POP MUSIC REVIEWS : My Little Funhouse: Punk-Like Passion

With only one member as old as 20, the Irish rock band My Little Funhouse proved that the kids are all right in their L.A. debut on Friday at the Troubadour--all right, maybe, but in need of seasoning. There’s no faulting the neophyte quintet on passion, gumption or chops on stage, and several cuts on its debut album, “Standunder,” rate high marks as well.

The performance, however, was too ambitious. With only one album under its belt, My Little Funhouse played too long, tried out new tunes, tossed in a few from an early EP and indulged in several acoustic asides. The musical breadth was impressive, but the lack of focus was sometimes confusing.

Although undeniably a hard-rock outfit, the Kilkenny-based group evinced a punk-like passion and cliche-free image that jibed with the eclectic material. The rave-up looseness of “Been Too Long” and the rambunctious, staccato speed-rapping of “L.S.D.” helped break the monotony of the group’s more banal commercial rock efforts. At this point, time is on the group’s side, and its aggressive, diversified take on rock ‘n’ roll has--and needs--room to grow.