Live Reviews: Si Schroeder and Boxes

Si Schroeder and BoxesCrawDaddy, Dublin11 May 2006It’s been something of a running joke in Dublin’s music underground that Simon Kenny, who’s been the one constant in the Schroeder family of bands (Schroeder’s Cat, Schroedersound and...

Si Schroeder and Boxes
CrawDaddy, Dublin
11 May 2006

It’s been something of a running joke in Dublin’s music underground that Simon Kenny, who’s been the one constant in the Schroeder family of bands (Schroeder’s Cat, Schroedersound and now Si Schroeder), would never put out the album that had been ‘in the works’ for so many years. But, lo and behold, Coping Mechanisms finally came out, and this well-attended gig served as the launch party.

The last (and unlisted) track on the album is a rather odd children’s song about a guy named Bob who works in a button factory, rendered by seven-year-old Aifric Ní Bhraonáin. The night started with Aifric herself up on stage singing the track, a capella no less, and, based on the applause she got when she finished, charming the entire audience in the process.

After Aifric’s five minutes of fame were up, Boxes came on. Although born and originally formed in Tullamore, the duo of Gavin Cowley (guitar/lead vocals) and Mark Hayes (drums/backing vocals) are now based in Dublin, and quite frankly are currently one of the top bands in the capital.

Their recent album Bad Blood (produced by indie demigod producer/curmudgeon Steve Albini) isn’t just one of the best Irish albums of ‘06, but one of the year’s best, full stop. Although they could arguably be saddled with the dreaded ‘math-rock’ tag, they add a punky/funky element that can get even the most cerebrally-minded folks to move their arses (‘F-Punk’ instead of ‘P-Funk’, maybe?) A great performance from a great band.
Si Schroeder, however, was an altogether different thing, and for this reviewer, a not entirely pleasant one. Although Kenny (on guitar, electronics and vocals), Bryan O’Connell (percussion), Kevin Brew (keyboards) and ex-Idiots Jimmy Eadie and Brian Mooney (guitars) couldn’t be faulted for their playing abilities, the group just didn’t add up to much. And unfortunately, most of the blame had to be laid on Kenny.

To start with, his singing. He delivered his vocals in the same monotone, indie-precious whine that masters of bedsit mopery like Belle and Sebastian and Smog have turned into a rather dubious art. His music had anthemic qualities that too often crossed the line into the bombastic, and the earnestness in the lyrics was far too confessional for my own tastes. (I wish I could say that maybe it was just due to the band’s inexperience in playing live, but unfortunately the album is much the same.)

But it seems most people didn’t share my opinion. The audience’s response was fairly enthusiastic, which means that Si Schroeder might be sticking around for a while. Which might be a good thing, since Kenny has shown himself capable of making great music in his previous incarnations, so maybe he’ll get around to doing it with the current band. I hope so.

 

Published on 1 July 2006

Paul Watts is a DJ, promoter and radio host. He lectures in theoretical physics at UCD.

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