ROGUE MALE, I.C.O.N @ Birmingham Roadhouse 6/10/11

Blimey.

That’s the only word for this.

Blimey.

When openers I.C.O.N hit the stage there are a grand total of three – that’s right three – people watching.

There is a brief Spinal Tap moment when they ask for “a big round of applause” for the headliners, but still they are worth watching. Mini album “New Born Day” is a decent effort at muscular British hard rock and most of it gets an airing.

Line-up changes have dogged the band throughout their brief history but now with a settled roster and some more gigs in the remainder of 2011 they might see their profile increase.

Belfast’s Rogue Male have been around long enough to see this kind of night before. Eight paying punters (the crowd has been more than doubled at least), however probably wasn’t they had in mind when they reformed in 2009 but they take it in good humour. “We’ll get your names at the end,” says guitarist John Fraser Binnie.

To their credit they play the 75 minute set they planned and vocalist/ lead guitarist Jim Lyttle is in good form, dedicating the track “Unemployment” to David Cameron.

In truth their brand of hard-rock-as-social-commentary is as relevant today as it was in the 1980s and new tracks like “Cold Blooded Man” mix well with stuff from their 80s heyday. It is the Motorhead-esque growl of “Crazy Motorcycle” that really gets the crowd going – well two blokes jump up and down, but you get the picture.

A slightly uncomfortable night is completed by Lyttle jumping off stage to thank the crowd for coming. He shakes hands with everyone as they leave. A decent and noble gesture. But it didn’t take him long.