The Riot Tapes is a band drawn together from all walks
of life, with its members hailing from various parts of North Dublin such as
Finglas, North Strand and Howth. The band, which comprises Chris O’Brien,
Elaine Doyle, Tim Clarke, Robert Crosbie and Graham Dunne, have come under the
spotlight over the past 12 months, being named as one of 2011’s best
breakthrough acts by online magazine Le Cool.
It is no wonder they have been receiving quite a lot
of attention in recent months. Elaine Doyle’s lead vocals are stunning and
radio-friendly, the kind of voice that would stop you in your tracks and
command your attention.
With her striking beauty she has also become the
centrepiece for the band, appearing solo on the promotional post for the band’s
recent gig at Dublin venue, Whelan’s.
Elaine’s talent is backed up by an equally impressive
band, complementing her pop vocals and adding something a little bit edgier to
them.
Largely a pop-rock band, the Riot Tapes are not
strangers to grunging it up at bit on stage, making them a must-see act for
2012.
Doyle is every bit the iconic front-woman, and her
vocals come across as powerful live as they do recorded.
The combination of electronica, pop and rock makes for
something we do not often hear, not just on the North Dublin music scene, but
in any music scene, and it is something to behold live.
This will be an interesting year with several new
songs having been recorded.
The new songs will see the band embracing a more
pop-like sound, which will ideally see them gaining some more attention from
Ireland’s media.
While upholding a pop-feel about their music, they
manage to maintain an element of quirkiness, making them all the more
interesting, as you never know what to expect from song to song.
Destined to cause a ripple in the vast ocean that is
North Dublin’s unsigned music scene, the Riot Tapes are a band to keep your eye
on if you like to be in the know.
The band is not playing in Dublin for the foreseeable
future. However, they are working on some recording, so keep an eye on their
twitter page (@theriottapes) for updates on what is coming next for the band.