Goons

Northern Irish rock supergroup GOONS make their Derry~Londonderry debut at the Nerve Centre on May 1.

The band formed in 2014 from the ashes of NI music heavyweights Fighting With Wire and LaFaro before enlisting one Rupture Dog and opening for Kerbdog in their first ever public performance. A packed out show at the Limelight, Belfast followed, drawing rave reviews for their first live outing up north.

'This being only their second ever gig – the first was a recent support slot for Kerbdog in Dublin – and with nothing recorded yet, the Limelight is not far off heaving, on the coldest night of the year, no less, with scene stalwarts eager to get their first taste of the new band.

'The bulk of the set is, ultimately, a fine showcase for five of the best alt-rock musicians in the country. Lynn in particular is a powerhouse all night, and O'Doherty throws himself into his performance, clearly relishing leading a band again. There are shades of Les Savy Fav in the dynamics, Queens Of The Stone Age in the heads-down riffing, but the loudest echoes are of Fighting With Wire and LaFaro. Those bands are dead and studio sessions and more gigs are in the offing. It will be fascinating to hear where Goons go from here.' - Chris Jones, Culture Northern Ireland