FIRST EVER GIG:
THE STRYPES

EDIE GILLETT, 14-YEARS-OLD, SEES THE STRYPES PLAY AT O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON FOR HER FIRST EVER GIG.

When The Strypes played the O2 Academy Islington, I was asked to write an article describing what my experience was like and if I enjoyed going to a live gig because it was the first I had ever been to. I am in a band myself, we are an all-girl band, we sing mostly a cappella and so far have performed in school concerts and local festivals, so I was really interested to hear what another teenage band would sound like. (The Strypes are Irish, all boys and they’re doing so well they even played Glastonbury this year!)

The gig was for under-18s, and started at 4.30pm so my friend Sophia and I had to jump in my dad’s car straight after school to get there for the beginning of the show. We got changed in the car and put the last bit of make-up on just as we pulled up to the curb in Islington. Then it started pouring with rain. After all that work on the journey down we had to meet someone from Middle 8 to pick up a camera for the gig so we ended up running out into the rain and getting completely soaked! We arrived at the venue quite early so there were only a few people outside waiting to go in and everybody seemed about our age, although there were a few boys who looked about ten or eleven. It was a mixture of boys and girls and a few parents who had come to drop them off. We went through to the box office to collect our tickets and got our press passes which we were told to stick inside our shirts so they couldn’t be peeled off by anyone who wanted to get backstage.

The inside of the O2 was dimly lit with interchanging multi-coloured lights. There were kids pressed up against the barriers making sure of their space before the show, while others were hanging out by the bar ordering drinks. I remember ‘I’m a Lonely Boy’ by The Black Keys playing as Sophia and I were in the press pit taking some pre-performance photos. Then there they were: Ross, Josh, Pete and Evan. They ran onstage which caused a roar from the crowd behind us. We were allowed to stay in the press area for the first three songs and that’s when I realised why we had been given earplugs. We were right next to the speakers and they were blasting! It was amazing being so close and we managed to get some great pictures before returning to the audience area.

Even in the crowd you could feel the music pulsing through you, there was sound surrounding you everywhere. Being close to the speaker was like being musically attacked: it was an amazing feeling. The audience started off with tapping feet and nodding heads but soon enough people were dancing and jumping around. The band were enjoying themselves too, making them even more fun to watch. A couple of songs from their set really stood out like their cover of Bo Diddley’s song ‘Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover’ which was really rocking and had a good build. Also Sophia and I knew the lyrics so we sang along the whole way through, not that anyone could hear us…or we could even hear ourselves! Another great song was ‘Hometown Girl’ which I enjoyed because I love the motif and it’s such a catchy song.

Listening to their music live was fantastic and unlike a lot of artists these days they are just as good live as recorded, if not better! Their sound is unique. It’s rock, with a sort of folky flavour which I hear is influenced by their hometown of Cavan in Northern Ireland. It’s also a breath of fresh air from the tacky pop music in the charts at the moment. I had to learn some of the do’s and don’ts of going to gigs: wear something with pockets because who wants to carry around a bag or a coat (I learnt that the hard way); get there a bit early so you can secure your spot at the front; and bring some money otherwise you will get very thirsty! The set went by very quickly and before we knew it the band were finished and walking off stage. We never wanted it to end! As we left Sophia said she had really enjoyed herself, but when I replied I realised she couldn’t hear a word I was saying. After her first gig, her ears were ringing!

I suppose I go to a lot of shows with music: concerts that my sisters are singing in, musical-theatre and dance shows, but this was different. At a gig the atmosphere is generally more relaxed and less restricting. The audience are more involved in the music and no one is stuck in a seat which means people can dance around and have a good time. The Strypes have a very mature feel to their music for such a young band. It’s amazing to see guys only a couple of years older than me that have found their place in the music world so soon. Josh is an amazing guitarist but they are all as talented as each other, as they showed by swapping instruments half way through the set. I enjoyed going to see The Strypes so much I’m already planning to go to another of their gigs in July. I hope they become even more well known and appreciated in the future but I also hope they never lose the bluesy flavour that makes them so original. I’ll never forget my first gig.