In a festival surrounded by wellies, rain and waterproof jackets, Dead Cat Bounce’s show Caged Heat provides a welcome relief from the doom and gloom outside. The four Irish men provide an hour’s worth of entertainment, full of lively and entertaining music that keeps the audience’s attention for the entirety of the show.

The basic concept is to connect fun, sometimes well-known, rock songs, with entertaining and intelligent lyrics. At one point, the band tells the audience that it’s time to get serious – they have a love song to perform. On screens behind them, images of rugby players appear and we learn that the love they are singing about concerns how homoerotic rugby is  - “what are 15 guys who are sticking their heads between each others’ thighs?”

The quartet are clearly talented musicians, swapping instruments throughout the show, all contributing to the quips and banter in between songs, and are likeable onstage. This is especially so for the lead singer, who has so much confidence that from the outset, when he appears with his open shirt and hair that’s perfect for slow-motion-flicking, the audience are ready to trust that confidence is well-deserved.

Each song is crafted and thought-out, making the audience listen intently to all of the double-entendres and intelligent storytelling. While they ask themselves (and the audience) if they are simply glorified clowns, entertaining for the sake of it, their enthusiastic reception speaks otherwise. Walking home in what could be mistaken for mid-winter weather, thoughts of the song Christians in Love - “Like a chimpanzee and a buffet car, they’re grabbing at bits before they know what they are” – will leave murderous thoughts of the weather behind, and a stupid grin left on your face.

Five Stars