<body><script type="text/javascript"> function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) { if(window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false); } else { window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }); } } </script> <div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() { if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) { gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({ url: 'https://www.blogger.com/navbar.g?targetBlogID\x3d8453678840240431456\x26blogName\x3dsecret+fireworks\x26publishMode\x3dPUBLISH_MODE_BLOGSPOT\x26navbarType\x3dSILVER\x26layoutType\x3dCLASSIC\x26searchRoot\x3dhttps://secretfireworks.blogspot.com/search\x26blogLocale\x3den_GB\x26v\x3d2\x26homepageUrl\x3dhttp://secretfireworks.blogspot.com/\x26vt\x3d-6562538512825652701', where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"), id: "navbar-iframe" }); } }); </script>

secret fireworks

a music blog with a northern irish twist

 

secret fireworks @ trans: john shelly and the creatures

*tenuous link here, bear with me*


Who would want to work for the Northern Irish Tourist Board? It must be up there with being Michael Owen's physio, Pete Doherty's minder or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's PR representative. Norn Iron is known abroad for bombs, bullets, Bibles and blustery weather: whoever said "any publicity is good publicity" is clearly talking rubbish. A multimullion advertising campaign showing the landscape and countryside of Northern Ireland (as well as the general craic in our wee country) is a drop in the ocean compared to the round the clock news coverage when something wrong here. How do we change that perception that prospective tourists have? What does Northern Ireland mean to us?

Well, today's little performance in the Ulster Hall cafe by John Shelly and the Creatures would have been the perfect TV advert for Northern Ireland, if there had been any cameras knocking about. Or people, for that matter. Yes, I was able to have a good cup of tea sitting inside the newly revamped Ulster Hall while the band put on a great performance as the sun shone outside. Rational thinking, public investment, a resurgent music scene and global warming now feature in Northern Ireland, and we're all the better for it.

Kicking off the set with "Angeline", it feels like I'm watching a different band to the one I had seen at Trans:mission last week. As a full band JSC are good, but in an intimate acoustic performance like this, they really shine. Walter's vocals are much stronger than the previous Waterfront show, while all of the instrumental parts grab your attention. There's a warmth in this gig that was devoid in previous performances: it seems that once you unplug the electric guitars and remove the barriers JSC come to life. "Soft To The Bone" (well, I'm calling it that, I'm not sure of the proper title) sounds lush with three part harmonies interlinking and mixing together so well. It's a sign of good songwriting that a track can hold up in different situations: I would argue that 90% of this set was better than a full band performance. The little things stand out in these performances and they were on show today as the bassline takes prominence time and time again.

We're treated to a twee number featuring a mouth organ and mandolins which is reminiscent of Turin Brakes, nothing too complicated but simply a song that warms your soul. The lead vocals seem to swap between Ger, Walter and Phil: it's not necessarily a problem but it can make a set a little inconsistent as sometimes the vocalist can't break into their stride. However considering the fact every song seems to contain a harmony or two we didn't encounter that problem today. "Blinded and Cross" can only be appreciated truly in this setting: a simple little song that features those lovely three part harmonies that are hauntingly beautiful. The folk kings and queens of Belfast seem to be The Lowly Knights at the minute, a band I love but a band built on shaky foundations. John Shelly and the Creatures are an act built upon damn good songwriting, great melodies and glorious harmonies. There most certainly is a challenge for the crown.


 

for this post

Leave a Reply