The FMC Tour (First Music Contact) is the latest initiative by The Arts Council to promote engagement with the arts and most specifically the Irish arts scene.
O Emperor joined Heathers and Adebisi Shank to play in venues across Cork, Galway, Limerick, Dundalk, Kilkenny and Dublin. MEG caught them on the final night of the tour in Whelans, Dublin.
O Emperor are a five piece band from Waterford. Their debut album Hither Thither reached no.6 in the Irish charts in 2010. They took to the stage in front of a rowdy gregarious crowd who’s enjoyment of the bands set seemed to be directly proportional to how much alcohol they consumed. Which is a shame, because O Emperor are probably the best thing to come from Waterford since Kilmeaden cheese.
Sedalia is a remarkable song which really portrays Paul Savage’s hypnotising vocals. The song has essences of early Coldplay and Badly Drawn Boy, mixed with something that sounds vaguely similar to Keane. Don Quixote is also fitting to a very Brit Rock sound. The bands music is good, really good and though on stage they lacked strength and gusto, their solid sound carried them through.
Twin sisters Ellie and Louise Macnamara aka Heathers took to the stage shortly after. Opening with that song we all know I Remember, it was clear that a lot of the audience had come only to see them. Their blend of abstract lyrics with their harmonic melodies, fast guitar and wailing vocals make for an enjoyable albeit slightly repetitive sound.
Find a Way and Slices of Palama sort of blended into one song and the set came across too tedious and tight. Margie got the crowd going. An acoustic cover of Beyonces Halo suggested the twins are admirably talented but when they once again resumed playing their pop sounding 3-chord songs I lost faith.
Adebisi Shank bounded onto stage and lashed into an energetic vibrant set. Adebisi Shank comprises of a drummer, bassist and guitarist from Wexford. Their sound has been described as something akin to a computer on meltdown. It’s a good description of their music. It is, for want of a more poetic description, a helluva lot of music.
It’s that hit-you-in-the-chest music that reminds you that you are present and alive at that moment. It’s fast, it’s loud, it’s energy. It’s music you feel.
By Cassie Delaney.
