighty eccentric chant of 鈥淗igh Rise鈥 over the thrum of a six string bass. It鈥檚 a mixed bag; bright bouncy pop-worthy numbers, such as 鈥淰enus鈥, contrast with almost tribal driven beats. Thankfully the vocals of unlikely frontman Paul Connolly prevent it from getting a bit too bipolar. Don鈥檛 be fooled by his slight stature; jittering on his tiptoes, Connolly鈥檚 voice commands attention and stands out with an ethereal, quivering quality. There鈥檚 a moment when his guitar string breaks and he almost sends his mic stand careening offstage, but he battles on with the same momentum, unphased. 鈥淕oose鈥 stands out for its splendid three part harmonies, whilst closing track 鈥淭houghts of You鈥 defines the stomping and impatient theme that runs through most of their music.
stage is already dressed and waiting. Complete with their dripping heart banner and kitsch light-up icon of Jesus, they need no introduction. Uniformed in their customary white shirt/skinny black tie combo, the duo jump straight into their performance. They鈥檙e here first and foremost to showcase their new material, so the set consists mainly of tracks from their new album 鈥淓lectric Jesus鈥.
鈥淗ell鈥 is one of the first to be aired, provoking positive yowls from the audience. 鈥10,000鈥 in the meantime sees frontman Andy McGibbon get so het up his guitar strap breaks. A two second pause and they鈥檙e back again, this time even attracting a middle aged man with the bizarre tendency of baring his belly for the band. The pace slackens a little for the soulful 鈥淜neel At the Altar Parts 1&2鈥, but it鈥榮 a brief hiatus for drummer Chris McMullan amongst predominantly fast-paced tracks.
Album opener 鈥淵ou鈥檙e Not Alone鈥 is introduced with the tag that we鈥檙e 鈥渓egally obliged to buy the new C.D.鈥. By the time they reach 鈥淕ood Suits and Fightin鈥 Boots鈥 from their first release, the band have worked up quite a sweat. The crowd is shy tonight but they鈥檙e prompted to come forward by McGibbon; 鈥淗ardtale Lurgan Blues鈥 - 鈥渄edicated to anyone who lives in a 听s***hole鈥 - even gets the front row a little rowdy.
Swift delivery and sharp wit from The Bonnevilles this evening will surely see them making waves in the far reaches of the country. It may not have been the biggest turn out, but as far as the music was concerned, it didn鈥檛 matter. You can bet the word will get out that these two don鈥檛 stint on their live shows.
Grace Loughrey
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