TODAY'S Noise Annoys comes to you with a heavy heart, as it's my sad duty to herald the end of one of local music's most consistently riff-tastic outfits, the mighty Triggerman.
Tomorrow night, the Derry quartet – Bap (vocals/guitar), Dixie (bass), Niall (guitar) and Rory (drums) – are calling time on their decade and a half-ish long reign as heavy groove-bound rock lords with one final gig at Derry's Nerve Centre.
Dubbed The Last Night On Earth, this final farewell was originally announced for Sandinos and then quickly upgraded to The Nerve Centre due to overwhelming demand – a measure of how highly the Triggs are regarded.
Some call them stoner rock, but Stone Age rock seems a more fitting description of Triggerman's thunderous primeval pummel and hellbelly vocals, most recently documented on the Atomic Rock Number 79 EP just under a year ago.
Far from being the sound of a band running on empty or going through the motions, that fine collection found Bap and co sounding as formidable as ever while taking their music in a slightly funkier direction with the epic title track.
It was a logical evolution from their last album – now to be forever known as their final album – 2012's superb progressively minded Hail To The River Gods, which captured Triggerman at their most ferocious (Rise of The Woodsman, Wake The Dead) while also exploring slightly different ways to boogie with the likes of The Flower of Life's lurchingly hypnotic sludge anthem and the slow-burning spoken word-topped desert rockings of climactic closer Blind Side of The Moon.
And, with uber-catchy cruncher Thon Strange Brew, they also gave us a drinking anthem for the ages that will surely be remembered as one of the greatest ever Triggerman songs alongside their other stone-cold classics Worms, Horns, Origin of Man, Son of Solomon, Road To Damascus and The Riff Holds Sway.
Of course, nothing lasts forever and all things must pass, but I thought it only right that these long-time Noise Annoys favourites should have the last word on their imminent demise.
Here's bassman Mark 'Dixie' Doherty to tell you all about Triggerman's Last Night On Earth.
Why are Triggerman calling it a day?
It wasn't an easy decision to make, but sadly other factors in our lives have made it more and more difficult to give the band the time that it deserves.
We made the decision as a group, and it feels like it’s the right time to wrap everything up.
Was it important for you to do a farewell gig rather than just
quietly splitting?
Any excuse for a party! Plus, we’ve made loads of friends over the years, so we wanted to try and get everyone together for one last night and really go out with a show to remember.
We had to have it in Derry, because we love playing in our home town, and we’re very proud to have been part of the Derry music scene for so long.
Looking back, what are your best memories of Triggerman?
Probably the shows. We’ve been lucky enough to have played with some amazing bands, both personal heroes and local bands who are now great friends.
Our biggest show was the Status Quo show in 2013 here in Derry, which was a great night. To play a gig that size in front of our friends and family was brilliant.
For myself, having the chance to play in The Ulster Hall was a dream come true, and to put a record out on vinyl was an achievement for us all.
Which Triggerman tune was your favourite and why?
I love playing Son Of Solomon which we play every gig and was written very early on – a vicious but simple riff!
From my time in the band, probably a tune called Flower Of Life, it has a great groove.
Looking forward, do any of you have plans for new musical projects?
It's a bit early to say. We’re just looking to make sure that Triggerman gets the send-off that we think it deserves.
Is there any possibility that the band might play together as Triggerman again at some point in the future?
Probably not, but who knows? We’re still friends and will stay great friends. It's the practical side of being in a band that makes it difficult for us. You may see us in various combinations in the future, but not as Triggerman.
How would you like Triggerman to be remembered?
A local Derry sage named Kellz called us a "a four-headed riffing machine". I’ve always thought that was a nice description.
In your absence, who will ensure that the riff holds sway?
Ha! There are always great bands about: Droids have just released a new EP. Cahir O'Doherty's new band New Pagans sound great. There’s a band from down here called Foreign Owl who sound really interesting. The riff will continue to hold sway for a while yet!
Having served your time in the rock trenches, what advice would you offer to greenhorns just starting out?
Ignore everyone and do exactly what you want – you’ll be grand.
:: Triggerman, Lady J, Saturday May 20, The Nerve Centre, Derry. Tickets £7.50 via Nervecentre.ticketsolve.com
