Alt-J and their fans know how to party. Originally planned as a seated show, Wider Than Pictures concert series kicked off on Thursday at the National Museum of Ireland with Alt-J and Just Mustard. However, being seated was not what the audience had in mind and before long the fans grew tired of bopping in their seats and flooded to the front of the stage to dance and sing along with Alt-J while others stood on their seats to get a better view of the band’s mesmerising performance. This sight would make you think the show was total anarchy however the gentle attitude of the fans and well-structured organisation of the event meant this little rebellion was good-natured fun against the backdrop of Alt-J’s compelling set.
This is Wider Than Pictures’ inaugural year, presented by Singular Artists and last night was one not to miss. Nestled in the beautiful grounds of The National Museum of Ireland eager fans sat comfortably with refreshments nearby awaiting the stellar lineup. I was surprised by how relaxed and pleasant the atmosphere was as I entered the grounds and found my seat.
Alt-J’s performance was brilliant. An enchanting blend of captivating visuals, hypnotic lights display and eargasmic music marked the night as a memorable event. It was easy to notice how much the fans treasure this band, every tune on the set list was met by cheers, screams of joy and mass sing-alongs. ‘Bane’, ‘Matilda’ and ‘Deadcrush’ all went down a treat with the crowd as they embraced and danced with friends and strangers. Throughout the night there was a communal sense of togetherness that was so unique and special.
Joe Newman [vocals, guitar], Gus Unger-Hamilton [vocals, keyboards, bass] and Thom Sonny Green [drums, percussion] have a captivating stage presence. At times their figures were shrouded in darkness with gripping visual effects behind them while strobe lighting bathed their silhouettes in prismatic colours; it added an exciting visual element to the set and had the audience enamoured from start to finish. With little effort Alt-J proved why they are one of the most successful British bands of the millennium. Their impressive repertoire has seen them release four studio albums that, between them, have sold in excess of two million copies and their songs have been streamed over two and a half billion times. However, it’s their live shows where they truly shine. Alt-J and Just Mustard put on a phenomenal performance and made the first night in the new exciting series, Wider Than Pictures a hit. With acts like Simply Red with special guest Ryan Sheridan tonight, RTE Concert Orchestra performing the music of Thin Lizzy and Fleet Foxes with special guest Uwade in the coming days there is something for every music lover.
Author: Danu
