Dublin venues on a Friday night often have an odd ‘Disco 2000’ feel about them – musicians have to work hard to be heard over the cacophony of impartial weekend revellers. More often than not, it’s a case of preaching to the never-to-be-converted.
Unfortunately, Ely Styles is no exception, and tonight he is fast losing his battle against That Friday Feeling. Though his set is punctuated with flashes of brilliance, Styles and his band have their work cut out for them winning over this particular audience.
Throughout the evening, Styles displays a mind-boggling multitude of influences. Unfortunately, his non-committal stance towards any singular musical style is almost confusing. On occasion, he plumps for the classic Britpop swagger, and his exuberance and defiance are almost reminiscent of a less stylised King Adora. On the flipside, there are a couple of baleful alt-country numbers that appear to be accidentally placed in the set.
There is enough evidence there to suggest that Styles’ musical career has the legs to run some distance. He appears to be blessed with a classical, Elvis Costello-esque songwriting bent, although it’s a skill that needs honing. Still, it comes as little surprise to hear that Alan Cullivan (Thrills manager) has seen enough in the young singer as to welcome him into his management stable.
It’s certainly early days for Styles, but fortunately he has the raw materials, not to mention the team behind him, to really make things happen.