Bad Manners
Horace Andy
Howard Marks
Johnny Clarke
The Beat
The Jolly Boys
Hot Press Electric Picnic 2023 review
As the clouds cleared in preparation for a fun Friday night at Electric Picnic, The Bionic Rats delivered an opening set that got excited festivalgoers grooving.
Dublin staple The Bionic Rats have started the weekend off strong with their signature flavour of dance-ready reggae-ska. As frontman Del Bionic declared to a ready crowd, “We’re Bionic Rats and we’re going to start the whole thing off!”
A refreshingly sunny midday had given way to a spotty Friday afternoon, and the sky had already returned to its usual state of grey as the band took to the stage. But it was almost as if the weather was respecting the Bionic Rats’ set, its infectious fiddle and horns playing the grey skies out.
The Bionic Rats are pretty well known for playing a good live set, and they absolutely lived up to that reputation today. Their music is as absurd as it is infectious, somehow managing to be very cool despite an unlikely lineup of fiddles, horns and a fedora-clad frontman. They fused reggae with elements of traditional Irish music for their genre-bending set, with songs whose themes were genuinely pretty political.
“This song is about genocide,” Del declared before they launched right into, 'Only One Crop Failed'. “That’s what happened. Don't you dare call it'Famine',” he continued. A grim intro that left me a little apprehensive about the tone of the song to come but the song itself was upbeat and as danceable as ever. I was irresistibly reminded of the late, great Sinead O’Connor as the song took the famine head-on, and people danced along despite the dark message encased in its lyrics.
Located in Electric Picnic’s Croí area, the Croí main stage is at the bottom of what I can only describe as a grassy pit. A celebration of all things Irish, the main stage is woodsy and its slightly secluded location gave the impression that the band and the audience were in their own separate world. Slightly sparse crowds quickly bulked up as people were drawn to the funky sounds of fiddle and saxophone. Festivalgoers of all ages jumped and grooved along to some of their more well-known songs like ‘Dear John’ and ‘Don’t Be Giving It All That’, as well as some deeper cuts like ‘Snakes’ (“we haven’t played that one in a long time”) and ‘Twisted Little Bitter Little Fucker’.
All in all, it was an extremely solid first act, one that sets a high bar for the acts to follow. They expertly toed the line between genuinely political and ridiculously fun, easily winning the crowd over. They were absolutely at home on the Croí main stage, understanding their duty of ushering in the weekend with a set that absolutely got people in the festival mood.
THE DUFF GUIDE TO SKA FAST TAKES: THE BIONIC RATS “T.B.R.”
The Bionic Rats T.B.R. (CD/digital download, self-released, 2016): If Rock Against Racism stages a comeback–and God knows we need them more than ever on both sides of the Atlantic–Dublin’s phenomenal The Bionic Rats have two powerful anti-racist anthems ready for the RAR playlist, as well as a slew of other terrific ska, rocksteady, and reggae songs about enduring the slings and arrows of work, love, and life, on their amazingly good fourth album T.B.R. (the acronym reminds me, in my dyslexic way, of the Tom Robinson Band!). The ska-jazzy, but kind of spaghetti Western-ish “One More Nail in the Coffin” lays out The Bionic Rats absolute determination to counter the forces of fear and hate: “Climb up the ladder, get to the top/We’ll never stop/One more nail in the coffin, one more nail/’Til all superstitions are dead in the ground/We’ll never stop/One more nail in the coffin of ignorance.” Even better may be the biting, minor-key lament “Half a Mind,” which is similar in vein to Linton Kwesi Johnson‘s fierce anti-fascist/anti-National Front cut “Fite Dem Back” and is equally on the mark: “Now it wouldn’t happen all the time/But you hear them talking about their kind/While they seem intelligent otherwise/I never fail to be surprised/Every time I hear their bile and see the poison in their eyes/They can never justify their lies but they try, oh yes they try/If they had half a mind maybe they could could use it/Take up too much of their time, too confusing.” But it’s not all about manning the ramparts against the bigots. The shiny and upbeat ska tune “I’m Doing Good” is an ode to the office workers of the world slaving away in their cubicles for someone else’s big gain (complete with work-induced grunty vocal effects–shades of, um, “Allentown”!): “I’m doing good today/I’m making someone else some money…I’m doing good today/Hit all my targets this week/I’m doing good today/I worked right through my lunch break/I’m doing good today/I’m such a good employee/I’m doing good today/I’ll still be here when it’s late/I’m workin’ it/I’m livin’ it/I’m losing it/Each day at a time.” “Say Something” urges bands to use their platform, large or small, to communicate something meaningful (amen to that–I’m all about the lyrics, too). “Until I Forget” is about struggling with drink–and references my favorite Homer Simpson quote ever on the subject. The band won’t let you wallow in regret over how you completely blew it in the dubby “Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda”–’cause you know better. And the 11 year-old lurking within me loves the “dilemma” inferred in “Girls With Big Hands.” The Bionic Rats’ T.B.R. is by far one of my most favorite albums of the year–and fans of bands like No Sports or The Toasters should make a point to check it out!
