Memories of Jackbeast live: Driving pulsing basslines from Bassetti really tight crisp drumbeat rhythms from Gavin - a serious rhythm section between the two of them. Amazing discordant piercing guitar riffs and angles with screaming sung vocals from Niall. Myself up the front rocking out in a frenzied motion to match the repetitive driving sounds. People beside me (my brother Eugene being one of them) all being blown away by this incredible band we were seeing in front of us. Knowing most of the people in the room beside me.

Jackbeast were the best band at the time, no question. Striknien DC were the other best band in town in a punk ska style. There was a split in the Dublin punk scene at the time I’m not sure what it stemmed from - it was the Old Chinaman gigs organised by Deko (Striknien DC singer) and the Hope Collective gigs organised usually in the Attic or Charlies Rock bar on Aungier Street. Jackbeast were the best band of them all and they were ours. So lucky to be there seeing them and how can more people not realise how good they are!

There was a thriving underground music scene in Dublin when I discovered it in the mid 90‘s. I was a regular in the independent record shops Freebird Records, Comet and Freak Out. In these the counters were littered with freesheets, newsletters and mini zines which gave a newbie like me, a window into the independent music scene in Dublin at the time. The more well known bands at the time were Mexican Pets and Pet Lamb who used to play in local venues the Attic, McGraths, the Da Club and maybe the odd bigger gig in Whelans.

The more I read the freesheets and zines (Gearhead Nation, React), the more I got to understand the do-it-yourself (DIY) ethos of zines and of the bands - the culture to get off your ass: if you like music - start a band, if you have something to say - write a zine, if you want to see a band - organise a gig. From the review sections in zines you’d find out about what was happening. Eugene read a review of Jackbeast’s first release ‘Hello Syphilis’ and sent away for it. Probably for £2 plus a stamp. It came in the post a few days later - we loved it straight away. It had a raw Steve-Albini-esq sound to it and really rocked!

From there on we became regulars at Jackbeast gigs, made friends with the band and most of the people who used to attend and who were in the scene then. Eugene and myself started our own zine called Loserdom and became involved with the Hope Collective organising gigs either for foreign touring bands or benefit gigs for local charities with local bands. Jackbeast were regulars for the Hope Collective I remember everyone in Hope loved Jackbeast who were always guaranteed to put on a great performance, they would pull a crowd and they were always happy to play the gigs.

Anyway things tipped along, venues came and went. There was always a Jackbeast gig to look forward to. The Attic closed down for renovation as a listed building, it later got turned into a super pub monstrosity & is now a Starbucks. Charlies Rock Bar became a yuppie pub restaurant. The Underground on Dame Street became home to Club Lapello "Dublin's oldest and only strip club". The split 7" (with ska band Spithead was a typical mismatch of styles by local DIY record label Rejected Records) release gig in Charlies’ was a class night I remember Jackbeast being particularly tight and the debut of some of the songs that would be on the 10". 

The Fusion Bar on Townsend Street became the next venue for punk gigs around then, it had a biker vibe downstairs with a tiny room upstairs that had an unusual shape to it, the stage seemed to have a little corner or cubby hole where the drummer would often end up. The music used to blare onto the streets around and noise complaints again were an issue but we got a time out of that venue all the same. It was here the 10“ release gig took place and some amazing Jackbeast gigs. It was that particular gig that one Matthew Bolger then of the Waltons and who would be a future Redneck Manifesto member coined the phrase “the Dillon Family Dancers” as myself Eugene and our other brother Vinnie were all rocking out to Jackbeast up the front. Anyway good times, Jackbeast what a band!

Anto Dillon – Loserdom Zine