Aslan in the TF Royal

Posted on December 23, 2005 by Contributor

Artist: Aslan
Author: Anna Murray

In the 20 years since their first release" Aslan have almost deliberately ingratiated themselves into both our consciousness and those odd"shaped recesses we hold at the back of our minds for connections to all things Irish music. How" By a well"balanced mixture of undiscriminating touring and a few songs absolutely assured to get anyone within earshot moving. Away" in some cases.

It can"t be denied that there must be a certain something "besides narcotics" which has kept them going this long" through label changes and wave upon wave of singer"songwriters and angular"indie"rockers eroding their contemporary credibility. However" what that something may have been was far too hidden to even guess at. It has been far too obvious from their most recent unimpressive gigs" including this one" that Aslan are burning out. Sad for the nostalgics among us" but sadder still for the fans yet again disappointed by a music culture which simply either cannot support or leaves no space for simple" wholehearted" if somewhat ineffectual rock songs.

Blame it on whoever you will. The Irish scene can certainly take its share of flak for its lack of sympathy for nostalgic rock and the pressures it places on the few big"ish bands of the small country that is Ireland" as can the small crowds efforts to absorb the sound aimed to fill the large hall. Yet the fact can"t be denied that this was just a disappointing gig. Aslan have some great songs" and are great entertainers in their own right. Nevertheless" even their classics sound like nothing more stimulating than tired old songs played by tired "not very" old rockers" who really just aren"t interested anymore. Their lesser known songs sound far too much like what they were" filler" and though the crowd yelled for This Is" Angie" and Crazy World" their exuberance seemed to stem more from their pre"formed decision to have a good time rather than actual appreciation of what was going on on stage.

Luckily" the evening was not a total waste. As well as being given the opportunity to witness the slow degeneration of an average rock band" a ticket to the TF also provides free access to the TF Royal"s bar and its nightclub QT. Not being in much of a mind for that sort of thing and following the advice of some trustworthy acquaintances" I found my way into the Ruby Room" the TF"s indie/altenative/small acts stage" and by far the best room in the place with considerably better atmosphere and sound than not only the main auditorium but a hell of a lot of venues across the country.

Therein did my friends prove to be of a more reliable character than the media which had sent me to Aslan in the first place. For therein also did I catch the end of local band Horospex"s set. A far cry from Aslan" Horospex are young" haunting" and edgy. I would say that perhaps one day they will have their name spelled in lights" but that they already accomplished by way of a small sign bottom left of the stage mostly obscured by mike stands" amps and the keyboard stand. They were slightly disorganised" nervous" and inexperienced but above everything else" talented. A pleasant surprise" they go beyond what even the most optimistic person would expect from a local band" and I left the TF that night freshly reminded that there always will be new and interesting musicians ready to rise when the old doth fall.

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