ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT GIG

The last few months of my life have been filled with countdowns. Countdown to the next gig, to the next single release and, most prevalently, to the next musical event. So far this year we’ve seen the Fleadh, Output, Other Voices and Ireland music week. Over the span of these events within the last two months, I’ve experienced more musically than I have in the past two years. I’ve met more artists, more genres, more industry links and crowd attendees than I could’ve ever imagined. As much as attending several events of the conference showcases nature, there are several things I’ve pulled individually from some events that others couldn’t have offered me.

I’ve spoken previously of the Fleadh, of its importance and its longstanding effect, so next came Output. Output is one of those days each year that the music industry anticipates for months. The memories made from the years previous serve as a joyful undertone for the day before you’ve stepped out the door. This year, output was packed to the brim with new talent. Some are brand new artists, some I’ve seen before with different sets and styles, and some are old favourites. It felt like I had been planning my schedule for days, who to fit in where and how long I had before sprinting to the next familiar location. The night was mild, but the atmosphere was hot and ready. The first venue was The Dirty Onion to watch Mucker. Mucker is a band I’ve unfortunately only seen once, so their set blew me away. Their sound is permeating, with an addictive defiant energy that captures a crowd. The crowd was active and tangible, the energy of the room adding to the grit of the music. Next came The Deers Head, where I caught a personal favourite, the Dublin-based band Dogswim. We arrived slightly early, so we got the pleasure of watching the space fill, with conversation held in the consistent theme of excitement for their set. The initial capture of Dogswim, to me at least, has been their dynamic takes on tone. The punchy crunch of their bass, complemented by the melodic nature of their lead guitar. The drums are rough but refined, and this all paces attention to the beauty and siren-esque lead vocals with lyrics complex but understood simply and heartbreakingly. After seeing one of my favourite friendly faces in The Thing, we crammed in to Tetto to catch the rising name of Cosign. Cosign is an act that many people there could agree were new to their additions of live sets. I myself hadn’t seen them live yet, so to be able to see songs I’m already in love with performed live was an immeasurable pleasure. One thing I also think is a compliment to a live set is silence, a compliment not given enough, but when it is given out, it only adds to the mesmerising nature of a live set, and this was something Cosign demanded beautifully. The dynamic of movement, pre-recorded mixes and layers on top of the echoing and piercing autotuned vocals completely transported the crowd to a different plane. The evening was followed by the narcotising energy of Disorder, a live set so tangible that the lead singer became one with the crowd (literally and metaphorically), and the night ended with Chalk’s DJ set in The Ulster Sports Club.

Next came Other Voices. Other Voices is an event I have been more than familiar with for years now. Their catalogue of famed artists ranges from Amy Winehouse to Foo Fighters, so my anticipation was impermeable. I started off my weekend with the beauty of St Columbs Hall. The prestige was immense, with artistry covering the walls and chairs packed with eager thrill. We sat near the back, with our own elated buzz growing steadily to see a common new favourite: Bleech 9:3. The set was being recorded live, and chairs were laid out, producing an idea of a tame set. This was entirely incorrect. The set was loud, but calling it that would be understating its capability. The riffs were practically spoken, their sentences felt in a way that words don’t amount to. The band blend like a solo act, their every movement and decision in compliment with another. The song I was most buzzing to hear was their now newly released, Tourniquet. Although hearing it before, seeing it in a place like St Columbs made the song stand up demanding an audience in ways I hadn’t seen before. It pierced every person’s chest, the communal yet so personal lyrics bringing an uneasy pain that everyone was thankful for. Their set the following day had all the same characteristics, just with added crowd attributes. 

Another set I got the pleasure of catching was Babyrat. A band I’ve heard the name of several times, their energy reaching conversations miles away. Their live set was one of my favourite I’ve seen in months. Their music has a pop-punk grit I’ve been craving to see in a modern setting, but their live set satisfies all of that. The band’s Instagram has a consistent pink colour scheme, which acted like coloured glasses over my eyes for their set. The stage made no difference in terms of barrier, as their interaction with the crowd made it feel as though they were playing standing next to you. The disgruntled rage combined with femininity built a house to be torn down and built back up by their lead singer. The songs felt like those taken from your own memories, a novel to your own personal experience, and that combined with their exhilarating performance has made my ears still ring with a desire to see them again.

The final of the live music conferences was Ireland Music Week. Unfortunately, I only got the pleasure of attending Thursday night in the Button Factory (a venue I’ll always love). The first band was one I had only heard brief murmurs about, but one I’m so glad I was able to catch. Maicín graced the stage with an Irish familiarity, their set having the same feel in the scale of the Button Factory that I could imagine it having in the tight warmness of a pub in an unnamed rural county. They blend a jangly Irish undertone with the new wave pop focus of their sound to create a captivating live set that kept me on my toes. Each song served as a further dive into their ability as a live act, with no barriers on how deep or shallow they go in terms of sound. Their instrumental ability was next to no other, with the distortion of their guitars used wonderfully to create a dreamscape that only allowed the use of an omnichord and harmonica to strengthen. I’m really looking forward to being able to follow them more closely. After a fantastic set from Filmore! And the astounding Madams' last discovery, whic I was able to catch for Nina. For Nina are a band I’ve held close for a while now, with their song Labour of My Love being played too many times from my streaming services in recent months, but this set served as a quiet reminder of why their music is so charming. They played a set packed with new songs, with Angel standing out to me. They blend a whimsical floatiness with the jarring and disruptive beauty of guitar to create a live set like no other. Their lyrics are physical, a movie playing in the audience’s mind while the song is still permeating your ears. The tangibility of music is one thing I will never take for granted, and they are a band that allows that to come forth. Their ability to create such a multifaceted sound, despite only being a three-piece, is astounding, and every time I’m able to catch their set, it's a pleasure.

The nature behind events like these is to showcase talent. To give every genre, every background and type of artist a platform to perform in front of a crowd that is willing to watch. It displays music to people in a way that isn’t within the norm; you could catch a full repertoire of bands or artists you’ve never even heard of. This is something I’ll never not enjoy: an opportunity to catch bands I love but might not have the opportunity I would like to watch frequently, combined with the adventure of scoping out completely fresh artists to become new favourites. Attendance is always great at events like this due to this dynamic and multifaceted nature, and it is one that should be brought to local gigs consistently. So, as I catalogue my memories in the form of writing for this year, the anticipation only grows for what next year will store.