Scuba Dice/Life by misadventure and Kevin on a bike

Scuba Dice

Life by Misadventure/ Kevin on a Bike

20/02/’09

Eamonn Doran’s

Scuba Dice, a band I’ve come to admire were launching their E.P. Let Go in Radio City last month. I met up with them a few weeks before at another gig, when they had invited me to come and see them headlining. Unfortunately the launch gig was on at lunchtime that day, when I was caught up with work commitments.
However, while listening to them on My Space, I noticed that they were also gigging in Doran’s on the same night. So, I headed down to temple bar where I had a brilliant evening, hosted by Kevin on a bike, who were launching their new E.P. Cyclepath. Also playing that night was a sweet bunch of guys who make up Punk/Rock band Life by misadventure!

Life by Misadventure

Formed from the ashes of two previous bands, this refreshing Punk band has recorded their first three song demo E.P. entitled Not Long Now!
Their sound has been compared to Blink 182 and they clinched second place in the 2nd round of the Emergenza Festival this year. Band members include Eoin Griffin – Guitar/Vocals, Jamie – Lead Guitar/backing vocals, Jubby – Bass and D’Arcy – Drums.

There’s nothing left to say was their first song. A fast beat and catchy melody in this! Although I found Eoin’s vocals a tad quiet, he has good stage presence and once the harmony comes into the equation, the nice blend of voices gives the band a unique sound. Guitars were excellent in the whole set, especially Jubby’s riffs on bass.

Next was a song Form me to You which starts with a delicious trickling guitar riff. Then it just BURSTS into life!
Loads of amazing bass, crunching chords and a distinctive melody line with a smashing chorus, got every punter’s adrenaline pumping!

Eoin introduced the band, and then they performed Cold, a song which leans more towards a heavier rock sound. The beat alternates after the first verse, lending a nice touch. The chorus as in all of this act’s songs is lively with sweet chord combos and wonderful bass, rhythm and beats throughout.

Jubby did backing vocals in Going Home. With lots of stops to add drama and lively drum rolls in the last chorus, this was a favourite for me.

The next number was Jealousy and spite, where all the stops were pulled out big time. I think it may be the band’s own favourite judging by how well they performed it. I enjoyed the way it started slowly and built up momentum, to become a fun song, with a refrain of ‘whoa whoa’ behind the chorus.

Then there was Ghosts which has memorable distortion-packed riffs, a hammering rhythm and gorgeous melody, followed by Paranoia, their final number which has dramatic bashed out beats, crunching chords, and a powerful melody which is kind of creepy, closing with the last line building up to a screaming finish!
That was only the beginning of the night’s entertainment, which continued with the next band, who were the reason I was there!


Scuba Dice

Explosive from the get go this band captured my imagination, when I was at The Shower Scene’s E.P. launch back in January. There are several bands doing similar music around the circuit at the moment, but Scuba Dice have real quality, fantastic melody lines in all of their songs and a top class lead vocalist, who puts them across with youthful, energy-charged flair!
A four piece Pop/ Punk band half of whom were in the original line-up which dates back to 2004, Scuba Dice made their first T.V. debut on R.T.E’s You’re a Star from which they used the experience to hone the sharp, eclectic sound that comes from each member bringing his own style and influences, resulting in a catchy mix. Their song Made was included in a compilation CD; The mob Rules in ’08 and they took part in L.A. or Busk, winning 3rd prize.
Scuba Dice are Joe – Vocals, Scanner – Guitar, Liam – Bass, Daire – Drums. Their influences include Fallout Boy, Blink 182, Greenday, Motion City Soundtrack and Newfound Glory.

When they took to the stage, clashing Cymbals, a manic riff and the strains of Nothing’s free were bashed out and you could feel the throb of adrenaline and excitement that they generated around Doran’s. I jumped up from my seat and had to go right up front, to where I could see and hear everything. Distortion packed chords, little riffs and hooks splashed here and there and loads of busy bass and kick ass beats got the crowd going big time!

Just Dance

Choppy intro! Daire doing big drum rolls and bashing rhythm here with guitars doing in synch notation which is just so effective!
Joe’s own guitar playing is brilliant, his phrasing really emphasised in the chorus I wanna see you all dance dance dance!
This one I just felt right down to my boots, which were tapping away with the wonderful beat. The melody in this song is also gorgeous, with fantastic riffs framing Joe’s vocals. I love it!

16! Mandatory
This was number three and began with the first line unaccompanied. Then an explosive burst of guitars, drums and a distortion lined riff take you into the verse. I love the harmony here, the catchy melody, a riff that has a rock quality in it and lovely backing vocals performed seamlessly with hammered out chord combinations, that are alive and kicking!

Bittersweet

This involves really dramatic stop- start beats, a fantastic lead solo and a magic ‘Whoa’ sung in the chorus. Slides up and down the frets of the guitars creating this machine –gun style sound gives each song, but especially this one such fire!
Liam does backing vocals in the chorus here with a never ending stream of choppy, energetic chords behind a great melody; this is yet another manic number!

