The Strypes kick off the NME 2016 Awards Shows at the Garage

The post-holiday blues are finally fading. For those still holding on to the New Years party, what better way could there be to spend the first evening of February than with a 2016 NME Awards Show? The Strypes prove an explosive debut to a string of concerts – happening throughout the month – in celebration of the awards ceremony on the 17^th.

The band hail from the Irish town of Cavan and have caused a storm both in their motherland and here in the UK. It’s impossible to separate their visual and sonic aesthetics from the great rock bands of the last century: guitar riffs that embody Chuck Berry, frontman Ross Farrelly’s Beatles hairstyle, and energy of the Arctic Monkeys all collide for a night of musical mayhem.

The atmosphere in the venue reflects the audience’s ambition to have fun. The Strypes enter to explosive applause and all four band members are eager to get the party started. Filling their time slot well, the band show off their diversity of influences whilst retaining a strong musical identity. Some songs are a striking tribute to the blues whilst others to Northern indie; the lads even pay a guitar-heavy tribute to the late David Bowie with a cover of Rebel Rebel. The band are in constant interaction with each other, swapping instruments and obviously revelling in the performance of their songs.

The evening, in its entirety, is what makes this concert special and as such it’s difficult to pick a stand-out track. However, the song Scumbag City – off the recent 2015 album Little Victories – neatly embodies the band’s general aesthetic. It has sing-along lyrics, intelligent pentatonic guitar licks, mellow moments as well as energetic and a great gospel-like finish.

The Strypes display how every day of the week can feel like Friday night if the right ingredients are present. The NME proves itself again as a promoter of great music and hopefully this is a first of many great shows in February 2016.

Alex Goddard
Photo: Caitlin Mogridge

For further information about The Strypes and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Scumbag City here: