EP reviews, shows & general busyness
It’s been a few weeks since my new EP Little Gestures arrived and lordy, they’ve been busy…
Back to Whelans…
I played a well-received show upstairs in Whelans, debuting some new songs and having a fantastic time with my little band. This was my first time back on-stage properly since last Summer (and the Covid-induced 3 month break from everything) and it was so good to be back.
On-stage upstairs in Whelans. Photo by Niamh Barry
I decided to make this show about trying new things and stripping back as much as possible. Myself and my drummer Dennis have been locked in the rehearsal room for the past few months, working on old songs and new and really finding our groove together. It’s been an amazing experience, honing arrangements and locking in together - I’m very excited about where things are going.
So many fellow musicians, people I’ve met online, good friends and family showed up to the gig and we had a blast trying out new arrangements, dusting off a blast-from-the-past Dead Flags song and even playing a song that nobody but my dog has heard me play before.
I always find that playing a new song live is extremely important in telling you what’s working with your songwriting. Sometimes a song works way better than you expected. Sometimes a song you were sure would knock everybody dead is greeted by barely a shrug. I still remember supporting The Guggenheim Grotto in Sligo 20 years ago and unveiling a new masterwork I’d been tinkering with for months. I was absolutely certain this was going to knock people’s socks off. And then when I played the final notes, bathing in the polite and definitely-not-sustained claps of a completely disinterested audience, I realised the song might not be the Hey Jude of my generation.
So it was gratifying to play a bunch of new songs and find those songs working really well in the room, putting smiles on faces and earning enthusiastic responses. It was lovely to be back on-stage and back trying new stuff out again.
The very cool New Data Scientists opened the show for me - I’ve been playing on the same bills as Seamus a lot over the past few years and this was my first time getting to see his full band show. He did not disappoint. Kinda stoner-y, slacker-y rock with some shoegaze elements and a great moody tone to the whole thing. Check them out at your next available opportunity.
Thanks to everybody for coming along, checking out my show and especially those who bought some records or t-shirts. It’s amazing to get that support and it means so much to me.
EP Reviews
Reactions and reviews for the new EP have been coming in and they’ve really surprised surprised me. People have been gushing about the songs and the recordings - I’ve been getting lots of compliments for my vocal performances and the stripped-back arrangements. Not that I don’t agree with them but I’ve noticed that the conversations with people around this EP have felt different.
“An energetic live experience… you could picture David Byrne making something as quirky and loose as this.”
I was invited to guest on several podcasts recently (more on them when they’re released) and some of the conversations have centred on what the minimal recordings have taught me and whether they might inform my second album (more on that in the future too…). That’s a really interesting topic and I honestly feel like it’s pointing me in a very new direction as I approach recording new material.
“The whole record sounds flush and beautiful… with vocals that pull you in from across the room. You don't want to miss this one”
Inspiring gig-going
And in a quite different way, I managed to squeeze in some absolutely sublime live experiences by… what’s this? Other artists?? Surely there must be some mistake.
Not the best seats. Pic by me.
David Byrne was just brilliant in the 3Arena. Crap seats far from the stage meant it didn’t top my last experience of his utterly mesmerising and life-affirming live performances (American Utopia, 3rd row in a Broadway theatre as my first gig after lockdown is going to be tough to beat) but it was still easily one of the best-staged concerts I’ve ever attended. Amazing.
So. Many. People. On that stage. Pic by me.
And finally, I dragged a bunch of people to see my drummer Dennis’s D’Angelo tribute show in The Sugar Club. I saw them do it years and years ago and it was enough to turn me into a big D’Angelo fan then. But this show was something else entirely. An 11-piece band playing the entirety of the Voodoo album (using actual arrangements from various famous D’Angelo live shows - the Chris Rock show version of Chicken Grease being an incredible example) and selections from Brown Sugar and Black Messiah with a host of wonderful guest performances.
When they play this again, get your ass there. Seriously.
These live shows (and my own) were a perfect reminder of how great live music can be and the diversity of styles and talents and approaches that can happen in just 7 days in one city. I feel so lucky to have all of this on my doorstep and I never want to take it for granted.
