The Goo 1
Live Reviews continued GARRY BAYLON BLOOD DONOR W
orkman’s Cellar A SOUND SOMEWHERE BETWEEN GREEN DAY AND HARRY STYLES Entering the stage to John Denver’s ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ was all it needed to tell you that tonight’s debut Blood Donor gig was going to be a special night. With his new red suited look, the ex Otherkin lead singer, backed by his impressive band, ran through a set of his equally ETHAN GOLDING JEFF PARKER The Sugar Club Sometimes a half filled venue can fill you with dread and pity for the artist who must come out and perform to such a meagre audience. As each small group ordered their drinks and settled into their booths surrounded by the dark wood and red velvet of Dublin’s favourite jazz venue I could sense that I wasn’t ETHAN GOLDING SPEARSIDE Whelans Upstairs Spearside returned to Whelans’ upstairs for the first time and for those unfamiliar with the trio from trim, it was a refreshing dose of a noise that has been missing from the city for almost three years. Spearside’s front man Oisin Walsh MICK HERRITY MAD PROFESSOR WITH AISHA The Sugar Club Musical medicine for those who attended. Aisha, a long standing artist on the Ariwa roster, vibing up the place with love whilst The Mad Professor mixed live tunes from his vast roster. Massive Attacks’ ‘Teardrops’ was given the dub treatment and sounded wonderful over the P.A. The Professor went through his catalogue showcasing songs PAGE 18 is a known perfectionist and obsessive study of all things fuzz so it’s no wonder that the trio are one of the tightest bands on the come up. It’s almost unfathomable the amount of noise that is able to be produced by just three instruments but like ‘Wait a Minute’, versions of the ‘Kunta Kinte’ rhythm and Sister Audrey’s classic ‘English Girl’. He also played a drum & bass version of a Capleton song that had the crowd building up a sweat. Another highlight was a version of the Lee Perry classic ‘African Blood’. It was a memorable moment when a young lady asked to sing. drummer Dylan Zovich’s persistent crashing and Cian Walsh’s modestly melodic bass lines provide the perfect counterpoint for a guitar that wants only to devour whatever is in front of it. So what if you can’t always hear the singer! She promptly took the stage and gave a version of Bob’s ‘Stand Up For Your Rights’ whilst the Professor duly obliged with a mix of the song. The final tune was a slice of Motown ‘Ain’t Nothing But The Real Thing’, which left the crowd leaving with an inner glow. The MP never disappoints and it was great to see Aisha on these shores. the only one feeling romantic. The whole scene was like a New York City parody, a collection of urban residents waiting out the rain and stumbling upon some infamously unknown jazz talent. Jeff Parker. The Tortoise guitarist, and one of contemporary jazz’s most inventive and exciting talents, treated us huddled few to a night consisting of reimagined standards, interpretations of Thelonious Monk and Frank Ocean and some of the most flawless loop and pedal work I’ve heard, Parker’s set was short, his manner shy and unassuming, his set captivating and memorable. impressive new material. With a sound that is somewhere between Green Day and Harry Styles, he showed some noteworthy song writing, which bodes well for the reaction to his, as yet unnamed, forthcoming album which is due out early next year. The atmosphere in the room was electric, with Luke performing like a season pro, showing all the experience he has gained after many years as the frontman of a dynamic live rock band, working the room and the audience with aplomb. The night was over all too soon, but as they say, best leave them wanting more.