Waterford globetrotters Crome Yellow set for long-awaited homecoming gigs

It's been two years since Crome Yellow released their highly acclaimed second album No Friends or Mirrors. Since then, the Waterford natives haven't even been in a room together.

With three of the Déise four-piece scattered across the world, any hope of a gig to celebrate their sophomore record seemed like a (painfully literal) distant hope for their loyal following.

Many presumed the project to have reached a natural end with the release of No Friends or Mirrors. However, the indie-funk outfit have coordinated a return to Ireland to concentrate on rehearsing for two homecoming shows in Dublin's Thomas House and Waterford's Electric Avenue.

"We only have a 5-week window from the end of July to the end of August that we can work with" explained Kevin Hartery, the band's ambassador in the Netherlands. "We're cramming our rehearsals, the gigs and even recording some new music into that window."

While so many bands and artists have struggled to build their following over the last couple of years because of the pandemic, Crome Yellow had an extended period of separation with the final parts of the album recorded remotely. "Only two of us have actually been in the same room since 2019. Even with the pandemic aside, we never got the chance to play any shows to celebrate the release of our second album."

The follow-up to 2019's slacker pop-infused See Why saw the band express their groove-heavy, funk roots with infectiously catchy melodies and a laidback ambience throughout.

"Bringing a carefree ease along the lines of Bombay Bicycle Club, Everything Everything and Mystery Jets; Crome Yellow manage to forge an indie soundtrack to an imaginary post-Covid world of self-awareness and nostalgia," Hot Press wrote in our verdict of the LP. "Highlights include 'Don't Really Want To Know Ya', The Ballad of John Who Can't Open His Eyes' and 'Instant Replay'."

Crome Yellow's representative in Australia, Darragh Dwyer, is the only band member who won't make it home for their upcoming mini-tour. Hartery insists that his drummer's absence is only making the band even more hungry for their upcoming shows. "I guess it's an extra incentive to try and make it to one of the shows because we don't know when we'll see each other again after this summer, never mind having shows on the calendar."

Tickets for these shows are hot property and are expected to sell out well in advance as the band's cult following will flock to see the raincoat-sporting indie rockers. Both shows are being organised by Fuzzed Up & Astromoon Records, who the Crome boys signed to for the vinyl release of No Friends or Mirrors.

Jet Black Tulips provide the support for the Dublin show while labelmates Sun Mahshene and THEE U.F.O are special guests for the homecoming.

Crome Yellow play the Thomas House, Thomas St., Dublin 8 on Friday 12 August. Doors at 8pm and tickets are €6 on the door.

They play Electric Avenue, Waterford on Saturday 13 August. Doors at 7pm and tickets are €10 plus booking fee available from Eventbrite.