IRISH rock and roll stars The Strypes played a brilliant Saturday night show in Southampton.

The four teenagers from Cavan electrified The Engine Rooms on West Quay Road and astounded the 400 capacity crowd with a brilliant set of fast-paced rhythm and blues and high energy guitar riffs.

Greeted by huge cheers, lead singer Ross Farrelly, guitarist Josh McClorey, bassist Pete O’Hanlon and drummer Evan Walsh kicked things off with favourites What a Shame and Hometown Girls from the group’s top five debut album Snapshot.

Ross and Evan were as stylish as ever in sharp suits and trademark ray-ban shades. Josh stayed casual in a T-shirt and jeans, while Pete chose a brave pyjamas style outfit.

But whatever the dress code some things don’t change and the music was just as frantic and exciting as ever. Few songs officially breach three and a half minutes and most are played even quicker live.

Before their first ever gig in the city, the band spoke exclusively to the Daily Echo.

“This is the most intense tour to date” said Evan. “We’re doing four or five gigs in a row at the moment, but it’s still great to be out playing new sounds in places we haven’t been to before.”

The band’s latest and as yet untitled album is in the can and is all set for release in the late summer. “It’s quite diverse.” said Pete.

“The songs on our latest EP, Flat Out, which is out now, are a good indication of where we are going” added Josh, who has written all but one of the new tunes with Pete getting the other credit.

Those latest EP tracks including Scumbag City and Eighty-Four were on the 18 strong set-list and were big hits on the night.

Josh fondly remembered the time when everyone realised they had something special. “We were on a really small stage at Flat Lake Festival in Ireland in 2011. It was the first proper gig that people we didn’t know came and watched. By the end there were about 400 people there.”

“The only downside was being trapped in our van at the end” laughed Pete.

Within two years The Strypes were supporting Arctic Monkeys across Europe, including at Earls Court.

“Alex Turner and the lads were really sound” said Pete. “And to be able to play those venues and watch them every night was amazing. We learnt so much from them.”

Nearly twenty years ago another teenage band, Ash, from Northern Ireland, were in the same boat as The Strypes.

They are still going strong and, together with the lads, will support the Foo Fighters at Slane Castle in Dublin this summer.

During a successful tour across clubs and bars in the USA, the band incredibly ended up performing their single What a Shame on the Late Show with David Letterman.

“Playing in the Ed Sullivan Theatre was amazing” said Ross. “And we got the thumbs up from Dave and Paul Shaffer’s house band too.”

Back on the stage, the end of the set included a wild rendition of band’s first single Blue Collar Jane and, for an encore, a cover of the 1962 Bo Diddley song You Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover.

Lead singer Ross is a tremendous frontman, confidently swinging his microphone, throwing his tambourine in the air and playing the harmonica. He only briefly took off his shades once to salute the crowd before leaving.

This was an outstanding performance. Southampton is famous for red and white stripes, but this memorable show won’t be far behind. These Strypes are stars.

The Strypes latest EP, Flat Out, is available now on ITunes.