If The Horseshoe ever decides that it's time for them to get themselves a house band, my vote goes to The Stables. Their brand of rip roaring countrified punk is exactly the type of music one longs to hear when entering the back end of this legendary venue, and they totally tore the house down. I remembered how great they were the last time that I saw them, but I think the significantly larger and more enthusiastic crowd had the band bringing us their 'A' game this time around. The simple setup was still in tact: namely the guitar, the hockey stick bass, and the grass skirt drum kit, which gave their simple songs the ability to really stand on their own, without unnecessary clutter. Every band on the bill gave us at least one memorable cover song, and The Stables' version of The Dead Milkmen's Punk Rock Girl managed to achieve the impossible, that is, making the song more outrageous and fun than it already is. The members of the band (Poor Pelly, Blind Billy Blasko, Darren Clarke) seem to make every show as much fun as possible, and this is especially true with Clarky, who has got to be the happiest man alive. The songs range from silly country to contemplative songwriting, and this is ultimately what makes them a band to pay close attention to.

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