The Most Rock n'Roll Rock n'Roll band in the World!

PAY*OLA REVIEW

Phil, Nick, James and Nicky tore into their blistering set with the crowd pleasing "GLORY ON MY MIND" and instantly the entire audience was enthralled, and Belfast’s Empire Music Hall was caught up in the throe’s of another spectacular curtsey of PAY*OLA.

This was raw, it was low down and dirty, but most importantly it was terrifically and electrifyingly real. Thank God for PAY*OLA who fly their flag for everyone who is within earshot.

As the show progressed it was clear for all to see that this was no ordinary run-of-the-mill band. Phil – who writes songs with the poignancy that equals Shane McGowan and performs them with the ferocity of Ozzy Osbourne and presence of Mick Jagger - is a truly great front man. Nick, the lead guitarist, and pianist has mastered his part too and plays every chord and key with a quality not seen since Brian May’s hey-day with Queen. Nicky plays his bass guitar with such calm and skill that I reckon he could easily do it in his sleep. I am an absolute atheist but I believe in re-incarnation when I look at James on the drums because it makes me think that Keith Moon (of ‘The Who’) is amongst us once again.

These guys are the most complete rock’n’roll band I’ve ever seen; and why look elsewhere when the sheer quality is right here for all to see?

While manufactured groups pollute the charts and radio stations with insipid, over-produced cover versions for the pre-pubescent market, PAY*OLA stand firm performing real songs with real instruments for a real audience shouting from the rooftops that they are here to stay.

I have enjoyed being all over Britain and Ireland with them and they never sell an audience short. You can take my word for it here because in one stretch I went to 18 gigs here in a row and in one particular week saw them bring the house down in Belfast, London and Dublin where at each venue the people present were left breathless and begging for more every time.

My favorite PAY*OLA songs are….well all of them really but I can’t get enough of "KEEP YOUR HEAD UP". As far as I’m concerned it hits the spot every time and with other songs such as "TO BRING YOU DOWN", "THIS IS NOT A DRILL", "WHAT DRIVES YOU" and the notorious "STICK 2 FINGERS UP" AND "HOW D’YOU GET SO LOW" on their set list, a night out to see these guys is never a wasted journey.

Just recently PHIL asked me what my all time favorite bands and songs were and no fore-thought was this:

Oasis’ "Champagne Supernova", David Bowie’s "Heroes", The Sex Pistols "Pretty Vacant", Slade’s "Cum on fell the noize" The Manic Street Preachers "Motorcycle Emptiness" and BuckCherry's "Lit Up" as well as his very own "KEEP YOUR HEAD UP". He seemed flattered that I mentioned him in such esteemed company and I shall say to you now – in all honesty – that given the choice of seeing all of those groups performing live or going to see a PAY*OLA gig then I’d go and see PAY*OLA. You might ask why and it’s simply because they fucking rock.

Now do yourself a favor and click on the gig list and get yourself along to their next show and shake their hands afterwards!!

(Written by Conor Stanage)

Rock'n'Roll!