There is a buzz of anticipation as the stage is set up for Rams’ Pocket Radio; the piano takes the central position, surrounded by an unusually high number of strategically placed drums and what seems to be every type of pedal on the market spread out for use of the bass. Radio One are among those who have been singing the praises of this unique quartet from Northern Ireland, who impressed crowds at Glastonbury last year and have since been played by the likes of Huw Stephens and Fearne Cotton.
Bold and wide-ranging piano chords open the set and are the backbone for the rest of the night as Peter MaCauley, the song-writer, pianist and singer remains the man at the centre of Rams’.
Songs open dramatically and build to an intense plethora of piano, bass and drums, with all four band members playing with equal passion and often free-styling into a spiral of sound experience. Clashing female harmony, above MaCauley’s soulful lyrics from bassist Shauna Tohill, often adds yet another level to the many-layered feel to Rams’ music.
MaCauley’s charisma, melodrama and talent on the piano have elements of a Jamie Cullem performance, while the heavy bass brings a rock-like feel to the music, perhaps reminiscent of early Queen. The band are currently half way through their UK tour, which began as an impressive support act for Snow Patrol and has prompted DJ Tom Robinson to claim they are “about to scare the sh*t out of every other piano-based band out there”.
I get the feeling their magnetic energy and performance would be wasted on CD; live is definitely the way to experience them for the first time. It is easy to imagine this band dominating much bigger stages in the not-so-distant future, but for now, they gave York a night to remember.