The Big Band Bash, organised by DU Alternative Music Society, was where the cool kids could be found on 19th November. Four bands, each with its own style and sound, performed to redefine the future of indie rock music in Dublin.
Two of the major reasons I moved to Dublin were my voracious hunger for live music and unending enthusiasm for rock, so it’s no surprise I’m constantly on the hunt for events like this. The doors of The Soundhouse opened at 7:30pm and I walked into the dimly-lit venue, immediately met with a crowd engaging with the forthcoming performers. The stage lights cast a red glow as the buzzing audience awaited the show to begin.
The opening act by ‘Am Camden,’ who describe their sound as ‘UK-derivative indie rock’ and inspired by Bloc Party, The Smiths, The Cure and bar italia, performed an unreleased song titled “Chunky,” which the singer called one of their grungier takes. The up-and-coming band proved to be an ideal start to the evening. The distinctive guitar work, particularly in their original music, was praised by the audience, and they wrapped their set with a cover of “Disorder” by Joy Division.
This act was followed by ‘ReallyHandsomeGirl,’ who pumped up the crowd with their introductory song, which was much heavier on the bass and drums than anticipated. Nevertheless, their experimental sound, combined with the bassist’s entertaining way of playing and the harmonised coordination between the drummer and the guitarist, profoundly endeared the audience. The singer mentioned between songs that they had never played some of those songs before.
“Dressed in coordinated outfits, they fully engaged the audience by switching back and forth from heavier metal to indie tunes in their original music”
‘Anam,’ an alternative-rock band, named after the Irish word for “soul,” revved up the stage by performing their upcoming song, “Gemstone.” Dressed in coordinated outfits, they fully engaged the audience by switching back and forth from heavier metal to indie tunes in their original music, and covering “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes. The guitarist broke a string before the final song, but they played on regardless.
The evening’s headliner, ‘Lego Indiana Jones,’ label themselves as bedroom-pop artists. Named after “hope for a new age” and “apprehension of the forces that seek to shape it for their own gain,” they showcased a unique genre of indie rock music. The nascent band focused on tunes more than lyrics, blended with the synchronised flashing of lights, created a truly surrealist experience. Even though members of the band had brilliant chemistry, each of them stood out through their own peculiar sound. By the end of the set, their transportive music had taken the audience to another world, proving itself to be truly ethereal.
“More than a night of music, to an audience of almost a 100 people, the Big Band Bash was a celebration of the genre’s evolving face”
It’s clear that the future of indie rock in Dublin is in good hands. Each band had a sound with something inimitable to bring to the stage, from grunge-inspired rock to experimental basslines and bedroom-pop sounds. More than a night of music, to an audience of almost a 100 people, the Big Band Bash was a celebration of the genre’s evolving face. It’s these kinds of events that have earned Dublin a reputation for staging the best live music, and I’m incredibly excited to see the future of underground rock with the rise of exceptionally talented student artists.
