大象传媒

The prospect of seeing two teachers outside of school is a very unappealing prospect indeed. Well, that's exactly what we are faced with in the form of Dublin duo We Cut Corners, and it poses the question, can teachers rock out? Seemingly so, as the Southern professors educate us in wistful pop music, melodic and raucous in equal measures bounded together with soaring twin vocals.

The Empire punters filter in during their set, meet their friends, purchase drinks and have a natter, a condition better known as F.B.O.S (First Band On Syndrome). Unfortunately such a syndrome does not help in providing a conducive atmosphere for the memorable pop on offer. 'Go Easy' leaves ATL whistling between the band change over. 听

Then the recently renamed Master and Dog (formerly John Shelly and The Creatures) take to the stage. The last time the 'Dogs' played the Empire they did so to a reverential crowd of admirers or soon to be fans, but tonight this is not the case. The crowd is restless and extremely chatty throughout, and more fool them for it; Master and Dog deliver an awe-inspiring set of material, some new but most sampled from their debut album 'Dinosaur'. It really is the perfect aperitif to the big slab of deep fried depression served up Scottish style in the form of Frightened Rabbit.

The heartbeat that pulses through FR is mainly to do with beardy ruffian and singer Scott Hutchison. His unwavering honesty, vitriolic verse, and quivering voice have gathered an army of empathetic 'fist in the air' fans all throughout the UK, and tonight the NI unit represents.

The chattering stops and FR's statement of intent begins - they want to party tonight. 'The Modern Leper' and latest single 'Nothing Like You' knee-jerk the punters into bouts of astoundingly bad dancing.

The scruffy Scots declare Belfast their home away from home, indicating to the deferential room that this particular gig was the second date on the tour to sell out, beaten only by Glasgow. It's easy to see why the band holds the Northern Irish audience so dearly; they are passionate, feisty and involving, all characteristics you could easily mirror back on the band.

After the initial ferocity the dynamic takes a turn for the melancholy. 'Good Arms vs Bad Arms' is reworked into an intimate solo acoustic number with Hutchison lilting into the starry-eyed crowd. It's clear from the emotion on his face that he truly believes in his songs and with offerings such as 'The Twist', 'The Loneliness and The Scream' and 'Keep Yourself Warm' you have a fervent audience that truly believes in them too. This was a truly great gig.

Philip Taggart