Gnarls Barkley live at Vicar St, Dublin

It must be great craic to be in Gnarls Barkley. Not only are you one of the most successful groups of the year, but you get to outfit yourself in a different costume for every show.
The regalia of choice for Wednesday’s Vicar St. gig was ‘80s Guns ‘N’ Roses gear; although Axl Rose’s new face would have made for a pretty scary fancy-dress mask. The backing band let loose with a funked-up ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ when Danger Mouse walked, and Cee Lo strutted out onto stage.
Every fourth song or so was punctuated with a cover. Bits like the Doors’ ‘Who Scared You?’ and Cream’s ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’ sounded like the original bands—on funk Viagra and high energy supplements. And when the group played ‘Crazy’ they proved that it’s their talent as musicians, not the costumes, that makes them a hit.
Despite being a short, bald and slightly roly-poly fellow dressed in pink spandex and Tina Turner wig, Cee Lo cranked up the sexuality of each song. His voice swinging between a sweet caress and smooth snarl, he knows how to work the audience into a rolling groove or rocking frenzy.
Completely at home in the spotlight, Gnarls Barkley make every minute on stage count. They know how to have fun, and make sure the audience does too.
“This is dedicated to all of you out there who are alive and living,” Cee Lo shouted half way through the gig. “There’s a difference.”
Gnarls Barkley can definitely be counted among the living.