The floor was moving under my feet from the crowd’s jumping and dancing. When a band turn the floor of a venue into a bouncing castle you know they are doing something right. It was Kawala’s show in The Academy, Dublin on Saturday night and it was an experience for sure, In fact the live show was something special.
Derry multi-instrumentalist and one woman band ROE aka Róisín Donald sets the night in motion. She stands beneath the blue and red hues of the lighting – modest and timid. There is no introduction she just blasts straight into her innovative electronic pop with sublime and raw alternative embellishments. ROE takes her emotive sound and wraps it in pristine dark synths with a drum machine keeping the heavy beats in place. Her clear crisp and passionate vocals caress the melancholic and eerie melodies with a warm rasp and sweet tone. Donald has no problem multi tasking. She plays guitar between slapping the beat on the drum machine. The crowd loved every moment of her breathtaking set. They begin to cheer her from the first song. They hold up their phones with the flashlight on for ‘Room To Breathe’ swaying them back and forth enhancing the magical atmosphere. The crowd sway and bop for ‘Monster’ and ‘Cheek, Boy’ before all out dancing and whooping for the more lively ‘Hey Thomas’. ROE presents her sound with light indie and jangly guitar elements to create music that is refreshing. The crowd adored her – some of them shouting “ I love you” as she shyly giggles, almost overwhelmed with the response. Once she walks off stage she is thronged with a deluge of fans wanting pictures with her and talk to her. Perhaps unknown to Donald, she put on a star quality show and her genuine authentic presence and killer tunes make her one to keep an eye on. A rare diamond in the rough.
The next set was headline act Kawala. They swarmed in and took the Academy by storm not even they were prepared for the crowds mass screams and cheers. Every word Jim Higson or Daniel McCarthy uttered was met by uncontrollable, high pitched screams the likes of which The Beatles would summon on sight. The band are of course immensely energetic on stage especially Higson who flaunts about the stage causing swoons with every dramatic dance gesture and shirt swoosh. These guys are tight live. Their harmonies are crisp and immaculate in the live setting. The sweet guitar melody of ‘Funky’ kicks in and the band spark a mass sing-along. Their rich rhythms, calypso – esque melodies and intricate lush layers cause the crowd to become feverous with dance tendencies. Their dedicated fans hand them sunglasses and posters while shouting “we love you!”.
They play some new unheard songs from their upcoming EP which goes down well with the crowd. ‘Animals’ in particular is a gem. Intricate rhythms rumble between glistening guitar and the perfect vocals of both McCarthy and Higson. The fans show their appreciation by more screaming and shouting “thank you!” Higson tests his theory that the crowd will scream at anything by saying “blueberries!” and of course they prove him right by screaming their loudest on the night so far. Kawala turns things down a notch with McCarthy taking to acoustic guitar for the pristine and sweet ‘Mighty River’. The duo allow the crowd to finish the track for them as they sing every word back. It’s a special moment to see such new talents have a show that some arena artists would be jealous and envious of. The band are very charming on stage. Higson asks the crowd if they are alright and is answered by more screams’ He replies “It would have been really awkward if you were like .. nah “.
New single ‘Heavy In The Morning” has a commanding presence live. The sweet falsetto coos of the crowd sounded pretty good complementing the bands lush tones. The tracks become more edgy and vibrant within the live setting as the addition of their full band of Ben Batten (Drums), Reeve Coulson (Bass) and Dan Lee (Guitar) weave wonderful golden textures into the soundscape. They are just as popular as McCarthy and Higson with the audience. Sparking cheers from the fans upon their introduction, McCarthy gets them chanting “Gorgeous Ben!, Gorgeous Ben!, Gorgeous Ben!” and “Reeve on bass! Reeve on bass! Reeve on bass!”.
Although showmanship and crowd interaction play an important part in a live setting, the fundamental charm and appeal of this band is their sound. The lush harmonies between Higson and McCarthy are pristine and blend effortlessly – it’s as if they were made to mould into each others warm tones. Their musicianship is mature and crisp with folky hues and pop sprinklings. Kawala are the perfect early morning or late evening band. Their gorgeous and vibrant indie is made to be listened to as the sun rises to glory, while their more mellow and melodic moments were crafted for chilled sunsets and a crisp glass of wine. The lads have those voices that could heal even the harshest of hangovers and mournful hearts while lifting you to blissful euphoric heights.
Kawala put on a vivid, rich and delightful show. Not even guitar technical difficulties stalled their stride. They bantered through it effortlessly. The encore is sparked by fans screaming “one more tune!”. “Olé, Olé, Olé!” and stomping. The band oblige with the upbeat and infectious ‘Runaway’. Kawala leave the stage to Neil Diamond’s ‘’Sweet Caroline’’ playing over the speakers as fans sing along refusing to let the party end.
I’d recommend going to see Kawala live. Kawala keep their shows light, fun and thoroughly enjoyable and why not! Their irresistible tunes warm your soul and fill you with joy – making you smile and dance without resistance.I see great things happening for these guys.
Author : Danu
