Shadowplay are a band going places, fast. With an album deal already in the can and debut single ‘Drive’ turning industry heads, a hectic summer beckons for the NUI Maynooth music graduates.
Fresh from taking the Lift Off @ The Music Show gong, the three-piece continue their upward trajectory with a headline slot in the tight, atmospheric confines of Academy 2. Andy, Eoghan and Emmet give off the air of old pros. They arrive onstage to the strains of Rocky theme-tune ‘Gonna Fly Now’ and are instantly engaged in light-hearted banter with the encouraging crowd.
The virtuosity of their musicianship is striking and they combine elements of ‘70s rock (Pink Floyd, ELO, Queen) with an occasional harder edge to craft bright, thrilling tracks that brim with self-assurance.
Shadowplay are still cutting their song-writing chops (almost half the set is less than two weeks old), but the early signs are very promising. Soulful lead singer Andy Dempsey is an engaging and passionate performer. The multi-instrumentalist is the band’s driving force, flitting effortlessly between his duties as the band’s bassist, acoustic guitarist and keyboardist. He’s ably assisted by the driving rhythms of drummer/vocalist Emmet Farrell and melodic riffs courtesy of note-perfect six-stringer, Eoghan Johnston. Their set has a well-crafted balance, moving seamlessly from the brooding, piano-led reflection of ‘Colours’ to indie-pop stomper ‘Goodbye’ and angst-ridden quiet/loud atmospherics of ‘Wake’.
Having originally come together as a covers act, Shadowplay treat their burgeoning fanbase to inspired versions of Fleetwood Mac classic ‘The Chain’ and back-to-back Lizzy numbers ‘Cowboy Song’ and ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’. However, the night’s loudest roar is reserved for current single ‘Drive’, a sparkling slice of melodic pop, centred around an infectious piano-riff with obvious Jeff Lynne/ELO leanings. The folk sensibility of set closer ‘The Moon Song’ evokes the misty-eyed romanticism of Mike Scott and shows the band’s willingness to sail into unchartered waters.
With a period of album-focused songwriting imminent, who knows what this precocious bunch are capable of?