Originally published in Hot Press 2003

It is usually nigh-on impossible for live albums to capture the magic of actually being at a gig, and you would think that for The Frames, that goes doubly so.

After all, The Frames live are a totally unique experience: every gig is a communion of sorts between band and audience, a tribal gathering that has been growing apace for the last three years or so. And yet, Set List, recorded over four nights in Vicar St. late last year, somehow manages to capture the fairy dust that makes Glen Hansard and co. such a riveting proposition on stage.

They get crowd pleasers ‘Revelate’ and ‘Star Star’ out of the way early, the former a big, bawdy singalong, which has had a cathartic effect on a whole generation of Irish kids; the latter swoonsomely perfect, with the now obligatory trip to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory in the middle-eight.

Perversely, for a band who seem to give so much of themselves away to the audience with every performance, they end up all the greater for it. Perhaps The Frames’ most valuable asset is their versatility, turning from righteous anger to pin-dropping pathos in a heartbeat (‘God Bless Mom’, ‘Pavement Tune’ and a monumental ‘Santa Maria’).

The punters packed into Vicar St. play as large a part in the success of Set List as The Frames themselves. Unlike on many ultra-precious live recordings, here audience participation is not just recommended, it’s mandatory, and the good people of Ireland do themselves proud on ‘Lay Me Down’, the Kool & The Gang bit on ‘Rent Day Blues’ and especially on the only new track present, ‘The Blood’.

There are a few surprises along the way, including excerpts of Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring Of Fire’ and Bob Marley’s ‘Redemption Song’, as well as Glen’s hilarious and poignant introduction to ‘What Happens When The Heart Just Stops’.

Set List is the sound of a band at the peak of their powers, from Colm’s stunning fiddle-work to Joe Doyle’s perfect backing vocals, with the boy Hansard as magical Master of Ceremonies, effortlessly guiding musicians and audience through their paces.

Even people who don’t love The Frames have to concede that they’re a fabulous live band – and so it’s no small recommendation to say that Set List succeeds in doing them justice.