Kick Out The Jam Jams

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t might be a tad difficult to believe for the younger Greystonian, but, there was a time when this town was heavin’ every weekend.

Whether it was heading down to The Stables to catch a band, up to the Rugby Club to headbang the night away, or going Full Shoulder Pad at Cabana’s or Lautrex, if you didn’t head out early for your Greystones kicks, you might not get in.

Back in the 1980s and into the ’90s, Greystones venues would hit Full House just about every weekend night. And it was magnificent.

Everyone you knew was there, and, if you were lucky, a few people you didn’t know too. And once you hit a full house with a kick-ass tune, the roof would lift. With, often as not, Dave Gorman, in satin suspenders, still hanging on to the rafters.

Today, despite the fact that population of Greystones will be hitting 20,000 soon enough (we reckon Tuesday, around 11am), it can be a struggle for venues to get more than 50 or 60 people out on a Saturday night.

There’s no doubt that the stricter drink driving enforcement has had an effect, whilst the advent of €1 bottles of beer from your local soaraway supermarket has made it ever more attractive to have all your scoops in the comfort of your own underwear. There’s also the simple fact that a whole world of entertainment is available to every home with a click of the mouse. Couple that with the safety of conducting all your social life to social media – where you can be Tyler Durden for yet another night – and you’ve got a town in pyjamas and sipping cheap booze by 8pm most weekend nights.

And most weeknights too, but, that’s a different cover story.

What’s missing in this Cowardly New World though is the human touch. The thrill of being out, at night, getting up to mischief. Of meeting some new people. And dancing like a loon with them.

And it’s not like you might get all dressed up and have nowhere to go. Every weekend, Dann’s and The Beach House provide free live music, with Robinson’s throwing on the odd musical night too. When it comes to the bigger acts, The Hot Spot has been bringing an eclectic mix of music to the town for the last nine years, whilst The Whale has brought us such big names as Russell Brand, The Hothouse Flowers and, eh, fallen angel Al Porter alongside a host of local, upcoming acts.

These days, when it comes to going out in Greystones, we’ve actually never had it so good.

So, let’s all join hands and make contact with the living. Get out in the real world, and have a real good time. At least once a month. Otherwise, this town might really become like a ghost town. And bands won’t play no more…

It’s a sentiment certainly shared by music veteran Mike Morrissey (who was very, very nearly famous in the ’70s), Cody Power (whose band, Talk Like Dog – formerly Blush – won this year’s Stepping Stones), local guitar god Brian Meakin (think Rory Gallagher, but cooler) and Hot Spot founder, Ailbhe Skay in our rambling 10-minute rock’n’roll roundtable…

You can keep up with the latest Greystones gigs here, and check out The Hot Spot here and The Whale here.