It's years since I've been to The Spice of Life to see a band - this place is virtually a secret music venue in the heart of the West End. As you walk in at ground level it's largish bar with all the old pub character stripped out of it, but downstairs is an intimate bar and music venue. It's cheap to get in to see three or four bands, and the bar has real ales at surprisingly reasonable prices for the West End and it's tourist traps. It's only McMullens so the ale isn't up to much, but compared to what else is on offer in the area I'm not complaining.
It's only the second time time seen ⚡Electrics⚡, although I think they have been going for several years. I saw them supporting Dirty Strangers at the Dublin Castle last year, and I think just missed their set when they previously supported the same band at the Mau Mau Bar a while back - it's a shame it's taken me so long to discover them. There is no sax player at tonight's show unlike the first time I saw them, but it's still an enjoyable show.
It's dirty rock 'n' roll with a bit of a New York influence - via Portobello Road and Stonebridge Park. There is a distinct punk edge and attitude - with song titles like 'No Shit'.
Electrics are good musicians with some catchy and memorable songs - I shall definitely be going to see them again...
Next up are Pseudonym. A band with a decent frontman playing generic indie rock. Decent enough musicians, but not much in the way of memorable songs.
Final band of the night is Alphawaves. The frontman appears to be trying to be a more rock 'n' roll version of Van Morrison - and like 'Van the man' seems to maybe take himself a little too seriously. He's a good guitarist and makes an effort to 'perform', but the music isn't in the same class as the pop/rock classics of the 1960's onward that he seems to be trying to emulate.
I give Alphawaves a chance and watch them for a few songs, but don't stay to the end and wander back upstairs with my drink. Soon afterwards I ironically find myself up the road in another pub that used to be the Marquee Club.
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