Belonging to that difficult-to-classify strain of alternative country bands, Boston's Willard Grant Conspiracy (above) originally began life as an offshoot of hardcore outfit The Flower Tamers. Swapping rock music for what they now describe as "Swamp Noir", WGC give new meaning and sound to old music. They play country in a broken-down, slightly unhinged fashion, using disconsolate cellos and violins to counterpoint their own sense of frailty. While there is a creative contrivance at hand here, the band's broody edginess and sobriety complements the music. Willard Grant Conspiracy play Whelan's, Dublin, next Thursday and Cork's Half Moon Club next Friday.
