HE WAS once one half of the ferocious hardcore duo Giveamanakick, but now he is the leader of a band of more gentle sounding musicians.
Steven Ryan, former vocalist/guitarist of the late, lamented Giveamanakick, will lead his new band Windings in a gig at Strange Brew at the Róisín Dubh tonight from 9pm. The band is currently promoting its new album It’s Never Night (Out On A Limb Records ).
Windings originally began in 2005 as a solo project for Steve, featuring just him, his guitar, and an array of effects pedals. It also allowed him to express his more singer-songwriter and classic rock leanings.
Over time, Steve added more members and after Giveamanakick called it a day last year, he unveiled a full five-man line-up. Now comes It’s Never Night, the second Windings album, and their first as a band.
It’s Never Night has an earthy quality that takes its cues from an older generation of Irish songwriters such as Christy Moore more than it does from (thankfully ) the Damien Rice side of things.
Opener ‘Lil’ Hands’ features an appealing, finger picked guitar figure over which Steve muses on the benefits of living life now instead of waiting for it to happen to you.
Steve’s classic rock leanings are made clear on ‘Apologia’ which employs the quiet/loud ballad dynamics favoured by countless hard rock bands. The song begins with mellow vocals and strummed acoustic before erupting into a huge twin lead harmony guitar break of which Brian May and Thin Lizzy would surely approve.
‘Song Of The Doomed’, about the struggle to find meaningful employment echoes contemporary concerns, while the closing track, the wonderful ‘Old Like J’ is a tribute to Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis, and is easily the highlight of the album.
Admission is free. Support is from Yngve & The Innocent. Gugai will be DJing afterwards.
