#onparole

The context: Sitting two weeks out from our fourth show.

Victim Royal are set to play The oldest bar in Belfast - McHugh’s - in just over two weeks. This is significant for us for two reasons. First - that we played our debut show there a little over a year ago in support of On Parole, who were fundraising at the time to record their Cult of the Righteous (etc) EP. THAT EP has since been “leaked” on Spotify and Apple Music and is absolutely fantastic. Anyway. That first show went down a storm, we loved it and a load of our friends and family came to see us do it. We dropped in two covers - Holiday and Plug In Baby, both of which were incredibly well received (“The representatives from Ballyclare had the floor”).

The second reason this gig will be significant for us is that it’s our first headline show. We’re the top of a bill that we’ve put together ourselves and the bar is set to be set insanely high. Three high calibre bands all set to bring something different and unique to a big night of serious riffage.

Opening for us are the remarkable Surf Green, rabid pop-punk terriers who just dropped a new single today called Part Two. I saw them play it at Belfest a couple weeks back and the sheer conviction they had in their playing and the fun they were having on stage told me I’d found the opening band. I had the new song on a few minutes and it inspired me to sit down and write this, proper exciting high intensity punks.

Next up will be On Parole, the Riff Lords, featuring Andy Bowden on drums, in what is to be his third performance of the day, behind his THIRD band of the day. Steven VX & the Art Rats and Saint Sapphire are both playing City Hall that afternoon for a big Blackstaff gig. He might die so like come see how far a man can go into exhaustion if you’re into that kind of thing. Anyway On Parole will be bringing Explorers, and riffs for days. They’ve a crazy sense of groove and understanding of songcraft that I’ll take any excuse to see, and it’s a pleasure to have them on board.

On the penultimate slot will be the glorious power-trio alpha twin. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing their show a few times now and would be straight down to see it again in a flash. The riffs, the melodies, the tighter-than-a-duck’s-fanny musical communication, the cover choices and the fact they are clearly all having a damn good time on stage all add up to make for an electrifying live performance that I’m looking forward to trying my level best to top.

MCHUGH’S 12TH AUGUST

I better get some practice in.

"No one's cuter than us."

"A robot?"