Lorraine started with a song called Skinny Boy, a great song with a real catchy chorus which we were all singing along to when she repeated it at the end of her set. Other songs included Soldier Blue, Mediterranean Sun, and Blue Eyes. It was clearly obvious by the end of her set that the crowd had thoroughly enjoyed her performance.
And so, on to Indian. What can I say? ... An absolutely superb gig.
The band were in great form, and with Ollie back on sound duties, they could really relax knowing there would be no worries in that department. Fair play Ollie, you did a great job.
The set started with Tramped Through The World, and the gig took off from the words I think it's time to have a go... We were in for a treat, with both Joe and Christy's voices in excellent condition. Indian played all the 'old' favourites... Flying Solo, Elvis 'N' Spiders, and finished with Assassination... eventually... when the crowd let them. Everyone knew this would be the last song, but I don't think anyone wanted the gig to end.
A rather slower version of Electricity was performed this time, but was no less powerful than when played at a quicker tempo. It was wonderful to see so many people singing along with Indian's new songs from Blue Flowers. Once or twice, I had a look around the room, to see many singing along to Cities, Viva Love, Yellow Sky, and Skindive.
A great gig Indian. Thank you. Can't wait for the next time. And judging by the smiley happy people leaving the Roisin the other night, many more felt the same.
The show started as always with Tramped Through The World followed by Viva Love. Yellow Sky and Cities, with the fantastic guitar solo from Pat followed. All these songs sound so much fuller live! Joe appreciatevely dedicated 'Holding My Breath' to all the people who had travelled from Belfast, Cork etc to the gig. Not many bands get people travelling from all over Ireland to see them on a wet Thursday night.
Just before Butterfly, Joe tried to start up a bit of friendly banter by questioning whether there were any Manchester United or Arsenal fans in the audience. During last year's show in Dublin, I remember him talking about Roy Keane, so perhaps Joe is a closet Red!
The only mistake came at the end of 'Skin Dive' when Joe gave us an extra helping of the chorus!! Pat then swapped his guitar for the fiddle for Bang Bang Gun before Joe, with his customary deck of cards, made his way through the audience for Flying Solo, ending up singing whilst lying upside down on the floor. It's a good job he was wearing a black suit. Elvis n Spiders and Lonesome Heart Attack finished the show and Indian were gone briefly before returning for the inevitable encore, Assassination. The Stream was a strange ommision from the set and it would have been great to hear one of the two new songs but overall, another excellent night.
I can't finish without mentioning Loraine O'Reilly who was on first. She reminded me greatly of Sheryl Crow and surely has a big future. She had a fantastic voice and five great songs written by Martin and Pat. Pat and ex-Indian bass player Paul McCann played in her band and if the sound guy had turned up Pat's guitar so that we could have really heard the fantastic solos, everything would have been perfect.
Indian came to the stage with ease and took up their instruments as if they were slipping into a more comfortable pair of jeans. Finding their real selves behind cymbals, strings, keys and a microphone they started solemnly, quietly they teased the music out of themselves. The set began with Tramped through the World followed by Viva Love and Yellow Sky all of which were immaculately performed. They seemed to hold back on the first three songs as if preparing a runway for Cities to take flight from and it did. The guitar solo was amazing. It led the guitar queen beside me to proclaim: 'I have never seen a happier guitar player in all my life'. It was true, Pat was in a secret world, where there was no stage or audience, just him and his guitar rocking and adding new dimensions to the world of sound.
Joe's vocal range wowed the crowd in the next three songs: Holding my Breath, Butterfly, and Skindive. Then came Electricity and it was electric. It caught the deepest recesses of the crowd and made them sit up and listen. The boundary of the stage was extended as Joe stood out over, then in, the crowd. Everything came to life at once. Breath in Time, Bang Bang Gun and Flying Solo had the same hypnotic effect on the crowd. Christy, the drummer, came from behind his armour of metal to take Martin's spot on the keyboard at one point; it was a fluid transition that simply highlighted the calibre of the musicians on stage. Flying solo had another incredible guitar solo. Pat's skill and quick-fire rhythmic fingers were the envy of the guitar players in the audience. It was also during this song that a pack of cards were flicked toward the assembled flock, a small token to remember it all by. The Jack of Hearts came home with me.
Elvis n Spiders, one of my favourites, came next followed by Lonesome for a Heartattack and yet another mind-blowing solo from Pat. Cities and Assassination were the much demanded encore. The setting was perfect, small enough to permit intimacy; however, the crowd was mixed, some were there for earlier performances and stayed on uninterested in what followed, but there was a group of die-hard fans who sang, danced and were transported by the music. Many of these fans simply kept their eyes closed, it wasn't about visual antics, or boy band stereotypes, it was simply about the music and how all good music resonates within. For those that stayed on to listen it was an experience not easily forgotten.