Hear me out

Joe’s diction was very distinctive, particularly in this song. With lots of harmony, a fab lead solo and the gorgeous melodic chorus that everyone in the place knew, it was just amazing!

Made

This has a really easy- to-sing to chorus! It begins with a rocking riff intro followed by a lovely plucked bit. The verse is quiet with a choppy beat. Then the chorus I cannot believe my eyes is belted out with the audience all singing with them!
Plenty going on with Scanner’s lead and gorgeous harmony throughout, making this my absolute favourite song!
The way they have of taking things down to a quiet middle eight with just a guitar, a chopped out beat and lead vocals, to build up gradually to the lovely chorus where the lads do a cleverly arranged refrain behind Joe’s lead vocals.

The lads finished up with the new single Let Go!

A fuzzy intro, distortion packed and energetic takes you into a cheeky verse. Everyone in the place was totally alive as the boys really did let go!
The riff is just amazing and is the absolute highlight of this number. Scanner, Liam and Joe’ s guitars all doing fast, explosive guitar riffs and hooks throughout the whole song and of course all hands were up in the air clapping to the beat of a fantastic and memorable number, performed with endless fire and energy by this adorable bunch of guys!

Kevin on a bike

The headlining act was next. An alternative/ Indie/ Rock band hailing from Blessington, Kevin on a bike have smart ass grunge riffs, bashing beats and one really hypnotic sound.
There’s no denying each of the guitarists have talent in abundance. Singer Glenn is a great front man, with the looks, the voice and is a fine bassist to boot!

Colin is the lead guitarist and second guitar is played by Liam. They have a drummer who exudes energy in Darragh Kenny.

Taking influences from heavy rock bands such as Nirvana, Metallica, Alice in Chains and some lighter bands such as Arctic Monkeys, Thin Lizzy and even Homestar Runner, a band I am fairly familiar with myself, this band were quite different from the first two.

Glenn does a lot of the song writing and favourite lyricists include Dave McPherson (Inme), Chad Kroeger (Nickelback) and Chris Doughtry. Their setlist included all of the numbers from the new E.P. ‘Cyclepath’, plus a few covers.

Run Away – was first with a bass intro, lots of distortion in both guitars and I enjoyed the way all members of the band sung the chorus in unison. The riffs are catchy and as Glenn goes into the next verse, the rhythm on guitars becomes choppy. There’s a screaming lead solo and although the melody is a little monotonous in this song, I do like it!

What are you looking at – This is one fast number!

It begins with a drumbeat with lots of cymbals, followed by crunching chords and is extremely heavy. A bass riff that’s memorable, joined by the other guitars leading to a screaming solo a la Colin, drumbeats that go right through you, with Glenn’s fingers flying up and down that bass guitar!
Once again the melody is kind of dreary, but of course this is because the style of their music is based on anger, passion and disillusion at the hostility that exists towards the youth in the area where the guys live, as is described in the lyrics;What are you lookin’ at?

You can’t see me

Dark melody line/ fast beat with all the lads singing the chorus!
Choppy riffs nice and I like the line; Welcome to lonelyville, population me!
I like the beat! There’s a catchy riff with lots of distortion done by the two guitars.
An elaborate and quite special solo is really the highlight of this number, plus the really grunge part of the chorus where Glenn sings I just can’t move on, move on!
It’s all very Black Sabbathish and draws you in, particularly that amazing flanger packed solo!

Their set continued with Futility which involved action-packed bass, a fantastic cheeky Metallica-style riff, a screaming lead solo and the chorus performed by all members of the band, with the now familiar riff framing it and delicious guitars throughout from beginning to end!

Then there was Epiphany, with distortion all over the place, bashing cymbals, a manic rock beat and a cheerful chorus for a change involving a memorable refrain and as in all the songs, Liam and Colin’s guitar solos/ riffs etc. to die for, with screaming flanger-charged, hair raising bits before the last chorus!

Get Away - Just before this Glenn talked to the audience, thanking all for their devotion and also the other two bands. I loved the riff in this number and it would probably be my favourite from the new E.P. with a baseline hammered out, an elaborate solo and generally a truly heavy sound throughout with the memorable chorus; They should cast you away!

This set was extremely lengthy and I picked one or two that I actually recognised out of the remainder which were mainly covers.; Arctic Monkey’s Cherry Picker with a magic riff, an Indie beat and a lovely chorus. There was a short interval, but there followed lots more including one really cheerful Punk number ;Let’s go Punky.
This was mainly a rap with a fun refrain. The place was rocking and everyone was enjoying themselves immensely including me.

Jealousy – This was the only slow song that ‘Kevin on a bike’ did. It was a nice change with acoustic guitar and a really sweet melody in it and I found that although I was feeling tired, I couldn’t pull myself away from this band’s performance. The heavy stuff was very deep, but their musicianship and style kept me riveted to the spot!

My ears were throbbing for quite some time en route home from this exuberant evening. Despite this, I am so glad I had the opportunity to see three bands, all quite different from each other and equally entertaining in one night.

Angela Macari O’Looney