This was my first visit to whelans in a long time, when i say that i mean of course for a gig as whelans can be a great night out for a bit of dancing aswell. Long ago i would have been a regular in Whelans to see up and coming bands as i set out upon establishing goldenplec. That was 5 years ago now and as i stepped into whelans to see its barely changed in 5 years i felt this was going to be a good night.

The reason for this was simple, Whelans for me was always the best venue in dublin for an intimate down and dirty gig. A close up audience, low stage, no barriers or bouncers, Whelans very much is the venue of the common people. This fact alone allows you to indulge yourself in the band like you cant at other venues and it adds to the atmosphere of the gig immensely.

Arriving Early myself and companion had time to look around the stage as the venue was relatively empty at this point. Its always encouraging when the band isnt even on stage and your intrigued. Sitting on stage was a Mannequin with what can only be described as a gimp mask and glasses that when a button was pressed would flash with multiple colours. The Toilet Cistern sat at the front of the stage alongside 2 Metal Trash Cans, A prerequisite for most gigs one would deduce.

This gig already looked like it was going to be quite fun before it had even begun. Myself being a quite passive fan of their music, liking what i had heard so far leading me to seeing them live, my companion however has been following them from their first EP and was quite into them so we both were really looking forward to this gig kicking off.

Before we could enjoy FLA we had a support act to see, normally i enjoy watching the support acts as i like

to try catch new upcoming acts as their starting out. Tonights entertainment was from “Untitled Music Project“. Now i dont want to be overly critical here, and maybe some of the others at the event enjoyed the gig they put on, but for me they were shocking. A 3 piece band, i will give them only that the drummer was excellent, but the 2 guitarist, bass and electric pretty much had a range of songs which felt all the same, constant strumming and shouting into the mic over the guitars which i assume are put too loud so that shouting is neccessary. At points they would stop between songs and say things like “Dont worry Fight Like Apes will be out soon” or “Only 3 songs and we’ll be gone” and then after saying they had 3 left they tried to just play 2 and get offstage.

Now i dont think the crowd poorly received them, they clapped after every song and cheered them off at the end, which was generous of them in my opinion, but ive never seen a band not want to be on stage as music as these guys. I felt robbed of a decent support acts entertainment and now had to focus on Fight Like Apes living up to the headliner status.

At this point now donning my newly acquired Fight Like Apes T-Shirt (€10) and firmly at the front of the crowd i was ready to soak up this performance, after all it was their first album launch, this should be something special.

FLAPES hit the stage to a thunderous roar from the crowd and kicked in with the intro to the album before kicking off with Do You Karate?, They crowd went nuts as this upbeat opener kicked in and the crowd all chanting along together “SH-SH-SH-SHIT BANG BANG, SH-SH-SH-SHIT BANG BANG”and FLAPES rolled straight into the more relaxed and calmer Digifucker (in comparison to the more upbeat tracks) as the crowd settle into the set. From listening to the album previously i knew Digifucker would be great live with the mix of samples and synths create-ing a dream like ambience before dropping into the slightly heavier part of the song.

Then FLAPES hit us with the latest single Jake Summers, the crowd singing along word for word as if

they’ve had the album for years learning the song word for word. It was completely refreshing to see a sell out crowd so into an upcoming irish band. The moshing kicked in as MayKay and crew kicked up the show with Flashing Coloured Glasses on all the band members, MayKay playing to the crowd as the crowd sang along throughout the entire song, the entirety of whelans as backing singers.

Then once again the apes switched seamlessly to another less upbeat track Lumpy Dough which is another dream state type song which with the lights and atmosphere added to the spectacle.

Next up was Can Head which is a drum lead track that kick in after about 40 seconds of Drums and Synths and consists of a simple chorus containing just the song title and a catchy verse of “Goodness me its fish and chips” repeated, such a simple song but so catchy and the crowd again in full voice.

Im beginning to think you prefer beverly hills 90210 to me was next up, which is a story type of song with another catchy final 60 seconds of “Your So Fired, Your So Fired” repeated over and over, The crowd interaction is built into all these songs, even the most inept of fans can join in with the singing along and fun of the gig as The Apes do their Thing on stage, MayKay leans into the crowd for the end of the song offering the mic for the crowd to sing it loud. Whelans in full voice.

Knucklehead and a McClusky Cover - Light Sabre Cock Sucking Blues followed

Maykay called for a bit of silence for Tie Me Up in Jackets but the crowd we too far gone at this stage as

the atmosphere was electric.

Then they Burst into Lend me your Face and the crowd went absolutely nuts, once again word for word chanting along with MayKay as she is practically in the crowd singing this one and the crowd were loving it as she let the crowd sing it for her, Straight after they kicked into Mega Meanie and finished off the set with Snore Bore Whore.

The crowd wernt ready to go home and neither were the apes as the swiftly swung back into action with MayKay Coyly saying “This next song is something for the whole world” but her choice of words caught nobody off guard and the crowd again went nuts for them as they kicked into Something Global

The crowd took the 2 Metal trash cans and started tossing them around the crowd with the occasional crowd member putting it over their head and others around bashing on the trashcan as the crowd got into fully enjoying the show before them with everything to hand, The Apes finished up an Epic gig with Battlestations, the crowd went nuts applauding for the band whom had given an absolutely epic show as The Apes took to destroying the stage, the toilet cistern sitting at the front of the stage was smashed into pieces and the drum kit torn apart piece by piece by the apes, Monitors kicked over and the mic and keyboard stands kicks over either into the crowd or another part of the stage, The Plastic Mannequinn was flung into the crowd hitting some of the members of the crowd who didnt care one bit, each trying to grab it to take it home. The Bassist Handed his Bass out into the crowd and weather intentional or not it looks as

though someone left the gig with a bass in tow. Not a bad gift for a €15 gig.

With the drum kit finally dismounted and Tom and Adrian Banging away on the snare standing over a destroyed stage area before finally leaving, The Crowd pilfered anything they could get their hands on, The Mannequinns, The Trash Cans, Pieces of the toilet cistern, i got my hands on Tom’s Set List and my companion the set list from the sound engineer, he also managed to get his hands on Maykay’s Flashy Glasses.

All round i left the gig exhilerated after what i found to be an absolutely epic show, If this event was to sell Fight Like Apes as a product then top salesmen they be, From the Showmanship of Maykay to Tom and Pockets Wacky onstage antics to the Catchy Lyrics and Beats and Synths well and truly Fight Likes Apes are one of the best live Acts from ireland Since maybe Whipping Boy or Kerb Dog.

Fight Likes Apes held this gig promoting their first album, “Fight Like Apes and the mystery of the golden medallion” which is touted as one of the albums of the year.

Expect big things from these guys and if you get a chance to see them live, definitely grab a ticket, As this show proved they sell out very quickly. Having seen them at Glastonbury and Oxegen this year, This intimate setting of whelans was the catalyst i needed to catapult Fight Like Apes from average irish band to Top irish band and upcoming prospect.

Set List

Intro
Karate
Digi
Jake Summers
Lumpy Dough
Can Head
Im Beginning to think you prefer beverly hills 90210 to me
Knuckle Head
McClusky – Light Sabre Cock Sucking Blues
Tie Me Up
TelePhone
Lend me your Face
Snore Bore Whore

Encore
Something Global
Battlestations

1 person likes this post.

Unlike