10/12/2010 Toxic Slut & Girls On Top @ The Dublin Castle

Subject	Toxic Slut & Girls On Top @ The Dublin Castle
PostedDate	12/14/2010 7:02:00 AM
	Friday night and the start of a weekend packed with rock 'n' roll.  It all starts off with a bit of a punky flavour at the Dublin Castle. Toxic Slut are due onstage at 9.00 and I arrive just after. I've only just got my camera out when they finish their set!  Unknown to me, the promoters have switched stage times to keep another band happy or something - the result being that although I'm only a couple of minutes late I miss almost the entire set of one of the band's I particularly wanted to see.  This isn't the first time it's happened at this venue - thanks a lot Bugbear Promotions!  What little I saw of Toxic Slut's set was good fun - hopefully (promoters permitting) I'll catch their whole set next time...  Next up (I think) are the Exterminators. They play surf instrumental rock 'n' roll, and I don't think they are particularly good. After you've heard one song you've heard 'em all really, and it gets boring very quickly. I guess they would be OK if you weren't interested in hearing any actual songs and just wanted to dance.... Something a bit more interesting is next. Pink Cigar are a band I seem to have nearly seen several times in support slots when I've been going to see other bands but either ended up not going to the gig or didn't get there early enough to see them. They are nothing like their very gay sounding name suggests! Actually, they are a dirty rock 'n' roll band - and quite a good one too. Unlike the last band who basically just stood there, this is a real performance. Two of the band seem to think they are actually Stooges, and the vibe is very much Iggy & Co/MC5 - certainly worth checking out again. Last band of the night is Camden sleazesters Girls On Top. This lot are always entertaining and tonight is no exception. They have been pedalling their brand of sleazy punky rock 'n' roll for quite a few years now and have several albums under their belt. The downside of having so much material to choose from is that some of their catchy earlier tunes have fallen by the wayside, although I am pleased to note my old favourite 'Mess' has returned to the set tonight. Talking of 'Mess' - this venue's rather fine Weston's Old Rosie cider on the real ale pump takes it's toll on me - a few pints of that 7.3% rocket fuel and I'm still feeling decidedly groggy the following lunchtime...