Rounding off its seventh year, Hard Working Class Heroes attracted quite the formidable slew of music junkies this year. Instead of the traditional ‘Invasion’ that HWCH has been known to stage each autumn, organisers choose to keep this years event an Irish affair, selecting one hundred of the homegrown’s finest to feast your ears on over three days. Previous years saw the venues spread so far apart that you were more likely to end up counting the blisters on your feet than totting up the number of bands you made it to. This year HWCH cleverly kept the gigs nicely close together in six different venues, meaning  less time spent walking about getting asked by random junkies if you’re ‘alright for crack’ and more time for great music. We didn’t hit the hundred mark, but we checked out some of the good, the not so good and the .  .  . eh . . . well . . . .

Friday evening the Button Factory played host to a mixed bag of acts. The Brothers Movement, may have gathered critical acclaim and wowed audiences at SXSW but failed to move a slightly restless crowd. Songs which were probably meant to come across as heartfelt and haunting were transformed into dirge-ish ditties. Belfast boys, A Plastic Rose were next up and seemed to get the crowd excited from the off, an energetic set thriving on driving guitars and vocal swapping; it was easy to see why they’ve been asked to support Fightstar on their forthcoming tour .

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Down at The Twisted Pepper, Sergeant Megaphone provided some harmonic hilarity (we appreciate a good Cmmdr. Riker outfit, especially ones authenticated with a beard!). But the novelty of a novelty aside, the ‘Sarge’ have got a lot of potential; lyrics that’ll ease a smile on to your mush and some seriously infectious sounds (you may find yourself subconsciously bringing ‘the ruckus’, while staring at tins of tuna in Tesco). It’s not groundbreaking stuff, but it’s fun and surely that’s enough . . .  .we were just disappointed by the lack of an actual megaphone.

Not Squares churned out a heady cocktail of their ideological dance sounds. The slew of fans hiding in the underbelly of The Academy 2 were whipped into a trance-like frenzy as the band tossed out tasty teasers from their forthcoming debut album expected to be released in early 2010.

Fresh from a trip to lovely Canada, where they were working on their second EP and debut album (impressive, eh!?), Heritage Centre stormed the stage, as only five guys on a small stage can. If they were stressed about HWCH being their first gig since their seven-week stretch abroad, it didn’t show in their performance. Showcasing a lot of material from the new album and EP, the crowd got a sneaky preview of tracks like ‘Stolen It Twice’ and (the oddly named) ‘Sebastian Theodore the 4th’, as well as some fan favourites, ‘You are Something’. Perfectly executed, beautifully simple and intelligent, Heritage Centre wrapped up their set with a tacit seal of approval from the buzzing throng gathered front of stage. If you’re not already on the HC bandwagon, it’s time to fling yourself onboard, (give in! You know you want to!).Check them out on the 19th November in The Academy 2.

Floating into The Twisted Pepper to see Neosupervital was a feat of endurance, the place was rammed with punters in seconds. Clawing our way to the front was well worth the wounds, Tim O’Donovan never fails to entertain and this evening’s performance was no different. Working his way through the sea of sweaty dancing bodies to serenade them while standing on the bar and inviting adoring fans to join him onstage, that Neosupervital magic got every foot in the venue stomping. Those flashing shades, the infectious electro beats coupled with O’Donovan’s witty banter and boundless energy make for an aural and visual experience to be contended with. . . .He’s like a cross between the energiser bunny and Bowie!  Unpredictable? Yes, but we can’t wait to see what he does next!

Round Two! Fight! Saturday’s line-up was a bone of contention with three-day patrons, a lot of moaning went down in hushed corners about the city centre. Not much into pessimism, we persevered and chirpily skipped down to the Button Factory to catch ex-Turn frontman Ollie Cole in action.  A fairly good crowd came along for Cole, who seemed to appreciate the support for his debut solo album, We Albatri. Standout track of the set was the stunning, clever and at times acerbic, ‘What Will You Do With Yourself’.

Yes Cadets rocked The Twisted Pepper, with their own brand of synth soused, hook-heavy electro-rock. A certain insouciance exists in both lyrics and sound produced by Yes Cadets. You get the feeling that the band is constantly gathering speed, hurtling towards who knows what and taking the audience along for the ride. The charmingly titled ‘Charm Offensive’ was a hit with the crowd who couldn’t seem to get enough of the Northern Irish answer to Los Campesinos!

Distractors proved once again why they’re entitled to all the kudos they get lavished upon them by media folk. The lads ripped through an epic set to the delight of The Academy 2, without any distraction!

Over in ALT Adebisi Shank brought their now legendary live performance to the HWCH stage.  Certainly the Shank were as sharp and cutting as their Oz referenced name, delivering one hell of a tight set which was reminiscent at times of ...And So I Watch You From Afar, one of those bands that you should believe the hype about.

Review: Niamh Doolan

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