Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

It's the strangest type of nostalgia. A room full of indie-losers (we include ourselves in that) in their late-twenties, watching the same local musicians they were into a few years ago perform under a different guise. The big question is - has anything changed?

But first, an outsider. Ruby Colley is onstage with nothing more than a violin. Her performance is astonishing. She's building up layers of dark, orchestral vibes using a load of bass pedals and samplers scattered around her bare feet. It's hugely impressive, genuinely beautiful and greeted with respectful silence and general bewilderment. This kind of thing may go on elsewhere, but such music has never been played in the Limelight. The show has been stolen, already.

The happily miserable Barry Peak is a bit of a legend, round these parts. Originally in a reasonably successful three piece called Backwater but recently fronted equally awesome pop-rock also-rans Torgas Valley Reds. Now it's just himself, with a few mates backing him up, performing songs from the last ten years. As a result, it's quite a clumsy set, as he mixes up old and new.

'Foxes', a new song he duets with Skibunny (and formerly Tunic - yes, more nostalgia) singer Tanya Mellotte is an instant highlight. Simple melodies are what Barry does best - and this would be the start of something beautiful, if he had the patience to try again.

We're also reminded of the utter brilliance that was Torgas Valley Reds' Torgas Valley Blue. Bassist for the evening, local promoter and social butterfly Niall Harden, is smiling like he won the right to be on that stage in a special competition. Some people rate Barry's music that highly - and you begin to understand, when he reels off a one-time indie classic like the Backwater's 'Shady'. By this point we're wishing he'd give the whole band thing one more go, though it's unclear exactly how that might work.

Finally, the prodical son returns. Colin Campbell, aka Kidd Dynamo was Belfast's 'must-see' act a few years back, before he relocated to New York. There he found himself a small deal (with a Californian label), changed his moniker to Radial Nerve, helped build a few houses and bust his arm (hence the inspiration for the name change).

Colin writes jangly, poppy songs. It's really that simple. Sometimes its so poppy, it's not a million miles away fromΓ―ΒΏΒ½.say Blink 182. New Radial Nerve song 'Dark Stars' could be related to 'Say it Ain't So'. No bad thing.

But tonight we maybe expected something a little different - considering he's been in a different continent for so long and is working under a different name. But very little has changed. Which is maybe no bad thing - 'I Am a Landlside' and 'New Space' are still magnificent, insanely catchy sing-alongs. A memorable little play with some peddles which brings the set to a close suggests the start of something interesting.

But for now, Radial Nerve is nothing more than a reassuring, friendly hug from an old friend.

Rigsy
Photos by Alan Maguire -