Walk the Moon at the Academy 2, Dublin on 22nd February 2013

Whatever moments of genius Walk the Moon alluded to on their debut LP were sadly brushed aside after a few moments of experiencing them taking the stage in the Academy 2 last Friday. Walk the Moon are, unfortunately, just a bland live act. Their Friday night show was only ever middle of the road; close to average and a long way from interesting.

Following the release of their self-titled debut album and the success of their single Anna Sun, Walk the Moon have slowly and steadily been climbing the touring ladder. They’ve supported the likes of Weezer and Panic! At The Disco and this isn’t their first trip to Ireland having arrived in support of fun. last October.

Their notoriety preceded them and the Academy 2 was all but a sold-out show. The crowd, comprised mainly of folks in their late teens and early twenties, imbibed drinks in plastic cups and bopped around with streaks of face paint on their cheeks, following the band’s lead. In short; they were loving every minute. And Walk the Moon’s crown interaction was pretty excellent to be fair. Almost every track had its sing-along and clap-along parts and the crowd dutifully sung and clapped along.

So Walk the Moon were definitely ticking the ‘right’ boxes with their live show, as they did with their recorded offerings, but sadly that’s what made the show so lacklustre and so bland. They had no life of their own. It was as though the read a ‘How to’ guide for live shows and never thought to put their own spin on the tips.

Songs like the majestic Iscariot and the ever-catchy Quesdilla stuck out the live setting to drum up hints of the ingenuity and excitement that the band can capture. But for the most part, the songs were just a carbon copy of their recorded counterparts, which is not always a good thing. You would usually expect some variation, some soul, or some edge to come from a live performance – either that or versions of the songs that just blow you away. There was just nothing there to draw you in.

Their debut album gives off hints of a band caught between two stones. On one side they were your average Indie band with big choruses, chinking guitars, and synths. On the other they were fantastic songwriters with progressive melodies and hooks that truly get under your skin. But having seen their live show, there’s no doubt on which side the band fall.