Junkster culture

ROCK gigs are usually sweaty, unwashed affairs, but when Dublin band Junkster played a private concert at the Dublin Arts Club for friends and family on Wednesday night, everybody had plenty of elbow room and a clear view of the stage. Comfortably seated at a front row table were Gerry and Morah Ryan, Harry and Rita Crosbie and Joanne Byrne.

"It's amazing, this is such a small venue, and yet the sound is stadium quality," said Gerry Ryan as he tapped his feet to the band's soulful, trip hop style of rock n roll. Junkster is managed by Aidan Cosgrave, who has previously worked with An Emotional Fish, and was also a close business associate of U2 manager Paul McGuinness. Anxious to avoid the hype which sank the Fish, Aidan has set up a week long run of low key gigs at the Da Club, to give the band a chance to unveil its new material with minimum fuss and blather.

Junkster have undergone a Lazarus like rebirth of late, dropping their "indie" sound for a more sophisticated blend of Texas, Portishead and classic guitar pop. The group is signed to RCA in the US, their first single, Slide, will be released in a couple of weeks time, and the debut album gets its US release in July. Looks like Junkster culture is finally coming to America.