NYF Countdown Concert at College Green, Dublin, 31 December 2014

New Year’s Eve in Dublin is traditionally – and somewhat bewilderingly – one of  the most anticipated nights of the year. There’s overfilled pubs overcharging  for watered down pints. Queues upon queues at the bar, the toilets, all of the Charlie’s and of course, taxi ranks. The city’s New Year Festival’s Countdown Concert on College Green is no different. Except for a few overrated bands thrown in on top.

Walking On Cars fit the bill perfectly. They write decent songs. They play decent music. However, they’re about as unique as a novelty Christmas jumper in December. “Hands in the air everyone,” prefaces nearly every song. Okay, everyone’s hands are in the air, now what? Their set is book-ended by the only two songs that rescue what is a bland performance, Always Be With You and Catch Me If You Can.

It doesn’t take long for The Dublin Legends to pick up spirits again as they fly through a set loaded with classic tunes that find those in attendance in full voice. Whiskey in the Jar, Dirty Auld Town and Black Velvet Band are the distinct highlights.

James Vincent McMorrow is undoubtedly one of 2014’s biggest success stories. His sophomore album ‘Post Tropical’ was one of the best albums released last year, not only in Ireland but right across the board. Cavalier and Gold prove as much but it’s Higher Love which proves to be the pinnacle of the set, justifying its near 22 million Spotify plays.

However, McMorrow’s set never really got going. Whether that was down to a crowd who were largely in attendance to see Kodaline, or whether the awful weather put a dampener on spirits, what was a glorious set hardly got a shrug of the shoulders from the increasingly rowdy revellers.

There are a number of things that people love to do when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. Kiss their significant other, call their loved ones, pop the cork on the champagne or simply link arms with friends and pretend to know the words to Auld Lang Syne. Enduring Kodaline‘s new “heavier” sound in the form of latest single Honest falls somewhere between giving your mother-in-law a peck on the cheek and flagging yet another occupied taxi on the list. Of course, from a marketing point of view, it’s a genius move and an opportunity which any band would grab in an instant. It’s all just a bit too gimmicky for what should be a night of celebration.

That said, Kodaline have a wealth of songs that lend themselves to being bellowed at the top of one’s voice. High Hopes is triumphant and Brand New Day is somewhat more in tune with the day’s events.

A bit of advice for December 31st 2015. Stay at home and watch Jools’ Hootenanny. We know that’s what we’ll be doing this time next year.