Citog is arguably the best free night Galway has to offer. It brings an eclectic array of indie, punk, folk, rock, diva rock and everything else in between to audiences three out of four Wednesdays of the month.
Since moving from the Cellar to the Rosin Dubh it has gone from strength to strength.
Citog, if you’ve never been, is definitely worth your time, at least to sample some of the finest music from Galway and beyond at literally no cost.
Wednesday night saw the triumvirate of Michael Connolly, The Sandy Rats and Boyfights playing.
Michael Connolly was first up with his own brand of acoustic, singer song writer meanderings. The venue was still relatively quiet as he began his set, boasting of burritos and beer. His musicianship was nothing out of this world, but he did his best to create an atmosphere. His back and forth with the audience detracted from the gravity of his lyrical content. His song ‘split the sea’, stood out for all the right reasons, while other songs later in his set seemed a tad disjointed. Over all, while not a stand out of the night, he provided a decent opening to Citog.
The Sandy Rats were the second act of the night. They were fantastically energetic, boisterous almost. They grabbed the crowds’ attention with their brand of foot stomp inducing rock, belting out some cracking songs, driving out hook after hook, accompanied by a cavalcade of booming drums. Thoroughly enjoyable set showcasing a very talented young band, with a distinct sound. They will invariably find themselves drawing inescapable comparisons to the Stone Roses. Really strong stuff all the same, really enjoyable set.
Boyfights were last up. They started with a grungey, feedback laden instrumental. Having recently recruited a new guitarist, their gig failed to live up to the hype surrounding the indie quartet. Their sound seemed somewhat off, bloated and unnecessary amounts feedback drowned out the usually stellar voice of bassist and lead singer. The drums, were however, fantastic. Huge skill on display; highlighted by the off-time and intricate beats. The feedback was the main issue with their sound, everything else was unequivocally tight. The bass was driving, almost the spine of the songs, great to listen to. The end of the gig saw one of the guitarists simply drop his €700 Fender Stratocaster on stage for affect. Unfortunately this came across as really convoluted and unnecessary. It detracted hugely from the performance, which was redeemed by the accomplished performances of the drummer and bassist.
Looking forward to the next Citog.
by John Brennan
All pictures courtesy of Google Images