Steve Shafer
Do The Dog Skazine
Currently glued to the Do The Dog HQ stereo is the brand new album by one of my absolute favourite bands the bionic rats. Titled “TBR”, this is the Dublin based combo’s 4th long player to date & is every bit as awesome as their 3 previous albums. The Bionic Rats‘ tried & tested formula of razor sharp 2 tone & reggae rhythms matched with top quality song writing & cutting social comment is once again working to full effect right across 10 fantastic tunes on offer.
Sean Flowerdew
Hot Press :
Dubs’ Brass Laden LP Their Best
Formed from the ashes of Dublin reggae luminaries kingsativa, The Bionic Rats have been raising hell with their unique blend of ska and 2-tone for over 1- years. One of the country’s finest live acts, their recorded hasn’t always matched their face-melting shows, but they’re getting there. Fourth album T.B.R. see the quintet take another leap forward :it’s their most consistently enjoyable offering thus far.
Compromising ten tracks, lovers of The Interrupters, The Slackers and The Clash will adore the horn-fuelled, high energy effort. ‘One More Nail In The Coffin’ is a brass-laden blast, crammed with Strummer-like howls ; ‘New Day Rudie’ has a smoking hot solo ; and ‘Until I Forget’ – a sort of ode to days spent in the Foggy Dew – sees them stretch their considerable muscles.
Music Review/Album: Dec 2016
The Bionic Rats’ third album, is out on digital download
DUBLIN’S favourite ska and reggae stalwarts are back with their third album, Another Fine Mess. An eclectic mix of political and social songs and insanely catchy ska tunes, this is a top-drawer offering from a band who deserve to be on more people’s radar.
The ubiquitous mixture of Irish wit and phraseology, frontman Derek Clabby’s Dublin accent and Jamaican rhythms gives the Rats a truly unique sound.
This unlikely Irish slant on Jamaican music is something Clabby references in the opening track Red, Gold and Green with the lines: “I’m not Jamaican; Dublin born and bred, I don’t wanna be a natty dread; I’m not a Rastaman and I have no God; I am what I am, I am”.
Stand-out tracks include Keyboard Warriors, which launches a scathing attack on those who criticise and sneer at activists and protesters from the safety of their computer screens, or as the Rats put it: “Calling for a revolution while you occupy your living room.”
Bored to Tears and No Bottles, No Milk are infectiously catchy summer ska with a smattering of Irish wit that will have you humming them all the day.
On a more serious side, Distant Drums focuses on the ramping-up of aggressive rhetoric between nations in recent years, noting that “world leaders are flexing their muscles”.
Another Fine Mess is the Rats’ strongest offering yet. It’s available for digital download from thebionicrats.bandcamp.com and it’ll be five euro well spent.
You can also catch them live every week in Dublin in The Turk’s Head on a Friday night and The Foggy Dew each Sunday night.
