We are truly in the eye of the storm, but I’m filled with excitement with a tinge of regret at my decision to face the second onslaught. It’s 9.30pm in Wrexham town centre on a Monday night, and I’m sitting in a fairly quiet bar area of the Rockin’ Chair. 9pm is usually the time I’d be contemplating going to bed. The tinge of regret comes from the 5.30am alarm tomorrow morning. The excitement comes from the fact that I’m about to witness a repeat performance by provocative Belfast rap band Kneecap, and if it’s anything like the first show... well, it will justify my lethargic being tomorrow.
So who are Kneecap?
Let’s #AskAI.
“Kneecap are a Belfast rap trio mixing Irish and English lyrics, political provocation, dark humour and explosive live energy. Rooted in working-class Belfast and Irish-language culture, their music blends hip-hop, punk attitude and satire. They’re confrontational, funny, controversial and unapologetically outspoken, turning identity, politics and rebellion into entertainment.
Album launch shows are becoming more common now. A shorter set which adds value to your vinyl or CD purchase. Record store Jacaranda have farmed out some of these shows outside their usual Liverpool catchment area. One of those venues is the Rockin’ Chair in Wrexham, which is brilliant because artists who wouldn’t normally appear in such a small venue get to grace the stage.
I bought a ticket for this gig because different artists have their own media teams. I did sneak my Lumix in, just in case there was a picture opportunity.
With 30 minutes until stage time I got that magic message from the Chair’s owner, Kev.
“Have you got your camera? Their manager has said yes.”
Quick phone call to my partner and my camera was on its way.
What joy.
I did regret my idea of going back to my original spot in the crowd. I thought I’d get some better shots, but Kneecap’s lighting rig (it was all behind them) and the lack of face lights meant the number of great shots was minimal. I got some, but wanted more.
What surprised me most, though, was just how good they were live. Behind all the headlines and controversy is a band that know exactly how to work a crowd. Every pause, every drop and every chant felt perfectly timed. They weren’t just performing songs; they were orchestrating an atmosphere, and the audience responded to every second of it.
The band’s performance swept you along from the opening bars of Fontaines D.C.’s walk-on music right through to the final song. Every track was performed with gusto. The crowd lapped it up, and the atmosphere moved up a notch with each song.
We got the photographer’s favourite... crowd surfers. Nothing says a lively gig like a leg flailing through the air.
And of course we had the shouts of...
“Open up the pit!”
...which, to me, means...
Get your video camera out.
Seeing the balaclava-clad DJ Próvaí appear in the middle of the crowd raised the audience to fever pitch. It exploded on the bass.
Pandemonium.
Thirteen songs, mostly from the new album. The place was a hot, sweaty ball of electricity.
It’s 8.30pm.
The night has peaked.
The band leave the stage.
What a gig.
I see Kev, and it’s only polite that I thank him for getting my camera in.
He then drops the killer line.
“If you struggled to get many decent pictures, you can always stay for the next gig and go in the pit.”
Forget work.
Forget the 5.30am alarm.
There was only one decision to make.
Stay.
And I’m so glad I did.
I got some great shots of the second show and, somehow, whether it was the extra alcohol or simply knowing what was coming, this performance hit even greater heights. It’s not my genre, but I got completely swept along. I was bouncing through every song.
I got some great shots.
Some great videos.
And had a great time.
My son went to both gigs. His highlight was seeing his Tory Scum hat being worn during one song.
Even better...
He got it back.
As the band shouted after every song, it’s only fitting that I finish with the same words...
“Diolch yn fawr, Kneecap.”
This is right up there with the best gigs I’ve ever been to.
And I’m not even a rap fan.
Go figure.