Review of The JD Set featuring Neil Hannon, Cathy Davey at The Button Factory
Review by Aisling O’Brien
Photos courtesy of the JD Set
A trend that has become very popular of late has been free gigs being put on by various brands. With this the gig has to be unique and grab the publics attention. Jack Daniels hit the nail on the head last Friday with The JD Set. The concept: Neil Hannon, Riche of Jape, Cathy Davey and Romeo of The Magic Numbers delivering Vampire Weekends first album. As a huge Vampire Weekend fan I was all over the idea, but still a little confused as to how this was going to pan out.
On arrival at The Button Factory we were given complimentary Jack Daniels, always a good start to the night. The set was very classy and not overly branded. Pictures of the acts in rehearsals donned the walls of the jammed venue.
Neil Hannon & Co took to the stage and Neil welcomed everyone as he launched in to Mansard Roof. Cathy with her signature vocals and the orchestra trio silenced the crowd. Richie was really in to it and looked as if he was having the time of his life. Neil thanked the crowd for coming and made a funny joke about this been a car keys in bowl party.
Neil introduced each song with a little background information, which was really interesting. Their rendition of Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa was nothing short of amazing.
Romeo took the lead for M79, which had that lovely Magic Numbers vibe about it. Cathy seemed to be the crowd favourite with each of her contributions receiving huge cheers. Cathy and Romeo’s vocals on Campus harmonised perfectly. This was certainly a very special evening to be part of and the chemistry between all on stage was something that some well known bands have lacked. Cathy took the lead for Blake’s Got A New Face, a song which suits her quirky vocals so well it wouldn’t be out of place on an album of hers.
Before launching in to I Stand Corrected, Neil told the crowd that this offer to “perform his favourite album, with some of his favourite artists was like his birthday.”
Richie took on Walcott, adding Dolphins Barn, which got the crowd going. During The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance, Cathy sang that she had hit the wrong verse, and just to prove her golden girl status her musical confession earned one of the biggest cheers of the night.
Unsure of what the encore would be, and Neil had said they hadn’t learnt the second album, Contra, everyone left the stage. Neil returned to the stage and delivered a stunning performance of The Divine Comedy’s At The Indie Disco. Followed by The Magic Numbers Love Me Like You and Jape’s Floating.
As the crowd demanded one more tune, they were in luck as they got what they wanted and more in the shape of what Neil thought were the best songs from the gig, Oxford Comma, I Stand Corrected, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, A Punk, and Walcott, and a bonus of one of Neil’s songs Tonight We’ll Be Fine.
All in all, this was one of the best gigs I have been to..ever. My friend I was with even went so far to say she preferred some of the versions to the originals, and is still hoping they might release it as an album.
It seems a lot of hard work went in to this from all parties involved, and it paid off. I just can’t wait for the next one.
