Delo, I Love you

Your silence is a melody I can’t get out of my head.”

And that’s a line, we learn tonight, that one Delorentos fan can’t get off his arm.
We’re midway through a super-secret intimate gig for ‘competition winner eyes and ears only’, and the Dublin band are calling one Dan Keogh to the stage so he can proudly display his new forearm artwork – lyrics taken from the band’s superb ‘Prove Yourself’.
It’s proof positive of the esteem in which Delorentos are now held – not to mention the passion of their fans.
It’s been a terrific 12 months for a group that almost split three years ago, with third album Little Sparks taking them to another level, and earning them a Choice Music Prize nomination into the bargain. Now, in the pre-Christmas spirit, upstairs in the gorgeous environs of 4 Dame Lane, they’re giving something back to a lucky bunch of fans, who are treated to gorgeous Jameson cocktails, fish and chips and, most importantly, a terrific semi-acoustic set from the band.
Introduced by HP’s Stuart Clark, who crosses the print divide to give the band’s own Little Sparks magazine a plug, the four launch into an urgent rendition of ‘Hallucinations’, the hard-edged single from second album You Can Make Sound. From there, the four move masterfully from instrument to instrument, taking turns on mandolins, guitars and piano, lending depth and richness to their expertly engineered songs.
They also move effortlessly through their entire back catalogue, with contagious hit ‘S.E.C.R.E.T.’ the cue for a mass breakout of leg-shaking. ‘Petardu’ is the real knock-out, a beautiful, hushed ballad with Kieran at the helm, steering with a gentle hand. The finale is the Rónán Yourell-led ‘Bullet In A Gun’ which turns into a mass, prolonged singalong. It’s fast becoming the signature tune of a band who are on the verge of local superstar status. As love-ins go, tonight is up there with the very best...