The Stiff Kitten
Belfast, United Kingdom
Show notes
Free Across the Line Radio 1 gig with La Faro.
Set list
- Lose Control
- Burn Baby Burn
- Angel Interceptor
- You Can’t Have It All
- Orpheus
- Goldfinger
- Ritual
- Renegade Cavalcade
- Walking Barefoot
- Polaris
- A Life Less Ordinary
- Oh Yeah
- Girl From Mars
- Twilight of the Innocents
Encore
Review
Ash flew home to Belfast to play an intimate show for ATL’s 21st Birthday and Rory McConnell’s Radio 1 Show at The Stiff Kitten, Ash were supported by La Faro. Following the gig, Rigsy played a DJ set, and Derry’s finest beat monkeys The Japanese Popstars brought the night to a crashing (and very late!) conclusion. Highlights of the show were broadcast on Rigsy’s show on Across The Line on April 16th, while the whole set was broadcast on April 19th on Rory McConnell’s show on Radio One, Northern Ireland.
It’s ATL’s 21st Birthday, so it seems about time a cherry was popped. Tonight, however, that cherry belongs to the Stiff Kitten, as it plays host to a live rock band for the first time ever. And it’s clear that management are preparing for the worst. We don’t want these rocker types drinking beer and getting rowdy. An A3 notice at the front door informs us that there will be “NO CROWDSURFING”. Thank goodness for that. And just to be sure, they’ve employed two doormen to every guest. Or so it seems.
Tonight’s support act, the Belfast-based alt rock trio, La Faro, set about stealing Ash’s thunder, as they win the coveted title of “first ever band to play the Stiff Kitten”. They rattle through a set that lasts little over half an hour. Tonight’s crowd seem a little unresponsive to the warm up act, which is unfortunate, as tracks like “Tupenny Nudger” and “Scott” are bold and gutsy, and warrant at least a little mayhem, if not a full blown pit.
They’ve got the whole eye candy thing on the go too. Anna breaks out QOTSA-style basslines with the attitude of an early Kim Gordon. And if that doesn’t float your boat, Johnny and Alan surely will. Game on.
During the brief interval between bands, there time for some minor celebrity spotting, before MCs Rory and Rigsy introduce headliners Ash. There’s no flaming guitars, and there’s no Charlotte, but it doesn’t detract from the set one bit. The Downpatrick boys started out as a three piece 15 years ago, and the return to this set up has no caused detriment to their sound. The only noticeable difference is in the lack of vocal harmonies in tracks like “Renegade Cavalcade”, but this is of no real consequence. It’s a Friday night, and as Tim points out, tonight’s show is to a club filled only with winners, so everyone’s out to have a good time. The set is a mixture of old and new, with material from the upcoming album - like “Lose Control” and “You Can’t Have It All” - being tried out on home soil for the first time. It goes down well, despite very few punters being able to sing along. And of course, the old favourites like “Girl From Mars” and “Oh Yeah” raise the roof.
As the saying goes, here’s to 21 more.
Review by Sully