大象传媒

A miserably wet weekend has deadened the seaside air that inhabits Portrush, and things aren't a lot better inside The Retro Bar where our Gig of the Week is set to kick off.

Several swaps and changes have left tonight's line-up barely recognisable from the original bill, with Town Cried Wolf pulling out and Tied To Machines stepping in for the similarly named artillery enthusiasts Before Machines. At this point we're as puzzled to who's actually showing up as anyone, so our trust is in the sweaty palms of Event Horses, the single survivor, to hold this evening together.

Our substitute openers are the month-old Stress on the Ruin, the inexperience of the fledgling act is plain to see, blundering down the well-trodden 'largely instrumental' path and adding little new ideas besides an inaudible half sentence every other song.

It just sounds like aimless prog with clich茅d crescendos and unfinished ideas, and as if that wasn't bad enough, half the band are "over-refreshed", barely capable of playing, and caring even less.

Event Horses inject some much-needed effort into a night rapidly headed south, and do so with more vigour and passion than the poor attendance is really worthy of. Things are throttled back on track by their guttural hard rock, with nods to southern fried hardcore punk, and a raw, grungy approach. It's not pretty or complex, but their hulking presence is inescapable.

In 'Dance With The Devil' they've got themselves a very bankable beast that boils everything down into something ready to rip airwaves apart. If only it wasn't spoiled by a bit of a dopey chorus, they'd have a real monstrous signature tune.

The true surprise package tonight though are Banbridge boys Tied To Machines, who are far from a household name in these parts, and know too well the local horsepower that's come before won't be easy to follow.

Frontman Ed Henry's charisma has the crowd on his side instantly though, entertaining the confusion surrounding Before Machines and poking fun at the acres of empty space on the floor. It's an attitude than only serves to amplify the experience of their music: crazily fun, bouncy, Reuben vs Gallows-style rock that couples well with the party metal of Event Horses.

Finding time to pay homage to both And So I Watch You From Afar and Queens Of The Stone Age as well, the set is drilled along by their absolute demon drummer, with definite shades of ASIWYFA's Chris Wee. 'Sociopath' is a contagious wallop to end on, a sonic personality disorder driven by manic verses split with a chanting pop-punk chorus.

A fine way to turn the night around, showing real maturity from Event Horses and Tied To Machines, and further evidence that the Retro is in many ways a birth ward for all sorts of exciting loudness. Now get that spotlight pointed towards the North coast.

Daniel Robinson