Live at Marlay Park, Dublin: The Frames, Supergrass, Idlewild, Bell X1 & Halite

You have to hand it to The Frames. Even Bruce and U2 baulk at starting new campaigns outdoors in front of 17,000 people – although Glen Hansard might claim that this is a farewell to Set List arms rather than the unveiling of Burn The Maps.

We’ll get to that in a minute; first the preliminary rounds. Your reporter just missed Halite but caught Bell X1, a band quite capable of being jagged and bold (a new song called ‘Reacharound’) when they don’t confuse heartfelt with hammy, looking like they’re playing the stadium in their heads rather than the one in front of their eyes. Following that, Idlewild had a fair amount of spirit but scarcely an original idea, while Supergrass possessed hits and experience enough to overcome the nerves incurred by a late arrival on-site.

But of course it was The Frames’ inaugural ball, and they ran with it. Mindful of losing the peripheries, they kept selections from the as yet unreleased new album to a bare minimum (the two singles and a heart-stabbing ‘Happy’). Indeed, the first act was an almost foolhardy tour de force of ‘Lay Me Down’, ‘Revelate’, ‘God Bless Mom’, ‘Fake’ and ‘Finally’, the latter tune built on a complex set of dynamic shifts illuminated by Colm Mac An Iomaire’s searing violin.

Thing is, they never really lost that first head of steam. The mirrorball memories of ‘Your Face’ became soul revue showpiece. Songs expanded with quotes (Janes Addiction’s ‘Been Caught Stealing’ out of ‘Monument’, ‘Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ out of ‘Perfect Opening Line’). And as for ‘Fitzcarraldo’, here was a song that was always too big for enclosed spaces, Hansard’s shout of "I’ll see you down in history" still bringing up tingles.

The encores are traditionally where The Frames blow it by having too much fun and not knowing when to quit. Tonight though, the last half hour (‘Star Star’, ‘An Angel At My Table’, The Pixies’ ‘Where Is My Mind’) was loose yet intensely focused. Something magic happened during Damien Rice’s cameo, but more remarkably, it happened again during Mic Christopher’s ‘Heyday’, a looming tower of song.

A couple more years, they’ll be ready for Slane.

Click here to see more of Liam Sweeney's photos from the event, including Supergrass, Idelwild, Halite, Bell X1 and Damien Rice.