By Kevin Donnellan
Richie Egan (Jape) or Jape (Richie Egan), I’m not sure which, appears on stage in support of Cass McCombs. He launches straight into ‘Lying on a Deathbed’ a particularly Irish autobiographical song with a few lyrical gems (how could you not smile at hearing “Yis are all a pack of wankers down the back”). A short set goes down a charm.
The place is full but not too full. Richie asks if anyone has a joke to tell. “I have one,” pipes up a girl. She launches into a Paddy Englishman, Paddy Irishman joke then hesitates, Richie diplomatically suggests it might be a bit of a long one. A nice moment. The crowd are ready for the main event. Conor ‘Villagers’ O Brien’s presence only adds to the buzz.
Mr McCombs appears with his band just after ten, sporting a flat cap and a Bob Dylan-esque husk to his voice. He gets straight down to it. Mellow, easy going, simple songs. A lot more country-tinged that expected. ‘Equinox’ is an early highlight. But then…Well then the mellowness becomes monotonous. Songs meld into each other. “Is this the same song that he was playing when I went to the bathroom?” “I honestly don’t know.”
Of course this type of haziness can work sometimes. You can let it wash over you; a-gig-as-meditation. Here though, to myself anyway, it feels boring. Feet shuffling, checking the time, I’ll get another drink boring. I try to pick up the thread, like when you’re stuck in a lecture or meeting, but it’s impossible. The lyrics aren’t audible enough to take much from. The guitar playing is accomplished but with no apparent variety, the drums all tip, tip, tip keeping things chugging along.
It could be a mood thing. If you were in the mood to curl up and wallow in the melancholy – an admittedly enjoyable activity. But that feels more appropriate for sitting at home in your room. The guy is still an accomplished musician, he is still well worth listening to on the laptop but live? I wouldn’t be rushing back. The final two songs show that its not all navel gazing as the band let loose a bit more. It’s the most enjoyable part of the set by far.
And that’s it, he played a long set in fairness but when “This is the final song” is the most welcome thing you hear all night then what can you say?