A night of irresistible tunes and bellowed choruses resounded through Whelan’s last Thursday night all thanks to headliners, indie band N.O.A.H. Nothing, not even a bust snare drum could stop these guys from putting on a memorable show full of stadium-worthy energy and indie rock bravado.

But first, ready to warm up the crowd with their lush harmonies and sweet melodies was sister duo Zeztra. With charming personalities and tunes dripping in R&B tones, alternative pop and sincere lyrics, the duo were a joy to listen to. They set the mood beautifully from the very first song with their warm guitar, rich rhythms and balmy soundscapes while the sweet blend of their voices moved between captivating tones as they poured themselves into the songs. An enjoyable start to the night.

Limerick-based folk band Kingfisher followed. Taking a very casual approach to their set the band produced a wholesome rich sound that oozed infectious tones. With a hearty banjo adding a dash of traditional charm to the band’s tracks; Kingfisher had the crowd in the palm of their hands. They powered through their set encouraging the audience to sing along to their hooks and even had a couple waltzing to one of their tracks. Filled with warm basslines, some pretty slick guitar work and catchy melodies Kingfisher put on a fun set from start to finish.

The crowd erupted into a mass of dancing and singing as ‘Darkest Hour’ triumphantly introduced N.O.A.H. to the stage. This band are mesmerizing on stage and their sound is wonderful to experience in the live setting. Their set was filled with thrilling rhythms, soaring guitar and roaring bass grooves. N.O.A.H’s sound is impressive and the three-piece wasted no time in delighting the crowd’s ears. Ryan Hill is a charismatic frontman, he reached out to the crowd while singing, paraded up and down the stage and kept the fans enamoured by his radiant stage presence. The audience sang every word to the band’s tracks and danced as if their lives depended on it and, lucky for them N.O.A.H. had plenty of danceable genre-bending tunes to delight the audience’s ears with. The band’s set was a relentless onslaught of banging tunes with Ronan Hynes at the helm on drums pounding out slick and resounding grooves that perfectly complemented Adam Rooney’s superb laid-back bass.

These guys are professional. A small snare drum mishap sees them halt the show for a quick repair and a bit of fill-in banter before the band continued their energetic set. With the disco shimmer of ‘Stay Here’ and the heart-pounding anthem, ‘Shine’, the band proceeds to attack the show with as much enthusiasm as possible. 

N.O.A.H’s performance was absolutely brilliant and a whole lot of fun. The crowd lapped up the performance, singing every song, embracing their friends and dancing without a care in the world. N.O.A.H are a band that showcase a diverse sound, limitless talent and ambition. The trio display a deep understanding of their craft that many artists would be envious of and their live performance is a wonderful explosion of their talent and charm. 

Author: Danu