PARANOID VISIONS, Dublin, 06.06.2008

Last Sunday's Observer carried a story about people going deaf and the various problems arising from listening to live music. In response to the article I bought myself a pair of earplugs ready for the aural assault of the gig I was going to the following Friday. Well in the end I didn't bother with them and they certaintly wouldn't make any difference to the quality of the music being offered up to those in attendance at one of the most unmissable instore gigs of recent times in Dublin. Plus it was free in, unlike most other gigs these days - it's "The High Cost Of Living".

I got into Tower about 10 minutes before the action began. But there was a problem - where was Deko (vocals)? The rest of the band were busy tuning up and steadily getting more and more impatient but there was no sign of the front man. After a short delay he arrived, his hair as red as a ruby. Now they were ready to rumble. The instore was happening to help launch the band's new EP which includes a cover of a song by THE ATRIX, an Irish band from the late 1970's.

Having bought, and thoroughly enjoyed, PARANOID VISIONS last album ('40 Shades Of Gang Green') it was important to see them live for the first time. I had seen STRICHNEIN DC (Deko's other project) a few years ago at a Punk festival and I have to say they were less than impressive. However I have enjoyed the sound PV make since my teenage years - one of my favorites was a slab of green coloured vinyl called 'City of Screams' ,released to coincide with the millenium celebrations gripping Dublin in 1988, which cost me IR£4.99 at the time.

As always with PV there is rarely a dull moment and so it proved this evening in Tower. The band consisted of about 6 members in the store. PA the Guitarist, who I thought was the manager, was hopping around on a crutch (something to do with a dodgy knee which was related to me by Joe later, too much information!) and, for the duration of the gig, was slumped on a seat near the drummer.

Deko let rip and showed off his talents as a front man by blasting away into 'Politicians' and he nearly has, at this stage, got celebrity status, although I don't think he'll be invited to go on an RTE reality show any time soon. The sweat was pouring down his face like piss dripping from a urinal! He gave his all for the whole set and he probably would have Roy Keane shitting himself, such was the rage released to the congregation present.

It was a very lively performance and Sarah (co-vocals) took to the mike for 'Strange Girl', a very poignant song that is about a teenage girl giving birth to a baby in a grotto (a true story from 1980's Ireland). The thing about this band is that they are not in hock to Californian Ponk, they are quite unique which is really refreshing. Such originality is now rare, alas, as nowadays most Punk outfits just make copycat rubbish and end up going nowhere. The only realistic comparison would be CRASS but PV have their own trademark sound and any similarity quickly drifts away.

After about, I think, 8 numbers or so, the instore finished and I bought a couple of copies of the new EP on sale. Going outside the store I got talking to Joe, Sarah and Deko from the band and it rounded off a very enjoyable hour or so in Wicklow Street.

I would recommend anyone to go and see PV live or at least buy some of their recordings. They are as much part of Irish life as the GAA or Guinness, hopefully they will carry on trashing venues all over the place. Oh, and one last thing, they are really nice people - except on stage where they take no prisoners!