Irish gigs round-up

ANDREW WEATHERALL, Wigwam, Dublin, tonight.
In an interview with The Star years ago, Andrew Weatherall told me
he prefers smaller club gigs so he “can see the whites — or the reds — of people’s eyes”, and it’s a claim he’s stuck to since the 90s.

One of electronic music’s most revered figures, he’s allergic to the PR circus and chasing trends. He’s sent one tweet — in 2009 — and you won’t see him begging for votes in the end of year DJ polls.

‘The Guv’nor’ been playing in Wigwam (previously Twisted Pepper) for years, and you can expect everything from rockabilly to post-punk, heavy dub and wiry electronica — but it’ll usually end up in “panel-beaters from Prague techno”, another one of his copyright phrases.

Steps, SSE Arena, Belfast, Sunday and Tuesday; 3Arena, Dublin, Monday
I was thinking Steps might’ve been a 90s nostalgia step too far, but three Irish arena shows isn’t bad for a band who were reduced to a reality TV reunion series in 2011.

If you haven’t heard Steps since the 90s, it’s worth listening to their hit 5,6,7,8 to remember how utterly bananas their music is — insanely daft karaoke dance-pop with a jarring line-dance undertone that makes the Vengaboys sound like Kraftwerk.

Speaking of the Vengaboys — the Venga Bus is pulling up in support, making this the most ridiculous tour of the year. And it’ll probably be brilliant.

Rag’n’Bone Man, Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Wednesday
Rag’n’Bone Man’s earnest emoting is begging you to picture the soul greats, but it really evokes three chairs spinning round on The Voice, or a single tear spilling over Cheryl’s eyelid on X Factor.

After a few years treading water as a drum & bass MC then as part of a hip-hop crew, Brighton singer Rory Graham zoned in on gruff soul with tasteful electronics — appearing on the BBC Sound of 2016 shortlist, then winning a couple of Brit Awards.

His mega-hit Human and the follow-up album has helped pave this year with gold, and he’s now one of the UK’s most bankable stars.

The Killers, 3Arena, Dublin, Thursday
The Killers may be a decade on from their domination of chart radio and student discos, but they’re still a fairly safe bet for an arena show.

While they won’t be headlining Glastonbury again anytime soon, tracks like Mr Brightside, Somebody Told Me and When You Were Young carry some serious capital.

New LP Wonderful Wonderful hints at former epics, but everyone will be biting their lip waiting for the smash hits.