Live Report: Kneecap deliver 'Parful' performance at Vicar Street

Music
31 Oct 24

Kneecap at Vicar Street. Copyright @ Jason Doherty.

Following the news of their biggest show to date at Fairview Park next year, the West Belfast trio lit up Vicar Street for their third sold-out night in a row, with another two shows to go.

The year of Kneecap is upon us. Whatever your opinion of the Belfast trio, Kneecap's success is indisputable, from their acclaimed new album Fine Art, to their award-winning KNEECAP film. Fusing hip-hop, punk, and traditional Irish music, the group effortlessly explore the labyrinth of politics and culture, all the while delivering their message in a blend of Irish and English.

Before Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí took to the stage at Vicar Street, they solemnly projected a message onto the background screen in support of the Palestinian people, imploring Ireland to expel the US military.

After allowing the audience time to digest and reflect on the message, ‘3CAG’, the first song from the trio’s album Fine Art started to play, and DJ Próvaí rose from behind his decks, arms outstretched, sporting a red jumpsuit and signature tricolour balaclava.

He was joined onstage by Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap, kitted out in grey tracksuits and clutching bottles of Buckfast, looking as if they'd arrived straight off the cover of their 2018 EP 3cag.

Kneecap kicked off the concert with ‘IT’S BEEN AGES’ amid adoring fans flaunting tricolour balaclavas, who were later dubbed as those ‘in charge of organising the mosh pits’.

Between sips of Buckfast, Móglaí Bap addressed the audience as Gaeilge, asking “conas atá sibh?”, before launching into ‘Fenian Cunts’.

The trio were joined by Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten, not in body but in spirit, for ‘Better Way To Live’, as he appeared from a background visual on a TV screen.

Keeping up the banter throughout the set, Móglaí Bap channelled Wim Hof and paused for a breather, encouraging Mo Chara to invite the audience to take a moment to breathe together, in for four… out for eight…

A quick “keep her lit” later, and the group launched into ‘Sick In The Head’, accompanied by scenes from the majorly successful KNEECAP film, which has been selected as the Irish entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

It simultaneously functioned as a comedy show as well as a musical performance. “Think this is the best-looking crowd we’ve had so far”, Móglaí Bap commented. “That’s because they’re all in balaclavas”, retorted Mo Chara, igniting peals of laughter from the audience.

Maintaining the energy on stage, they burst into ‘C.E.A.R.T.A.’, the “joke” track they created on Garageband while stoned in their attic, which ended up kick-starting their career.

The crowd sang along to every word. The lack of phones in the air was an ode to Kneecap’s stage presence, as fans lived in the moment and fully took in the scenes with their own eyes, not wanting to miss a thing.

After having captivated Vicar Street for over an hour for the third night in a row, the trio finished their set with ‘H.O.O.D’, with DJ Próvaí taking the opportunity to crowdsurf, ending the night with tremendous energy and a phenomenal atmosphere.

Fine Art indeed.