There are few fates as daunting as opening for a band who are the subject of a media feeding frenzy, so as local Cork singer/ songwriter Eoin Coughlan steps up in front of a bar crammed with aloof industry types awaiting The Thrills, dahling, your heart goes out to him.
In less determined hands, phrases involving 'Daniel' and 'Lion's Den' would be springing to mind, but in this nothing to lose situation, the last thing on Coughlan's mind is to be a shrinking violet. No, this steely young performer is full of fire and bile and demands your attention. Now would be a good time.
His "Live at Whelans" EP features him in full low with bassist Noel Barratt and drummer Danny Byrt, but tonight he's accompanied by only his trusty, FX-fuelled acoustic. He begins with a startling reworking of ancient chestnut "Wayfaring Stranger." The last time your reviewer heard this song performed, it was given a sparse and haunting reinvention by Giant Sand leader Howe Gelb, but Coughlan gives it the full, nostril- flarin' Billy Bragg treatment, hammering the shit out of the frets and climaxing the song with a crescendo worthy of the Velvet Underground.
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He's only allowed a meagre five songs, but these also include a bitter'n'tender "Blue" and an exhilarating "Cuttin' Down Laws" that proves (refreshingly) that the supposedly long-lost 'protest song' is safe in the hands of a new breed, against all odds.
The majority of the 'heads' here stupidly - and predictably - ignore him, but ultimately the circle of us at the front will be proved right. Eoin Coughlan is a fine young songwriter who makes the kind of noises that over-rated berks like David Gray would if they were actually any good. Ignoring him would be foolish.
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