gifted - Panic Over, Penny’s Band & Klyda
Having had this gig on my radar for quite some time, I turned up to the Empire music hall fuelled with high hopes and excitement, and I was not let down. With it being Halloween week, the atmosphere before the bands had even begun was buzzing. Laughter and costumes left everyone ready for what would be one of Gifted’s biggest gigs yet
Klyda took to the stage first. Having enjoyed seeing them live at a NuMuze gig in Derry in August, I was keen to spot any differences or developments to the set. Within the first few songs it was clear that the band I loved listening to back in August had gotten even better. Dressed up as the ‘Scooby gang’, the band set the tone for the entire evening. Having 3 guitars paired with the bass and drums, Klyda had a very full sound to their music, leaving no one able to stop themselves from moving and dancing to the songs. The highlight of their set was absolutely their song ‘Closure’. The 5-piece outfit gave their absolute all during this gritty song, leaving every member of the audience completely engrossed. The band have proven that they understand each other, as they knew how to bring the audience a fantastic show. Something I also really liked and appreciated was that they engaged with their audience in an authentic and genuine way. Playing their music on stage isn’t an act for Klyda; they were confidently able to be themselves, even at one point inviting those dressed up to the front for a costume inspection and having loads of fun throughout.
Hitting the stage next was Penny’s Band. Having first seen them live at a gig in Coleraine when they were only a new band and watching them multiple times since, I was looking forward to seeing them once again. Much like Klyda, they were excellent. Dressed up in black suits, perhaps as Men in Black or Reservoir Dogs, or even as their bassist, Benjamin McNeill, when he is at work, the band looked sharp whilst playing. Unfortunately, Penny’s Band’s drummer, Noah, was absent, so Eli McGonegle stood in for the night. Whilst it did feel a little strange looking at the stage and not seeing the usual four playing together, Eli, with only two practices with the band, was excellent and showcased his talent as a great musician. Having a set they are accustomed to as a band, they mixed some sad tearjerkers such as ‘The Heart One’ with heavier, darker tunes such as ‘Mental Dreams’ to show their diversity and range within their music and ability. However, my favourite on the night was ‘Fitzwilliam Street’. It had harsh guitar tones, penetrating drums and lyrics that made you feel a part of the song. The band, whilst comparatively still quite young, already have a very refined and developed sound, and this was on display throughout their set.
Credit: Oliver Galbraith
After Penny’s Band finished, there was a suspense within the audience waiting for the main act to take to the stage. Suddenly, the song ‘Thriller’ blasted through the sound system, and the band came out onto the stage in great fashion. But, as not everything can go perfectly to plan, the smoke alarm had something to say about the dramatic entrance. Causing the sound system to reset, there was a moment until guitarist and singer Charlie McAdam played off the moment with pure class. Somehow, the band managed to turn what could have been a disaster into something to laugh about and enjoy with the audience. Redoing their walkout, the band played a full set, holding the attention of the audience all the way throughout. Having seen them previously down in Kerry in early July, the set had changed quite a bit. With some different tunes, a couple of covers, a solo by Charlie and perhaps a reshuffling of the order they played in Kerry, the set was exciting and well curated, highlighting that they are continually progressing as a band to anyone who has seen them before. Singing along and dancing was how I spent the whole set, and at one stage even found myself in the middle of a mosh pit with quite a few of the audience and even a few members of Penny’s Band!
Credit: Oliver Galbraith
A big thank you to Chordblossom for having Lewis and I down to the gig, as it was a night to be remembered. I know this won’t be the last time I see any of the three bands. Something to keep an eye out for is Chord Blossom’s next gifted gig at the Empire Music Hall on November 20th to see Beauty Sleep with support from Touzai and Robyn Maddox. See you all there!