COMPUTERS THAT BREED/SICKBOY/DOGRACK/SKEPTIK TANK

Posted on 23rd Sep 05 by Liam Tyrrell | 0

Artist: Computers That Breed
Author: Liam Tyrrell

Toners is quite an unusual venue in that there"s no stage and it rather looks like somebody"s living room" after a rather lengthy spate of domestic violence that is. What else would one expect on Baggot St. though" than a nouveau bohemian bar with a growling rock fest secreted on its first floor" away from the sharp suits and walking wallets" The stamp I receive on my way in is the devil"s number and it seems I am but a few minutes away from a blistering aural assault. Surprisingly the sound system pumps out Bob Marley in between acts" a strange yet welcome counterpoint to the ultra aggressive fare on view this evening.

First up the punk prodigies Skeptik Tank. Still in secondary school" the energetic four"piece put on a stylishly professional show. Their exploits on tour with Kidd Blunt this summer" touring six venues around Ireland in seven days" have served them well. Their songs are good and are sure to get better as they grow" but they are already accomplished musicians" technically excellent" and with such a stage presence at such a young age" teenage band break ups forbidding" they could go a long way in today"s market.

The ever unpredictable Dograck took to the stage in a flurry of chaos and noise" falling and flailing" guitars were plugged into amps and rage was unleashed. Playing the first of two gigs in two nights they smashed and crashed their way through their repertoire" the punishing rhythms encasing their looping melodies and pouring out in a vast torrent of glorious noise. The quality is there with this band but they still haven"t taken it to the level they could. Perhaps some intensive touring could help them get there or perhaps another trip to the studio. Either way they"ve been around long enough now to know that you have to take a step up on some stage or else you"ll be off it. Here"s hoping they do" as they have the potential to be a louder counterpart to the Redneck Manifesto.

Bob sang of pirates while Sickboy set up their extensive "and no doubt expensive" equipment" eight track mixers" keyboards" more guitars than you could count "five" and all for just four members" one who stayed behind the drum kit. This band took off at quite a pace and built a wave of sound to manipulate and like some kind of caged Pink Floyd animal" effects after effects roared around the venue as they swaggered their way through their set. Impressively understated" their performance was powerful and quite unlike the previous more visceral acts. Showing considerable poise and grace considering the volumes they attained" at some stages you almost felt they were heading into a slow dance set. The pace would always return though and despite the absence of any form of light show it still all felt a little psychedelic with a definite mushroomy aftertaste. A good trip indeed from the North Dubliners and with their more easily accessible approach they could well be the pick of this bunch.

It"s getting late and the place is a full as it"s going to get. There"s nothing left but the big show.Computers That Breed hit the stage like a bongo player on a bald man" with boundless enthusiasm. Churning and grinding guitar sounds combine with psychopathic syncopation on a cow bell. This in turn is perforated deliciously with crashing cymbals and booming bass lines which infect the mind. The raw roar of the vocals lends ever more to the primordial feel of this music. It feels old" old and wise" and very" very angry. It hurts them to play at this speed and with such rage" they look like marathon runners" at the wall and desperate to reach the line" but still it pours out of them" growling melodies" roaring harmonies" music as it would have been had pianos been replaced by chainsaws.

They rock" and they know it. Steve told me earlier that day that he"d do the last song topless if things were going well and as the crowd applauded their penultimate effort" sure enough" off came the shirt" much to the delight of any ladies present. A furious end to proceedings so" and yet as expected" definitely worth a fiver for such an evening"s entertainment" it was just a shame it didn"t last longer.