Mark Maloney
Hot Press:
Dublin ska legends’ new album is skank-tastic
Much like metal and punk, ska is an evergreen genre that appeals to all ages and never seems short of devotees. On the home-front, the scene has arguably never been stronger and that’s thanks to the likes of Dublin outfit, The Bionic Rats, who have been pushing boundaries and setting standards since their inception. Another Fine Mess is the five-piece’s third album and it’s their most assured offering yet.
A fun and infectious fusion of rocksteady, reggae, ska and dub, the 14 track opus opens with the moody ‘Red, Gold & Green,’ which sees the band reaffirm their aim to give Jamaican sounds an Irish flavour. A piano-driven bar-room number that may be a crossover hit in the making, ‘Blame It On The Weather’ is one of the record’s many highlights, while ‘No Bottles, No Milk’ and ‘Information Overload’ are simply – well, skank-tastic…
Key Track – ‘Blame It On The Weather’
Music Review/Album: 02 Mar 2015
Edwin McFee
United Reggae review of ...Should Be Seen & Not Heard Vol 01
For a host of practical reasons every country has its quota of top notch reggae bands that are forced to confine their talents to the home market. Ireland is no exception. Foremost in this category are Dublin’s Bionic Rats, who – to much acclaim - have just released their second album.
Opening in a tip-toe type technique the album tears into ‘It Won’t Last’, as it encourages the ska-stompers to sidestep ruinous regrets and remorse. Next up ‘The Monkey Factor’ brings an oriental musical influence to bear on the plight of those whose exposure is increased the higher they climb. Reading between the lines, this track may be described as a thinly veiled attack on British and Irish televison’s most popular programme – the star-searching ‘The X Factor’. Maintaining the "jump up" ska effect ‘Brand New Geansai’ (i.e. translated ‘Brand New Jumper’) precedes ‘Dear John’ – warning against Europe’s rising recession-fuelled racism, which the band’s Nigerian sax player had first-hand experience of. Continuing the confrontation with their enemies, the ‘NMEz’ track recalls the old Chinese proverb, that you should "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer". The following pacey ‘Dicky Donk Fonk’ track challenges vocalist Derek Clabby to reveal the range of his pitch – a challenge he is well capable of rising to throughout the album, with the help of full-blooded brass, flute, melodica, keys, guitars and supporting vocals in tow.
Thereafter the title track ‘.. Seen & Not Heard’, lends an acoustic vibe, alongside piano accompaniment, to the apt adage the "actions speak louder than words". Here the Rats advise that Christians should be seen and not heard. One might quibble about the wisdom of confining this good advice to Christians, but we’ll live on in hope! Hence it’s apt to follow it with the bouncy cum echo-effected ‘It’s Just A Fantasy’, before the album starts its wind down with a bass driven melange of musical influences in ‘Dig Da Dub Fonk’ before proceeding to the the final bonus track, the welcome ‘Monkey Dub\Mr. Upfull Mix’.
From humble origins, which have seen the Bionic Rats play support to legendary luminaries like Madness, Lee Perry, Horace Andy, Bad Manners, Israel Vibration and Johnny Clarke, this album should see the group expand their audience and (hopefully) their horizons. Put in the hands of a well-resourced professional producer they could do some serious damage on the sales front! Whatever the game-plan, alongside their well established capacity to ‘raise the house’ in live gigs, this album will further enhance their burgeoning reputation.
Hot Press:
Rocksteady dubLiners reference Joe Strummer, diss Guards
Seven-piece skank aficionados Return Of The Bionic Rats definitely know how to deliver authentic slices of rocksteady alright. Boasting fantastic production where the horns and percussion are given enough room to breathe (an essential, yet often over-looked requirement in modern ska music) the record is a joy to listen to. It’s also nice to hear a defiantly Irish accent on tracks like ‘Don’t Be Giving It All That’ and ‘Bad Garda’, and while the Joe Strummer-isms are obvious to all, it’s done with genuine affection. Top stuff
Edwin McFee
Music Review/Album: 04 Sep 2009