Bressie, live at The Academy

It must be fascinating being Bressie these days. He may be better known for his public persona – thanks to that hit TV show – than for anything he’s recorded, but the error may be in trying to separate “Bressie the phenomenon” from the guy up onstage who just wants to play his music.

There are moments when you half-expect him to spin around on a swivel chair rather than bounding out of the wings with his four-piece band to shrieks and cheers from the capacity audience. But so what? The only question that matters is: does he cut it as a live performer?
“Don’t be shy, it’s Friday night,” he says to the crowd which, not surprisingly, is about 75% female. In fairness, however, as the night progresses, it becomes clear that they need little encouragement to party.
Songs like the poignant ‘While You’re Dreaming’ from his debut album contrast with the anthemic ‘Fight To Midnight’, and the even more danceable ‘Pity Party’, which has everybody up on their feet. Dedicating a song to one of his buddies who has just become a dad, he jokes that, “He’s probably drunk by now anyway.” Later, he can barely contain his excitement at the fact that Ronan O’Gara is in the house.
He talks a lot, relating several amusing stories – such as his horror at using Tesco automated checkouts – which all receive huge cheers.
“I’m one of those annoying songwriters who tells you what the songs are about,” he confesses, while more than once he makes reference to his involvement in the charity Cycle Against Suicide, and dedicates a song to the late Donal Walsh. Reminiscing about when his former band The Blizzards played the Academy for the first time, he deliverss a storming ‘You Are My Fantasy’, still one of the most powerful songs in his armoury.
The new single ‘Silence Is Your Saviour’ is surprisingly subdued, while the encore includes the acoustic ballad ‘Two’s A Crowd’ and his calling card, ‘Can’t Stay Young Forever’.
At one point towards the end he leans down to a group of girls at the front of the stage, and says, “I’ve just heard that Leinster have won. What a feckin’ night.”
What a feckin’ night, indeed!