The New Local

As a 1st year student moving to Limerick from Cork it was essential I find a new place to call my local. Somewhere with great music, a nice mix of people, pleasant staff & of course, a good pint. Luckily through boards.ie(http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=288346) I found The Wicked Chicken, Baker Place which seemed to suit my tastes to a T...

First impressions couldn't have been better. A small, but not too small comfortable bar, oozing with character... But more to the point, with a pair of 1210s on the counter spinning wax (not Serato!) from the likes of Kruder and Dorfmeister, King Tubby, Jazzanova, The Specials & Flying Lotus. RESULT! After testing the beer, purely for reference, research & quality control it was time to check out what was behind door number 2.

Now to be honest, I'm probably not the most ideal candidate to pass judgement here, as the only one in the bar wearing chords, skater shoes & a predominantly "salmon" t-shirt, drowning in a sea of leather clad metalers but I'm pretty sure everyone was having a good time. Once again, a nice bar with a small stage & great sound. Having since checked out their myspace (myspace.com/bakerplace) I was pleased to find that apart from having regular live gigs, it's also platform for new & up & coming bands, encouraging the idea that new groups, looking to break into the scene in Limerick submit demos, giving them an opportunity to cut their teeth, which in my opinion is essential to keep any scene healthy... Quick pint here, to ensure quality consistancy throughout the building & it was down to the underground, via the smoking area for a quick toot...

As there isn't a whole pile you can say to !BIG UP! up a smoking area, apart from they’re a prime location to pick up the big C, (I've since quit) I'll just say it had some nice graffiti & move along...

Black walls, pounding beats, wobbles, chainsaws & sweaty peeps... Dubstep @ Sweatbox (http://en-gb.facebook.com/sweatboxfriday)... An apt title for the grimey little spot that it is. Not that it’s dirty, but it has that filthy rawness to it that I know, love & miss so much since club owners started watching Ibiza Uncovered & thought it a top idea to install mirrors & carpets rather than good sound systems & therefore great atmospheres. But they know us better... The stench of stale beer & our own reflections chacing us like a real time drink aware campaign for fear we might actually enjoy ourselves is what we want...

Although, being one of the few it seems who hasn’t yet been sucked in by the whole phenomenon that is Dubstep, I still found myself stackin’ the shelves from time to time. Or in this case maybe more climbing the ladders. But definitely not feeding the chickens...

All in all. A GREAT NIGHT & without doubt somewhere I’ll be frequenting in the future...

Mission accomplished.










Adam Dunbar (10049681)