This live album is a unique snapshot of an artist in the process of development. He may well go on to produce better work, but Live At The Olympia captures a wonderful hour or so of music, during which Damien Dempsey is king of all he surveys. The performance, in front of a deliriously partisan hometown crowd, is hugely impressive. Bellicose yelps accompany pretty much every one of Damo’s lyrics, and you can see – and feel – why. On the strength of this, even those who point to his occasionally tortured syntax and brusque demeanour by way of deprecation, will be forced to acknowledge the artistic quality on show.
There are times when the spine-tingling atmosphere is more akin to a football terrace than an auditorium. Thing is, Damo’s powder-keg performances demand reciprocation from the audience and, here, the bond between himself and his fans, forged over years of hard graft, turns the gig into an uproarious sing-along.
Fired by the crowd’s enthusiasm, ‘Patience’ and ‘Party On’ are pounded out before the tender ‘Hold Me’ momentarily slows the tempo. Through the reggae stomp of ‘Negative Vibes’ and the anthemic ‘It’s All Good’, there is no let-up in emotional intensity. When Dempsey, basking in the moment, hands over the reins to the audience for ‘The Apple Of My Eye’, his earthy appeal is crystallised in 30 seconds of moving audience participation.
No amount of ringing tills, platinum discs, or oddly-shaped awards could replicate the heartfelt sincerity and adoration right there. If you need to be convinced, look no further: Damien Dempsey is the real thing.