This Weeks Jack Of Diamonds saw the best crown we've had yet. Easter Sunday brought everyone a bank holiday and a Monday off and its seems most of Dublin were in Sweeneys Mongrel for free beers and Easter Eggs. There was a delightful crowd boppin' away to one of the best line ups ever at The Jack Of Diamonds Sessions.
Headliners of the night were the roots and roll fuelled steam train of a band Cujo Family. Who if you havent seen will be playing all month at Jack Of Diamonds. You can also catch tem at the Sibin festival on May 1st. They were supported by the super psychedelic busking group Mute Fish.
Cujo Family are a 5 piece folk and blues out fir consisting of acoustic bass, two mandolins, acoustic guitar and a stripped down drum kit just using a bass drum , a snare and a few cymbals. All hailing from the Wicklow way they have pioneered a stomping roots sound which some describe as 'Hooligans folk'. With songs such as 'Shopliftin' in Tesco' and I get drunk with Shane Mc Fuckin' Gowan', The Cujos have any crowd hoppin' around like they never heard music before...
There is a deeper side to the band then just singin about drinking and stealing. Song writers Gavin Mc Cabe and Will Slattery on the more serious side write some incredible ballad songs, which can make you think your running through the countryside like 'Half of Bray'.
Surprise guests of the Night were the awsome 4 piece super psychedelic trad fusion group Mute Fish. If you havent seen this guys sloggin out for your euros on gafton st, or around temple bar you cantch them in Sweeneys all through April and May. These guys infuse traditional irish whistle melodies with a raw, robust, rock fuelled guitars and drums. It goes from 0 - 90 mph in the blink of and eye. Mute Fish's motto is 'Doin it in you earhole' and that they certainly do it....
They are back in the mongrel April 11th so don't miss it...
And for the first time in Sweeneys Mongrel we had The Roll Models. A 6 piece outfit hailing from in and around south side Dublin. The Roll Models write great pop songs with a strong country, reggae and rock influence. The band have an array of tallent with alot of the members contributing to the song writing. Lead singer Rory Connolly catches attention with a very strong voice coming from such a young looking guy. He is backed by two vocalists Brona Keogh and Aoife Challis who hover over the music with sweet harmonies, which gives the whole thing an extra dimension.If you didn't catch them The Roll Models are playing again this Sunday....
So that was all the easter fun had this Jack Of Diamonds,
Hope you all availed of the free beer and Mini eggs,
Stay tuned for Next week where we'll have more from The Cujo's and 50's style group Rick O Shea and the Stray Bullets....
Keep On Pickin',
Christina
