Although the Dublin quintet didn’t reach the grand final of The JD Set (Crawdaddy on April 23), The Hot Sprockets made a big impression on both fans and judges in the Waterford heat at Kazbar. ‘Sleep, Shake’ is a mix of Rolling Stones-style country, ‘60s psychedelia and bluesy Americana. ‘Take It By The Hand’ blends ‘The Last Time’ by The Stones with The Monkees’ ‘Last Train To Clarksville’. ‘Solid Gold’ is more reflective, with great vocals and harp. Their Hard Working Class Heroes gig last year may not have opened the anticipated doors, but if you like it down and dirty, check ‘em out.
Another band to impress during The JD Set heats were indie rock enthusiasts Flying Columns (not the ballad act of similar name). With Michael Darcy they’ve a dynamic frontman in the Weller/Okereke mould, although he could do with a more energetic approach from his fellow guitar player and bassist. ‘Model Town’ has touches of Kings Of Leon in its raging guitars and bleeding vocals. ‘Strobe’ rattles and hums, with biting guitars and another fine vocal from Darcy and a sharp chorus that really builds the drama. Ones to watch.
Jezz are a four-piece from Monaghan fronted by Aisling MacCormilla and Marc Clerkin. They turn out a relatively safe line in commercial pop-rock. ‘Said And Done’ has a funky feel and it sweeps along with panache. ‘I’ve Been Thinking’ is more of the same. ‘The Distance Between Us’ is the most interesting track here, with a percussion riff to the fore and MacCormilla’s voice sounding less like it rolled off a production line. They’ve an album on the way and a MySpace that doesn’t sell them very effectively.
In sharp contrast, The Undecided School take a far more adventurous approach. A trio representing Tipperary, Roscommon and Normandy, they come on like mad country bastards, only with style and decent tunes. ‘Shine Your Shoes’ brings a Frank Zappaesque approach to mid-fi indie rock. ‘Skin And Bones’ has great riffing guitars and drums. It skates along so merrily it’ll have you dancing on the inside. The bass-driven ‘Confetti’ is a superb hymn to Bobby Valentino, who claimed he was a rock star and sang songs on the radio. Tom Whyte marries oddball subject matter and literate lyrics to tunes that pay their way.
Rotten Apples are a rap act from Belfast or thereabouts, with about 11 members! If you’re called O’Grady and are from Carrickfergus then you probably shouldn’t sing/speak/rap like a black dude from Harlem. ‘Stick It Up Yours’ has a decent idea that gets lost in the clunky production and clichés about hos in the hood. ‘Grab All You Can’ is an eloquent satire on Thatcherism, although it’s a bit late now to be dissing the Iron Lady. ‘Town Hall Wallahs’ could even be considered a bit racist, but I’m not sure if anybody will care enough to argue.
Roadrunner are four lads from Dublin who specialise in mainstream, and often loud, rock, but are too shy to put their names on their CD. ‘Dr Jekyll And Mrs Hyde’ has the swagger of AC/DC allied to an indie edge and a solid structure that holds it together. In contrast, the more restrained ‘Sparks’ starts with delicious Byrdsy chiming guitar and lopes along with an attractive country-rock feel until a wah-wah guitar takes it someplace else. But it goes on way too long. ‘Thief In The Alley’ kicks off like The Who and then barrels along with gutso.
Verona Riots were assembled from the wreckage of several Irish bands in 2007. ‘The Mess’ has a lot of energy, a forceful melody and their trademark playful lyrics. Singer Ciarj Vipond sounds cool and confident, as he moves effortlessy up and down the register, but the sound is hardly distinctive. ‘Dawn Chorus Lines’ does more of the same. The Morriseyesque ‘Safe’ takes a different tack, and benefits from having a little more space in it and less of the full-tilt style that often suggests songs hurtling headlong to nowhere.

PICK OF THE FORTNIGHT: THE UNDECIDED SCHOOL

Tracks from our Pick of The Fortnight will be featured on:
Green On Red on Cork’s Red FM (Sundays 7-10pm), Irish Nightlife (Friday’s 10pm-1am) and The Secret Chord (Saturday 11pm-2am) both on WLR FM, The Irish Alternative on Spin 1038 (Sundays 10.45 - 11.45am), Irish Beats on Beat FM (Saturday & Sunday 6-8pm), The Pulse (Mon-Fri at 10.00pm) on Radio Kerry, Electric Mainline Tuesdays at 7.30pm and Thursdays at 7pm on BBC Radio Foyle, The Green And Live Show on Limerick's Live 95 FM (Sundays nights 8-10pm), The Eclectic Light Programme Saturdays 9-11pm on KCLR96FM and The Near 90.3 FM Sessions (Thursday 7pm-8pm).