Published Date:
04 December 2008
By Niall Kerr
IT was a gig, you feel, more out of love for the music and the intimate Mid-Ulster setting and its people than trying to win over any naysayers.
Jaded Sun and their support, The Beat Poets, are well known across the musical divide and conquering Draperstown was all but inevitable in their attempt for world domination.
It's the former's second visit to these parts in just a few short months, this time headlining, and Glasgowbury know that in their playing, their attitude and album Gypsy Trip, these five lads from Dublin have all the potential for super-stardom.
The latter, The Beat Poets, make it onto their first G spot after years of playing the festival and on the same week that Stars Staring Down, their latest single, is released and doing the rounds.
Similar in their musical style to tonight's hosts, the Poets are a breath of fresh air, subverting the conventions of their delivery and unfurling a setlist jam packed with potential radio friendly hits.
As a front man Dinsmore refuses to be confined by the stage's perimeter instead adopting a playful, charismatic approach that hits all the right notes with a mostly fresh crowd, new to the Poets' mentality.
Hit after potential hit they return, more fired up than with the last, hitting their stride early in a short show of strength that lovers of all things music could easily find themselves immersed in.
The slow burning Bloodline sets the tone and strikes a perfected balance between their hardcore rock delivery and the anthemic majesty they quickly create.
And while it's Bloodline that showcases the Poets at one end of the spectrum, the roar-along treat of GI goes to great lengths to distance itself yet still.
Dinsmore's leash is relaxed a little further and he tears into it like a dog on heat, urging the crowd to get involved with easily one of their standout songs and performances that's in your face for a few minutes but in your head for life.
Heart and soul for the cause, these four supremos fire everything they have into every song. Mind and body do battle as their confrontational rock challenges you to get involved, to have a voice and to use it.
Stars Staring Down is the catalyst for their journey tonight and ticks all the boxes as a perfect single. A powerhouse of a tune, it holds a steady pounding pace throughout, delivered as though their lives depended on it. And who knows, maybe they do.
It's Jaded Sun forced to take up the charge shorthly afterwards, no doubt in awe of their fellow compatriots but none the less with a mighty job to do. These boys sold their souls a long time ago and are reaping the just rewards for it.
They're talked about in clicks in almost legendary status now and considering the coverage they've been getting in magazines aplenty, and the gigs they've landed - support to Bon Jovi and a German tour - you'd do well to hop on this bandwagon soon before it pulls out of the station.
Commanding the stage like Dinsmore before him, John Maher is quite the energetic frontman and he leads his southern blues soldiers on a heavenly voyage of Lucifer's finest.
Newest single Crave - the slow song - is like something straight out of the deep south wrapped with enough passion and heartache to make it widely accessible. They've found their corner of the market and are holding on to it for dear life.
See the delightful toe tapping Can't Stop for proof of their secured future - if Guitar Hero don't use at some stage, then this isn't a world I want to live in.
With the likes of She's Got Class and Higher - without doubt this reviewer's favourite song - the Sun are shining very brightly indeed, taking classic elements of Floyd and Zepplin and charging it with freakish Frankenstein levels of electricity.
Jaded Sun are in love and so are the fans - dancing, falling around, letting the music take control and although the journey's long and unpredictable, safety's a guarantee.
Positive is dedicated to Mr Glasgow and continues the trend of a setlist that's as long as it is accomplished, top quality tunes a permanent feature.
Rarely do two bands come along and each steal such a huge part of the show, but it's testament to the hard work that both have put in, that they're on top of their game tonight.
A shirtless encore (we'd been waiting all night) of Do It Again lays waste to the venue and to inhibitions as Jaded Sun look about tearing down the house around them. Thankfully they leave it standing so that we might one day get to see them again.
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Last Updated:
04 December 2008 10:42 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Cookstown