Munky pulled out all the stops for their debut EP, ‘Un, Deux, Trois, Cat’ launch in the Grand Social Dublin on Friday Night. Setting the crowd up for a night of dancing, hugs and funky tunes the quartet had their swaggering shirts on and their slick tunes ready.
Luscious French tunes played through speakers welcoming the crowd into the venue setting a sweet calming ambiance before the frenzied mayhem began.
Skinner take to the stage to kick things off. Skinner is the solo recording project of Aaron Corcoran playing live as a band with members Jack Tobin (drums) and Daniel Butler (bass). Their punk/ grunge tunes resonate through the room… seeping into our ears with biting sweet shrills of youthful adrenaline. The band didn’t waste their time ranting and raving on stage. They walloped straight into their rambunctious tracks. Sweet toned guitar melodies weave tasty threads of glistening delight between the punchy drum assaults and groove infested bass lines as Skinner whack out a professional and thrilling set of tracks. Corcoran spits out his lyrics with attitude and panache between the slick guitar refrains and solos. There is impressive skill with this trio – with catchy tracks and blistering instrumentation Skinner is one to keep an eye on.
Next up were The Family Dog. A band of five brothers, these guys know how to put on a show. Their frontman role is taken by the ever eccentric youngest of the pack Hector Dogliani who is at the tender age of 12/13. He struts about the stage with ‘James Brown – esque’ scorched swagger. Although he is quite mesmerising to watch he also sings the sweetest harmonies and vocal leads while stomping and strutting about. However Hector is not the only charismatic member of the band, each brother exude their own charm while showcasing their sleek instrumental prowess.They even manage to get the crowd to roar as they shout “let me hear a Dublin roar”. But all the pizzazz aside, these guys can play some soulful groovy tunes.The Dogliani brothers lay down a scorching set of raw blues-hued fluid tunes that get the crowd riled up and eager to dance. Each track follows its predecessor with grace while displaying slick instrumentation and infectious melodies.The Family Dog’s sound is tight. The vaporous guitar lines entwine the elastic bass grooves and meaty drum foundation with finesse and grandeur while the jazzy keys provide a playful bounce and classy element to the tracks. I highly recommend you see them live.
Finally Dublin’s Munky take to the stage as members of the crowd chant “Munky!, Munky!, Munky!”. The bands funky, grungy disco with some psychedelic rock translates superbly live. Munky are a prime example of a band who put their all into their live shows and the result is magnificent. Mesmerising characters onstage, guitarist Conor Lawlor and vocalist Zachary Stephenson playfully interact with the crowd as Lawlor implements every guitar pose known to man to heroic cheers while Stephenson prances about the stage.The band open with searing guitars, a thrilling drum roll and passionate vocals. They ferment the atmosphere with little banter to start allowing the crowd to lap up their gritty tunes. Not letting a few sound issues ruin their moment – they tighten their grip on the audience with the blitzing ‘Zordon’ and the high-speed hammering of ‘Cuck Rock’ which provokes cheers from the crowd. Niall Donnelly appears to wander in and out of consciousness as his bass groove consumes his attention. He wiggles to each track, happily laying down that all important elastic bass that loosens the crowds hips and entrances their minds into the depths of each tune. ‘You’ve Got Male’ sparks a mass sing-along but not as much as the notorious ‘Ms. Communication’. Donnelly and Sam Russell lay down one hell of a rhythmic backbone. Russell smashes the drums like a man possessed and together their groove consumed wall of sound is fully immersive and utterly mind-blowing.
Lights dim as the band leave the stage. Only Stephenson and Munky’s glorious backing singers Edwina Van Kyuk and Sinead McConville remain for a stripped back rendition of ‘Just Can’t Quit’.Bathed in a soft spotlight hue,Stephenson pines out the track in this new refreshing manner before the rest of the band return to blast out the passionate crescendo. ‘One In Five’ brings us to the intense and emotional finale of the bands set as they perform an immaculate version of this gripping track. However, the crowd refused to allow the quartet to leave it there. They demanded “one more tune!” and Munky did not disappoint. Lawlor takes the vocals on a jubilant cover of Bill Withers ‘Lovely Day’ while Stephenson encourages the crowd to part – readying for a circle pit ( with a difference! ) ….he beckons the crowd to part and on his say so, run into each other and hug….and of course they did. It was a special moment,even onlookers hugged the person nearest them. ‘Hunter Gatherer Blues’ brings the bands triumphant set to an end as Stephenson shouts “let me see y’all square dance”.
Munky squeezed mayhem and elation into one set of fiery enjoyable tunes while maintaining and balancing their professionalism and fun attitude. It was a fantastic start to the weekend. All the acts were thoroughly entertaining and are definitely worth checking out live.
