With arguably the greatest EP title this year, the worst named band in Dublin, Possibly Intoxicated Gents’ first offering is a simple but sharp release. Opening with the fantastically frantic and playful Magic Bag, ‘With Sufficient Thrust…’ promises so much.
It’s not that it doesn’t deliver – there are a million worse ways to spend eleven-and-a-half minutes, however for all the fun contained on this debut, PIG offer nothing new to the already well explored garage rock arena. On VIP, Eoin McGowan’s howl almost convinces us Jack White has embarked on yet another side project and Second Hand Fun could have been a forgotten album track from The Hives’ first record – indeed, right down to hilarious juvenile lyrics “find out what your mother’s doing every night at half-past-ten / ask her why she came last night and nearly broke my bed again”. While the tracks are somewhat familiar, they are unquestionably stellar tunes.
Lyrically, PIG’s main focus is drunken revelry with a splash of nonsensical gimmickry. “Knick Knack Paddy Whack / Give the Pig a bone” won’t be challenging any cerebral cortex’s anytime soon, but VIP’s “When I asked you if you could keep it down / you put your face in my face and said, “fuck off, now” epitomises their take on garage rock. Like a worm in a sombrero, it’s brainless – but it’s also a lot of fun.
Despite these minor flaws, it’s hard not to like ‘With Sufficient Thrust…’. It is a nicely polished and produced piece, full of catchy hooks and choruses. More to the point, it shows some great potential. PIG may not be the finished article yet, but with this as a first release they have started with intent. Some bands seem to make more sense during the summer (When’s the last time you played LIT’s ‘A Place in The Sun’, or Bob Marley’s ‘Gold’?) and PIG seem to be one of these. Put the books down, pick up your beer and these guys could be on the perfect soundtrack to this summer.
‘With Sufficient Thrust, Pigs Fly Just Fine’ is available to stream HERE