Blast away the January blues with tribute band IE/DC

As AC/DC once sang, it’s a long way to the top if you want to rock ’n’ roll. But Monroe’s is in on Dominick Street in Galway City, which is not as far away. IE/DC play the venue on Friday, January 27and as well as having a hilarious name, they also pay tribute to the veteran Australian rockers.

Eoghan McHale takes on the enviable task of matching the scorching vocal prowess of Bon Scott and his replacement, Brian Johnson. After 36 years with the band, Johnson had to stop touring with AC/DC because of hearing problems. A rather cold-sounding statement from the band announced that he would be replaced on their remaining tour dates by some young lad called Axl Rose.

Although the Guns ‘N’ Roses frontman did an excellent job – his debut with AC/DC in Lisbon received five stars from The Guardian – he is not the frontman of AC/DC! Hopefully Johnson will get to do a farewell tour – he deserves that, at least.

OK, rant over and back to rockin’ and rollin’! If you want to blast those January blues away, then IE/DC are just the band to do that. Jonny Lynch is tasked with replicating the riffs and moves of the evergreen Angus Young, and he has a right old time onstage. But why wouldn’t he, with songs like Highway to Hell, Whole Lotta Rosie and Back in Black on the setlist?

■ Doors at 10pm, tickets are €10/€8.