Paddy Casey has announced that he will perform his first solo gig in Dublin following his American Tour, at the National Concert Hall this August, as part of the ESB BEO festival.
Paddy Casey’s music has improved dramatically since he first emerged, the David Gray-isms of yore being replaced with something far more ambitious and colourful. ‘Addicted To Company’ incorporates swooping strings, the odd splash of brass, and even some gospel-flavoured backing vocals. This has an ambitious feel to it and could be huge.
This Sunday's edition of Limerick Green and Live looks set to be a good un with the likes of Rodrigio and Gabrielle, Juliette Turner, Groove Armada and plenty of other top acts.
Sometimes it feels as though Ireland is suffering an overdose of bed-sit earnestness. For a generation of songwriters, elegant mooching has acquired the character of a national pastime.
Amidst the apparently bottomless onslaught of weepy self-consciousness, Paddy Casey cuts a solitary figure. Although no less gushing than his peers, the Dublin singer boasts songwriting chops to match.
When a gang of Ireland’s finest musicians, media stars and political types gathered in the Central Hotel for pre-Christmas drinks, there were fun and games aplenty. reporting: Stephen Bailey, Stuart Clark and Roisin Dwyer. Photos: Mick Quinn and Graham Keogh. Costumes: courtesy of The Dublin Costume Company.
Selling out six nights in a venue this size is impressive by any standards and usually the preserve of the Christy Moores and Mary Blacks of the this world.
I don’t know if this is just an anomaly, or a catchy hook of evil genius proportions, but after a few listens I declared I hated it, couldn’t stand no more, had another listen and found it had grown on me. Bewildering.
As he left the stage to rapturous applause and chants of ‘Paddy, Paddy’ it seemed somewhat odd that Paddy Casey would later reflect on this, his first London gig since the release of Living, as the worst of his current tour.
Following The Frames' recent storming of St John's Castle, the good burghers of Limerick get some more al fresco rock 'n' roll on June 18 when Paddy Casey plays the city's racecourse as part of their summer meet.
Quick, quick – I need to make a cynical wisecrack about a whinging troubadour type before I explode! Ah, here’s Paddy Casey – that should do the trick. Yawnsome drive-time snoozefest which makes ‘The Blower’s Daughter’ sound like a cut from Bolt Thrower’s Realm Of Chaos. Not my cuppa meat, as you can see.
Released in 1999 Paddy Casey’s debut album went double-platinum, establishing him as one of Ireland’s brightest prospects. but the intervening four years have seen that crown slip, as a succession of homegrown singer songwriters battled their way into contention, outstripping him in terms of record sales – and hard graft. now casey is back in the frame, with his long-waited follow-up, the cheekily titled Living – an album that sees him gloriously back on top of his game. why did it take four years to make? the answer to that burning question may go back even further. because Paddy Casey’s life story is truly a remarkable one.
Paddy Casey scotches rumours that he has left Sony Music and Principle Management. "I can understand people thinking it," says Paddy, "but no, they're still on board"
The true mark of quality songwriting comes through when songs are at their most naked, stripped of all studio trickery and jiggery-pokery - just the basic accompaniment and vocal
On the first listen, Paddy Casey’s debut album Amen (So Be It) stands out as top quality singer/songwriter material. On the second, you hear intimations of the kind of subtle complexity which insists that you listen again. And again. And again.
