TheCity

Tag: Gig

  • Bastille grace Olympia stage

    Bastille grace Olympia stage

    Provinssirock_20130614_-_Bastille_-_12
    Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

    There’s something endearing about a band that repeatedly thanks the audience for coming out to see them. It’s a refreshing display of humility and gratitude in an industry that is becoming increasingly dominated by money. But as Bastille took to the Olympia stage on Friday night, it was clear that the London quartet are still getting to grips with their newfound fame.

    Opening with catchy hit Badblood, what is immediately evident is an affectionate casualness between the four lads that almost makes you feel as if you’re watching your friend’s band rehearse in his basement, rather than the global chart toppers who are actually on stage.

    What’s not casual however, is their performance. Flashing strobe lights, snare drums and questionable, yet infectious dance moves are all a loud accompaniment for the band’s blend of indie-rock and electronic pop.

    Not one to chitchat, lead singer Dan prefers to let his voice do the talking as he effortlessly rattles his way through popular hits Overjoyed and Things We Lost In The Fire.

    At one point during the night, Dan decides that he wants a piece of the action and jumps into the crowd while launching into a rendition of Flaws much to the delight of his many admirers.

    The setlist is an eclectic mix of new records such as Campus and Brave combined with old familiars like Laura Palmer, These Streets and Weight of Living Pt. II.

    They even throw in a cover of City High’s What Would You Do? which instantly goes down a treat among their predominantly young spectators. It’s a generous delivery of 17 songs that is more than enough to satisfy the masses.

    During the encore, Dan playfully asks the audience to join in on his dancing during club anthem Of The Night, and of course the crowd are only happy to oblige.

    As they bid farewell with their most well-known hit Pompeii, every single concertgoer jumps to their feet, a sure sign of an enjoyable night.

     

  • Gesaffelstein the Great

    Gesaffelstein the Great

    Gesaffelstein is a 28 year old Dark Techno DJ who, despite having a name more German-sounding than two Bratwursts in a pair of lederhosen, hails from Lyon in France.

    Well known to aficionados of Techno, Gesaffelstein is not quite yet a household name, but having already collaborated with big names such as Daft Punk, Brodinski and Kanye West, I suspect it won’t be long before his name is on everyone’s lips (despite the fact that it really is quite difficult to pronounce).

    This is the first time the Techno artiste has graced Ireland with his presence, and so there was a significant amount of buzz surrounding this gig. To be honest when I heard that it was the Button Factory he was to play, I was just a little bit sceptical. This is a big venue, and if enough people fail to turn up for a show, it can leave the room looking a little sad and empty. Like the inside of Paris Hilton’s head.

    However I needn’t have worried. Loyal fans showed up in their droves and packed out the standing room area to create an electric atmosphere that was buzzing with anticipation and sticky with the sweat of close to a thousand teenaged techno lovers.

    The sizeable crowd at the Button factory
    The sizeable crowd at the Button factory

    The Japanese Popstars supported, and while I also had my doubts of this choice of opening act, I was once again proved wrong, as the Northern Irish three-piece managed to hold the attention of the crowd quite well, though it was obvious the vast majority of revellers had come there to hear one thing and one thing only: Techno, and lots of it.

    When Gesaffelstein finally took to the stage the feeling of excitement in the room had reached fever pitch. As the he began to play, the relentless, thumping, baseline appeared to transform the crowd into one single, bouncing, bumping entity, loosely tethered together by the beat, and, of course, more sweat.

    Gesaffelstein played an amazing set, a combination of originals and remixes, dark and light. To say his first Irish gig was a success would be a gross understatement, and I can only hope he’ll be back to us again soon. Judging by the reaction he drew from the audience, I’m not alone in this feeling.