Slow Skies @ Camden Crawl Dublin

Slow Skies at The Unitarian Church, Dublin on Friday the 8th of November 2013

The combination of Slow Skies, I Have a Tribe and The Unitarian Church seemed almost perfect when it was announced.

The church itself is packed and dimly lit as Patrick O’Laoghaire  takes to the stage, solo this time, under the guise of I Have a Tribe. For those not in the know, he is also part of Slow Skies.

Following the raucous praise the band have been getting following their Hard Working Class Heroes set, it is somewhat of a surprise to see him take his place in front of the crowd solo; until of course you hear how he manipulates his instruments alone, captivating the audience with his plaintive and emotionally raw vocals.

A talent and soon to be headliner has found his feet and is set to take scene by storm.

After Pat’s six song set, Karen Sheridan takes to the stage alongside her crew, this is Slow Skies in their element; an intimate show, where her vocals pierce the silence beautifully.

Playing an extensive set including new tracks from their forthcoming EP as well as a cover of the National, the set plays far longer than expected as Slow Skies delight the audience with what can only be described as an ethereal experience, probably the most overused term in describing the band, but it just fits.

This show does not play out like a band with just two EPs to their name. It shows exceptional emotional scale, from a band who have honed their abilities and created something simple yet beautiful. The music is incredibly intricate and beautifully layered but as with their EPs, the standout moment is when Karen’s vocals take over. A must be heard to understand scenario.

Between songs, the band interact with the audience, making this intimate event even more endearing, telling jokes, sharing stories and just relating to the audience a sense of ease, particularly since they expected no one to turn up on the night.

Stand out tracks from the set include On The Shore and Ties but they only barely make it in ahead of the rest of the music.

The Unitarian Church is a somewhat surreal event, one of the view venues in Dublin that requires you to sit without a drink in hand, and Slow Skies proved to be enough to keep the crowd attentive; letting them leave sober and satisfied in the experience.

Slow Skies open for Liza Flume on Thursday 14th in The Workmans.