WE ARE SCIENTISTS, ROISIN DUBH, GALWAY, 21ST OCTOBER (LIVE)

We’re gunna' start this live review off with a blunt and boldly audacious statement cos we’re hard arses like that. Some may see this as an exaggerative action fuelled by holiday excitement and extensive Guinness consumption BUT rest assured we are in fact sensible, trustworthy adults who always drink responsibly. Making impulsive judgements is not within our nature. We always wear a helmet when riding a bike, look both ways before crossing the road and use safety scissors when partaking in arts and craft activities without parental supervision………. Damn it’s getting hot in here. This string of lies seems to be lowering us into the icy cold depths of a hole without any necessary means of escape. The guilt is unbearable; I can feel my palms clamming up and beads of sweat slowly trickling down my forehead. OKAY you cracked us! Just yesterday I ate dessert before my dinner! I know it’s spiralling out of control. What were we talking about? Oh yeah We Are Scientists in Galway ‘BEST GIG EVER!

Last Friday saw us make the short journey across the Irish Sea to Ireland’s beautifully green and surprisingly sunny west coast. Having received free tickets to see We Are Scientists at O2 Oxford Academy a few weeks back and missing it (I know how shameful of us). It was only right that we make amends and check them out at another one of their many tour dates. We were spoilt for choice really, it would be easier to decipher where in the UK they aren’t actually playing. We decided on a cheeky weekend away to the land of beauty, drinking and merriment. A change of scenery is good for the soul, cleanse that pallet, breathe in the manure sodden air, soak up the breathtaking scenery and start fresh. SIDE NOTE. During our journey through the Irish countryside to the magical town of Galway we discovered that ‘What Went Down’ by Foals is an uncanny accompaniment to such surroundings. If you are ever in a similar situation, give it a whirl and I guess all that’s left to say on that is…. you’re welcome. BREAKDOWN: Ryanair flight from Stansted to Shannon £25 return, gig ticket £20, accommodation free (thanks to my Irish heritage), Car Hire £20…… you can’t complain at them prices. The most expensive aspect was alcohol consumption but of course this is dependent on individual taste and general outlook on life. I, myself, have a sweet tooth for Jagerbombs and Tequilla so as you can imagine both taste and mentality have my wallet screaming for mercy at times.

‘Roisin Dubh’, cracking venue, only the size of an old shoebox with a maximum capacity of somewhere around 400 people. There’s nothing better than an intimate venue, band walking around minutes before their set, loitering about the merch stand, support band standing behind you during the headline act. This gig was a classic case of the aforementioned, the first person we laid eyes on as we entered the venue was none other than the suave, sophisticated, moustache wielding man himself Chris Cain. Yep, soak it all in cos this is only the beginning. It wasn’t long before we spotted the silver fox, Keith Murray, wandering about the place with his illusive swagger and traffic light red jacket. This isn’t the first time we’d met the pair, shamelessly enough we’ve probably hit double digits now. I’ve been to more We Are Scientists gigs than I’ve had hot dinners and I’ll tell you what…… that could easily reach triple figures by the time I’m old and grey, they’re the kind of band you can never get tired of seeing live!

They were once a mighty force to be reckoned with sitting pretty at the pinnacle of indie rock’s fandom hierarchy. The release of Barbara in 2010 saw them perform on the mainstage at Glastonbury and co-headline the NME tent of Reading and Leeds festival with their magazine cover star brethren, Klaxons. Yeah, yeah we we’re in the crowd for that one, if our memory serves us correctly Paramore were playing on mainstage at the same time. CLASH WARS! For us personally it was a no brainer but I’m sure many people pondered endlessly wandering the limbo grasslands between the two stages. In the end it seemed many opted for Paramore BUT this only made the set better. The crowd was small and brimming with die hard WAS fans, what more could you want?! We even bumped into some guy who recognised us from one of their shows at the Pyramid in Portsmouth…… small world. Anyway we’re drifting a smidge of the beaten track with our reminiscent flashbacks. The point is, we are used to seeing the New Yorkers playing on big festival stages and in reasonably sized venues however this evening could not have been further opposite.

Prior to the gig we were expecting a white wash of new tracks from Helter Seltzer and TV En Francais. Not that this eventuality would cripple us into a state of depression but, like many others I’m sure, we wanted to hear the classics! Fortunately our wish was granted, dropping immediately into their no nonsense indie rock banger ‘This Scene Is Dead’. The setlist followed suit with songs spanning across their entire discography. It’s A Hit, After Hours, Great Escape, Nobody Move, Chicklit, Nice Guys, I Don’t Bite, Dumb Luck…… the list goes on and on. Despite perhaps inadvertently directing some slightly unwarranted resentment towards the appearance of some newer songs earlier in this blog we must take this opportunity to say this isn’t the case. Helter Seltzer, like anything WAS release, is a fantastic album, we we’re just desperate to hear a plethora of nostalgic classics. Buckle, Too Late, Headlights all made the cut and, played live, seem to contrast the nature of what is a predominantly a relaxed and harmonious album. They have a grand aura about them, one of shire gripping sound that consumes the whole room and all that dwell in it. They’re loud, bodacious, encapsulating and definitely deserve their spot in any future setlist. Despite the obvious elation at the choice of songs being thrown in our direction it was the nature in which this delivery took place that made this particular gig all that more special. We we’re so close I could see the beads of sweat dripping off Keith and Chris’s foreheads onto their aesthetically matching black tuxs’. As is the general consensus with intimate gigs such as this it’s usually expected that said frontman should descend from his illuminated pedastool into the musky, swampy, dark and damp realm commonly known as ‘the crowd’. Keith isn’t one to dishonour tradition; of course made a brief cameo in the midst of the hustle and bustle. What better opportunity to do so than during ‘Textbook’, he propped his trusty telecaster against his amp leaving the deafening feedback to ring out and jumped down off the stage. We say jumped but really it was like stepping off a curb in a residential street, one that’s been dropped to allow access onto someone’s front drive. There he was, mic in one hand Guinness in the other, wading through the crowd like a silver haired god connecting with all those that lay in his wake. He made his way towards the back of the venue in half decent tact before returning moments later looking slightly worse for wear. An abundance of Irish men and woman were desperately clinging onto him like Donald Trump’s ratty toupee. As he got closer, smothered in fans, he caught my eye and made the effort to lean his glass through the sea of bodies and give me an ol’ fashioned ‘cheers’. Keith Murray, sir, you are a one of a kind legend! Seems that wasn’t a satisfactory level of face to face time with the crowd though and Keith thrashed back into the crowd, guitar in hand, during the final song of the set creating his own little 360 pit stage on ground zero.

As always their stage presence, crowd engagement and general banter was on tip-top form. Guitar, bass and drums we’re meticulously cohesive and flawless not a note misplaced or vocal out of tune. Dumb Luck was a particular highlight as we stood in awe gawking over Keith Murray’s ability to shred the hyper speed lick whilst singing solemnly along. Such a class act! WAS have always managed to incorporate and element of stand-up to their live shows, they have a great connection both musically and hysterically. They managed to get possessed whilst on stage by an intangible and all-knowing demonic presence. Those present will understand that last sentence those that weren’t….. take it as you will. We Are Scientists have a few remaining UK dates later this year in Leeds, London, Bath and Derby if you’re free and have any shred of common sense residing in your body you’ll know it’s imperative to get yourself a ticket or two! Trust us readers, you’re only a few clicks and £15 - £20 pounds away from the promised land……. you know what to do.