Tipperary/ Cork alliance MONORAIL made their first trip to De Barra’s last summer. At the time, they’d just released one of the most accomplished roots-tinged debuts of recent times (‘Sleepers’) and singer/ songwriter Seamus Hennessy and multi-instrumentalist David Murphy took to the stage as a duo to treat us to a low-key, but quietly confident set showcasing some of the album’s key tracks.
Tonight, they’re preceded by another gently impressive set by EUGENE O’CALLAGHAN. I know little about him to date, but his seven-song set has a couple of glorious moments (‘Blessed’ and the closing ‘Lose Myself’ stick in the mind) and at one stage Monorail drummer David Tate joins him to add subtle percussive touches. It’s never child’s play being on the receiving end of someone else’s audience, but Eugene acquits himself well and exudes a calm, friendly exterior. I’d like to hear more from him.
This time, MONORAIL are in full battle formation, with Hennessy and Murphy joined by Tate and bassist Don Rothwell. Tonight’s show is their first in two months, but signs of ring-rusty inactivity are refreshingly absent from the second they launch into the yearning swirl of opener ‘The Universe.’
Of course, to dub Monorail merely an ‘Americana’-styled outfit is a little simplistic. Yes, David Murphy’s consummate pedal steel is one of their secret weapons and (even sans guest vocal from Gemma Hayes) the recent single ‘Hearts of Gold’ is the sort of glorious, heartbroken sway that would have fit Gram & Emmy Lou like his’ n’ hers Nudie suits, but there’s a lot more than lost highways and tears in beers being referenced here.
A swampy, cranked up rush through Dylan’s ‘Outlaw Blues’ and the fiery, anthemic ‘Lost To You’ demonstrate how effectively Monorail can rock, while the mellow flow of ‘Calm Place’ and the bitter, fragile break up song ‘Perch’ (featuring an unlikely, but highly successful lead bass part from Rothwell) show they’re no strangers to subtlety either.
|
New material is coming on a treat too.‘We’ll Soon See’ and one (I think) called ‘Hawk’ have their moments, while the media-blitzing ‘Pages’ moves from nagging Police-esque pop reggae to beefy power pop and peddles a convincing line in catchy choruses. Earmarking it as a single may well be a smart move.
Then there’s the fact Monorail work so well as a unit. There’s a quiet strength and determination to Hennessy’s vocal delivery, while Murphy flits between pedal steel, electric and acoustic guitars and harmonica with skill and dexterity. Rothwell and Tate are also a revelation: they play with a poise and depth that leaves most rhythm sections standing.
They pull it all together for the finale and two of ‘Sleepers’ stand-out tracks – ‘River’ and ‘The Spy.’ The former has an elemental ebb and swell redolent of its title and drops back to a pin-drop acapella ending, while ‘The Spy’ finds them riding sultry grooves and building up a tour de force stretching over five minutes. Collectively, it’s adds up to all the proof you need that Monorail are one of the best live bands currently on the circuit in Ireland. Go see ‘em soon.
Monorail online
|
