modernlove. Live at The Workman’s Club Dublin With Support From DeCarteret

Right underneath The Workman’s Club a charming haven for live music has been created; Workman’s Cellar. With its lounge bar-esque decor, fireplace collection and rustic underground vibe it was here last night an eager buzzing audience witnessed the magic of Drogheda’s indie-pop gems modernlove. supported by the Dublin based groove sensations DeCarteret.

The mesmerising musicians DeCarteret strolled on stage to rapturous cheers. They took the challenging job of warming up the crowd in their stride. From Bricknasty’s warm vocals and quirky banter to the jazz-toned piano and swagger of Tadhg Griffin between the tight drum and bass interplay of Korey Thomas and Dara Abdurahman their set was a thrill ride from start to finish ( it also included a welcome surprise appearance from the audacious Khakikid ). Aided by the charismatic backing vocals of Becca Daly and Killian Corless, Amelia DeCarteret unleashed the full power of her sensational voice. Her soft croons and rich tone resounded throughout as the band filled the venue with their delightful brand of neo-soul with hints of R&B and pop. It was a whirlwind set that left the audience enamoured by the bands tight and absorbing sound. Looking forward to hearing more from these talented artists.

Enter modernlove. – With the glorious guitar jingle of their infectious track ‘Us’, the band unleashed frenetic energy that had fans dancing in unison. Their irresistible brand of indie-pop filled the venue with fan favourites ‘Bop’ and ‘Liquorice’ evoking deafening deliveries of the chorus from the audience. The quartet have mastered their live presence and stand confident and energetic on stage, each of them engaged in banter with the crowd. Last nights set displayed the versatile sound of the band. They veered into new yet to be released songs (‘Oh My Mind, in particular, is a lush little gem) that provided glimpses into a more funky, electronic sound to come in between the indie-pop sheen of their recently released EP, ‘monochrome blue’.

Immersed in his drumming, Cian McCluskey smiled at the crowd between the rapid ebullient beats he created. It’s his rich drumming that coaxed the crowd’s hips to wiggle and shimmy, while Graham Fagan’s slinky guitar riffs and swift synth adornments embellished the band’s sound in rich luxurious tones. modernlove. paced their set perfectly, subtly moving from energetic tunes (‘2 Missed Calls’) to more chilled songs (‘Famillar’) with ease while tracks such as ‘lmk (if you wanna see me) bridged the gap in between. With sleek guitar poses and deft changes to synths, Danny Rooney provided the all-important suave-filled bass groove that knits the rhythm and earworm melodies together while Barry Lally cooed the catchy lyrics between beckoning sing-alongs. It was a polished passionate performance from the four-piece.

modernlove.’s show in The Workman’s exceeded expectations. The band carried the weight of their treasured songs and fans expectations with poise, dignity and charm. They had the audience eating out of the palm of their hands, enjoying every melody and singing heartily along as if their lives depended on singing the songs as loud and enthusiastically as possible. modernlove. are a band that have limitless talent and ambition. The four-piece display a deep understanding of their craft that many a more seasoned outfit would be envious of. Check out modernlove. live, you won’t be disappointed.