- Music
- 20 Mar 01
A friend of mind, no slouch on vocals or guitar, auditioned in the Top Hat in Dun Laoghaire for Emmet Spiceland, but we both knew the jig was up when Leo O'Kelly walked on to the stage. The quality of his songs with Tnr na nSg still resonate with many of us but, remarkably Glare is his first solo outing.
A fine auspicious debut it is too, full of twists, turns and diversions, even if one can for the most part file it under "bright and poppy". 'Streets Of This Town', sounds like The Boss. Leo, though, has a presence all of his own, a penchant for pulsating rhythms of the world in 'Riccfet', a bass-laden voice a few boom-chackas to the left of Johnny Cash, and a wicked line in lyrical observation. Taken together, those are the things which make him one of our more challenging and innovative writers. It's a safe bet that the word 'formula' doesn't crop up too often in his extensive lexicon.
These are songs for the times we live in and beyond, not digestible in their intricacies in one sitting. One should go back to the table for second (and third) courses. Only then will the true value of this fine body of work be able to be appreciated. But Leo, do me one favour, don't have me wait thirty years for the next one!