Whelan’s is so stuffed that I’d swear the legendary venue is bursting at the seams. The punters are packed so close together that this reporter doesn’t even have space to take his notebook out of his pocket, and has to rely on memory to recall what songs were actually played, and in what order. And why is Whelan’s literally packed to the rafters on a school-night? The Frames are back in town.

Billed as The Arnotts, Glen and the boys decided to play a “secret” gig to test out some new songs, pencilled in for their fifth studio album, in front of a live audience. But this gig turns out to be much more than a run through new material, morphing into a genuine celebration as the quintet are joined by a host of special guests over the course of a rip-roaring two hour set that takes in cover versions, gems from their back catalogue and even audience requests.
The first part of the show sticks closely to the blueprint, as The Frames showcase their latest compositions, including the mesmerising ‘Keepsake’, the achingly beautiful ‘Dream Awake’, and the tender ‘A Caution…’. Perhaps the pick of the bunch is ‘Happy’, a song that seems destined for heavy daytime rotation on radio stations all over the world when it’s released.
‘Finally’ has an insistent guitar line that tugs at the senses, while Joe Doyle’s bass pulsates and Colm Mac an Iomaire’s violin provides a glorious counter-melody. ‘Locusts’ is even more impressive, and that’s despite the fact that Joe’s keyboard point-blank refuses to work. The song begins simply, just a lone guitar and Glen’s vocals (“Don’t go outside tonight/ The locusts fill the sky/ And the devil’s work is never done”) before the rest of the band join in on what is one of their most beguiling ballads to date, and that’s saying something.
Joe’s harmonies are very much to the fore on the new material, and the band seem in complete control of the dynamics of their sound, knowing exactly when to slow things down and when to crank the amps up and rock like motherfuckers. Six songs in, and the familiar strains of ‘Lay Me Down’ are greeted with howls of recognition.
What’s perhaps surprising is the number of Frames aficionados who already know the words to most of the new songs and join in with the gusto that’s usually reserved for old favourites like ‘Revelate’ and ‘Plateau’, both of which receive an airing. Indeed, the almost religious fervour visible in the eyes of the front row can be scary to behold: one youngish guy with the face of an altar-boy manages to contort his features into the very epitome of misunderstood youth as he bellows about wanting his life to make more sense during a rip-roaring ‘Pavement Tune’.
‘Santa Maria’ is staggeringly good, building into a deafening crescendo of barely-controlled white noise. Glen asks for requests and is immediately beseeched by practically every person in the venue, each of whom seems to be calling for a different tune. One heat-addled punter beside your reviewer calls for “Air conditioning please” to a chorus of sniggers. A fine rendition of the under-rated ‘Hollocaine’ follows, and then it’s ‘special guests’ time.
Liam O Maonlai is the first non-Frame onstage. Bedecked in dizzyingly bright striped trousers and a multi-coloured scarf, the Flowers’ mainman wriggles and jiggles and struts for a good five minutes, before finally taking to the microphone, leading the audience through a white soul/blues pastiche. Then Mundy and Kittser take a turn, giving The Frames a well-earned rest. A quick run through of one of J.J. Cale’s standards is followed by Dylan’s ‘Girl From The North Country’. Glen & Co. rejoin Birr’s favourite son for a rollicking version of ‘Gin And Tonic Sky’.
‘Where Is My Mind?’ provides a rousing homage to The Pixies, before it’s Paddy Casey’s turn in the limelight, himself and Glen sharing vocal duties on the brilliant ‘Saints & Sinners’. The whole room joins in on an exquisite ‘Star Star’, before the song finishes with Glen and Joe improvising part of Deus’ ‘Hotel Lounge’, à la last year’s Other Voices.
So after two hours of often breath-taking musical merriment, what was the verdict? “Amazing,” according to David from Firhouse. “I never thought I’d get to see The Frames playing Whelan’s again. I thought they were too big. As soon as I heard they were playing – one of my mates read it on the web – I rushed out to Road Records to get tickets and I’m so glad I did. This was one of the best gigs I’ve ever been at.”
Some Frames fans weren’t quite so lucky: Louise couldn’t get her hands on a ticket but turned up in the hope of finding some way to gain admission. She spent most of the gig begging the security staff to let her in, and one kind-hearted doorman finally relented towards the gig’s end.
“I only saw ‘Saints And Sinners’ and ‘Star Star’ but I got to hear most of the rest of it from outside,” she smiles. “I’m still delighted I came down because the little bit I did get to see was brilliant.”