After a hugely successful gig at the Dungloe Bar, in their hometown of Derry the previous evening, and with a show to play that night in Downpatrick, the busy Triggerman managed to stop off at Katy Daly’s for an afternoon set that had Belfast rocking.

The band was here to launch their impressive debut album Bull By The Horns, and played a tight and exhilarating one-hour show. Origin Of Man kicked things off, opening the set with a familiar song, before launching into a series of tracks from the new album. It was there or four songs into the set before Triggerman even stopped for air, segueing one track seamlessly into another. By this stage Katy Daly’s was pumping and involuntary acts of head-banging and air guitar were breaking out all around. It’s a testament to the strength of the band’s material that even though a lot of the crowd were hearing some of the new songs for the first time, they proved instantly memorable. Valhalla and Shebeen both sounded superb, and by the time the band brought the tempo down, with instrumental Across The Rubicon, the crowd were eating out of their hands. Uggy’s bass was superb on this track, and throughout the entire band played a blinder. Huge catchy riffs, twisted garrulous tales, and choruses the audience can sing along to are the order of the day with Triggerman. Their music has a pounding stoner groove to it with a southern rock tinge, and a real charisma is added by front man Bap’s original lyrics and delivery. The band played 6 or 7 tracks from Bull By The Horns and finished up with a few of their earlier classics. Can of Worms brought the house down, before they delved back to their first demo, with Son Of Solomon. That was the end of the gig, almost. The beered-up and delirious audience demanded an encore and shouts of Preacher reverberated around the room. Triggerman duly obliged, with Bap leading the throng, sans guitar, in a rampaging rendition of Preacher Of Rock. A great end to a great afternoon. As the crowd left activity around the CDs and T-shirts was intense, and quite right too. Triggerman just goes from strength to strength, and their talent deserved the crowd they pulled and the reception they got here today.

REVIEW BY DUCK
PICS BY CATHAL