THE STRYPES / SUGARMEN | LIVE REVIEW
The Paget Rooms, Penarth, Thurs 21 May
Having rapidly climbed from the anonymity of their County Cavan roots, there’s no doubting The Strypes’ tenacity and aptitude in executing tight, pared-down fare that amply nods to progenitors such as Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf to name but a few. This knack for stripped back, pulsating rhythm and blues was seen on their 2013 debut, finding them vaulting head first into the production process with Chris Thomas, a regular collaborator with such luminaries as Roxy Music, Pink Floyd and The Beatles.
And so the nostalgic backdrop of Penarth’s Paget Rooms was a befitting platform for the quartet’s rustic retroactive approach, with an enthusiastic albeit modest turnout flowing through the wooden doors of the theatre hall. Sharp dressed Liverpool four-piece Sugarmen were first up, blasting punchy rock’n’roll-inspired output. With quiff-sporting lead vocalist Luke Fenlon at the helm, the outfit exhibited a stylistic slickness and integrity in their stage presence as well as sound, flexing their range of influence between Link Wray, The Clash and the trailblazing garage rock of The Velvet Underground, with a clear nod to the latter in a pitch-perfect cover of Lou Reed’s Hangin’ ‘Round.
Opening with What A Shame, the headlining Irish blues rock revivalists emerged to a fuller room than previously witnessed in the evening. Incongruously hidden behind dark sunglasses, frontman Ross Farrelly strutted across the stage, the Jaggeresque strains of his voice channelling the terse tonality of mid-60s Stones. Sharing vocal duties, Josh McClorey brought additional depth to an already cohesive delivery. Delving into other material such as Eighty-Four and Hometown Girls, the quartet revitalised the atmosphere with considerable zeal and flair, encouraging the crowd with a playful rapport throughout their set. The encore seeing them round off with angst-ridden renditions of MC5’s Kick Out The Jams and Bo Diddley number You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover.
The band, still in their late teens, evidently commands a broad appeal, as borne out in the diverse age range of the audience. Failing to disappoint on this final date of a two-night residency, they rewarded supporters with a positively kinetic and charismatic performance.
words CHRIS HAMILTON-PEACH