Irked
Walthamstowe Trades Hall, London - 29 March 2026
"Set
me back on my heels fairly conclusively"
One of those
gigs you kind of go to just for something to do on a Sunday
afternoon, I wasn't expecting anything very much, but Irked set me
back on my heels fairly conclusively.
This was only
their second London gig, so I knew nothing about them; they’ve been
likened to The Saints online, but I have to say I don’t see it
personally. I texted myself "Fugazi and The Hives at the same
time" during their set, and that still sort of makes sense in
the cold light of day, but I was way too busy enjoying myself to
over-analyse their appeal while they were playing.
Set up at the
end of the narrow upstairs bar (which I think I prefer to the usual
downstairs space used for Capital Salvage* gigs), they were very
much in the 'band as gang' mould, looking like they would all beat
the shit out of you if you looked at any one of them sideways,** but
turned out to be approachable and funny in a self-depreciating
fashion.
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With tunes to
spare and a charismatic singer happy to brave the crowd, they
weren’t afraid of break-neck shout-along choruses (hence The Hives),
and swearing.*** They were also incredibly tight, locked into the
groove, but able to stop dead and pivot off into another rhythm with
just a raised eyebrow for a cue (hence Fugazi).
Plus: It's
always really nice to see a band so obviously enjoying themselves,
and crucially, like the music they’re playing.
A sweaty,
joyous set, one of hopefully many more. 9/10
*Not, as some
would have it, Captain Salvage or even, Captain Savage (with or
without his Leatherneck Raiders – an obscure in-joke for the Marvel
Comics fanboys amongst you).
** The
bassist, all Brylcreem and overhanging fringe, definitely looks like
he knows his way around a flick-knife.
***Both big
AND clever, profanity fans.