Arthur's Day, Vicar St. live review

17.59 had barely struck the clock at Vicar St. before local heroes Bell X1 claimed the stage, kicking off the party in style with all the uptempo flavour you would expect, while bright young thing Sunday Girl charms the crowd in whimsical fashion.

One-time New Ross resident Maverick Sabre is in his element, expertly playing to a baying crowd that lap up his every move, not least when he is gifted a pint of Guinness from a devoted fan. Simply put, Sabre owns Vicar St. tonight, backed by the conviction of numbers ‘Let Me Go’ , ‘I Need’ and the expected but adored cover of ‘Wonderwall’. Expect big things in his future.

London powerhouse Labrinth almost seems on a mission to outdo Sabre. For one, he accepts not one but two helpings of the black stuff from the eager front-row. Secondly, his choice of cover, an electro-charged rendition of NWA classic ‘Express Yourself’ manages to feel as fresh and explosive as it did when Dr. Dre and Ice Cube unleashed it onto the masses over 20 years ago. Labrinth’s confidence is well-earned, his rumbling synths worthy of Trent Reznor and the overall package is devastating.

All that pulsating action means a complete tonal shift when former Starsailor frontman James Walsh takes to the stage. He’s always possessed a captivating voice, but that voice initially struggles to be heard against the cacophony of a restless Vicar St. crowd. To his credit, Walsh battles on admirably, first turning heads with ‘Alcoholic’ before the Macbook-assisted ‘Four To The Floor’ wins everyone over, and rightly so. After that, the crowd are putty in his hands, standing enrapt for heartfelt piano-led closer ‘Silence Is Easy’. A masterclass in how to command an audience in just under half an hour. Bravo, James!

Buoyed by the resurgent crowd, indie pioneers The Charlatans bring the curtain down with panache, dominating proceedings with a confident set that includes ‘The Only One I Know’, ‘Pleased To Meet You’ and ‘Smash The System’ from last year’s Who We Touch album which provokes a deafening roar. By the time Tim Burgess raises a glass to Arthur, the crowd belong entirely to him.