The show started as usual with Tramped Through The World but this time it had an extra long intro as Joe's mike wasn't switched on!! Once that was sorted out it was Straight Forward No Looking Back. I am sure everybody knows the set by now; Viva Love, Yellow Sky, Cities, Holding My Breath, Butterfly etc etc. I won't run through them all, but if you have the album and have not seen Indian live yet, you are seriously missing out - the live show is a step beyond.
Electricity and Flying Solo really stand out for me from the first album so they get my vote for getting re-recorded, and with the new intro to Electricity I get the feeling the band have already been working on it. The people of Magherafelt were out in force as Pat plays here with The Painkillers quite often and I am positive nobody left dissapointed.
Cities is by far the best song on the album and I was only delighted to hear it played not once but twice.
These guys deserve to be huge!
Why is this band not HUGE?? This gig was simply superb!!! The Garavogue was full to capacity and heaving. Tramped Through The World started things as usual and led straight into Viva Love. Next up was Yellow Sky with Joe showing us all what a class vocalist he is. In fact all the guys had the women in the audience cooing with their trademark suits; just what is it about a man in uniform?
The single Cities was next up and it has to be the best song that Martin has written, Pat's solo at the end was just amazing. Holding My Breath and Butterfly followed, before Skin Dive slowed things down giving everyone a chance to catch their breath briefly before Electricity ripped things up again. All the songs sound so much better live, especially the ones off the first album with Pat's guitar really predominant. Electricity was so hot it set off the fire alarm!
When things cooled down (it's a good job this venue is beside a river) Breathe In Time was next up, with another fantastic solo from Pat, who then swapped his guitar for the fiddle for Bang Bang Gun. It was then time for audience participation during Flying Solo so all the blokes went to the bar and left the women to it.
You have to be an anorak to spot a mistake at an Indian gig (mine's size 12) but after singing the first line of the second verse of Elvis 'n' Spiders, Joe had to go back to the chorus. These things wouldn't happen if they played more than one gig a month!
Lonesome Heart Attack finished the show before the lads were given a rousing ovation bringing them back on for The Stream. This is my own personal favorite of the set, the notes Pat hits on his guitar are so high a pack of stray dogs assembled outside the front door (unfortunatley they couldn't afford the entrance fee). I think this is the last we'll see of Aileen for a while as it looks like she'll be a bit busy. Cities was then repeated and before long Assassination had finished the show for good. It really was over too quickly.
Can I wait another month for my next fix? unfortunatley we have no choice. Why is Sligo so far away ?
Joe was in top form, flirting with all the bendy dancers, Martin pounded on that keyboard as if it had stolen all his best ideas ... which reminds me, anyone notice guy scribbling lyrics from "lonesome heart attack" into a little notebook?
Applause to aileen for getting up and singing with baby in pouch and the new arrangements to some of the intros didn't go unnoticed ...
I thought ye were brill but that the venue probably didn't do you justice; all my friends with me were shrugging their shoulders at the start but by the end they were all mad into it. It was a pity ye couldn't have played longer, ye seemed to finish up fairly quick. It's great to finally find an Irish band with a sense of fun and that have a bit of life to their music, I'm so sick of listening to depressed poets sing into their guitars, yer sound is so fresh and I can't wait to see ye play again. here's to then!
cheers, Jane xxxx
The Galway crew are looking forward to Sligo in August.
The new single, Cities, is a gem. This band are going places and they want to take you with them, if you're brave enough. You can keep Westlife, this is a real Sligo band - I know Pat is from Fermanagh but it's close.
Go on; go see them. You'll be surprised.
I definitely recommend the album
Indian must now feel they are the vehicle for what must be described as 'classic Indian', they have got their own unmistakable sound as all great rock bands have had. A slightly new 2004 line-up; re-vamped and oozing class. Pat McManus can only be described as amazing, not only a lead guitarist who could be compared to some of the greats, but also the reason that Indian have become such a 'tight' band. Pat not only plays to the crowd but also to his bandmates, he and Christy {on drums} complement each other effortlessly. Joe Hunt is as energetic and charismatic as ever, both in voice and stage presence.
For those who have heard the new album and liked it, well, you haven't heard anything until you've heard it live... Indian are and always will be a live band, the new songs take on new life with a sound that only a live atmospheric gig can capture. With Pat on board the chihuahua songs sound more like classics than they ever did.
Playing to a packed factory audience the set began with cities from the blue flowers album, it was obvious from the outset that this was a new improved Indian... being such a new album not everybody was familiar with the lyrics, but as much of the set was taken from chihuaua this kept everyone satisfied and singing along. It was an amazing performance, the kind where you know you've just witnessed something special. The final number played was assassination, which begs the question - what happened to sugar cube... anyone who's seen Indian live will know that this above all is/was their best received live anthem.
For those considering seeing Indian play live, don't think twice, you will not regret going... don't feel like you missed out when, in the future, people remember "that Indian gig in the factory".
So for...
Martin - the poet
Joe - the showman
Christy - the glue that bonds it all together
Pat - the guitar wizard
Paul - the backbone
and if you're lucky... the beautiful haunting voice of Aileen.
Good luck Indian, not that you're ever going to need it!!