Dublin-based band, KLDD, are set to release their new single ‘Little Help (Today)’ on March 24th. The song is an ode to the iconic sounds of Manchester and a tribute to bands like Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses. Comprised of Kilian Callegari on bass, Liam Bennati on drums, David Bradford on lead guitar, and Davy O’Toole on vocals and rhythm guitar, KLDD was originally formed by schoolmates over a shared love of dirty riffs, thumping bass lines, and soaring melodies.
Encased in a slick bassline and chiming guitar interludes ‘Little Help (Today)’ is a tight and impressive tune from KLDD. The band continue their run of mature and infectious releases with this atmospheric indie rock number. Venturing into hazy psychedelia at times, the band create a laid-back tune brimming with lush melodies and expressive instrumental refrains to create a sound that is nostalgic while still showcasing an indie edge. ‘Little Help (Today)’ is a fine display of musicianship from KLDD.
On Sunday night Dublin-based band KLDD played their headline show in The Workman’s Cellar with support from TroyOkay and Kathryn Stewart. This band set the bar high with their musically lush tunes and compelling stage presence. They tore the roof off the venue and marked themselves as a band to keep an eye on.
Kathryn Stewart and band set the night of fantastic tunes in motion with a sleek set of soul, R&B-infused originals and covers. From a velvety rendition of Tyrone by Erykah Badu to some classy and emotive originals such as the sombre ‘Weather’, Stewart’s compelling vocal ability was on full display. Her rich depths added power to the choruses while her soft coo’s oozed soulful tones within the verses. Enhanced by the magnificent Grace Jacobs on backing vocals and a tight and polished sound by her band the set exuded an effortless chicness throughout. With an enjoyable set featuring a sing-along rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ Stewart put on a compelling performance and had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand.
After a witty and brave impromptu introduction from Conor Eiffe, indie artist TroyOkay followed. His dreamy guitar-driven indie sound wafted throughout the venue as bopping heads in the crowd became immersed in his sunkissed riffs and buoyant rhythms. His vocals have a nonchalant grunge element that exudes tones of aggression and frustration over the sometimes heavy instrumentation providing an intriguing edge to his tracks. With his first-rate band in tow showcasing catchy riffs, ebullient rhythms and a jazzy injection on keys it was a satisfying and tight set from start to finish. There is no pompousness or fluff with TroyOkay’s performance just good honest indie rock tunes riddled with dark undertones and moody vocal outbursts. Very enjoyable.
KLDD wasted no time and got straight into their well-executed dynamic set. The room immediately erupted as the crowd fell under KLDD’s spell. For a young band, their sound is tight, unblemished and full of indie rock goodness. With the efficiency of a well-oiled machine, they went through their original tunes with a suave and chilled bravado that had the audience captivated. The crowd danced, punched the air and even attempted air guitar throughout the frenzied set while the four-piece remained composed on stage ready to execute slick guitar refrains and thrilling bass rumbles with a cool demeanour. Each member of the band Kilian Callegari on bass, Liam Bennati on drums, David Bradford on lead and Davy O’Toole on vocals and rhythm exuded effortless charm and their precise, polished tunes filled the venue with musical ecstasy. The crowd sang every word, cheered and danced without fail, not even a temperamental mic could sour the atmosphere. O’Toole, like a pro, laughed off its resistance to stay at the correct height and stood on his tippy toes to finish ‘Tastes Like Tragedy’ while the crowd shouted the lyrics back to him.
Impressively composed and musically rich, KLDD’s songs sound mature and refined beyond their years. This band have some bangers in their repertoire and they put on an impressive show from start to finish. Judging from the unreleased tracks, the soaring melodies and the energy in the room KLDD are a band to get excited about.
Dublin band KLDD have released their new single,‘Tastes Like Tragedy’.KLDD wrote the song during the lockdown of 2021, born from a spontaneous jam session and recorded at Bluebird Studios in January 2022, the track was produced and engineered by frequent collaborator Declan Lonergan. KLDD will play their debut headline show on July 10th at The Grand Social Dublin, alongside Cork band The Drive on support duties.
