Rising stars Asylums are a dynamic four piece from Southend-on-Sea. They have recently  toured with Killing Joke and The Enemy and tonight in the Olympia is their last gig of the year and the final date of a UK tour opening for Northern Irish rock veterans, Ash.

This is a big production tour on the imposingly spacious stage of the Grande Dame of Dublin's theatres but Asylums are out setting up their own gear the moment Scotland's Amorettes finish their set.

It's their first gig in Ireland and they announce themselves with howling feedback giving way to chugging riffs and ragdoll flailing. They describe their music as ‘bipolar, manic distortion’ and it's a fair description. They are a striking proposition and not just because of singer, Luke Branch's  Richard Ayoade hair .

Lead guitarist Jazz Miell looks like a younger, punkier Tom Petty. His limbs contort and flail wildly between licks. There's a constant  gurn on his face as if the guitar is playing through his whole body. Twin curtains of blond hair windmill around as he leaps around playing in the air and on his knees. He's like the godchild of Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon and there are definite Sonic Youth elements to the guitar sound.

In contrast to the spasmodic performances of Branch and Miell, bassist Michael Webster is the  archetype of the effortlessly cool bassist. Like a young Paul Simenon, chewing gum and looking aloof, while drummer Henry Tyler pins down the beat and sings backing vocals.

The band slept on the floor of the ferry because the crossing was cancelled but you wouldn't guess from the energy of the performance. The Paris Climate Conference could hook these guys up to the grid and make an impact on climate change.

They are only on a short time, about 25 minutes all told, But the short songs and high tempo make it seem like they have played a full set.

Asylums are playing to a thousand people and taking it in their stride. Branch characterises Christmas spirit as "The misery of the Argos catalogue" and dedicates 'Missing Persons' to their employers back home who haven't seen them in work for a while.

They may not be back if this performance is anything to go by.

Eagles Of Death Metal play their first headline show in Ireland in six years tonight and it is a masterclass in entertainment. Their last show here was in the Academy. This time they have sold out the Olympia Theatre.

The latest album, Zipper Down, has just come out and it’s a fine addition to their canon. When the lights go down the roar that greets the band shakes the jelly in your eyes. ‘Magic’ by Pilot rings out through the PA and Jesse Hughes, dressed in a red cape, covers every inch of the stage making exaggerated Hulk Hogan gestures to the crowd as they sing along.

It’s pure pantomime but he wins over the entire crowd without playing a note. He sheds his cape, dons his glasses, and takes a moment to fix his hair and smooth his handlebar moustache. The audience are eating out of his hand before he even approaches the microphone to kick off the show with ‘I Only Want You’

He oozes charisma and makes sure to include every attendee in his performance. He nearly climbs into the boxes at either side of the stage to sing to them. The man is hypnotic, possibly the best frontman I’ve ever seen. One song in and the crowd are chanting his name between songs.

He takes on the mantle of a rock 'n' roll preacher. This must be what it was like to see Freddie Mercury in his prime. They crank out all the big songs covering all four of their albums. On record the band are good but it’s onstage that the songs really come to life. EoDM play the audience masterfully and express their admiration for both the crowd and the ornate décor of the theatre.

When they return to the stage for the encore, Jesse plays a few solo covers before the band return. Then he finally does appear in one of the boxes to play a guitar duel with Darling Davey. He is flanked by two tiny women, and two large men who appear to be Mundy and Steve Wall.

One more song and they’re gone. Leaving us hoarse from the screaming, sweating, wanting more, underwear hanging from the lampshade. And they didn’t even call us a taxi.