Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Apparently the other day was Blue Monday - the most depressing day in the year. Well, on the flipside that means that things can only get better, and here to give us a big boost are our old muckers, the cheery rapscallions of FWW and Lafaro. Of course, they've been here before, we've been here before, but this is definitely a case of where familiarity doesn't breed contempt.

Supporting their old mates on this opening night of a tour, are Lafaro, and it's probably the tightest, leanest and meanest we've seen them in while. It's not necessarily the bludgeon of old, but it's still a swift kick in the nuts. As the set cracks on the second track of the night, 'All Of These Things' establishes the template, lean, mean and focussed with Jonny's demented-dog howl before a crashing end. 'Tuppenny Nudger' is business as usual - all business 'cos it is the business and can shout for itself. After a brief Russian diversion with 'Leningrad', dedicated to the sexy Tony ASIWYFA, they continue the requests with a happy birthday "not available on any of our CDs, but here's one that is" before 'Great Conversations Remembered No. 36: Jeff Hinton', a song that is rapidly becoming one of the highlights of their already excellent set-lists. Oldie 'Cold Dog Soup' makes a welcome appearance, and they close with 'Mr Heskey' ("for all the gingers") before a slightly disinterested crowd, presumably fans of FWW rather than local music fans, and so there probably isn't the appreciation there should be for this cracking set. A shame, simply because in a short time, when Lafaro are doing to the rest of the world what they've done to us, they'll look back and wished they'd enjoyed themselves more.

Following an unplanned bit of Star Wars to accompany them onstage, the lads hit us with 'Strength In Numbers' reminding us that Cahir is already our own little rock god in waiting, before following that jab with the left hook of 'Everyone Needs A Nemesis' as they don't let up, nor do they for the rest of the night, tighter and more professional that before, there's a maturity about them - a realisation that this is their life now, not just messing around until something happens. 'Long Distance' provides the first sing-along of the evening. Complaining about the sell-outs of the punk era, they hit us with some new material, and it's mined from the same catchy rock seam as before, heavy and pop at the same time - they should maybe keep that 'Can't Waste A Minute'. 'Make A Fist' has an evil little bassline before it breaks us down in a thrashy bit of madness. Issuing a warning to Americans everywhere, they tell us they're off there possibly to beat them up to satisfy Cahir's voyeuristic tendencies. Finishing up with old single 'Point Of View' and new single 'Sugar', they issue a challenge to us all to do something to blow them off the stage they way they feel Lafaro did before getting the biggest reaction, singalong, madness, everything of the evening for closer 'Cut The Transmission'. Ireland first, then America - you have been warned.

William Johnston