Belfast ska punk legends Pocket Billiards have been making Ireland skank for ten mighty years! From their humble beginnings in the much-loved and ever-missed Giro’s they have grown to become a staple of the scene and an integral part of Belfast culture.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, the boys (and girl) recruited a host of the island’s finest acts and threw the bash to end all bashes in Belfast’s Mandela Hall.
First on the bill are Dublin’s Chewing On Tinfoil, whose melodic put punchy form of punk rock starts like The Hold Steady with a hint of ska. As their set progresses though, the rude boy skank appears in spades, much to the delight of the growing crowd. They’re clearly up for the craic and Chewing On Tinfoil are delivering it in spades with their infectious harmonies and burly Dublin drawl. Great fun to watch.
Bomb City 7 have had a great couple of years. Storming onto the scene with their distinctive punk/rap style and reputation for explosive live sets, they have gone from strength to strength. Tonight’s performance is greeted with glee by the increasingly inebriated masses, with each track hitting like a cheeky grinned sucker-punch to the face. Front-man Bee Mick See swaggers around the stage (and the crowd) like a ringmaster, almost daring people to make their move.
And move they do, with the lads orchestrating the first circle pit and wall of death of the night. These guys bring the party while the venue laps it up and begs for more. Massive riffs, sly, aggressive humor and an impromptu appearance from ASIWYFA’s Rory Friers are the perfect ingredients for a blistering live set with new single, Insomnia, blowing all of our minds. Awesome.
Just when everyone thinks they can relax Axis Of bound on stage and launch into their bombastic, no-fucks-given brand of riff-infused punk rock. The Portrush lads clearly mean business, with insane amounts of energy flying from the stage.
It’s hard to believe these guys are just a three-piece considering how huge their sound is, with each pounding drum hit, shattering guitar chord and booming bass note ringing out like an invading army of intensity. Leaping around as if possessed, their live performance is seriously engaging. These guys really pack a real punch.
By this stage I doubt I was alone in my utter glee that after three mind-bending sets, there was still more to come. Pocket Billiards enter to the sound of sirens, greeted by rapturous applause from every corner of the Mandela. Right from the get go a sea of frenzied skanking, moon stomping and general mayhem breaks loose.
Tonight is also the launch of their (tragically unsigned) new album ‘Last Chance To Dance’ and the first half of the set is filled primarily with material brand-spankin’ variety. The new tracks are huge and are eaten up gladly by the ravenous mosh pit. Normally a nine piece, the band have pulled out all the stops, with 11 people on the stage, not counting an appearance from a mentalist in a chicken suit and the addition of an epic samba band for a track which was truly a sight (and sound) to behold.
By the middle of the set, everyone is drenched in sweat and filled with glee as beach balls are flung from the stage. After a brief intermission the second half is comprised of what have become known around Belfast as ska classics. The party atmosphere is blasted to the stratosphere and the Billiards hold the whole place in the palm of their hands.
Add to all that a storming appearance from rappers Dunbar and Slaine of Team Fresh fame and you’ve got yourself the best set that this town has seen in a very long time. Pocket Billiards promised a party and they delivered in spades. Everyone in the place felt like family, coming together in mutual love and respect for a band who have brought so much joy to Belfast’s music lovers.
It’s an absolute crime that these guys (and girl) aren’t packing venues all over the world, but in Belfast, they’re up there with the best.
Here’s to another ten years!!
Posted by Eoin Boylan
