Selling out six nights in a venue this size is impressive by any standards and usually the preserve of the Christy Moores and Mary Blacks of the this world. For a relatively young Irish artist with just two albums under his belt, it’s downright unprecedented. But when it comes down to it, Casey’s appeal is not all that hard to understand – his songs are melodic, memorable and instantly hummable and the crowd – mainly well dressed 20-somethings (the majority of them female) – were clearly out for a good time.
There was an unexpected touch of Spinal Tap about the sci-fi intro of the show, which resembled something from an ELO concert in the 1970s. But instead of the expected mothership, the diminutive Casey strode out to a hero’s welcome, awkwardly strapping on his guitar and mumbling a quick “Howaya” as he strummed the opening chords to ‘Living’. Right from the start the multitudes sang along with abandon, reaching a frenzy on one of his recent tunes ‘Lucky One’. A string section was added for ‘Downtown’ while no less than a gospel choir arrived onstage for the triumphant finale of ‘Saints and Sinners’.
colm o’hare