It’s a rainy cold evening in the city. Thousands are making their way to the 3-arena to see the biggest 90's disco Headlined by Bonnie Tyler!!! and Peter Andre!!..cheapest tickets €50.
A smaller group (with infinitely better taste) of around sixty people are going the opposite direction to the Grand Social to see Elephant Tree and three other bands for €13. We arrive slightly late and only catch end of fornoth.
Next up is three-piece Grey Stag. Their mix of Celtic Frost style riffs and Crowbar heaviness and aggression hits the spot. One to watch
Elder Druid bring it tonight big time. Seven years in to their existence and the experience shows in not only the pacing of their set but the presentation. Singer Greg McDowell is a great front man. His physicality and his guttural primal Howell suits the heaviness of this music. Rhythm guitarist Mikey Scott bends and consorts with every twist of the music and dressed in all white is a visual parallel to McDowells man in black . The riffs are thick and move at the pace of molasses. The weight of the music is close to yob in its delivery. The crowd drinks this concoction down and asks for more. A steller set.
Elephant Tree have never played Dublin before and I’m curious how they will reproduce their sound live. The key to the magic of their sound is the harmony vocals. I need not have worried. Starting off with sails from the latest album Habits. The vocals of Jack Townley and Peter Holland are note perfect and ride and soar over the riffs beautifully. They are heavier live than on album and it wins over the crowd. The band are in good form with good natured banter between them and the crowd.
They play a mix of songs from the self titled debut and Habits. I had been so focused on Habits I’d forgotten how great the songs of their other album are. Dawn is monstrous tonight and Townley’s solos are nothing short of blistering. They bring on a cello and violin player for two semi acoustic tracks. The Fall Chrous is one of those truly transitional moments musically that can only be experienced in a live setting. It’s is delicate and powerful at the same time. You can hear a pin drop. There is a pause of silence at the end that is filled by an explosion of applause.
The band really stretch out playing Bird. It becomes a improvised but intricate jam. The heaviness they bring live complements the ethereal mood of the song.
The atmosphere by the end of the set is electric. The crowd are whooping and the heads are banging ferociously.
A set that is nothing short of stunning by a fantastic band. For those of us that turned up it was a special night where all the bands brought it to the stage and Elephant Tree in particular showed why they are one of the best bands on the live circuit.
If you missed it....I feel sorry for you....Pure magic.
-Bobo Coen
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