The unfortunate timing of The Village gig on Saturday night meant that I had to cut my viewing of BBC1’s stellar (well it’s a matter of opinion) talent show I’d Do Anything short. For the rest of the night, I found myself pondering whether any of the people on stage would be good enough to play Nancy in Oliver in the West End. Happily, for the sake of this review, I eventually quashed the urge to make such comparisons.
Juno Falls really impressed with their melodic, dream-like set, with 'Atom Bomb' the faintly Arabesque highlight.
Cheered on by what seemed like the whole of Terenure, The Coronas also impressed with such radio-friendly fare as 'Grace, Don't Wait' and 'San Diego Song', which is a top 40 US hit waiting to happen.
Ultimately however, they were overshadowed on the night by fellow Dubliners Boss Volenti. From the moment they started to play it was apparent that the quartet, fresh from supporting We Are Scientists, really are something quite special. Laura McKay, on guitar, exuded confidence and cool (and for the first time in years, made me long to be a rock star) while the painfully charismatic lead singer Rob Daly, with his mesmerising hip-shaking and powerful voice, truly stole the show.
Now there’s a man who could go all the way to the West End.