大象传媒

It's the first time that LaFaro have headlined a show in Belfast in a long time, so it's hardly a surprise that the place is packed out to the rafters, or that almost every hipster, scenester and member of the NI music industry is in attendance.

With this in mind, it's therefore pretty courageous that LaFaro play a set of almost entirely new material. Even more than that, it's pretty impressive that the set goes down so well. You'd be forgiven for thinking that the punters might be baying for blood when they've waited so long to get a headline set from LaFaro only to get a set full of new tracks, but whatever LaFaro are selling this fine evening, this crowd are buying.

And what they're selling is a rather electrifying sneak peak of the new album. It's not exactly a massive departure in tone for them, as it's pretty much the same sort of scuzzy, dirty, loud, swaggery rock we've come to love them for - but why mess with perfection? They've been considered kings of the local music scene for quite some time now, and with good reason. These lads know what they're at, and it's hard to think of anyone who could best them.

Aside from the lack of what have become the usual standards of a LaFaro set list, it's a fairly standard show from them. Which is to say, a mental and brilliant show - rock that'll melt the face clean off ye, banter far too inappropriate to repeat here from frontman Johnny Black, a great big sweaty mess of a crowd (and band) and general craic being had left, right and centre. Nice to have yous back, lads. Now hurry up and get that album out.

Orla Graham