It’s a Friday night, it’s hot and sweaty and I’m Djing in the oldest existing building in Belfast, McHughs. I’m DJing between bands for tonight The Crossfire Hurricanes headline gig, but the first band we have up are No Oil Paintings, a four piece bluegrass harmony group. Stood in a row and producing some of the most wonderful sounds made from banjo and man, these guys are phenomenal for a group so young. The harmonies are pitch perfect and the banjo lends an air of authenticity to what they’re doing. They certainly wouldn’t be out of place on the “oh Brother where art thou” sound track. Next up are Aquatramp, who are a trip down a bluesy highway. This band are tight and sound great, however they need to work on their showmanship a little, something that should come with time. The talent of these guys is not in doubt however, as they breeze through originals and covers alike. You can check out more these guys on their band camp here.
The main event arrives in the form of The Crossfire Hurricanes. A relatively new band, but whose members have been in outfits around Belfast in one form or another for years. They have a kind of blues soaked rock n Roll, and the swagger to match, something that seems to be missing from many so called “Rock n roll” bands today. The band have searing solos and a certain intensity that is amplified by the intimate surroundings. The band are also able to strip things back as shown on the acoustic number “A Shotgun’s Prayer” a thumping blues song about love gone wrong, told with poetic melody, tongue in cheek humour, and a soul mantra ending with the repeated mantra “I feel alive”. There is a sense of “anything can happen” whilst watching them rip through the 40 minute set with tunes catchier than VD – “Miss Confusion” being a prime example of how they combine a vintage sound with distorted blues riffs to give something familiar yet modern all at the same time. The Crossfire Hurricanes play again tonight at Voodoo as part of Belfast Music week.
