No Roller launch gig

No Roller

‘Heading for a War’ Launch gig

Crawdaddy

06/05/11

Angela Macari O’Looney

No Roller are a Dublin based Acoustic/Indie/Rock outfit consisting of five members. They started out on the live gig scene in 2008 and recorded their debut album in 2009. I had the pleasure of reviewing High Places by Narrow Roads and have particular favourites from it.
I find their general sound unique, but with a diverse combination of influences filtering through. This comes from the fact that each member puts his own style into their songs and the result is extremely effective and enjoyable!

Cocophone

Two piece act Cocophone performed the first set. With a folk/ Acoustic style, they play laid back numbers. Both sing and have excellent voices, Freya performing harmony to Fin’s vocals and then vice versa.

They started with a choppy number called Love the label. Fin sung lead vocals here, with Freya doing backing vocals. Then they continued with Glory shoes. Slow, with Freya performing lead vocals, this involves trickling acoustic guitar. It’s a very soothing song, with a soulful mood.

Hollow Tree is about the sad decline of Dublin’s Fairview Park and how it has become too dangerous to go there for a breath of fresh air, or any other innocent activity. This song is harmonic, sweet and both blend their voices beautifully for it.

After this they did Broken Radio, about Fin’s radio which was in need of repair and left on the long finger, became abandoned. It has a lively rhythm, a catchy chorus and goes down well with the punters.

Yellow Flower is moody, with a three four tempo, that builds up from trickling and sweet, to a more dynamic feel. Harmony as in all their stuff is very effective and although the lyrics are droopy and sorrowful, I enjoyed this.

Somewhere – Freya plays a tiny keyboard for this and her riffs are simply delicious. She is extremely entertaining and her style is really soothing. For a two piece, they have a very captivating sound!
On Sad Planes was the last of their set, with poignant lyrics, a sweet melody line, and harmony filtering in here and there. This was a wise choice to finish on. They got a great applause and thanked No Roller for inviting them.

No Roller

Members of No Roller are David Clarke-Vocals, Warren Solan-Lead guitar, Aaron Laidlaw-Rhythm guitar, Tom Dunne-Bass and Damien Farrell-Drums. Influences include Beatles, Dylan, Stones, Oasis, and Nirvana.
Opening up with Why You from the new album,this number involves distortion packed in sync guitars playing a choppy rhythmic riff. Warren performs splashes of lead here and there, with guitars and drums creating a solid backdrop of sound. This number is vibrant and Dave’s gritty vocals belt out the lively chorus with style.

In Provide Aaron performs a big intro, with lots of distortion. Warren adds some elaborate lead, with lots of screaming and bending notes included. There’s a powerful ascending riff in the chorus and this is performed by all three guitars. The lead solo is short and sweet. Dave’s vocals are cool and suit this song to a tee. There’s an echo effect when he sings the line And I’ll eat the poison you provide. Warren comes in again with some wonderful lead throughout the final verse. That superb ascending riff comes in again for the chorus.

Rented Room is a strut style song, with a slinky riff intro that leads you into the verse, continuing throughout most of the number. Bassline is impressive here, as are drums with lots of seductive cymbal and snare creating an enticing, sexy mood. Warren lets loose on lead guitar and woos the audience with amazing slides and rippling notes.

Ocean, which was released as a single was next. I love this song and it proved to be popular with other members of the audience. Dave totally draws you in with this slow number, which has a romantic quality. Guitars are trickling, with a delightful riff that continues throughout.
Dave hits higher notes, going up to a falsetto despite his husky, gritty voice. The melody is beautiful and I like the middle eight where Dave sings Skimming on the Ocean, with no emotion. You’re skimming on the Ocean, give me devotion. This is then performed as a refrain sung by Aaron and Tom, while he sings the chorus again.

Tom announces that Dave is celebrating the birth of his son and he gets a big applause. A fast and lively song begins called The Heavens open. Aaron plays acoustic for this, Warren giving it loads on lead. Chord combos and riffs are fab here and there’s a great sense of movement throughout. Bassline is busy, Tom making sure to remind us he’s around.

Therapy is next and involves superb guitars and a beautifully placed key change. It’s a rhythmic number that’s choppy and cheerful. There’s a slow down for the middle eight and then it picks up again. Dave oozes style and has a distinctive delivery that’s a cross between The Boss and Dylan. However, he is definitely a key feature in the overall No Roller sound!

Heading for a War

The title track from their new album, this interesting song involves poignant lyrics and a dramatic pullback of sound for the few bars after Dave sings We could be heading for a war.
It has a lot going on in it and the melody line gives a sense of despair. Warren’s lead solo is really special.

Apple Tree, a slow love song was next. Warren features doing a superb solo. The melody line is sweet and Dave’s vocals delectable. There’s an interesting change of tempo midway through that I enjoy.

Have you ever seen the Rain (Creedence Cover)

This was a great choice for a cover and when it’s done well, is fun to sing along to. No Roller definitely did it justice!

Blood of the Sun was next, with each member of the band letting loose. The beat alternates, and bass is amazing. Aaron is back on his electric for this fast, powerful song. Lead is show stopping, with Warren playing as if his life depended on it. For the chorus it becomes a dramatic rock anthem, but soon they return to the faster pace. Distortion is used to great affect and I get the impression each of the lads gets to blow off a lot of steam for this one!

Tom Dunne the bass player performed Grow your own, while Dave played guitar. It’s an upbeat number with cool oohs sung in refrain.

End of the Road has a wonderful riff intro that is repeated during the song. It’s slow and soulful, but really memorable.

They finished up with You and Me, where Dave’s vocal range really shone. This fast moving number from the band’s first album was a great finale. Everyone sang the oohs with Dave in the chorus. Warren’s riffs were fab. I like when everything pulls back and you just hear the bass for a bit. Then Dave comes in with I can’t fall asleep to the sound of your drum, gradually building the dynamic until he’s almost screaming it out. Aaron’s rhythm guitar features big time in this last number.

It was a long, but brilliant set. They got an encore and unfortunately time had run out for them. It did have the advantage of leaving the fans wanting more and will make us come to another gig!