After a build-up of months, March 27 saw the last regional heat of the Bank Of Ireland National Student Music Awards as four hopefuls fought the final time. First up and athough they didn’t make it to the final stage, winners of sharpest act of the night were Funzo, a collective of like-minded musical souls who band together on an informal basis with frontman Liam McDermott to create a ska-tinged, upbeat medley of songs reflecting times and trials of alternative youth in modern Ireland. All of them attractively suited and booted for an expanded Rat (In-The-Kitchen) Pack aura of cheeky front. The sound is something else: with so many contributors, layers of instruments such as clarinet, sax, harmonica and keyboards mingled with more standard fare of rock-faithful guitar/bass/drums give depth and complexity to the flippancy belying Liam’s lyrics. All this based on the judges’ opinions: your roving reporter mistimed the event and arrived just after the Funzo set….*weep*

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God used foresight when he designed Cork: the sweep of hillside encircling the city was surely erected to save the rest of Ireland from the massive noise levels of Cyprus Avenue on a chilly evening of March madness.
Massive for sure: Sonus strode across the stage shortly after 9pm with jangles in their pockets and songforms so elaborate and meandering they were almost in freefall before springing back to point again. I was seriously impressed and rather glad of the canny twist of fate that saw Sonus perform at all: first choice Silo were apparently evicted from the Cork heat after allegations abounded of clashes with Cyprus Avenue’s CCTV and a clandestine violin. Silo’s frontman Philip Murray swore there was more to the story but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to convince the organisers.
Sonus therefore did not have the lengthy rehearsal timespan of the other competitors but managed a lively set on the night, respect due in large part to Alan Matthew’s animation in the throes of guitar to a slowly-filling venue.
Rough around the edges in the same way coal and crystals are and possibly more appreciable on recording, (EP <-initial demonstration-> hits the shelves this Weds 26 March) Sonus did not make the final cut at the end of this heat but were nonethless delighted to be involved. Watch out for them this summer when they plan to capture every cave and castle in the country.

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