Review of Planet Parade at Whelans on March 12th 2011
Review by Deirdre Harrison
Photos by Kieran Frost
Up and coming Kildare band Planet Parade, chose on unseasonably cold Saturday night to showcase their new material. Hotly tipped to be the next big act from Ireland, and with regular airplay on Dublin’s Phantom105.2 FM, many gathered to see if the hype was deserved.
First up was new act Les Marionettes, playing their first gig. With a very 80s sound and look, the sparse crowd just looked perplexed by the sight of the group, and their repetitive songs did nothing to endear us to them.
Next up was Squarehead who attempted to lift the mood of the venue after Les Marionettes. With an upbeat surfer vibe they are sure to be a regular fixture in the live music scene for a long time to come. The band themselves were faultless, yet for some reason the Whelans’ crowd just did not take to them.
The rather sombre mood of the now more substantial crowd continued when headliners Planet Parade came onto stage. Opening with “Zulu Sound,” the title track from their latest EP, the three piece showed how tight a live act they are. Moving into “Play Fair”, a dangerously catchy tune which would have a typical Whelans’ crowd dancing around. But a typical Whelans’ crowd this was not! While the crowd were staring intently at the band, the majority seemed to show no emotion.
Urging the crowd to come closer to the stage, Planet Parade continued to deliver a fantastic performance of their polished catalogue of jangly guitar laden songs, which once in your head refuse to leave. Beginning to show a bit more life, the crowd began to dance and sway to the bouncy rhythm as if they could not fight it anymore. Finishing their set with “Soon They’ll Come”, the fun energy from the band was now infectious as the crowd sang along.
With a style that sounds like a cross between Vampire Weekend and The Police, this trio definitely live up to the hype. They are a tight live act, who most importantly looks like they’re enjoying themselves. I urge you to see them as soon as you can while they’re still playing small venues.
Set List
1. Zulu Sound
2. Play Fair
3. Shoot
4. Blue Turns Grey
5. Run from You
6. Cut the Chord
7. Sunshine
8. Remind Me
9. You Yeah You
10. Sweet Spot
11. Electrical
12. Soon They’ll Come
