David MoyaWhen we arrived at Dolans, there weren’t many people around. It was a warm day, and I imagine most people were at the coast enjoying the good weather. When we entered the venue—Dolans Kasbah, the smallest space in Dolans with a standing capacity of around 125—it was barely a quarter full. I was a bit disappointed at first, since we rarely get the chance to see alternative bands like that. Big thanks to Bad Reputation for taking the risk to bring such bands to Limerick. Thankfully, more people showed up after a while, and the venue eventually filled to just under half its capacity to see Wild Rocket, Ubu Imperator and Unbelievable lake.
The first thing I’d like to mention is that Richard and I went there together without knowing much about the bands playing. We had only listened to a few tracks online, found them quite interesting, and decided to give them a chance by seeing them live—hoping to maybe discover some new and exciting music along the way.
Unbelievable lake
Unbelievable Lake is a trio from Belfast, made up of a drummer, a guitarist/vocalist, and a synth/bass player. When they took the stage, they opened with a deeply atmospheric track. The guitar had a sitar-like quality, while the synth created a rich, ambient backdrop. The singer chanted in a way that resembled a monk, and for a moment, it felt like we were hearing the beginning of a Ravi Shankar piece. Then the drums kicked in—enhancing the atmosphere while introducing a noisier, yet still very pleasant, energy.
Their performance was absolutely on point. I’ve since listened to some of their albums, and they have a raw, garage-band feel, but within a krautrock, noise rock, and atmospheric context. Their recordings sound almost live, which adds to the intensity and spontaneity of their music. The songs were long and immersive, holding the audience in a kind of trance. They sculpted a sonic landscape using feedback, hypnotic rhythms, and dynamic shifts in tone and texture. At times, I felt one of their strongest influences might be Can, given their chaotic approach and sense of improvisation.
It was a perfect way to start the night.
Ubu Imperator
Next up was the neo-krautrock trio Ubu Imperator, hailing from Munich’s Alpenstraße. The group consists of guitarist Simon Bartenschlager, synthesist Raphael Höps, and drummer Daniel Pizarro. Their name is inspired by the infamous proto-Dadaist play Ubu Roi by French writer Alfred Jarry—a fitting reference for a band that clearly leans into the avant-garde.
Unfortunately, only two of the three members were able to make it to the show—the guitarist was absent. Despite this, their performance as a duo was incredibly solid and didn’t suffer much from the missing member.
My first impression of their live sound was something akin to Kraftwerk, but with a more experimental, noisy edge—closer in spirit to Karlheinz Stockhausen. The music felt chaotic at times, but never aimless. Their songs were short, tight, and straight to the point, with a clear structure. It almost felt like we were at a rave; there was an infectious energy in the room. I got the sense that everyone wanted to dance, but maybe people were too shy—no idea why, because the performance was absolutely fabulous, even without the guitar.
Raphael Höps gave a fantastic performance, using a wide range of synthesis techniques, including AM and FM synthesis. He layered different types of effects masterfully, and the sequencers were sharply programmed, especially the punchy AM-shaped bass lines. Meanwhile, Daniel Pizarro was flawless on the drums—highly technical and precise, yet expressive. At times, it felt like he was part of the sequencer himself, yet his playing added a layer of organic feel that grounded the chaotic, synthetic elements. Even when the sequencers veered into wild, unpredictable territory, the rhythm section held everything together.This was another amazing performance. The sound and atmosphere were fantastic throughout. I genuinely hope to see them again in the future—hopefully with the full band present.
Wild Rocket
Finally, it was time for the main act: Wild Rocket, a quartet from Dublin. I’m not entirely sure who was on stage in terms of names, but the lineup featured a guitarist, drummer, bassist, and a synth player.
This band leaned heavily into the heavier side of the spectrum, kicking things off with a powerful set that was more atmospheric in tone—led by dense, layered synths rather than rhythm at first. Unfortunately, some of the audience left early due to the sheer volume; the sound was extremely loud for such a small venue. We even had to move further back, as we’d forgotten to bring earplugs.
That said, their performance was incredibly well executed. It felt like a sonic titan was bearing down on us. Wild Rocket exists on the fringes of doom metal, delivering crushing riffs while still retaining the essence of psychedelic rock and space rock. The heaviness never drowned out the texture—they managed to balance weight and atmosphere in a way that was deeply immersive.
After the show
After the show, Richard and I headed over to the merchandise stand to pick up some records and t-shirts. We first spoke with the drummer from Unbelievable Lake—a genuinely sound lad, though I’m sorry I don’t remember his name. To my big surprise, he spoke Catalan! He told us he had lived in Barcelona for a while, which explained it.
Next, we had a great conversation with Daniel Pizarro from Ubu Imperator. We were chatting in English at first, and when he asked where I was from, I told him I was from Valencia, Spain. To my surprise, he said he was from Ceuta, Spain! He also mentioned that he’s the one responsible for designing their album covers, which are quite interesting and visually distinctive.
We also had the chance to talk with Raphael Höps, also from Ubu Imperator. They explained that their presence in Ireland was thanks to Unbelievable Lake, who invited them to join the tour with Wild Rocket after previously touring together in Germany and becoming friends.
All of them were fantastic people. I really hope I can find the time to organize the interviews I promised them. Life’s been busy, and I haven’t had the chance to make it happen yet—but it’s definitely on my list.
Conclusion
It was a fantastic night featuring three savage bands, all rooted in experimental music but each offering their own unique take and philosophy. I truly hope to see more shows like this in Limerick. The music was powerful, the atmosphere was vibrant, and the people were great—an unforgettable experience all around.