‘Tastes Like Tragedy’ displays KLDD’s mature and tight sound through an impressive blend of spacious musicianship and a taut vocal delivery. The song pivots around this laid-back and at times nonchalant vocal delivery however, it’s the sweet meanderings on guitar that ignite passion and emotion within the song. The guitar boasts expressive soaring melodies between rumbling bass embellishments creating a soft tone and a sense of innocence throughout. ‘Tastes Like Tragedy’ is a joy to listen to. KLDD’s ability to slowly unleash their indie-rock vigour without overpowering the track’s airy vibe is impressive and showcases the talent of this band. Throughout the song the listener is treated to wonderful textures, emotive undertones and deft musicianship – the result is a sound that is both exhilarating and timeless.
Whelan’s plummeted headfirst into an energetic maelstrom last night as Dublin indie rock band Emily 7 took to the stage for their eagerly anticipated headline show. The crowd and band were hungrier than ever for this performance as the show was two years in waiting due to covid.
Against a backdrop of helium balloons spelling Emily 7, the two support acts KLDD and Curtisy tackled the task of warming up the crowd. Sleek sounding, tight and exuding an impressive nonchalant stage presence, four-piece KLDD had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands. Comprised of Kilian Callegari on bass, Liam Bennati on drums, David Bradford on lead and Davy O’Toole on vocals and rhythm the band blend moody indie rock with grunge hues and glimmers of punk-pop to create a dynamic sound filled with vigour. The crowd bopped, cheered and some even fangirled over this budding band’s sound. With driving basslines, a fantastic rapid drum assault and some pretty slick guitar work there was plenty of talent on stage – an impressive performance from the four-piece.
Filled with some pretty sleek hip hop backing tracks, Curtisy‘ssetfollowed. Curtisy’s loose performance style, fun attitude on stage and wandering wordplay made for an intriguing listening experience. With raps drifting between topics of girls, drinking and social insights; the artist’s swaggered rhymes and repetitive “yeah, yeah” phrase lingered in many of the crowd’s heads for the rest of the night. Curtisy is fleshing out his style and refining his sound, it will be interesting to see what the hip hop artist does next.
‘Put ’em Under Pressure’ triumphantly introduced Emily 7. The crowd bellowed “Olé Olé Olé Olé, Olé Olé” while clapping and cheering as the band took to the stage. It was a whirlwind of antics, frantic post-punk and sweaty moshing from the get-go. Whelan’s shaked beneath our feet as the cheeky resounding sound of ‘Stephanie’ caused a dance frenzy from the crowd. Filled with thrilling rhythms, soaring wails on guitar and roaring bass grooves the band’s sound is impressive and the four-piece wasted no time in delighting the crowd’s ears with a constant glorious onslaught of instrumentally riveting tunes.
Kyle Bellew and Daniel Clarke are charismatic frontmen who share lead vocals. They exuded a charming persona throughout the set while subtly fighting off the entangled helium balloons behind them. Scott Bellew’s charismatic drumming was a joy to witness and perfectly complemented Brandon Carrig’s superb laid back bass. It was fun chaos all around that was rapturously well-received by the audience. This was particularly evident when the band played ‘Oh Me, Oh My’; the crowd bellowed back the catchy lyrics with such vigour and enthusiasm that made it a memorable moment on the night.
Like all good shows, a broken instrument or two is the norm and a kick drum malfunction,- “we f*cked the kick drum” saw the band styling out the brisk repair with a sleek instrumental jam. The four-piece were comfortable on stage and a broken instrument hiccup was nothing to these guys, within seconds they were back, filling the venue with more blazing tunes.
Emily 7 are a must see live act. They delivered a fantastic live show with an intense conviction that few bands can muster. There are exciting things to come from this band, and I for one am looking forward to it.
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
