O’ CALLAGHANS PUB, ST.AUSTELL (11TH APRIL)

THE REPLICAS & LAST TO FALL

Reviewed by Dickie Burd

O’Callaghans Pub is the only real music venue in St Austell for up and coming musicians and on Tuesday a lively crowd were treated to two excellent sets by local bands.

The Replicas play a melodic brand of Ska/Punk that always goes down a storm with audiences. This young band treated the crowd to a number of remarkably strong songs that they had written themselves, as well as some covers of both obscure and better known songs. As three of the band are only 15 years old and the other member has just turned 16, their skill at rousing the crowd was astounding. The Replicas created such a buzz amongst the crowd that immediately after the show they were invited back as headliners in their own right. In the meantime, if you can`t wait, you can often find them at the open mike night at O`Callaghans on Thursdays. Watch out for this band though, because they are sure to be at a venue near you soon.

Finally came Last To Fall, (and they may well have been). They have been together since early 2005 and have certainly built up quite a following, who were singing along with many of the original songs performed, which is more than most of us who count English as our first language, could. (Surely there must be a lingaphone language course for the generation that came BT? (Before Txt)), but their mix of Emo and Post Hardcore music did excite the youthful crowd admittedly. (But bare in mind the effect of alcohol on the senses)

The two bands complimented each other well on the night, because each played their different style of music with passion and entertained the pub audience. But the winners on the night were The Replicas in my mind, as they entertained with a skill that belies their age.

The venue, O`Callaghans, is known as a musician`s bar and lives up to this reputation on all occasions. Talk about a beacon in a dark and stormy night - Harry and his team are fighting their corner in St.Austell to give the fresh talent a venue worthy...and that`s worth supporting.