Some real swingers!

Tuesday night saw me returning to Ryans pub in Friary Street to once again shoot the Swingin’ Blue Cats. The rhythm & blues bands, which is full of familiar faces from Kilkenny’s music scene, have recently recruited some dancers to add to their act and if you haven’t been down there to see them yet then your really missing out!

The Swingin’ Blue Cats perform most Tuesday nights in Ryans and there’s no cover charge. They’ve recently finished recording their self-titled album, it was due out in May, but due to a couple of setbacks it’ll be released very shortly. This hasn’t stopped the 5-piece from booking a long line of gigs, details are available on their website. This also hasn’t stopped people from cramming into Ryans to catch them in action.

The pub was full before the band began just after 10pm. The crowd was a random mix of regulars, tourists, some of Kilkenny’s lifelong music fans aswell as passers-by who couldn’t walk by once they heard the lads in action. It turned out the dancers were running abit late, I didn’t mind, it gave me a chance to sit back and listen to these “cats” for a while. And when you sit and listen to these guys, you really can’t help but tap your feet. In fact I’d go as far as saying “their music is pure toe-tapping goodness.” You can hear some rough mixes of their upcoming CD also on their website.

The band are always welcoming to anybody who’ll play a tune with them and Tuesday night was no different. A couple of people from the crowd joined them for a couple of songs, and when Itchy Trigger Finger arrived to check out the show, Daw was called upon to pick up the sticks behind the kit. At this stage everyone was really getting into the “swing” of things but the show was just beginning.

The dancers arrived, looking like extras right out of Happy Days, everyone was treated to an amazing night. Between seeing an Elvis look-alike strut his stuff, and Frank Salmon (Essaness Music) treating us to his drumstick-spinning skills, to Adrian Jackson practically upside down on the ground playing his huge double bass up in the air. Not to mention when he would lean forward still playing and the Elvis look-alike would use him to vault around the room.

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again; for anybody looking for something different on a Tuesday night or some “toe-tapping goodness” (yes, I’m quoting myself on this one) then head down and check these guys out, you won’t be disappointed.