NOISE is always better when it's sustained and relentless - after a prolonged assault of screeching guitars and screaming vocals, you should be nearing a state somewhat resembling nirvana, or a blank, brain fried catatonia at the very least.
If you seek non stop punk and permanent ear damage on your path to salvation, then the prospect of hearing five noisy bands in one night should cause a zen like euphoria, but if you prefer to spend your Monday nights with cup of Horlicks and an Oasis record on the gramophone, then you won't want to switch on to Ignition.
Billed as Ireland's only punk/metal live music club, Ignition happens at the Ormond Multi Media Centre, and, far from being a non starter, it has already put Monday nights into overdrive with appearances by Female Hercules, Luggage, Ultra Montanes and even Therapy's Andy Cairns. Last Monday night, it was the turn of Mexican Pets to deal out the decibels, but first we had to endure an excruciating parade of retro punks, Pixies' tributes and black metal gruntbeasts.
The first band, Subbacultcha, are named after a Pixies' song, and although I arrive too late to find out whether the singer looks like Frank Black, I am assured that he at least sounds like him. I arrive just as Steampig are cranking up for another two minute burst of punk rock nostalgia, a sort of trip downs anarchy lane in the company of Sham 96. For these guys, it seems, no future is a perfect, permanent ideal.
Just to ensure that their lyrics would not suffer a Cranberries style scrutiny, Skumvoid made sure that every grunt and groan was unintelligible, and they avoided possible accusations of tweeness by being just plain unlistenable. Luckily, an adjacent bar area and a free drink token saved me from a fate worse than death metal.
After a slack performance by some wannabe Sonic Youth/ Sebadoh types, it was up to Mexican Pets to prove that noiseniks can actually move forward without having to shout down the time tunnel. The Pets have already released four well received singles last year, including Diana The Moon and Mackerel Sky High, and tonight's set featured some scorched earth songs from their forthcoming album, which is slated for autumn release. That leaves plenty of time for ringing in my ears to die down.
Next Monday is a doubleheadwreck with Sack and Cuckoo, but the one to really crank up the Ignition will be Joyrider on June 16th.
